Way to go, proud Daddy!

Wow, Steve's a winner! Brought home a blue ribbon and everything -- I'm so inspired!
-Wendy

Run for Autism 5K was a kick

I've got an autistic boy, so every fall, we try to participate in the 5K Run/Walk sponsored by the Autism Society of America, Treasure Valley Chapter.

This year, I ran the 5K, and my ex Amy Stahl walked with our son, Drew. Last year, I pushed Drew in the Burley trailer as I ran the course, and Quinn rode his bike alongside.

There was a great turnout as usual, and we had beautiful weather on a crisp and clear fall day.

The race course started and finished at Veterans Memorial Park. We ran from the center of the park over to the river and Greenbelt, and then went east on the Greenbelt to the Main Street bridge, turned around, and came back.

Several serious runners took off like a laser at the beginning of the race, so the whole pack started out fast. I knew I couldn't keep up that pace, so I dialed it down as the race progressed. Still, the exhileration of running in the race caused me to run much faster than usual. My pace was 8:03/mile, and I ended up winning first place in the 40-49 age group. Not bad for an old fart!

(L-R, Lena and Monte (co-directors of Read Set Go) and Lindsey)

It was great to see some of the folks at the event who have worked with Drew's language and academic skills since he was only 2 1/2 years old. Now he's 9, he's in 4th grade at Cynthia Mann Elementary, and he's doing well. We're very proud of him.

Drew did great in the 5K walk, and had no problem completing the course.

For more information on the Autism Society, TV Chapter, go here. There are a lot of great resources for autistic kids in the Boise area. Drew has benefitted hugely from these services.

Drew and his mom, Amy Stahl.

Idaho Velopark is awesome

My son Quinn and I rode several trails at the Idaho Velopark last Sunday as part of the Trailpalooza event. It was great to see a ton of people out there at the Velopark, and it's impressive to see all of the new trails that are built and ready to ride - just 6 months after work began this spring.

Check out the Velopark web site for a new trails map.

Two You Tube videos of the park riding experience are really fun to watch, too. Dual Slalom. Pumps and Jumps.

Do what you can to support the Idaho Velopark project and contribute funds if you can. The web site has information on how to donate.

There's an REI - Velopark trail project going on next weekend.

REI Trail Day
When: 9 a.m. -3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27.
Where: Idaho Velodrome & Cycling Park.
What: REI employees and their affiliates will build a new trail at the cycling park. The public is welcome to join in. You can sign up at REI, or call REI, 322-1141.

I found the photo at broadbandsports.com.

-SS

Loon Lake video link is cool

Check out this video on You Tube about mountain biking the Loon Lake trail by Kevin Mullin of Boise. It's got great flow ... just like the ride itself.

I rode the Loon Lake loop with my friend Mike from McCall on Saturday afternoon, and it was positively sweet!

Gorgeous colors springing forth, deep reds and yellows starting to pop. Really fast after the first long climb ... can't get too out of control, tho, got to watch out for other trail users. And on the Loon Lake Trail, you WILL run into other people on the trail - hikers, backpackers, motorcycle riders, mountain bikers, horses, Boy Scouts, you name it, I've seen 'em on that trail. On Saturday, tho, just a few hikers and bikers.

Loon Lake glistened in the afternoon light, surrounded by mountain splendor. Last year's fire opened up some country, but really didn't spoil the view of the lake whatsoever ... now there's new green growth coming up under the blackened forest.

We watched for spawning salmon in the deep dark-green recesses of the Secesh River as we pedaled back to the campground/trailhead, slaloming around the rocks, roots and creek-crossings. Didn't see any fish but I know they're in there.

Topped it off with soak at Burgdorf. Yee haw.

- SS

Fun Fun Fun on the Salmon River

We floated the Lower Salmon River Gorge in a 4-day trip over Labor Day weekend.

The weather was wonderful, and we all had a great time.

Hope Bay a gorgeous spot on Lake Huron

Wendy's family has been going to Hope Bay for summer vacation since the 1920s. Her grandfather built a sturdy green house called "Creaky Anteaky," and that's where we stayed. The house did literally creak in the wind and weather, but it was a beautiful piece of old carpentry work that still survives to this day. Many of the roof ribs are visible -- they're true 2x4s, and they are still in great shape. Wendy and I got to sleep in the crow's nest, which is surrounded by open windows with screens (critical in mosquito country). The cool evening breeze of the north country reminded me of my Minnesota childhood.

For the last five years, Wendy has been trying to convince me to fly my boys to Detroit, drive 6 hours north across the Canadian border into Ontario, Canada, to Hope Bay, and stay for at least a week. This year, we planned for it, and went for it. It was a fabulous vacation.

I thought I'd mention this in case you haven't heard of the Bruce Peninsula, a vacation-zone gem that is surrounded by Caribbean-like Lake Huron on both sides. The Peninsula stradles the Niagra Escarpment, a Limestone-Dolomite rock formation that extends from Niagra Falls to the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. Up there, the escarpment forms cliffs surrounding the bays, and there is a fantastic, well-managed and well-signed long-distance trail that spans the length of the peninsula. We day-hiked several sections of the Bruce Trail, and saw a number of long-distance backpackers and rock climbers. The trail is marked by paint stripes on trees, and there are many side trips provided as well. Kind of reminded me of the Appalachian Trail.

Perhaps the best part of the trip for me was to enjoy a ton of quality time with my family, and Wendy's extended family, in a relaxing setting that felt a world-apart from Idaho.

Rosie is doing great

I wanted everyone to know that Rosie has made a full recovery, and she's doing great.

As many people know from awesome media coverage provided by all four of Boise's TV stations and the Idaho Statesman, Rosie got lost while Wendy, my friend Norm Nelson and I backpacked into the Vanity Lakes on July 19-20. We were catching up to friends who already were camped in the lakes basin, northwest of Stanley. Rosie is an English setter, and she tends to roam, normally circling back to us. This time, she didn't circle back.

Wendy spent the weekend scouring the backcountry for Rosie, but she didn't turn up. We had to drive away from Vanity Summit on a Sunday afternoon with a bad feeling in our gut, hoping she would be found ... we placed some posters on trees, indicating that Rosie was lost.

Tom Hickey and his friends and family from Meridian hiked into the Vanity Lakes on the following Friday, and encountered Rosie at the downhill edge of the lakes basin. They were a little bit lost, and seeing Rosie above led them to the lakes. Tom said, "It was by the grace of god that she led us to the lakes, so we called her Gracie."

Tom and his group nursed Rosie back to health, wrapping her bleeding pads, and feeding her 8 trout over the weekend. She was physically exhausted and a sack of bones. Then Tom's son, the studly dude pictured above, and his friend, physically carried Rosie out of the woods.

When I met up with them on Sunday night, it was really emotional to see Rosie alive. I called Wendy, who was in Ontario, Canada, and she was incredibly thrilled and relieved, as were the rest of our family.

So anyway, many thanks to Tom Hickey's backpacking party for saving Rosie. We will be eternally grateful.