MTB Ride - Heil Ranch

What a great ride! The weather was perfect. Overcast and cool. Perfect. Leah and I headed out around 5:30 and got to the trail by 6. We headed off. Like most trails out here, the ride usually begins with a climb, and this was no exception. It's pretty 50/50. A 6 mile climb with a 6 mile descent. Conditions were perfect and we were treated to a great lookout once we got to the top. Leah did incredible. Her climbing is on and her descents are beginning to get faster and more controlled. She has come a long way in a short amount of time. I really enjoy riding with her.

MTB Ride - West Magnolia in Nederland

Leah and I headed up to Nederland, a quiet mountain town situated at about 8500 to do some riding. I had ridden there on Monday with Brad, but wanted to do it again. The trail system is pretty sweet. The trails run through a maze of sweet singletrack through aspen groves. Some parts are rocky, but most parts are buttery smooth.

Leah met up with the Boulder Gurlz group ride while I ventured off solo. About 45 minutes into my ride, I met up with another guy who offered to show me some unmarked trails. Wow. After a long climb, we were rewarded with amazing views of the Front Range and beyond. We doubled back on the downhill for a really fast and tight descent.

Another great ride in the books. Leah had a small fall. She slid on her leg on some loose rock. She should survive :) She's a toughie. She also went to check her tire pressure and got burnt by the hot brake rotor. Ouch!!!

Until next ride. See ya!

Fresh Bing and Rainier Cherry Pie (Gluten-Free of Course!)

Jamie and I had our first week of our CSA fruit share- which consisted of two different kinds of cherries - Bing and Rainier. Jamie is allergic to raw skinned fruits such as cherries so we decided to bake them into two very tasty pies.

I used Gluten Free Pantry's Perfect Pie Crust mix- which was probably the most perfect gluten free pie crust I've ever seen, worked with, and tasted.

The cherry filling for both pies was as simple as heating the cherries in a bit of water, and then after ten minutes on medium heat- stirring in a 1/2 cup cornstarch and 1/2 cup sugar. Heat until thickened. Let your pie filling cool for at least 15 minutes before putting into the pie crust. Especially the GF crust-- it is quite sensitive to temperature.

Preparing cherry filling.

Me placing the crust ever-so-delicately in pan.

Rainier Cherry Pie before it goes into the oven.

Bing Cherry Pie fresh out of the oven.

Rainier Cherry Pie fresh out of the oven.

BMA Girls Ride Last Night...

Last night 27 or so girls rode the Doudy Draw/Spring Brook Trail. I'm definitely getting more confident!

P.S. if you're following me and Jamie's blog via facebook- notice that it doesn't specify who wrote the post- so if you haven't seen our blog in it's entirety- take a gander!

http://leahandjamiedoamerica.blogspot.com/

MTB Ride - North Foothills Loop

I have found a great loop that is 12 miles and runs through the foothills. It usually takes me about and hour and 45 minutes to do it. I'll keep working on improving the time. Switching over to clipless pedals has really helped. You can definitely feel the difference. I like.


View Ride in a larger map

Tonight's Dinner - Salmon Cakes w/Zested Lemon Butter Sauce

It's only been recent that I have enjoyed photographing the food we cook. Tonight's dinner was taken from a book lent to me called Sauces and Salsas. Leah and I enjoy fish once and a while so I gave it a whirl.

Basically it's like a crab cake, only with Salmon. Here's a quick how-to.

Using cooked Salmon, mash with a fork until well-flaked. Add in chopped parsley, 2 chopped scallions and a teaspoon of lemon zest.

Take 2.5 cups mashed potatoes and start to work into the Salmon mix until you have 6 cakes.
Chill in the fridge for 20 minutes to firm the cakes up.


Using 1 egg and bread crumbs (we used crushed Chex Mix dues to Leah's gluten intolerance)
coat the cakes.

Fry until golden brown.


For the sauce:
Combine 6 tbsp butter with the remaining lemon zest and some salt and pepper in a sauce pan and heat until hot.

Enjoy.

Rolfing Ten Series: Session VIII & VIIII and Yin Yoga

Rolfing this week has been pretty intense. The last few sessions in the ten series are called "integrative" sessions- that look to even out any issues that may be remaining in the body. Tuesday we tackled the upper body, and thursday, we tackled the lower body.

My upper body-- mostly my shoulders-- seem to hold the bulk of the tension in my body. This session was not as physically intense as some of the others, but it was so emotionally intense that I did end up having an emotional release. I broke down crying on my final walk at the end of the session.

I started to feel teary eyed near the middle of the session- as she moved from my right shoulder over to my left. My right shoulder is ok-- it's mostly my right arm that takes the fall for my left shoulder. My left shoulder has always been the tight one-- it's always a stretch to reach back for my foot in Eka Pada Rajakapotasana.

