PCT 50-Mission Accomplished

Well, it's in the books, I have completed my first 50 mile trail run. And trust me, it's more fun than it sounds. Here's a recap of the day.

We reserved a camp site at Paso Picacho campground just up the road from the start/finish line. Normally, the race is run on the Pacific Crest Trail through the Laguna Mountains but due to an unfortunate helocopter crash a few days before, the race was miraculously moved to the the San Diego 100 course. One of my new running friends, Kara, drove up and camped with us on Friday. I'm sure Tracy was happy to finally put a face to a name that I had mentioned a number of times before.

I woke up at 4:07 am to a potty break and sure enough the alarm was set for 4:30am. Oh well, I hadn't slept much the night before anyways. I made some coffee and marvelled at the warm morning and setting full moon. Kara arose a short time later and soon enough we made our way to the start line about 4 miles down the road. We were surprised to find the temperature about 10 degrees cooler than our camp and were not prepared. As such, we waited in her car until the last moment.

We walked over the start just a few minutes before 6:00am. I saw some other running friends, including Seung and Trasie, and said hello. Next thing I know, we're off. The pace was fast at first and I kept reminding myself to slow down. From all that I've read and experienced, it's important to go out slow and to be conservative on the hills. I looked over to Kara and reminded her we needed to slow down. About that moment, I realized I made a big mistake and forgot my handheld bottle with my nutrition in it. Oh well, I'd had to improvise and wait until mile 20 when I planned on seeing Tracy again.

The first 20 miles is a relatively easy stretch except for the climb out of the valley. We were pretty good and walked a good portion of the climb. We also reminded one another to drink water and take our salt pills. But things were not clicking for me. My hamstrings were tight and my heart rate seemed a bit elevated for the effort I was putting in. I figured things would work themselves out as long as I was cautious and focused on eating and drinking early.

I had asked my long time friend and training partner to pace me during the race. Logicstically, it made sense for her to meet me at aid station 3. As Kara and I were headed out, I saw Sharon driving in. I told her that Tracy was waiting and would drive her to the next aid station. As it turned out, about two miles into the next section, I spotted Tracy driving by and Sharon decided to join me there.

This was a rough section for me. I felt very winded, my hamstrings and now right calf were screaming, and I was getting very hot. While it was warming up, I felt as if I was starting to overheat. About this time, Kara started separating from us and then she was gone. I had suggested she move ahead for some time as I was holding her back but she held true to running with me. Now that Sharon was there, she was off to the races.

We had a long climb and we walked most of it. I stopped at a creek and cooled off a bit. It was a short reprieve but helped as well. Towards the top of the hill Sharon and I started to run a bit but I knew something was wrong. I started to feel a twinge below my right knee and soon could barely run. I tried to convince myself that the pain would go away but things got worse. I slowly started to share my thoughts with Sharon. The thought of pulling out at the next aid station were creeping into my head. Normally, I can push myself and dig deep. If I were throwing up or dealing with heat exhaustion, I would suffer through it. But the thought of seriously injuring my knee was not worth risking. Up until this point in life, I've had relatively few injuries. Sharon suggested we evaluate at the aid station and go from there. I felt bad asking her to pace me and then bailing 4 miles later.

Tracy and Gabriel were waiting at the Paso Picacho aid station. It would be convenient to pull out here since our campground was maybe 500 yards away. I told Tracy of my predicament and she was open to whatever I decided. She pulled out a list of inspirational quotes from family and friends and I felt compelled to go a bit further. I changed socks and put on a new pair of shoes still debating on what to do. Someone suggested taking some Tylenol and then Sharon pushed me to give it a go to the next aid station. What the heck, I thought. I knew the next section was beautiful and flat going through a meadow and around the lake. Off we went albeit slowly.

