The Adventures of Bajaboy

Trail Running Bahia Asuncion.wmv

2012-01-05T16:07:00.000-08:00

And Mikayla is all smiles this trip

2012-01-03T20:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays 2011

2011-12-04T19:55:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

Zac, Tracy, Gabriel, and Mikayla

Following in his Daddy's footsteps

2011-11-14T19:43:00.000-08:00

From November fun 2011

I couldn't help but grabbing the camera and video tapping my son, Gabriel, playing tonight. After playing for a few minutes, he started telling me he was traveling between his house in Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico and his house in San Diego. Of course, he needed to stay at the Baja Cactus Motel, in El Rosario. He even went so far as to show me the locations on a make believe map. My son's imagination is amazing. It also makes me feel good to know that I am not the only one dreaming about our next trip down to Baja.

Until the next adventure....

Another Guy's Trip Report....or not

2011-10-06T21:14:00.000-07:00

As fate would have it, my wife did not get the teaching position with Sweetwater Unified School District that we had hoped for....but fortunately she was still employed. As such, she was on a traditional schedule while I enjoyed a year round. Thus, as my fall break approached I had to decide whether to stay in San Diego or venture south to our place in Bahia Asuncion, Baja Sur, Mexico. The next big decision involved if I would travel solo, with one, or two of the kids. I struggled with the decision....that is, I struggled with whether to take one or both of the kids. Life is too short, in my opinion, to leave the kids at home. I ultimately decided that it would be a guys trip and I would only take Gabriel. This would be our third guy's trip in Gabriel's three years of life. Also tagging along was David, friend and coworker.

My thoughts are still interwoven and jumbled together...reminding me that I need more alone time. We had a great time and I found myself closer than ever to my son. I also found myself yearning for a father-daughter trip. Young Mikayla is so full of energy and smiles....

I originally intended on putting a words down regarding my recent trip but now find myself thinking more about the joys of parenthood. I wonder at times if I am off a bit as so many of my friends plead for time away from their kids. No, I dream each day of how can I find more time to be with my kids.

Until the next adventure....

Time moves by too quickly.....

2011-08-14T19:17:00.001-07:00

I came up with the great idea of starting a journal today since so much happens daily that I'm afraid we'll forget. So instead I may try this blog thing.... I'm not attempting to be a fantastic writer or come up with profound thoughts, more that I'm just wanting to document the day to day fun with our family.

Where to start? It's been a typical weekend for us. We hit up SeaWorld yesterday and were quickly reminded why we don't go during the summer. Too busy for us! We like to sneak in for a few hours in the morning and sneak back out. But we did have a great time going on a few rides with Gabriel, seeing the new turtle exhibit, the penguins and the Elmo show. Today took us to Balboa park for a walk and some play time at the park. We always love just watching the kids go crazy at the park. Mikayla is still not quite walking but getting closer every day. As Gabriel and I were climbing the structures, it was sweet to catch a peek of Mikayla and Zac practicing walking. Other highlights of the weekend included Gabriel's new love of drumming on the bongo drums using the two drum sticks (aka bamboo sticks Grandpa gave to him), Zac was happy having the family back around the dinner table after our week trip to Grass Valley, and just listening to the fun things Gabriel is saying. "Hey, wait a minute...." "Actually..." "That's what I was talking about..."

Good night reading with Gabriel and Mikayla

2011-03-07T20:34:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Dad

2011-02-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how a few simple words of reflection can inspire and brighten a day. I cherish and love my dad so much.

Camping in Anza Borrego

2011-01-17T14:50:00.000-08:00

Camping in Borrego MLK Weekend

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2011-01-06T18:54:00.000-08:00

Oak Canyon Waterfalls Run

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2011-01-05T08:57:00.000-08:00

Mt. Miguel Hike

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Merry Christmas from Bahia Asuncion 2010

2011-01-02T22:04:00.000-08:00

Click on the following link:

Christmas greetings from Bahia Asuncion, Baja Sur, Mexico

And Then There Were Four (plus our cat)

2010-08-07T03:46:00.000-07:00

On June 11, 2010 at 2:59am, we welcomed Mikayla Ann Johnston into our wonderful family. She came out weighing 8 pounds 3 ounces and with a full head of dark hair and big blue eyes. Once again, Doctor Kamali and the entire staff at Sharp Chula Vista were incredible! Tracy was incredibly strong, almost making delivery look easy. In addition, Gabriel did a great job of keeping Grandpa Gary occupied while we were at the hospital.

Now almost two months later, I look back and think about all that we have done and how our lives have changed. We waited as long as we could (2 weeks) before taking Mikayla down to Bahia Asuncion. She was immediately welcomed by the community and we felt very comfortable getting used to our bigger family. Parenting two children within two years of each other is not twice the challenge....it's more like five times the challenge. So we took advantage of our vacation to practice and learn from our mistakes before returning to our busy lives back in San Diego.

We had a wonderful vacation. One of the biggest highlights of the trip was the purchase of a pillow-top bed for our room. It is so comfortable! We also started planning for the addition of a garage, a side wall to block the wind, and a new septic tank. This included getting quotes from our friend and builder Roberto, purchasing rocks for foundation, and walking the property many times envisioning what the future might look like. In doing so, we were also able to take in how the casita is developing, the plants are maturing, and how fortunate we are to have such a wonderful place for family fun and adventure.

Also high on the list from vacation were the nightly happy hours we had with our friends. Most nights, our neighbors Miguel and Angela would stop by. We would spend a few hours talking about life both north and south of the border, family, school, and some politics. We have really grown to admire and cherish our neighbors. We were also blessed with a visit from our friends Jack and Harriett who were headed down to their place in Elias Calles. Next summer, we plan to visit with them at their beautiful place.

Since returning to San Diego, I was hired on full time to teach Algebra and Math 8 (pre-Algebra) at Eastlake Middle School, one of the top schools in Sweetwater School District. It is a year round school and I started back on July 17th. I must say, I count my blessings each day to be at such an incredible school. So far, the year is unfolding better than planned and I love my job. Besides working with such a talented staff and group of students, some of my favorite trails in San Diego are a few blocks away allowing me easy access.

I am looking forward to another busy year of racing and adventure. I tend to focus the majority of my races around the winter and spring months. This year is no different. Originally, I had planned on running The Lost Boys 50 mile race in October but instead I am going to captain an aid station in the middle of the Anza Borrego desert. With a new job and bigger family, I do not want to over-commit just yet. Instead, I am going to focus on building up my strength and base running a number of 50k distance races, riding my bike more often, and continue my physical therapy for an old shoulder injury. Next spring, I plan on a return to Healdsburg and the Lake Sonoma 50 Mile race. I have toyed with the thought of doing a 100 mile race as well but nothing definite is in the plans.

Tracy is going to return to work after we return from a two week trip to Baja in October. Her return to work is going to up the ante for all of us but I know we'll adjust accordingly. In the meantime, I will continue to count my blessings, cherish the love and laughter we share, and continue living life as an adventure.

Until the next adventure....

Lake Sonoma 50 Mile Race Report

2010-03-30T16:06:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd take a brief moment and report on my race on Saturday. Lake Sonoma is a new race (3rd edition) but already becoming a classic due to the challenging course and time of year. It's a great tune up race for those doing Western States. In fact, seemed almost everyone I spoke to was doing WS. As you might infer, the field was thick with talent.

The course is an out and back route along Lake Sonoma. The course is primarily single track with a number of water crossings and constant climbs and descents. In fact, there is 10,500 feet of climbing with an equal amount of descent. The biggest climb is just before mile 25 and then again over the last few miles. The scenery was stunning to say the least.

