The year is just about in the books and it was so full of change it made my head spin. Lousy PHD programs took another one of my closest friends across the country. So there was one less number to call for last minute trips which led to a lot of solo mountain bike rides and tamer outings. I hit up the Honky Tonk Happy Hour after work on Fridays like it was my job and found a whole new family of Honky Tonkers. When I needed a break from it all there was always the baseball diamond. I went to more baseball games than I ever have in a single season in 2011, and had a winning streak that lasted until the final game I went to. My record of attended White Sox games ended at 6-1.
Opportunity came knocking more than once, I climbed Camel Back Mountain at dawn outside of Phoenix, AZ. There was more climbing with the Chicago Mountaineering Club, I went to Devils lake 3 times, my cousin invited me on a 4 day fishing trip to Lake Clinton (I still have never caught a fish) and took a trip out to Yosemite that really got my head right. I saw the sun rise and set all over the country. My GoPro Hero
Helmet Camera became my favorite piece of gear. I documented my
morning commute, cross country mountain biking, rock climbing and anything else that caught my eye. I saw some amazing art and some great rock shows.
By the numbers I spent a total of 11 days sleeping with my head in the dirt, climbed 30 pitches with 5 days on the rock, 3 days of skiing, 0 powder days. I was on a bike around 300 days this year with an estimated 5500 miles of pavement behind me. 7 White Sox games and 2 Cubs games.
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| The year started off with a blizzard that shut down the whole city. |
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| Lake Michigan right after the blizzard. |
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| This sunset photo took me so far from my back porch where it was taken. |
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| A happy day with Dr. Vincent Pham who was bound for sunny California. |
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| One of many Chicago White Sox winners including my first Opening Day. |
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| A fog on the lakefront path. |
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| Go Go White Sox. |
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| My Go Pro helmet camera mounted on my touring bike. |
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| May Arizona trip to visit with Chris and his wife Kassie. |
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| Top of Camel Back Mt. AZ. |
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| The "L" ride home on the Orange Line. The end of my AZ. trip. |
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| Go Pro Rig on my MTB. |
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4th of July with Melissa.
I took this picture after every White Sox winner it was my good luck charm.
Ozzie would leave the team come the season's end. |
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The Beer and Crew for Tour de Fat.
I love it when the mountain culture comes to me. |
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| The Bikes. |
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| The Ballyhoo. |
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| Devils lake. One of many trips. |
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| Brendan leading my first multi-pitch climb in Yosemite National Park. |
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| Atop Tenaya Peak in Tuolomne Meadows in Yosemite National Park. |
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| California Sunset. |
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| Brendan and me atop Cathedral Peak. It was bad ass. |
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| The Honky Tonkers got out of the bar and went on the road to the Homer days Harvest Festival. |
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| At summers end this sunset appeared over the Yorkville Days festival grounds. |
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| A day a of hiking at Devils Lake Wisconsin. |
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| I never quite saw the park like this before. |
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| Magic Hour atop the East Bluff Trail. |
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| Wisconsin Dells. |
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| Best Halloween costume ever. Aron Ralston anyone? |
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| The best Thanksgiving turkey fry in all of Chicago had me keeping the beat into the night with Steve and Jonathan. | | | |
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I did a lot of living this year. Here's to next year's adventures.
3 comments:
Yay, Tour de Fat!
And Devils Lake (went there as a kid a few times, great fun).
I especially love the sunset photo of the Sears Tower from the El. So Chicago.
We need to have another jam session soon. Looks like you had a pretty awesome year!
300 days of riding is HUGE! But at the time, it's just another day. that's what's so great about the daily goals that add up. Imagine how much better off you are for riding everyday. What if you did 50 push ups a day, or sit ups? I totally dig the little things that done daily turn people into machines either mentally or physically or both.
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