About half a mile into this section, my mind started playing tricks with me. It felt as if the pain was disappating a bit. I started to jog and Sharon turned around to confirm her ears and off we went. I was afraid to say I was better so intead I suggested we try a jog/walk combination. But our jogs got a bit longer and longer until about two miles into this section (mile 28 or so) I was convinced I was going to finish the race. My spirit erupted and now I was refocused on getting fueled and hydrated. We ran into the Big Bend aid station to find Tracy and Gabriel waiting for us. Tracy could see by the smile on my face that I was going forward.

The next section was a long, five mile climb. I tried my best to refuel and drink but the hill was taking its toll on me. I knew once at the top, we had a nice long downhill stretch. We passed a few people along the way which fed the growing enthusiasm as well. Soon we were at aid station four where Scot Mills was working. Of course, he and the other guys were drinking some beers and all I could think about was how nice it would be to stop and enjoy a cold one. Off we went for another mile of climbing.

At the top, I knew it was time to run again so off we went. At first I was getting stomach cramps if we ran too fast or too long. Finally, though, after a few Gu's, we were running well. We passed a number of people during this section and towards the bottom of this section I was running all out. We hammered into the last aid station to find Rick, Phoung, Tracy, and Gabriel ringing cow bells and cheering for us. It was so uplifting and exciting to think I almost to my goal of finishing a 50 miler.

I packed a few more Gu's, loaded up on ice water in my hydration pack, took a few big swigs of coke, and gave a big kiss to Tracy. Unfortunately, Sharon had to pull out here as she had evening plans. I said I'd make her proud on the last section and off I went.

This is the only section of the course which I had not run before. It was long (7.9 miles) and hilly from what I was warned. In fact, last year my friend Jeff Givens had great difficulty on this section of the San Diego 100. How hard could it be, though, I wondered? I soon found out that it was the toughest section of the course.

The first couple of miles gently rolled up hill and then turned straight up on narrow single track. Around each turn I thought the climbing ended but it kept going up. I was over the climbing and knew once it leveled off I could start running again. I passed some pretty dejected souls along this section but soon found the summit after probably four miles of climbing. I started descending and was moving along pretty well. Soon I felt people behind but never really looked back. This pushed me a bit. I had no issues being passed but figured they were going to have to earn it. About a mile from the finish, I turned and noticed 5 guys coming hard. I knew this section from prior runs and felt I had the advantge. There was a short technical section and then a water crossing. I raced through the water, up a short steep section, and then around the bend to see the line. I was so full of energy and excitement. Kara and her husband Jeremy were also there to cheer me across the line. I got my medal and the stories started flowing out. My finish time 12:23.

In the end, my finish time was over what I had planned but I was okay with that. I was more pleased with the fact that I was able to move through my pain and continue on with the race. Fighting through adversity is a powerful feeling and easily translates into everyday life. I'll better my time in the future but for now I have my pride and my first 50 miles under my belt. And best of all, no blisters!

Thanks to everyone that supported me along the way especially my beautiful wife, Tracy!

Until the next adventure.....

Curveball-PCT 50

Well, this will be short and sweet. Today, three days before race day, I received word that the race might be postponed. Unfortunately, a military helicopter went down on the PCT course, killing two people, and littering the area with explosives. While I'll admit I was a bit bummed, I kept going back to the fact that two people lost their lives. Move on, I told myself.

Later in the day, though, I got word that the race would go on. It now would be run on the San Diego 100 course. Cool, I thought to myself, as I have run much of this course and feel comfortable on it. I think it is a bit tougher but also a bit cooler with more to look at. And, much more run-able with about 6200 ft of elevation gain. Here is a course profile.

I reserved a camp spot at Paso Picacho State Campground which also happens to be an aid station. Let's get it on already!

PCT 50: Ready or Not, Here I Come

Well, it's been about six months since I first decided to sign up for the PCT 50 mile trail run. Actually, if memory serves, registration did not open until January 1, 2009. Once I saw my name on the website , I knew there was no turning back. I was going to run a 50 mile trail run!