I was not too confident going into the race. This past year I have had less than stellar performances and have fought a number of illness' and injury. But I did fee somewhat healthy going into the race. Regardless, my goal was to finish with a smile on my face.

My pre-race meal usually involves pizza and a beer or two. As things would turn out, after my 5th beer of the night, I figured I should go to bed. I woke up in the middle of the night with a mean headache and wondered why I had so many beers. Oh well, I took some Tylenol and figured I would run the hangover away....after all, I had some practice with this in training. The alarm finally went off and I started getting ready.

My pregnant wife and 18 month old were along for the race as well. I contacted the race director about hitching a ride with someone else to the start so my family could sleep in a bit. I was put in contact with Hal Koerner who was staying at the same hotel. For those of you unfamiliar with Hal...well let's just say he's a legend in the Ultra community winning the last two Western States race among a long list of other races. I was a bit excited. Hal and his girlfriend Carly turned out to be really cool and we had a great conversation on the drive to the race. Both were really down to Earth and I think this got me a bit more motivated.

My strategy for the race was to go out slow and then pick it up if I felt I could at the turn. At the mile 12 aid station I picked up Martin, a veteran Ultra runner who was training for WS. He was a great guy with lots of advice and enthusiasm. He pushed my pace a bit and we ran together up until mile 25. I was dragging just a bit and knew my family and friends would be there. We said our goodbyes and he took off without me. I changed socks and shoes, applied sunscreen, changed out bottles, and headed out again. I often take a little longer in the aid station with my wife and son but feel it's worth it.

As I headed down the long descent which would be followed by another long climb, I tried to push my pace in order to get my muscles moving again. I felt pretty good and kept focusing on getting water into my body. I quickly arrived at the mile 30 aid station where my crew was waiting for me. Here I ditched my water bottle and chose to stick with just my hydration pack. Just as I was heading out, I decided to take some tylenol and asked my wife for another kiss. As I was taking off, I was chatting with a young guy from Oregon. We were talking about the possibility of finishing at 12 hours. Just about then this guy runs by and makes some remark about needing to run faster. Well, I wasn't sure if the guy was talking smack or not but I took it that way. Somehow, my mind and body said go and I was off!

From mile 30 to the finish, I picked off runner after runner. In all, I passed 25 people and eventually crossed the finish line at 11:25. I had a blast and felt great the whole day. After the race, I picked up my goody bag which included a tech shirt, hat, and high quality Brooks running jacket. There was also incredible post race food including gourmet tamales and buckets of Lagunitas IPA beer. Hands down this race was first class all the way around.

So in my second 50, I dropped an hour from my previous time on a course that had twice the climbing as my first. I will definitely be back next year and plan to go sub 11.

All in all, a great day. And by the way, Hal ended up winning the race, breaking the course record by 20 minutes with a 7:08...roughly 8:30 minute/miles....unbelievable.

Update: here are some incredible pics taken by Laura of the day

Christmas Blessings

2009-12-25T11:35:00.000-08:00

It's been a great Christmas so far. We were up late last night visiting with friends. We first stopped by Mike and Jane's place where we ate turkey, scalloped potatoes, wonderful rolls, and a selection of delightful desserts. We left about 10:30 or so and stopped by our neighbor's house for menudo, more turkey, and other fixings. We had some good laughs before saying our good-nights. After putting Gabriel down, we brought his presents for a morning surprise.

Gabriel woke up and looked out the window towards Luis' house. It's the first thing he does now in the morning. The two have become such good friends. After Mom made sure we were all ready, we went out to the front room together. Gabriel's eyes lit up when he saw his trike waiting for him. He knew exactly what it was and got on it. We also opened presents from Grandma Jim and Grandma Judy along with a few other presents. Gabriel seemed quite pleased with his gifts.

A short while later Grandma Zoe stopped by for breakfast. We had wheat pancakes on the patio and enjoyed the warm sunshine. Gabriel then wanted to go for a ride and show off a bit. Luis got a new bike as well so the two of them were riding around the front yard together.

After a short nap, we'll head over to Tia Lupita's for lobster and Pozole and then back over to Mike and Jane's for dinner. We really enjoy spending the holidays here. It just seems a little less stressful and carefree.

Hoping you a Merry Christmas!

Holiday Wishes 2009

2009-12-16T16:02:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!

As 2009 comes to a close, we thought we’d take a quick look back on some of the highlights. We had great year full of new challenges, laughter, accomplishments, and a few setbacks. We have nothing but incredible optimism for 2010 and the years to come. Here are a few highlights from this year.

The first five months of the year Gabriel was helping Papa train for the PCT 50 mile train run. The two trained all over San Diego County as Zac was staying home with Gabriel. The two had a blast together and Zac managed to finish his first 50 mile race in one piece and with a big smile. Gabriel and Tracy were a big component to his success. Next on the list is the Lake Sonoma 50 mile race and in June he will step up and do the San Diego 100 mile trail race.

In June, we went down to our place in Bahia Asuncion for three weeks. We installed a new patio, tile, and planted a number of shade and fruit trees. We also enjoyed plenty of beach time with Gabriel. He is a natural in the water and at the beach. During our trip, we learned that Tracy had been accepted into an all-expenses/tuition program at Pt. Loma Nazarene University that would transition her to become a credentialed Special Education teacher. With the return to school, also came a job transfer to Bell Middle School where she is teaching Special Education. She has not been this happy in a long time.

Zac also started working at a new school. Actually, he started his student teaching at Eastlake Middle School in late July and finished this week. He taught 7^th grade math and 8^th grade Algebra. His next step is to get a full time teaching job in spring while he finishes up his Masters in Multicultural Education.

With Zac back at work, Gabriel started school as well. We found a wonderful in-home day care center nearby. Gabriel is thriving there and we are so relieved that he is in good hands. He continues to amaze us and challenge us. As most of you already know, Gabriel is going to be a big brother come June. Yes, we are pregnant. We will find out whether we are having a boy or girl in early January.

We will be spending Christmas and New Years at our place in Bahia Asuncion, Baja California Sur. We look forward to eating lots of lobster and fish, laughing with friends and family, and taking some quality naps. Hope you have something fun planned as well.

With our sincere thoughts, we wish each of you a happy and safe holiday season.

Until the next adventure!

PCT 50-Mission Accomplished

2009-05-10T15:41:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-06T21:56:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-03T21:27:00.000-07:00

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 Serie s, 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

2009-03-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-14T22:00:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-18T21:38:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-14T06:25:00.000-08:00

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….

My First Ultra Marathon-Skyline to the Sea 50K-Sept 20, 2008

2008-10-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

It's been some time since I posted. With the arrival of our newborn son, Gabriel Adam, I've had my hands full. He's a wonderful child and we are blessed with his arrival. With some good planning and a little luck, Tracy and I are both home with Gabriel. As such, we decided to extend our already planned trip to Santa Cruz for my race and also visit Tracy's parents in Grass Valley. This would be Gabriel's first big adventure at one month of age.

I decided early in the year that I would attempt a 50k race. And when I heard Pacific Coast Trail Runs was creating the inaugural Skyline to the Sea 50K trail run taking place near Santa Cruz, I knew it was for me. I shot off my check and began my training.

As I mentioned in prior posts, I had run a number of trail runs in preparation. I was feeling great up until about a month before the race. About that time, Gabriel was born and my training went out the door. And about a week later, I received a call asking if I would open a section of Algebra and Science at Gompers Charter Middle School. I agreed but under the condition that I would only work until my race. As such, I ran twice the two weeks prior to my race putting in a total of 20 miles. Talk about a long taper....