When she moved over and started working on my left shoulder-- I began to feel the muscles in the left side of my neck spasm, and sharp pain go up into my throat. I expressed my discomfort to my rolfer- she was able to fairly quickly fix the problem. But afterwards, she just held my left shoulder blade in her hand, just cupping it, and thats when I started to feel my heart beating in the back of my chest, and a tear welled up in my eye. My initial response was to surpress it and so she continued on with the session.

It hit me again though when they asked me how I felt, as I was doing my final parade in front of the professor and my rolfer. It just sort of spilled out- tears and gasping. I felt a slight pain in the back of my chest- there was a new space there-- that spot wedged between my left shoulder blade and chest.

After that experience, I decided to attend a Yin Yoga class on Wednesday afternoon. Yin yoga is so far from the yoga that I practice regularly-- and it's something I really need. My body is tense. I hold on for dear life...being instructed in Yin yoga to just let go-- is really hard. During that entire class-- I was so aware of the tension in my body. The holding is sooo habitual-- it takes me several moments to release some of it. It's a slow process. After holding the pose for ten breaths I feel my body sinking more but it's never a full release. I am definitely going to make an effort to practice a slower, more restorative yoga at least once a week. Also, after thursdays session, I have gone to beginner flow classes in hopes of taking some time to notice and be more aware of these new changes and movement in my body.

Thursdays session was not as emotionally intense-- a bit more physically intense. Aside from having very little movement in my shoulders previous to my rolfing experience, I also have tight hips- or my abductors tend to be super tense. Frog pose is my least favorite pose in Yoga. Let's just say I feel more like a frog after that rolfing session...and I totally have a sweet brazilian bikini butt.

Two-Potato Salad

Leah and I are going for a mountain bike ride tonight with Brad and his girlfriend, Karen. Afterwards we are heading over to Brad's house for a BBQ. I just made this potato salad, which has both sweet potato and russet taters drizzled with olive oil and apple cider vinegar and topped off with red onions and farm fresh dill. Delicious!

Here is the recipe:
http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2008/07/two-potato-salad.html

MTB Racing - Short Track

Tonight Leah and I headed over the Short Track Mountain Bike Racing series. It happens every Wednesday night through August. it was a lot of fun to photograph and watch, although it was really hot out. I have considered racing in this. They have 3 classes, Men's A, B & C (which I would do). We'll see.

Orientation Yesterday...Classes Start Thursday!

Orientation was pretty alright yesterday. I got my schedule and signed up for Reflexology, which will be my first elective that I'll be taking this weekend. My regular classes start on Thursday. I'm really excited to get started.This 40 weeks of school is going to go by really fast...

MTB Ride - Picture Rock to Heil

I rode with Brad this morning. We did a 14 mile loop. The sun was hot and I felt it when I got home. Brad had a mechanical with his chain. Luckily there was a BMA Patrol and he was able to hook Brad up with an extra link so the chain could be shortened. After that, we were on our way back down through some technical, rocky terrain.

Great ride, but tiring.

MTB Ride - Marshall Mesa

Leah and I ventured out for a great evening mountain bike ride tonight. The weather could not have been better. A cool breeze with big white puffy clouds and incredible surrounding views of the Front Range right in front of us.

We rode for 2 hours and got in a great ride. Leah is really getting the hang of it. She is becoming very confident on the bike and she has progressed better than I could have imagined. She's really enjoying herself. I knew she would get that MTB bug!

A Somewhat Unconventional Fourth of July Feast...

We had a bit of a lazy fourth. Yesterday's hike in the hot mountain sun wore us out.

Tonight on the menu was Sweet & Sour Collard Greens with Bacon(I substituted turkey bacon, natural cane sugar and white wine vinegar), Baked Sweet Potatoes with cinnamon and sugar, and Homemade Gluten Free Chicken Fingers (a recipe that Jamie and I have been working to create- this time we added crushed walnuts).

Wilco and Okkervil River at Red Rocks 07.03.09

Last night we ventured out to Red Rocks to see Wilco and Okkervil River. But not without first stopping at Beau Jo's for gluten free pizza and toasted coconut gelato.






Red Rocks is located in Morrison, Colorado. It's a scenic 40 minute drive from Boulder.


The scenery-- hence, Red Rocks.


There are 198 steps going all the up to the top of the amphitheatre. We had to climb 3/4 of the way up to our seats in row 58. A hike earlier that day may have been a bit too much...

Finally finding our seats. Red Rocks holds about 9,500 people. And boy do those Coloradians love their beer...







Denver in the distance.


Okkervil River on stage.