With some research online combined with some help here and there from friends, I created a training plan for the race. I would say my plan was some what conservative with my weekly mileage topping out at 65 miles per week although I did include a number of training runs with lots of climbing. Another key to my plan was to focus on quality over quantity. I was more concerned with quality long runs surrounded by quality rest day rather than high volume. This method seemed to work well with my Ironman training and turned out to be the key to staying healthy and fresh during my mileage ramp up. And finally, in order to keep my long runs enjoyable, I entered a number of trail and road runs (Big Baz Trail Series, San Dieguito Half Marathon, Lost Dutchman Half Marathon, PCTR Sycamore Canyon 50K) as well as joined the training runs for the San Diego 100, PCT 50, and Flo's Tri Club San Diego Thursday night trail runs at Mission Trails. Oh, and I can't forget all the midweek runs with my son Gabriel. In all, I have logged 579 miles since January, I've trained on the course, and now it's time to get the job done.

I would not be toeing the line without the endless love and support that my wife, Tracy, provides me. In addition, I look forward to seeing all my new friends out on the course that I met in the past few months. Trail runners are the best!

So here's to my next adventure!

Here's a look at my contantly evolving strategy:

PCT 50 Race Strategy

Primary Goal: Finish

Secondary Goal: Finish in 11 hours

Race Strategy: My strategy can be broken down into four parts. The first part of my strategy is to walk all uphill sections especially in the first 2/3rds of the course. I need to conserve my energy and to consume calories and fluids early in the race. I will consume calories from my hand-held bottle (Powerbar Endurance and 2 scoops of Carbo-Pro). I will run through Fred Canyon Road aid station at mile 6.6 and continue on to Dale’s Kitchen. Here I will fill my Nathan pack with water and grab solid food (probably potatoes and a pbj sandwich).

The next section is run-able and I plan on making up some time here. I will probably get to Todd’s Cabin in about 3:45-4:00 (17.4 mile mark). Here I will take in solid food again and eating as I walk out of the aid station. I plan on running the long downhill section into Penny Pines. At this aid station, I will change out my hand-held bottle and quickly move on to the turn-around.

When I return to Penny Pines (27.7 miles), I know that Sharon will be waiting for me. Sharon and I have put in many miles together and I know she will provide the motivation that I’ll need towards the end of the race. I will change my socks and shoes before heading out. I will also start to consider taking in caffeine via coke but would like to wait if possible.

I will walk the long hill heading out of Penny Pines and assess my fitness. I’m guessing Sharon will pick up my spirits a bit and I plan on fueling up during this stage. At Todd’s Cabin (32.9), I plan on hitting the cola and soup hard.

I will be a bit conservative as I leave Todd’s Cabin. While the section is run-able, I want to conserve energy and focus on nutrition. I will run flat and downhill sections but slowly.

At Dale’s Kitchen (mile 36.7), I will again take in coke and soup. The next section will be slow going with the rocks but I will force myself to run sections in order to keep the body moving and to stretch out. I need to be careful, though, as this section is very rocky.

At Fred Canyon Road (mile 44.0), I want to take a moment and regroup. I know that I only have six miles but this section seems so long. I want to run as much as possible and will play it all by ear. This stretch seems much longer than it is.

I’m aiming to take in about 3,000 calories on the course but that will depend on the temperature, my stomach, and my intensity.

Things That I Need To Remember

Second pair of shoes and socks

Coke

Clothes for finish, Keens

Sunblock

Jolly Ranchers

Vanilla Gu

Powerbar Endurance Sun Tea flavor with 2 scoops of Carbo Pro

Arm Warmers

Gloves

Hat

Being a Kid Again

Gabriel has reminded me that its a great thing to act like a child....contrary to what others might say or claim. Statements such as "act your age" or "quit being immature" or "you need to act like an adult" are far over-rated. There are certain times and places where age-appropriate behavior is recommended but I have been having more fun acting like a child lately than acting like an adult.