We decided to drive up early and surprise Tracy's parents in Grass Valley. Grandma Judy had already met Gabriel but Grandpa Jim had not. Tracy and I want our son to know and love his family as much as we do so visiting the family was important. We made the 10 hour drive with Gabriel in tow and he was a delight. He would cry when he needed to feed but otherwise slept most of the time. The long drive was all worth it by the look on Grandpa's face when we surprised him at work. Priceless!

After a short but sweet visit we made our way to Santa Cruz where Grandpa Gary and Grandma Louise were visiting Aunt Haley none of whom had met young Gabriel. The introductions went well and Gabriel was received with open arms. After an hour or so, we said our good-byes and headed for our hotel in downtown Santa Cruz, directly across from our good friend Lucio's restaurant, Cafe Lucio.

I now began to think about my race and how I should prepare for it. I knew I had the base to finish the run. After finishing two Ironman triathlons and numerous challenging trail runs, I would find a way to dig deep if need be. But with the lack of recent runs, I decided my best course of action was to start off slow and progress as the race unfolded. My priority for the day was to finish the race, in the top half of the field, and have a time of around 6 hours.

While I could go into the details of the course, I came across this report by Scott Dunlop who has an excellent report with pictures. At the start of the race, Tracy and Gabriel wished me well. I always loved having Tracy at the start but now with the little man present, it was even sweeter. I purposely seeded myself way towards the back of the pack, forcing me to run a slow pace. The trails were two narrow for much passing and thus I would be forced to go slow. I would do so until about mile 10 where I would finally hammer for a stretch.

Tracy and Gabriel met me at the first aid station where I informed her I had already been stung by African bees two times. In all, I would have 5 stings but far shy of the 20 stings one person I spoke to had encountered. I chimed in that I would take bees over rattlesnakes any day of the week.

At the Gazos Creek Aid station in Big Basin, my folks joined my cheering squad. I first approached this aid station about mile 15 and then did a challenging 7k loop before returning a second time. Leaving the second time, my legs were cramping a bit so I walked for some time as the trail climbed for a mile or so. At the top, my legs felt good again and I found myself running a decent pace for a number of miles.

As the trail descended through the redwoods and towards the Pacific, I knew I would achieve my goal of finishing but realized a 6 hour finish was unrealistic. I kept plugging along and finally found a running friend. I don't recall his name or that I ever knew it but we had a common bond and that was to finish strong. We ran together for the final eight miles together exchanging stories and encouragement. Had I not paired up with this stranger, I probably would have finished well beyond my 6:25 finish time.

As it turned out, I finished 103/212 so I managed to achieve two of my goals. I had a great time and gained a great deal of confidence along the way. As usual, a huge thanks goes out to my training partners, my wife and son, Laura for her words of encouragement, and my family for their love and support.

We celebrated my finish, Gabriel's arrival, and time together at Cafe Lucio across from our hotel. As usual, we left Lucio's with full bellies and good stories.
Until the next adventure.....

Bahia Asuncion Work Trip Next Episode

2008-07-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

Part Two

Well after posting my last report at the Internet Café, I walked out to my truck and found a long-time friend waiting for me. Mark drove up from his place in Elias Calles and decided to surprise me. My routine was about to change with Mark in town, horse races, quincineras, dances, and a baseball play off all slated for the weekend.

Without going into much detail, the weekend was full of fun and little sleep. The first night Mark arrived we were up until 2:30am playing horse shoes if that is any indication. Both Saturday night and Sunday night there were dances at “La Concha” a block from the casita. It was great to finally attend one of the parties/bailes as I had heard so much about them. I was not let down.

I also really enjoyed the horse races. About four miles outside of town, cars line up for a number of races. They sell beer and people make wagers on the races. We parked next to Lupita, Rita, and Briseda. Later Juan, Shari, and the gang arrived. The highlight was meeting Augustine who is the director at the high school. He and Mark bet most of the races and quickly became friends.

On Sunday, I walked down to the baseball stadium to catch a game. I didn’t realize what an event it was. The stands were full of people in addition to the people who had parked their cars around the stadium and were watching from their cars. I found a chair on the 3rd base line and soon enough Mingo joined me. Mingo is a good guy who has known Juan all his life. He offered a beer and explained the team from Asuncion was playing Santa Rosalia in the playoffs. I had blast practicing some Spanish and hanging with a friend catching a game drinking 10 peso beers and eating pistachios.

Well it was time to get back to work. Yesterday, Tuesday, we started looking for cement. I couldn’t find any so Juan tried the Coop and bought the last for bags ($125/bag). Later in the day, Juan, Mark, and I decided to rebuild the eroding foundation in the front of the house. I thought we were just going to slap up some cement but of course Juan had to make it look nice. He did some beautiful rock work and boy what a difference it made. I am really appreciative of Juan’s help. I also built a cover for the water heater. It took me longer to find the materials I needed (four small L brackets) but Gloria, our neighbor, at Los Pinos Hardware came through for me.

Now I am off to help Juan launch the boat. He is taking Mark out along with a charter guest. I plan on making the rounds today getting caught up with some friends. That’s all for now.

Zac

Thursday, July 10, 2008 about 7:00pm

Just got done with a lengthy strength workout and about ready to crack open the first beer of the day. Not sure what’s gotten into me other than I’m settling into my normal routine from the States. And just as I’m about ready to return.

My trip has been wonderful and I could easily stay here longer. The only thing missing in my life are my wife and cats….otherwise, I very content here. I find myself being more creative, less stressed, and generally much happier. But I am ready to get back to SD and begin the next chapter in my/our life.

Today I finally was able to nail down a crew to build the wall/planter. The two are from Sinoloa but have family here. From what I hear, they are very good and thus a bit more expensive. No problema….as long as the work gets done. The planter is going to be an L shape with a taller wall on the back side to block the wind. I’m also hoping to get a new water faucet installed as well. The wall will be built out of cinder block and then plastered. The materials cost about $150 (140 blocks for $100 and 4 bags of cement at $125/each) and labor $160. I’m not too concerned with the price as the benefits will be incredible. The next step will be to lay down laja rock.

Today I was fed well again. The past two nights, I’ve eaten well at Juan and Shari’s place. Today, though, Gloria’s daughter (our neighbor) brought over a plate of food for me. Que sabroso! Lunch was fried white sea bass, pico de gallo, and some tasty hot salsa. After that meal, I needed a siesta and thus I lay down on the couch. A short while later, Lupita and Rita show up with a pot of caldo (fish soup). I haven’t tried it yet but I’m certain it’s fantastic. I’ve eaten so well on this trip. Besides all the great food others have made for me, I’ve done my share of cooking as well. This trip, I brought down frozen chicken breasts, gourmet sausages, and frozen yellow fin tuna. I’m much more at ease when I can cook.

Yesterday Mark left and things got back to normal for me. I got up on the roof and assessed how it was holding up. For the most part, I am impressed with our work. The casita is so much cooler than before. Also, structurally I’m certain the house is in better condition. I added a few nails here and there and then put a tarp over part of the bathroom ceiling as we were short of lamina. I had one long sheet remaining and I had been debating on how to use it. I decided to install it over the main part of the house. The dilemma, though, was how to install it. The roof in that area is very weak and the only ladder I have is fairly short (from the Toyota home). I kept pondering for a bit and finally decided to go for it.

I pull out my drill and climb up on the roof from the bathroom. I gingerly ease my way out on the existing lamina. When I reach the corner, I screw in a short length of 2 x 4 to the roof. This action was a bit precarious and I certain the neighbors were waiting for me to come crashing down. Some how, though, I survived and was able to nail in the lamina. I think we’re good at least in the short term. Down the road, I’d like to lay a cement foundation and then continue the lamina over that area which will house a washing machine one day.

