Off Exploring!

Well, as I'm still awaiting doctor's blessing to swim-bike-run, this weekend brings another great opportunity for adventures with Nathaniel. We selected (what appears to be) a fun but challenging day-hike, and are in the midst of final preparations.

Oddly enough, it sort of feels like the night before a long training day....

Instead of prepping my bike, clothes, and nutrition, I've arranged my backpack, triple checked our emergency kit, and threw in an extra goody or two for Nathaniel (AND me!). I figure a chocolate egg will taste GREAT atop the mountain.

And I gamely suggested to Nathaniel if he was really worried about carrying too much extra food, we could always throw a bunch of Powergels into the pack. He politely declined.

I'm happy to report that my pack weighs less than Tabbitha. Barely. But that's due mostly to the fact that I'm carrying four quarts of water. Don't ask: there's no water on the trail and I would rather have more than less. If a Kona-esque aid station suddenly appears around a corner, I'll know that either I'm hallucinating (and therefore need to drink more water), or something really really really bad happened.

And - true to form - I picked up a little extra gear. Just in case.
Too bad they don't make this stuff for sharks. Not that I would trust a little spray to stop a two ton great white charging at 40 mph. Ugh.

For the record, its not the bears that worry me; its those other big thingys out there. And I figure Bear Spray will work just as good on other animals as it does on, um, bears. But enough about that.

With all the gear we're packing, I think Nathaniel and I will look like this.

But that's okay. We - er I - "heart" Russell. And the Wilderness MUST be explored! Right? Right.

Okay folks! Over and out. Have a FANTASTIC weekend doing whatever you're doing - be it swim-bike-run or "other". I know that we will!