I smile more often, laugh without reserve, and tend to be less cynical about the world. I suggest that you give it a try. Find a child and let yourself go....don't worry about what other adults around you might think....have fun and play like a child. One of my favorite places to do so is while grocery shopping with Gabriel. We play all sorts of games together. We have fun with each other and I enjoy the reactions of people around me. I suppose I might have reacted that way prior to Gabriel's arrival but not now. My kid spirit has been released once again and now it is free to play.

I think one of the reasons I have always enjoyed my endurance events is that I often played with this "inner child" while testing my limits. Pushing the body and mind tends to bring on a bit of delirium. As such, acts such as talking to oneself, random mood swings from pure joy to utter sadness, and breaking down complex ideas into simple ideas are common among Ironmen and Ultra-runners. I think these traits are similar to that of childhood. I see Gabriel go from pure joy to panic at the flip of a switch and he seems to handle stress better than anyone I know. So I think I may be on to something.

As my training ramps up for the Pacific Crest Trail 50 Mile Endurance Run, I have incorporated many of my recent philosophical rants into my workouts. I have been thinking of my workouts from a child's perspective freeing myself from heart rate monitors, manditory mileages, and rigid timelines. Instead, I have been more loosely following a game plan and following my instincts and urges a bit more. I go hard when I feel like it and back off when that seems more appropriate. My weekly mileage has come in just below what my original plans called for but my mind is fresh and alive. I wake up looking forward to my workouts and my long runs get better each week. In fact, each run seems to be a new adventure instead of miles in my log book. I never thought I would be excited to run 20+ miles every Saturday!

So as I move forward, I will look to Gabriel as a symbol of my inner child. Play on!

Until the next adventure.....

New Year, New Challenges and Adventures

Wow-2009 is here in full force. Tracy went back to work this week and now I've started my new job as a full-time stay at home dad. We had a great time spending time as a family and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity. Since Gabriel was born about 4.5 months ago, we spent about a month in Baja, over a week in Grass Valley, four days in Arizona, three days in Santa Cruz, and a couple days camping in the mountains east of San Diego. In that time, Gabriel was introduced to so much. From time at the zoo, to experiencing Ironman Arizona, watching Papa finish his first 50K trail run, or Mama coming back from pregnancy to complete her 15K race, Gabriel was constantly exploring. Now it's time to look at the upcoming year.

Well we have a full schedule. Tracy is signed up for a number of races already and well I've gone overboard. Tracy and I are running a couple of half marathons together. I really enjoy when we do races together. Words cannot describe how proud I am of Tracy as I watch her cross each finish line...when we do it together...my feelings are magnified. On my plate, I've signed up to do the Pacific Crest Trail 50 mile Endurance Run, May 9th. In preparation, I've signed up for a number of trail runs throughout Southern California.

After my race, I plan to switch my focus to my bike. My old buddy Code P, Pete, and I are going to do the Santa Cruz Mountain Challenge in July with over a 100 miles and 11K of climbing . I really look forward to riding in SC again and with Pete. We sure had some good times living in Capitola together. We go out for some hillacious rides and follow it up with combo platters and margaritas at Margaritaville...the good old days!

After that, Tracy, Gabriel, and I will head down to our place in Asuncion for three weeks or so in August. That's about it for now. More details in the days to come.

Don't Call It A Comeback

So Tracy and I were blessed to have a healthy, happy young boy. Gabriel has blessed us and now it's time to get back to business. Actually, it didn't take long for us to get back into a workout rhythym. In fact, I raced the Bulldog 25k (http://www.trailrunevents.com/bd/index.htm) just a few days after Tracy was released from the hospital. A month after Gabriel was born we were in Santa Cruz as I ran the PCTR Skyline to the Sea 50K trail run (http://www.pctrailruns.com/Skyline_to_the_Sea.htm). Gabriel was out on the trial rooting me on.