I also cleaned that area up a bit. In the process, I found two of Tracy’s friends (read field mice) that had been visiting without a welcome. I had been going crazy trying to get them with the mouse-trap but was finally able to get them with poison. Fortunately, they went outside to die and thus I needed to find that entrance. I poked my head around a bit and realized they were coming up near the foundation and wood siding. A few squirts of foam insulation and the holes were sealed. All should be good…at least for now.

Another huge stroke of luck (not crashing off the roof was luck) was finding a guava tree on the property. I was doing some weeding around a stick in the ground when I realized a number of new branches and leaves. I seriously thought this tree for dead as I had watered and watered it. I pretty much left it there out of laziness. Well, I suppose it pays to be lazy some times. I still can’t believe it. So as it stands, we have a guava, pomegranate, zapote, and another mystery fruit tree. A few years down the road, the property is going to be a huge shade garden with many gifts of fruit. I also envision planting an orange and lime tree along with some grapes.

I can’t say enough how enjoyable the whole process is to me. Having a vision and then watching and experiencing it unfold is truly addicting. The details aren’t always clear to me but the grand scheme is….spending time here with the family for years to come is going to be special.

Peace out for now.

Zac

Quick note…wall is in and looks great. Took the 5 brothers about 4 hours….I’ll definitely use them again…in fact, I already have a quote for the laja rock patio and hope to have it done for Christmas. Oh, go figure the water was out today so I had to get all the water from the shower.

Said my good-byes to everyone. Of course, they all tried to send me home with fish. I did accept some white sea bass from Gloria and Arturo. It’s getting to be an ordeal to say good-bye to everyone. I divvied up the remainder of my food and distributed it as well. I made Lupita and family some grilled chicken breast and I think they were impressed. All got a chuckle when I said it was time for me to go as Tracy was wondering if I had a girlfriend in Asuncion now.

Tonight, I’m going out for tacos with my last 200 pesos. I’m even going to make a margarita here shortly. Another great trip and I can’t wait to get back.

Nos vemos Asuncion!

Zac

Bahia Asuncion Work Trip July 2008

2008-07-04T12:35:00.000-07:00

I left San Diego on Monday, June 30 about 4:30 am. I have a pretty solid routine now getting up at 4:00 am, showering, making coffee, and on the road by 4:30 or so. If I have my FMT (tourist permit), I might sleep in a bit more. Anyways, I drove to TJ and got the green light from Immigration. I had received the red light my last couple of trips so I was a bit apprehensive. I’m always bringing things down…nothing major…but I hate putting myself in a compromising position. Well, no worries this time.

I park the truck and walk to the Immigration office for my FMT. Low and behold, I walk in and find two young ladies working the office. Usually, I have to wake up a grumpy old man and hope he’s in a good mood. Well, the young ladies had me on my way in record time.

After making a detour through TJ as there is road construction, I was at Playas about 5:20. A big sigh of relief came out of me. Once I’m on the toll road, I feel comfortable. I head down the road alone….there is no traffic what so ever. Tracy has packed me a huge lunch and I start snacking.

The drive was pretty uneventful except for a lot of road work south of El Rosario. It appears as if they are adding a lane to the road. Why did they choose to do it here? I don’t know. Anyways, it’s 267 miles from the El Rosario Pemex to the Vizcaino Pemex. My routine is to gas up at Vizcaino, grab a six pack across the street, and enjoy the last 70 miles usually listening to some blues or raggae.

I arrive here about 5:30 or so…I always forget as time starts to become irrelevant. Anyways, the trip takes about 12 hours pretty much driving straight through. I head to Juan and Shari’s but no one is home so I head to the casita. I arrive to find a note from Shari saying to head to Lupita’s as there is a mini-fiesta for Briseda. I unload the truck and head over to Lupita’s but no one is home. I bump into Juan and Shari along the way and we decide we’re going in circles. I follow them to their house for a bit and then I move along. I come home to find on the table some crackers, scallop, abalone, and caracole cocteles, and a welcome note from Lupita. It didn’t take long for me to feel at home.

I promised myself that I would not over do it with work this trip. I always goes way to hard on the projects. So far, I’ve kept my promise to myself. Each morning, I get up early, about 6:30 or so, and make some coffee. Then, I do a small project, and then get to my studies for my math exam. After about an hour, I try and get some labor in before it gets too hot.

My first project was to install a new toilet that I brought down from the States. Well that didn’t go according to plan as the existing toilet is cemented into the concrete floor. Ni modo! Instead I clean up the old toilet and finish painting the walls. Today, I decided to paint the ceiling white…two rooms down and three to go.

My main project for the trip is to build a cinder block wall and planter on the west side of the house and yard. With that in mind, Juan said he was going to get sand and I said I’d like to help out. After all, I would need some for my project. He showed up on Tuesday evening about 5:00pm with Juan Carlos. We head over to Fernando’s as we’re taking his one ton flat bed truck.

We drive out about five miles from town up a canyon lined with mesquite. I make a note to myself and this is the place to get dirt for planting. After a long delay with the truck stalling and Juan having to pull his battery out of his truck multiple times, we finally start to shoveling. Wow-I had no idea how much sand we could put on that truck. We shoveled until our arms just about fell off. I kept thinking this has to be enough sand…and then we’d get more. We had plenty of beer and laughs and now I had sand, too. Fernando said he had some cinder blocks that I could purchase which I did.

Last night, he delivered 140 blocks and charged me $100. They aren’t the best quality and I’m pretty sure they are from Diver’s place but that’s life. Hopefully, we’ll start the work this weekend. That is if we don’t get too caught up with all the activities. Tomorrow is the Fourth of July and I think we’re having a horse shoe contest here and a bbq. Then, there are a couple of dances at the concha and horse races on Saturday. Ah, life is rough.

I’ve also been busy in the yard. This afternoon I transplanted a number of plants.
I also got rid of the lobster trap wire and replaced it with lava rock. It looks so much better. I’m also pretty excited that my palm tree is coming around. I was a bit nervous moving it but all is well now.

Lupita had me over today for lunch…fried yellowtail with all the fixings. I love her and her family. I also had a break through at the Internet café. Yesterday, I had troubles connecting but today was great. I was even able to call Tracy using Yahoo messenger.
I need to dial it in a bit more as Tracy had a hard time hearing me…but for 1 cent per minute you can’t beat it.

The other highlight of the trip so far was the elementary school graduation. I walked down with some books I had to donate. The ceremony started with the kids dressed up in card board cut-outs of sea creatures…it was to die for. The kids were great! I saw Manolo and his family along with Lupita and Chepe who introduced me to the director of the school. I gave him the books and he was thankful….thank you Patti Ledford.

Well, that’s all for now. Tomorrow, I need to pick up some bags of cement. I’m also running a new faucet to the planter. So I’ll probably pick up the pvc and supplies for that project. I’m really at ease here and feel blessed.

Out for another adventure!

Gettin' Dirty

2008-06-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

Well my love for the trails is getting more intense as the miles unfold. I've always enjoyed getting off the beaten track whether I'm on my bike, in my truck, hiking, camping, or running. This year, I've spent a great deal of time trail running and it's quickly becoming habit-forming.

As many of you may recall, Tracy and I ran a 30K trail run at Sycamore Canyon last November. Turns out, Tracy got pregnant that weekend so trail running must be a good thing. Since that race and the news of a baby boy on the way, I've decided to dig a bit deeper and longer with my runs. I'm signed up do race a 50K later this year. The race is the inaugural Skyline to the Sea 50K Trail run put on by Pacific Coast Trail Runs (http://www.pctrailruns.com/Skyline_to_the_Sea.htm).

