Wow, Jim - so that's what it looks like on the ground over there! Hang in there :)

Found this yesterday and had to snap a pic of it. I've related this story at least twice, so I won't again here (it's all in the text anyway). Yes, this is the gold Mexico I still own today.

Stolen poster that led directly to the recovery of the last bike ever stolen from me:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1585/2...8bcd4c78_b.jpg

DD

I just heard on the radio Sunday that Costa Rica is today's favorite retirement destination. One can see why :)

Did you just happen to find that tarantula there guarding his front door? So cool!

Hope you're enjoying it there.

DD

To be sure, I was looking into teaching opportunities at the University in San Jose.

I'm working on my Spanish skills. It helps that my wife and kids are fluent.

I will be finishing up a 25+ year gig as a middle school math teacher and it's just about time to reinvent myself for the retirement years.

FWIW I could easily see living in the Atenas area in Costa Rica. It's close to everything I love about the country, including my wife's wonderful family.

We'll see how this plays out. Great riding opportunities abound there, among so many other things we love to do.

As far as the red knee tarantula goes, he gets pretty feisty when I put a leaf or stick at the entrance to his burrow. About the size of my hand. :)

How bout that road to Monte Verde? Worth it though.

Just to make a bunch of you jealous.

http://i.imgur.com/BnGzJSD.png

Yes it is!

The house we stayed at was 15 meters off that road, perched on a 120 meter cliff.

Here is our able Landcruiser and a short video clip of the hummingbirds at the Reserva.

Best truck ever!

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1716/...42de9c9a_b.jpgIMG_2826 by gomango1849, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1619/...259a8658_b.jpgIMG_2851 by gomango1849, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1668/...52074b44_b.jpgIMG_2800 by gomango1849, on Flickr

Since it's not a ride I figured I'd better post here. Decided to go with a snowshoe workout today. The first hour was steady climbing and then the descent down the ridge in the shade. Total time was about an hour and 45 minutes all together.

I was following some other snow shoe tracks on a "jeep" trail when they suddenly stopped and went straight up the ridge. I figured I could continue up the road and break trail or do what they did. I decided to continue sweating profusely and went up the ridge.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/SAM_0013.jpg

The view on top is fantastic:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/SAM_0016.jpg

The other folks had a little fun

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/SAM_0015.jpg

Sad to see grand old pines like this one burn up in the fire 18 months ago

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/SAM_0018.jpg

Early morning, something you can only see on a bike path:

http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/...pscsolsgzx.png

http://i.imgur.com/8ZKy5zx.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/1GjW5DD.jpg?2

Cutting a set of axle spacers. I figured it'd be more fun and look a little better in the end than stacking a few different widths to get the hub where I need it.

It's been wet here (ya think?) so I've begun throwing the pack on and heading into the mountains.

The last couple hikes have been to a couple of pre-alpine lakes. Both were almost completely iced/snowed over. My first visit to these lakes in this condition.

Lake Serene off Highway 2:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1705/2...782a8035_b.jpg

Lake Twenty-Two, Mountain Loop Highway:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1698/2...522f5e86_b.jpg

I got soaked on yesterday's hike. Don't really mind that when hiking - I don't have the pain of spending an hour-plus cleaning up a bike afterwards!

DD

The view outside of the house in Playa Herradura.

Bananas, mangoes, plantain etc.

As far as the eye can see. :)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1577/...a15cd0e0_b.jpgIMG_2796 by gomango1849, on Flickr

That area is niiiiice.

I recommend a truck that at first seems too big, with tires that seem waaaay to big. If you don't they'll seem too small after a few weeks or driving CA roads, and you'll be enviously eyeing up every lifted Landy with massive mud tires that goes blowing by you while you're crawling around potholes...

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...psy3jtn7lp.jpg

No scenery, no humming birds, no snow, still cleaning the shop...

Wow, I have not ever seen that before, I had no idea there was a flower on a banana tree.

I almost expect it to look at me and say "Feed me Seymour!"

Wavy-gravy day at Asilomar Beach today...

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1493/...a026e568_b.jpg
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1646/...fc2c9ab4_b.jpg

Great Scott in the City - Saint Paul, MN
 

[IMG]http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/...ps84feejtk.png[/IMG]

This was last summer, after I finished setting up my new Sub 10 the way I wanted it. It took a while to warm up to that intense green color, but that was the only shade available for 2015. Once I saw how it pops in photographs, I began to appreciate it more. And wouldn't you know it - the 2016s are grey!

Nice!!
Love the colour.

Mature Monterey Cypress' at Lover's Point, Pacific Grove, CA

Front hub from a 60's Rafael geminiani

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1495/...492e7427_c.jpgloki 016 by K Farm, on Flickr

Nice photo.
Nice hub.
Nice wing nuts.
Brent

Finally found myself a pair that fits; I've been looking for a few years now:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1657/2...b05ea326_b.jpg

Next up: finding spare cleats :(

DD

Outside of NAHBS.

https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...09986948_o.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/J9KMTrG.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/dqka0x6.jpg?1

'97 Schumacher
http://i.imgur.com/k0Dv908.jpg?1

Sweet ride, djk.

Nice ride on an overcast AZ day. Rode through the Mariners and Padres Spring Training ballpark as well, but was people watching and forgot to take pics. :ride:

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps3h0zf6ek.jpg