So now it was time to root mom on as she came back from her Ironman race (having Gabriel). From our jog/walks in Bahia Asuncion to our runs in Coronado, Tracy had been pushing hard for her race. We had volunteered last year at the Xterra Mission Gorge race and had earned a complimentary entry. As such, Tracy decided she would use her entry for her post Gabriel race. She picked out the Crystal Cove 15k http://www.trailrace.com/crystalcove.html.

Her running partner, Alexis, agreed to join her on this adventure and they started training on Sunday mornings leaving Gabriel home with me and Evie home with Alan. I did my best to give them trail routes in preparation and feel they were awesome students. But race day would be the real decider.

A few days prior to the race it had been raining. I think secretly Tracy was hoping for the race to be canceled. Not so much as she wasn't prepared but I think she was ready to go faster. But, as fate would have it, she would have a sunny but cold race morning.

We picked up Alexis about 5:00am and made the hour plus drive up to Laguna Beach. It was a beautiful morning although temps were in the low 40s. While Tracy was thinking about the hilly course I was pondering if I could handle Gabriel alone. We had practiced a few times being separated from mom but not for this amount of time.

After a potty break, the ladies casually made it to the start line. In fact, the gun went off before they were even there. Such is life at a trail race. Gabriel and I cheered them on there way and then set out for a hike of our own. I figured we had about 2 hours before we'd see the ladies so why not make the most of it. Off we hiked.

Gabriel and I paralleled the race course and could hear the runners in the distance. I so wanted to find Tracy and Alexis on the course but realized it wouldn't happen. Thus, we hiked about 3 miles and returned to base. I tried to feed Gabriel a bit (he thinks the bottle is a toy) and then we went to the finish line to cheer on the women. About 2:10 after the race started, Tracy and Alexis came running down the hill with huge smile as they approached the finish line. I was so proud of them....Tracy making her comeback run and Alexis completing her first trail race. Gabriel was all smiles, too.

From what I could gather, the ladies had a blast and Alexis is hooked on the trails. It was another wonderful day outside with Gabriel.

Up next for me is San Dieguito and Lost Dutchman Half Marathons (Tracy is running as well), Twin Peaks 50K with 11,000 ft of climbing, and PCT 50 miler in May. After that, who knows.....but I see a return to Ironman Couer d'Alene in 2010...watchout!

Until the next adventure!

Gabriel Goes To Asuncion

Gabriel Goes To Asuncion

10/25/2008

The truck was packed, we loaded up the cats, Tracy fed Gabriel, and off to Baja we went. It was about 5:15am when we finally left the house. My mom decided to follow us down as this would be her maiden voyage. We stopped at the border to pick up our FMT permits and were on the road by 6:08. Our plan was to drive all the way as we had done in the past but if we needed to we’d stay the night in Guerrero Negro. We left the door open as we weren’t certain as to how well Gabriel, Jack, or Cleo would travel. As it turned out, they all did fabulously. Gabriel was a dream and the cats were great, too. That is, after Jack peed all over himself and we let him out of his cage, he was fine.

We arrived here about 7:30pm or so taking our time on the drive. It was great to be back. I unpacked the truck while Tracy introduced Gabriel to our neighbors (Angela, Luis). It didn’t take us long to settle in but the cats were full of energy exploring the new digs.

We had a good night’s sleep and awoke a little more refreshed than expected. No sooner were we awake when the visitors started arriving to welcome us and visit Gabriel. Our friend Teresa invited us over for lunch and the food train began. Later, Lupita would drop by with some lobster ceviche. The food keeps coming….went to run errands and realized I had a flat. Guess we’d walk for now.

I’ve started slow on the projects. We had drywall installed in the small bedroom and painted as well. What a difference that made! I also started my weeding and tree pruning. I’m almost ready to start some painting projects but it’s been a bit warmer than normal so mas tarde for now.

We’ve been walking morning and nights. The new Bob stroller is awesome and perfect for down here. Gabriel loves it, too. He smiles and talks before falling into a deep sleep.

Well, that’s all for now. We’re off to Lupita’s house later for some fried lobster…yum!!!