As part of my training for that race, I've been running on Thursday nights with a group from Tri Club of San Diego headed by Florian Hedwig. He's a great guy with a positive attitude...but don't trust him when he says there aren't many hills on the course. We push ourselves pretty hard usually covering 8-12 miles and 1,000-2,500 ft of climbing. And boy can I see the difference in my races.

So far this year, I've tackled two trail races and was a pacer at another (more on that). The first race was the Malibu Creek Challenge put on by Xterra. I ran the 14 mile race which covered 3,500+ feet of climbing. It was a tough race but I did well finishing about 2:05. I loved that I could camp at the start of the race but the LA crowd was a bit entertaining. I'm signed up for the Bulldog 25K in August which is almost identical to this course. It will be interesting to see if I improve my time.

The next race I did was the following weekend. My longest run of the year was the prior weekend and now I was supposed to run a 30K or 19.1 miles. But what the heck, I'd walk or hike if need be. The race was located at Sycamore Canyon north of Malibu. The course was actually the same as the one Tracy and I had run in November but in run in reverse order. We drove up Saturday afternoon and camped. Again it was great being camped at the start and end of the race.

My Dad and Louise were just up the coast in Oxnard and came down to root us on. (As it would have it, my dad signed up and hiked the 8k race.) The morning started off warm and I knew it would be a tough day. I'd guess temps at the start of the race were in the mid 80s. Sure enough, it was brutal on the course with temps above 100 in some of the canyons. I normally do well in hot weather and that day was no different. I really focussed on staying hydrated and keeping my core temperature down. As it turned out, I finished the race at 3:31, about 15 minutes slower that planned but finished 4th overall (52 runners) and 3rd in my age group. I was excited as I never place that high but proudly boasted my accomplishment to any and all that would listen.

With my sights set on my 50k in September, I looked for races that I could work into my schedule. Just as I was getting a bit restless, I saw a post on the Tri Club San Diego website from a guy by the name of Jeff Givens who was looking for help. He was running the San Diego 100 Mile Endurance run (http://members.cox.net/sandiego100/) and needed pacers. I thought about it for a bit but decided against it. First of all, I wasn't sure if I could hang very long and second, I was a bit uncomfortable with the thought of running with a stranger at his big race. I decided against emailing Jeff until Tracy heard wind of this and insisted I send him an email. She reminded me how I've been talking about getting into Ultras. So I shot off an email not really expecting a response.

Well, I got a positive response from The Jeffrey Jack Show. Uh-oh, what did I get myself into? The Jeffrey Jack show?! I was a bit apprehensive but said what the heck. And I'm glad I did. I originally signed up to pace Jeff for 5.9 miles. Then decided to do two segments, and finally said I'd be game for a 20 mile loop.

Without going into too much detail, (the details are here: http://web.mac.com/jeffreygivens/Site_3/Blog/Entries/2008/6/12_The_Jeffrey_Jack_Show.html), Jeff gutted out a great run. We ran 20 miles through the evening and into the early morning together. My favorite moment was running along the Pacific Crest Trail at midnight with warm breezes coming off the desert floor pushing against the cools winds of the mountains all underneath the Milky Way with an occasional glow stick in the distance to keep us on track. Another memorable moment was coming back into the base camp and out of the woods with a group of coyotes howling their approval and encouragement of the Jeffrey Jack Show.

We ran back into base camp (mile 70) where I had a few beers and got some sleep in the Toyota home. Jeffrey headed out to run another 30 miles. I woke up early and hiked out to meet him along another stretch. The picture above is at the last aid station (mile 93).

I had a blast pacing Jeff and got my mind to thinking about what lays ahead for me. I'm starting to look at possibly a 50 miler next year and who knows what after that. I've always dreamed about one day maybe qualifying for Western States 100 (http://www.ws100.com/). Who knows, maybe next time I'll be racing, instead of pacing, Jeff.

Until the next adventure.....Zac

Updates for 2008

2008-04-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

Wow-hard to believe we're already into April. It's been a busy and good year so far. The year started out with Tracy and I in Bahia Asuncion. With the help of some friends, we've done a major face-lift on the casita. Some of the major improvements so far this year include:

a new roof
new electrical outlets, lights, switches, and wiring
new stove and refrigerator
new windows
drywall in one bedroom
hot water heater
tinaco (water tank)
and a horse shoe pit

On the next trip, I plan on installing a new vanity and sink in the bathroom and also new saltillo tile. I'm also debating on digging a new septic tank as well. And finally, we'd like to plaster the outside of the bathroom. Otherwise, I think most of the improvements will be cosmetic.

While it's easy for me to get caught up in all the improvements I have planned for the casita, the reality of having a baby in August are starting to set in. We had a few scares recently but the doctor has promised that all is well and to expect a healthy baby. And it will be a baby boy. Tracy and I have a name picked out but will save announcing it until a later date.

Today, we set up our new crib and assembled the stroller. Grandma and Grandpa Judy and Jim put a big dent in our gift registry and we are so excited. Tracy and I are so grateful for the generosity of our families. We really are blessed and we know it. At the same time, we try and share our blessings with others.

Just wanted to put a few thoughts down while they were on my mind.

Wildflowers at Mission Trails

2008-03-09T16:31:00.000-07:00

Tracy and I have been enjoying the beautiful weather San Diego has offered recently. With a busy work schedule, a baby on the way, and planning for our upcoming trip to Baja, we've been on the go. But we're also making the time to get outside. We're both committed to living a happy, healthy lifestyle and today was no different.

This weekend, we went for a 5.5 mile hike at Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego. Our hike started on the Tierrasanta side of the park climbing a little over 920 ft of total elevation. The weather was perfect with temps in the mid to upper 70s. The best part of the hike was smelling all the wildflowers along the trails and taking in the wildlife.

We have enjoyed the park for many years and this year is no different. Enjoy the pictures and get outside to smell the flowers.

Santa Monica Mountains Trail Run 11/2007

2007-11-28T15:59:00.000-08:00

I've been raving to Tracy for many years now the benefits of trail running. Up until recently, Tracy had primarily run on pavement. She has even completed The San Diego Rock and Roll marathon. But trail running was a new adventure and with a bit of coercion, she agreed to sign up for the Santa Monica Mountains Trail Run put on by Pacific Coast Trail Runs. There were 4 different distances but we set our sites on the 30K distance which translates to 18.6 miles with about 3,200ft of climbing.

While visiting my mother, Zoe, in Sebastopol over the summer we opted to volunteer at the Salt Point trail run put on by PCTR. As a result, we each received a free entry. But more importantly Tracy got to see first-hand the laid-back nature of trail runners and the sport itself. The runners talked with each other, joked around, and were more concerned with the scenery than with race splits. I think this helped ease both of our nerves.

At the suggestion of the race directors, we reserved a camp spot at Thornhill Primitive State Camp Ground located about 15 miles north of Malibu on PCH. The camp is located on the beach but and is directly across the street from the trail start. We arrived about mid day on Saturday, set up camp, and did a quick course preview.

With the purchase of the Baja house and the recent fires in San Diego, our training was suffering. In fact, our longest run in recent months was a 10 miler the weekend before. Granted, that run had over 2,000 ft of climbing but we had no idea whether or not 30K was realistic or not. In fact, we were leaning towards doing the 11 mile route. We hiked a few miles up one of the trails and said we'd figure it out in the morning.

We had a great night as we always do sitting around the campfire after a nice dinner of lobster raviolis and sun-dried tomato turkey sausage. And the beer and wine were nice, too. Tracy got an early start to bed after her long week and I enjoyed some comedy on the satellite radio.

