El lugar secreto, manos y manas.

You will find a secret spot and ride your bikes to camp in it.

It doesn't have to be a big production, super back country, or an all day epic- it just has to be kickass.

Today, the last day of summer at our house, we all woke up in the woods. Tomorrow school begins and we wanted to end vacation right. The plan had been that the kids and I would ride the ~15 miles out to the trailhead for the secret spot and L would come out after work to meet us. Like all plans (that I make anyway) this went awry.

First (and primarily) I put off the packing until way late. Then I lubed and aired the kids bikes, and adjusted N's brakes. Glued her slippy grip on solidly. When I checked the xtracycle's rear tire pressure, I found a broken spoke. I didn't have any of that size at home [NB-keep xtra spokes for the xtracycle!!! a wheel that loaded is bound to pop some...], so I robbed N's rear wheel from her townie and swapped tires. Then the brakes required readjustment (which requires partially removing the load bags from the frame), and the pads were worn to the holder, so pads robbed from yet another bike...you see.

The result was that L came home early, and we drove (lame) to the trailhead and then loaded up and rode out to camp. Everything was magic from that point... Xtracycle loaded. That's 5 sleeping bags, 4 (he)man tent, 3 gallons of water, 2 paco pads, 1 camp stove, a griddle (heavy), some pots and dinnerware/utensils, dinner and breakfast, odds and ends... It is good to have straps.


Xtracycle panda shot. Having the water and food low down in the panniers on the front end suuuuucked. It made for some real wiggly handling.
D is ripping it up these days. He carried his PJs and a bedtime story (The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan- it's good.) in his pack.


Kids and kites. D and J were throwing watermelon rinds at the kite as N flew it. D got one in the kite and couldn't stop talking about it. It was a good shot.


J flew a kite. He had loaded his own pack with a baby bib, one mitten, one fleece sock, 6 pairs of underwear, a swimsuit, and a pirate t-shirt.



Pancakes on the heavy-ass griddle. Grits with green chiles and smart bacon on the side.

Yes. That spatula is a beer can.
Morning load. Lightened the panniers quite a bit.

J in his spot. He was able to lean back in style. L models her country bike CrossCheck in the background.

"Come on!"


And trail ride...Go!