11/9/2009

What a great trip it’s been so far. Having the cats with us in addition to Gabriel has made our time here so rewarding. The cats are a big part of the family and leaving them home is always saddening. Their company is a welcome pleasure.

While there have been many highlights most seem to revolve around food and work. I’ve made a great deal of progress on the casita. Before our trip down Tracy and I try to make a list of things we want to accomplish and then shop accordingly. One day while at Lowes looking for paint, Tracy noticed some cans marked at $5 each. They were mistakes but we figured what the heck. We chose a couple cans and hoped for the best not necessarily knowing where we’d use them. As it turned out, both were great colors and a heck of a bargain.

One of the cans, I used in the kitchen. It turned out to be a dark ocean blue and worked well. I surprised Tracy on this project as she slept in. Her face was priceless as she walked into the kitchen for her morning tea. The other can of paint we thought was a dark red but turned out to be a deep purple. We used it on the planter wall. I definitely would not have chosen the purple color but am very pleased with it. Oh, we also planted a lime tree, roses, and some carnations along with some wild flowers which make a lovely contrast.

With the small room painted, we decided to use it for now as a storage room. Thus, I took the old wooden twin bed frame out to make room. After a long nap, I knew what I had in store for the bed frame. I would use one of the metal rails as a pole for the triangle shaped, sail-shade for the patio. With the wooden ends, I would attempt to make a picnic table. Tracy kind of looked at me funny when a I grabbed my drill and saw and headed outside. I started poking around the wood pile here and at my mom’s house and soon enough my project came to fruition. While it’s not the most beautiful table around, it has proven quite functional and sturdy.

It was also time to attack the decrepit closet in the main bedroom. When I first came down to clean the house out, this closet scared me. I had been putting off this project but was now up to the challenge. And, I wanted some place to hang up my clothes. The work itself shouldn’t be too difficult but one never knows down here how things might unfold. This project turned out to be straight-forward and easy. We know have a freshly painted closet with a light, shelving, and a place to hang out shirts now.

I also started laying some of the laja rock down that we are going to use for our patio. My buddy Juan is an incredible mason but has been incredibly busy fishing. So I thought I’d try my hand and practice a bit before we get to the real deal. It turned out well and I’m looking forward to working on the patio this week. In preparation, I started moving dirt with a five gallon bucket. I needed to build up one side of the patio. So far, I’ve brought in 45 buckets of dirt.

And finally, one of the most rewarding projects thus far has been some tile work I did in the front room. Grandpa Gary and Louise bought Tracy and I, a 2 by 3 ft. picture made up of 6 inch tiles. We weren’t sure where we’d put them until this trip. I first used some of the infamous blue paint for a backdrop below our little bar from the kitchen and then hung the tiles. The contrast is incredible and we couldn’t be any more pleased.

Besides working on projects, we’ve made our rounds visiting with friends. Each morning and most nights we go for long walks with Gabriel. We often don’t have any itinerary and find ourselves eventually chatting with a neighbor or friend along the way. It still amazes me just how friendly and warm the people are here. They love their village and are quick to say so.

Gabriel has had many firsts here as well. Yesterday, I went out with Juan, Kevin, and Herman to fish a bit. Oh no worries, we did our share of catching, too. We came home with plenty of yellow fin tuna and yellowtail. And I need to mention that we prepared ceviche with fresh lobster on the boat to regain our strength from reeling in the fish. But back to Gabriel, after cleaning our catch and sharing most of it with the neighbors, I suggested to Tracy we for a quick swim. She agreed so off to the beach we went.

We drove down on the beach and unfolded our chairs. I picked up Gabriel and we waded into the warm water. He was so excited with the sounds of the waves. I gently lowered his feet into the water and he was loving himself. We played for quite a while before heading home for fish tacos. So it appears Gabriel is going to enjoy his beach time from now on.

Today is starting off slow. The police are driving around making some announcements but no one seems too worried. I suppose I’ll grab another cup of coffee and make some banana pancakes…and then who knows…maybe take a nap.