We were up and ready to roll for the race. We casually walked across the street to the start. In fact, I still had a full cup of coffee until a few minutes before the race. After picking up our race numbers, I looked to Tracy and suggested we "go for it" and do the 30K. I said we could always walk the final 6 miles if necessary. To my surprise and delight, Tracy said, "let's do work." And moments later, the race started.

The course has three climbs and I suggested we look at the race as three small segments. With that in mind, we gradually made our way up the first climb walking the steep sections and running the other parts. The morning was foggy and misty making for a cool run. At times, I could only hear voices in the distance and waves down below.

As the day unfolded, I couldn't help but smile. I was with my wife doing what I love. I could see her pushing herself and with each step see her gain more confidence. As we approached the final aid station at about mile 13, I think she realized that we were going to make it. And make it we did.

After a long final climb, we ran as fast as we could down the 3 mile hill to the finish line. We finished just over 4 hours and 30/52 people. Not bad for our first 30K trail run. We laughed, smiled, struggled, and got dirty together. It was a great day and one that brought us closer together.

Another day, another adventure.....

Grizzly Challenge Bike Ride 2007

2007-10-19T12:49:00.000-07:00

In an effort to maintain our fitness gains from this year's training, Tracy and I decided to sign up for some longer events. We signed up to do a 30k trail run in November as well as a challenging bike ride, the Grizzly Challenge. We coerced some friends to sign up and join us. Here's a brief report from the ride.

The plan was to camp with friends at Bass Lake, California about 10 miles from the start of the ride in North Fork. Chuck and his wife Laura along with her parents reserved a large spot for us and we were excited to hang out before and after the ride. Our other friends Cheryl, Eric, and Kim stayed in North Fork at a friend's house.

A storm was clearing out as Tracy and I arrived late on Friday night. We heard that snow had fallen at 5,000 feet and thus we might find some the following day on the ride. We decided to sleep in a bit as it would not warm until the sun had risen above the trees. After all, it was in the low 30s when we woke up at 6:30am. The ride starts in North Fork and heads up into the mountains east of Yosemite and south of Mammoth. In fact, at the lunch stop at Mile High Point, over 10 peaks over 10,000 ft of elevation are visible. Very inspiring to say the least.

Originally I had planned on riding the 100 miles with 10,000 ft. of climbing. Tracy was going to shoot for 75 miles. But as the day unfolded, we realized that our main objective of the day was to hang out with friends and enjoy the beautiful vistas and snow-capped mountains. With our late start it would have been difficult to put in the distance. And to top things off, we only had one water bottle each as we left our nutrition back in camp. I had to going around before the ride begging for a few bottles.

As it would turn out, we rode about 54 miles with about 5,450 ft of climbing....a respectable day by any means. Everyone rode strong and I can't say enough about the traffic-free roads and endless beauty. After the ride we went down to the bbq that was included in the $45 entry fee. The bbq was incredible with your choice of salad, bread, baked potato, corn on the cob, and choice of ribs, chicken, and/or tri-tip. We got our food to go and enjoyed it back at camp with some cold beers.

Sunday we slept in a bit and the temps were much better. After an awesome breakfast of machaca and eggs prepared by Chuck, we packed up the Toyota-Home and headed down the road. In all a great trip with great friends.

We plan on doing the full distance next year. And hopefully we'll have another crew to join us.

Summer Trip 2007 Baja-Loreto to The Pacific

2007-10-04T08:05:00.000-07:00

Tracy and I were re-energized and ready to roll now that the "ToyotaHome" was secure again. The prior day was long and stressful taking a toll on the two of us. But today was a new day and we were fresh with enthusiasm for the upcoming adventure.

The plan today was to head south from our beach campsite south towards Loreto. We would top off on gas and then head west across the mountains and camp on the Pacific. While I have traveled most parts of Baja, today's route was completely new for me. I have heard incredible things about these mountains and had marveled at their beauty driving south. Today we would see them up close.

There are two primary roads that head towards the Pacific. We chose the road to Mision San Javier. The first few miles are paved but I knew that would end quickly and it did. The road was in great shape but had a number of steep grades. We were driving slowly anyways as the views were incredible. We stopped a number of times to get out of the truck and take in the vistas. Birds were abundant and flowers populated the hills. Today was shaping up to be something special.

At the crest of the drive we came to a ranch called Las Parras and explored a small church there. We took a few pictures and continued to marvel at the beauty. Tracy and I were so far removed from the prior day's troubles.

As we drove to what seemed like heaven, we decided that we would cut off from the San Javier road and head towards San Isidro and La Purisima. In order to get there, we would drop into San Jose de Comondo. I had heard great things about La Purisima and we decided to check it out.

I knew these roads were well traveled by the ranchers but was well aware that storms can wreak havoc on them. There had been a number of storms the prior summer and I was not aware which roads had been repaired. My plan was to keep my eyes open for fresh tire tracks. After all, most of the ranchers drive two-wheel drive trucks. If they can get through, I should be okay as my truck is four-wheel drive.

At the turn off for San Jose, the road look to be in good shape. In fact, the road looked as if there had been a crew working on it recently. The dirt road was fairly smooth but did offer some incredibly steep ascents and descents. The country side was incredible and we could see for miles. We passed abandoned ranchos and a few that looked close to being so. I'd rate this road as passable for vehicle with high clearance but four-wheel drive not necessary.

The road to San Jose finally intersected with an East-West road. The area is fairly desolate with volcanic rock prominent. We also noticed, though, evidence of water and thus cattle. We took the road west and drove a short distance until we encountered what seemed to be a mirage.

Below the road about 1,000 ft. was a valley full of lush vegetation and palms. We continue on the road as it winds precariously down the side of the volcanic rock. We are both in awe at the beauty of the valley. We realize this must be San Jose de Comondu. We're excited to check it out and decide to stop for lunch.

We stop at the mission in town. I'm not a history buff but was impressed with the church. It was built in the 1700s from what I remember. It was destroyed at some point and was rebuilt. The building was made of rock and sat below the volcanic cliffs. The building was surrounded by flowering bushes and a small aqueduct that flowed through the valley.

We made a simple lunch at the town square next to the church and enjoyed a beer. We noticed an older man sitting on his patio across the street from us . He seemed very interested with us. I suggested to Tracy that we should talk with him after lunch. We did and it was a great experience.

His name is Leopold and quickly informed us that he has lived in San Jose for the 82 years, his entire life. He tells us the water here is the best in the world and that it is 1000 years old. He says the rain filters through the volcanic rock and tastes sweet. Leopold insists we try the water. We are a bit apprehensive looking at the the dirty and grimy plastic cup he is filling from his garden hose with the water. But after a timid first taste, we are pleasantly surprised.

The gentle man continues to tell us about the village and its magical water. He tells us about his garden and we ask if we can take a look. He invites us on a tour where we find an abundance of fruit trees and a thriving vegetable garden. Tracy and I are both excited about this place and the friendly people but realize we need to get moving if we are to make the coast. We say our good-byes and "hasta luegos" knowing we will be back to further explore this paradise.

We pull out the map and find the road to San Isidro. It looks to be about 15 miles from San Jose. As we leave the valley, the palms quickly disappear and we're back in the volcanic rock. We come to a fork in the road and go left. After a few hundred feet, I realize that the only tracks I see are from the goats. The sign says this is the way so we continue on.

Well as I mentioned before the storms can wreak havoc on these roads and we were about to find out what this meant. The dirt road got progressively worse as we continued on. I thought about turning around but noticed a set of tire tracks on the road coming from the opposite direction. As long as I could see tracks we should be okay. Well after about 4 hours, we covered the 10 miles of dirt road. It was very challenging and technical. Definitely a road requiring 4wd. I would come to find out that the Baja 1000 had planned on using this road but found it too rough and opted for another route. We survived after some tense moments, losing two mud flaps, and some undercarriage marks. We couldn't wait to get to the Pacific.

As we come out of the mountains we see small lakes or bodies of water in the distance down in the palm lined valleys. From what I've read, I know this is San Isidro and La Purisima. We both are relieved but still have no idea where we are going to camp for the night. We get ice and head out towards San Juanico and the Pacific both commenting on the bad vibe we got from the people of La Purisima. In our minds, the people were very unfriendly...(note to self).

The sun is getting low in the sky so we decide to take the first road to the ocean. We are tired and hungry. I really could care less about camp amenities at this point. My objective is to find some place safe to camp.

As we approach a small village/fish camp near the mouth of a river and the ocean, we are stopped by an approaching truck. I know they need something but I'm not in the mood. I just want to set up camp. But I also know Baja Karma and stop. After a few pleasantries, they three men ask if we have an air compressor and point to the almost flat tire on their truck. I reluctantly nod yes and get out of the truck. Normally, I wouldn't blink at this request but I know the compressor is packed in the back of the truck and it's starting to get dark.

It turns out these guys were with the local Vigilancia. After airing up the tire, they suggested we follow them to a camp spot. We did and our good deeds were rewarded with a spectacular camp spot. In fact, this spot would rival any that we've camped at before. It was time to set up camp, crack open another beer, and decompress from the long day. I knew that after the dust had settled, we would look back on today and smile. I also knew we were about to be rewarded as well in the coming days.

Baja works in magical ways......

An Aerial View of the Casita de los Zetas

2007-09-15T21:47:00.001-07:00

Google Earth is one of the coolest products to come out in a long time. I have explored and re-explored so many areas with it. Today I spent some time and plotted a map of our place in Bahia Asuncion and other important landmarks. I also realized that our place is 3/10ths of a mile from the ocean and sits at 26 ft. above sea level. Good to know....just in case. Down the road I'll include my favorite hot dog stand (Chimo's) and the big Modellorama across from the Police station.

I'm also working on plans for the future. I'd like to get a patio built for the front with a shade canopy that will also act as a second floor patio. Here's a sketch:

Our New Home Adventure

2007-09-10T07:32:00.000-07:00

Bahia Asuncion, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Well it finally happened....we own a home and land in Baja. We bought a lot with a small two bedroom house in Bahia Asuncion, Baja California Sur, Mexico. I've dreamed of one day having property in Baja for most of my life. My grandparents used to have a place in Rosarito Beach and I always envisioned that I would spend many years there. Unfortunately after my grandfather passed, the place was sold. So journey after journey to Baja, I would dream about if and when I might have a place and where it would be. Well the dream is now reality. Bahia Asuncion is located 70 miles south of Highway 1 and Vizcaino. The turn-off is about 50 miles from the Baja Norte/Sur border and Guerrero Negro.

The town has a population of about 4,000 although it "feels" more like 2,000. Many of the residents live in the nearby fishing camps and thus could explain the disparity. The primary source of income is from the ocean. There are two cooperatives that fish for lobster, abalone, and well, fish. There are a couple of well-stocked grocery stores, a few hardware stores, and other places to purchase everyday necessities. In addition, entrepreneurial types come into town with various wares to sell ranging from mattresses to computers. If that does not work, Vizcaino or Santa Rosalia are close by.

There are plenty of things to do as well. Great surfing, swimming, and diving are close by. In addition, the town has a 10K mountain bike trail and an active team of riders. Basketball, baseball, and soccer are very popular sports for kids and adults. Every morning and evening, one call always see people out for a walk or run. I am always amazed how active and involved the community is.

Our house sits on 880 square meters of land overlooking the village and the bay facing the south. We bought the house sight unseen. Well, we had a few pictures of the outside and knew the area of town. But otherwise, we were going in blind. We figured the house might be a tear-down but we had a good sized lot. We were surprised with what we found.

The seller is a carpenter and had done a considerable amount of work on the place. The kitchen had plenty of cabinets and a small bar. The counters and floors were tiled and were in good condition. The bathroom has a toilet and sink but needs a shower. Regardless, we bought more than we had anticipated.

The purchase process was fairly simple and straightforward and was completed in a few days. (Well, we did have some friends that assisted in the process which really made life a bit more comforting.) We basically purchased the house from the seller and the land from the municipality. In many of the smaller villages, much of the land is owned originally by the municipality. If someone decides to buy the land then a new title is created for that person.
So now the real work continues. The first few things on the list are a new coat of paint for the exterior. Next we will install a tinaca or pila. While we have running water, it's often a good idea to have stored water. A tinaca is a large storage container often seen on the roofs of the houses. Note the black pila on the roof of the house behind our lot. After painting, installing the tinaca, and installing a shower system, I am going to focus on our landscaping. I'd like to build a small cinder-block wall on the sides of our property. The walls would be about 3 feet high with 5 foot poles every 6 feet or so. Plastic covered wire will run between the poles. Then, I will plant bougainvillea in front of the poles on the inside of our property and a flowering vines in between the bougainvillea. The wall will act as a wind break and add color. I plan on using a drip irrigation system as well. After I finish those projects, I'll take a deep breath, check my wallet, and then consult with my mom and wife to determine what's next.

So that's it for now. I'm heading down the first week of November with my mom and then again around Christmas with my wife. I'll keep you posted.

2007-08-24T09:56:00.000-07:00

Summer Trip to Baja 2007 (Asuncion to San Bruno)

2007-08-03T08:57:00.000-07:00

Tracy had not seen the coast south of Bahia Asuncion so I decided we would head out that way. The route goes along the coast through San Hipolito, La Bocana, and Abreojos before heading back to Highway One. The beaches are breath-taking but the road can be rough...it's always a risk/reward scenario.

We decided to stop along the way for some breakfast with Tita, Juan's sister who lives in San Hipolito. We had met her last summer at Juan and Shari's and recalled her to be very jovial and entertaining. Her smile is worth a thousand words. She and her family live on the ocean and have a million dollar view. Tita made us some wonderful fried fish with all the fixings. We give her a tip and continued on with full bellies.

Unfortunately for us, the coast was covered in a light fog. But the drive was still enjoyable and the road wasn't too bad. We explored the grave yard just before La Bocana and were surprised with all the children there. The graves were very intricate and quite beautiful.

We continued on to Abreojos. This is a very popular village for surfers and fisherman. I've met many people who swear by the place. Every time I've been there it's been incredibly windy. We drove through town and looked at the houses. Also of interest was the new malecon. On a sad note, though, was evidence of the on-going red tide. I've heard mixed stories about how long the tide has been in bloom but regardless it has not been good for the lobster or abalone.

After poking our noses around a bit, we decide to hit the pavement and head east towards Highway 1. We still are uncertain as to where we'll end up. But the first thing we need to do is get gasoline in San Ignacio.

We arrive in San Ignacio to find that there is no gas at the Pemex station. (This reminds me of a trip in 1997 when I was stranded at the same gas station for 3 days but that is another story.) The attendant tells us the truck is on the way and should arrive in a "couple of hours" which means nothing in Baja. We decide to walk around town and might camp here for the night.

I've always thought about camping in San Ignacio but never felt very comfortable. It's not that I think the town is dangerous, dirty, or peculiar. I wouldn't say the people are overly friendly, though. But I always find a reason to move on. So I figured maybe this was a good time to stay here. Tracy and I checked out a few camp grounds and decided on the one on the right just as you cross the lagoon heading into the town.