11/14/08

The trip is quickly coming to an end and while I’m ready to get back to San Diego, I’m already missing our second home. We accomplished so much on this trip with regards to the casita but also found plenty of time to just relax.

We just finished up another project and that was to build another planter in front of the house. It turned out that our friend was too busy to install the front porch so we decided to go ahead with the planter. It is probably better that it happened this way as far as logistics.

We ended up hiring Jose Luis (whom we bought the place from) and his brother Felix to handle the cement and plaster work. They did an excellent job and we’ll definitely use them again. I’ll paint the planter tomorrow and then we’ll get some top fill dirt from the riverbed. I already filled it about 3/4ths of the way with fill dirt from behind the casita. I also put down some cinder blocks to help level out the patio. Slowly but surely we’re getting where we want to be with the patio. Next, we plan on building some sort of trellis for shade as well as planting grapes on the western planter.

A few days ago, we packed up Gabriel and drove up to San Roque. There is a great road used by the vigilancia heading to the north that I’ve seen from the ocean many times. We jog/hiked about 3 miles out on this road, had a nice lunch with a seal playing in the surf nearby and jogged back. This area is some of my favorite around with beautiful vistas and lovely, hidden beaches around each turn. We agreed that this will be a common path for our runs.

Another project that I’m glad to have completed was framing out the new windows on the interior. I had to get creative as I didn’t have any materials and thus cut some 2 x 4s in half and used them. I did the best I could considering the uneven lines on the drywall and the crooked wood. Tracy is happy with the results and that’s what’s most important.

The food barrage continues on….Naty and my mom invited us over last night for some lobster ceviche. It was a bit different than what we had on the boat but just as good. It was a great evening sitting outside under the full moon. Outside of getting a nasty cut on the back of my leg somehow, it was a perfect evening. A few days earlier, Lupita surprised us with a plate of fish tacos and a plate of enchiladas. This is all in addition to the food I’ve been cooking up. Today, I cooked up some pasta and red sauce and surprised Lupita. It’s a good thing we like to eat.

We’ll slowly start to pack up and head out early Monday morning. We won’t be taking much home so it should go quickly. Saying goodbye to all of our friends here is what will take some time. It’s hard to describe just how welcoming our community has been to us. In fact, Jose Luis and Felix, our neighbors, are calling me Zac Robles, in other words, I am a brother to them and a part of the family. It’s a good feeling especially when I think of the values and traditions that Gabriel will experience. We have found our little bit of paradise and life is good.

November 18, 2008

We arrived back home in San Diego last night about 6:30pm. It’s always nice to walk in our place after a long trip. It’s easy to take things for granted and we’re reminded that we have a wonderful home north of the border as well.

The last few days of our trip were incredible. We drove up to San Pablo for a lobster fry and beautiful sunset. Tracy and I are officially over lobster for quite some time. When we got back to our place from San Pablo, our neighbor came running over shouting that we needed to come over to his house. We walked over and we amazed with what we saw. Turns out, they caught a 100+ kilo black sea bass! The thing was huge. They caught it north of San Pablo, fighting it for over 2 hours on 40# test. It was fun to share in the excitement.

On Sunday morning, Tracy and I got an early start working on the patio and yard. We moved a bunch of rocks and replanted the new planter. Tracy also got creative and painted two old washer bins that we were using for planters. By noon we had finished and were delighted with the results. We celebrated with a champagne brunch.

Later in the day, we took Gabriel down to the beach for a final swim of the trip. It was a perfect day in Bahia Asuncion with warm water and no wind. My mom happened by and we all played in the water. What a perfect ending to a perfect trip. (Unfortunately, the perfect ending wasn’t so perfect. We later found out that our friend Naty was killed the night before in a car accident and Tia Lupita’s best friend was innocently shot in a drive by shooting in El Rosario. Our sympathies and thoughts go out to all those affected.)

Until the next adventure….