The camp was empty and we knew someone would come by asking for money sooner or later. We weren't certain about staying or not. So we cracked open some beers, grabbed our magazines, and enjoyed the lagoon. After about 15 minutes, a car rolled into the campground and parked next to our palapa. Out rolled a large Mexican family and soon we were surrounded with kids playing everywhere. I was not in the mood for kids. We finished our beers and decided to wait at the Pemex.

I'm usually pretty good about covering my bases when traveling in Baja but I was about to get fleeced. And, it was all my fault. Shortly after parking, the gas attendant walks over and tells us he has a few gallons of gas for sale. That would more than enough to get us to Santa Rosalia where they had gas. Tracy and I agreed and say okay to the gas. As the young man is pouring the gas into my tank from a gas can, I realize my mistake. I forgot to ask him "cuanto?" before he started pouring. Total cost for 2 gallons of gas: 120 pesos or about $10.50 total. He got me but we were on our way. As fate would have it, the gas truck passed us about 10 minutes into our drive.

I wanted to check out a beach that I had read about many times called San Juanico. Unfortunately it was getting dark and we couldn't find the turn-off. Instead, we opted for a beach located north of Loreto called San Bruno. We turned at the military check-point towards the beach, went through the cursory inspection and proceeded towards the beach. On both sides of the road were barbed-wire fence with no trespassing signs. We also noticed guard stations along the way. Our minds were tired from the long day and we couldn't grasp what the fences were trying to keep in or out.

As we pull into the beach area, we notice a group camped to the north end of the beach. We couldn't determine if they were fisherman, kayakers, or what. No problems, we found an open spot to the south. I get out of the truck and realized we were in trouble. The "Toyota" Home had been dislodged! I tell Tracy and she panics and cries about the same time. I was a bit nervous and upset but knew I couldn't let her know of my uncertainties. I do my best to calm her down. I decided that we would take the tent off the truck and put it on the ground for the night. I'd deal with it in the morning. I do just that and Tracy decides that she has had enough of Baja for the day and goes to sleep.

I need to unwind after the long day of driving and events. I put on Sirius Blues, open a cerveza, and take in the Sea of Cortez under the stars. How could I have any worries in the world now? How? Well, I start to think about putting the camper back on my shell in the morning. It's going to be very difficult lifting it....no problem...I'll get the guys camped nearby to help. Bigger issue, I don't know if I have an allen wrench...if I have to drive to Loreto in the morning...so be it. I tell myself...relax and enjoy...so I do.

The next morning I'm up early. The sun is just starting to rise and my mind is refreshed. I realize our neighbors are Mexican fisherman. I was confused by the tents. They get the pangas ready and head out. I decide now is the time to look for an allen wrench. As it turns out, I did plan ahead and actually had two of them in my glove box. This seems like something I would do....I'm glad for my predictability.

Tracy and I now face the daunting challenge of lifting the Toyota-home on to the shell of my truck. It probably weighs 140#s but is awkward. Tracy is a bit apprehensive about lifting the tent and I end up doing so alone. We finally situated the tent back into place, tightened it down, and were good to go. There was some paint damage to the shell but nothing too serious. We eat our breakfast, break camp, and head out for a new adventure.

Summer Trip to Baja 2007

2007-07-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

Overview
My wife, Tracy, and I decided to make the most of our summer and head to Baja for 16 days. We had a very flexible agenda and schedule with only a few areas that we needed to visit. First, we were going to visit our friends Juan and Shari in Bahia Asuncion. Second, we planned on visiting our friends Mark and Lidia Rockwell at Elias Calles, just south of Todos Santos. After that, it didn't really matter. Being that our trip was in the middle of July, though, with the heat and humidity setting in along the Sea of Cortez, most of our trip would likely occur on the Pacific.

The week prior to our trip, I had completed Ironman Coeur d'Alene so I was in the mood to relax a bit. I envisioned camping along empty beaches, doing some reading and napping, and then enjoying an afternoon dip in the ocean. If I got some energy I might pick up my fishing pole and practice some casts. Otherwise, the goal was to recover, relax, and enjoy time with my wife.

The Journey Begins: Day One
We left San Diego on June 30, 2007, about 4:30am. In the past, I'd often wake up at 1:00am or so and rustle up my wife as I couldn't sleep. But not this time. In fact, I had a hard time getting my body out of bed. But after a quick shower, my mind was now focused on getting to Baja and enjoying a cold cerveza. We finished loading up the ice chest and were on the 805 headed for International Border at San Ysidro.

We crossed the border in the far right-hand lane and parked the truck. We needed to get new FM-T permits. We walked to the Immigration office adjacent to the parking lot and the lights were off. As such, we headed for the main office located behind the row of offices and towards the US (right). Once there, the immigration officer handed us our permits which we filled out. After paying the fees (about $20 USD each) at the 24 hour bank located at the row of offices mentioned earlier, we returned the forms to the officer. He stamped them and wished us a pleasant trip. We were on the road headed to Playas de Tijuana at approximately 5:30am.

The drive down to Ensenada was uneventful and gave my wife, Tracy, a chance to sleep a bit more. The toll road was in good shape and we arrived in Ensenada about 7:00am. We stopped at a bank and withdrew enough pesos to cover us until we arrived in Todos Santos the following week. We had most of our food and beer with us and would primarily just need money for gasoline and for a few meals along the way.

The Adjustment
As we leave Ensenada the topic of where we're headed begins....."maybe we stop by and visit Pancho at Playa San Rafael...no maybe we'll head out to Laguna Manuela on the Pacific for the night...heck, maybe we'll just head to Asuncion......" We don't come to a consensus and the miles roll past.

As the turn-off for Bahia de Los Angeles approaches, I asked, "So do you want to head out to see Pancho?" Tracy pauses and replies"It's totally up to you." "To me, " I utter to myself.....and respond "but it's our vacation. I need some help." Time is running out and we can't come to a verdict so we continue on south on Hwy 1.

As the miles unwind I find our attitudes adjusting. We are slowing down, beginning to think in Spanish, and adjust our mannerisms. We've both been to Baja enough times to let go and soak up the culture, emotions, and lifestyle changes that are about to come. Onwards we go.

As we approach Jesus y Maria, north of state border, we decided to pull over and visit Carmelita (the famous tamale lady) and pick up some tamales "para llevar." Carmelita is not working today so it's a quick stop. (We did catch up with her on our return visit. She says her sons work for the most part now but she misses the tourists. Carmelita has the energy of five people and a million dollar smile. If she lived in the States, she really would be famous.)

We decide to check-out Laguna Manuela as it's getting a bit late in the day. We head towards the Pacific for about 5 miles until we reach the bay. I had camped out here in 1997 and it was a good stop-over. Unfortunately, though, things have changed a bit since then. In addition to a permanent fishing village there are piles and piles of shark carcass. The smell is unwelcoming and we decide to continue on our way. We set our sites on Bahia Asuncion.

Bahia Asuncion
The drive to Asuncion was uneventful and for the most part easy. The road from Vizcaino is paved all the way to the Tortugas fork. But, the road is pretty rough with some huge pot holes beginning at the salt ponds. From the fork, the road is currently being paved. I'd guess the road is paved about 10 miles or so. In all, it's about 70 miles from Vizcaino to Bahia Asuncion.

As we pull into the town, I decide to show our friends' beach house to Tracy. As luck would have it, Shari was at the house with some renters. Shari is surprised with our visit and welcomes us back to her place out on the point. We share some beers and stories with her and Juan before Tracy and I decide to call it a day. We pack up and head out to San Roque for the night.

After taking the wrong road to San Roque and having to four-wheel up a soft sand dune in the dark, we finally arrive at our destination. We pop open the "Toyota Home," crawl into bed, and admire the stars and drift to sleep.