Sunday, August 27, 2006

Adventure Race

Pete has arrived from NZ so our team was complete and no excuses could keep us from undertaking our first adventure race. Despite several mis-adventures, we are done....and I am shagged. We got off to a late start when we realized that 2 life jackets were back in Mill Valley and the race was starting in thirty minutes from SF (with the kayaking section). So Brent zoomed home, grabbed the gear, and then we were off -- about 20 minutes behind the rest of the crowd. Because we had a single (which I was rowing -- albeit slowly), we made little headway on catching up. Didn't help that we had to paddle to the far side of Alcatraz. A container ship cut us and a couple of other laggards off, which was cool. By the time we finished the first leg, we were in 2nd to last place (yeah -- we passed one team). Fortunately the biking followed, and there was a lot of it, on our home court (all the way out to the familiar zen center). Navigating wasn't too hard and by the time we came back across the bridge, we'd moved up to 15th place. There's a minimum time to cross the bridge and get back to the start (25 minutes -- so folks don't rush)....but we took those extra moments to grab a coke and a hot dog at the golden gate bridge. On the run, we settled for 3 of the 4 checkpoints -- so will get docked for omitting the furtherst point....but I/we would have been pretty beaten up if we went for it. As it was, we were lucky to avoid a big boo-boo over the fact that there are two Mason streets (and we were going to the far away one).

Pete and Brent did great -- both in zooming along and in navigating. A good team effort. We were out there about 8 or 9 hours. I'm zonked. Dunno if I'll repeat as right now all I know is that the hot tub sounds good.

Awaiting the Arrival of the B-Day Guests


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
Sasha turns 2! So a party was in order. Sasha did not enjoy getting in a dress....but she's a little happier here. But only a little!

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Trying to Ramp Back Up

Dunno if its the antibiotics or because I'm an old man -- but its sure tough getting back on the bike after a week off for this staph infection. Did 70 retatively easy miles on Saturday and it knocked me back pretty good. Jun and Alan did all the work and I just sat in for the ride out to Lucas Valley road (home of the Star War movies)....but it still took the stuffings out of me. Jun has been on a good intense training program himself and its clearly paying dividends as our positions are reversed from six months ago. I'm just limping along. I actually get better further into the ride....but then Sunday was a slammer again as Brent was now sticking it to my tired lets as we practiced orienteering for our Adventure race next Sunday. Yikes!

Hope its just the antibiotics holding me down a notch.

2 going on 16


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
Sasha discuss with Rob why she's ready to drive his car.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Airstream In Place


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
Rob's new project management headquarters in place and ready for hookup.

So....We Took Out a Few Tree Stumps


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
This is what Dan's 2500 truck got dragged over when the descent got off course. Glad that these were pretty soft.

Home Sweet Home!


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
Finally backed into place at 66 Starbuck

Backing Into Place


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Making the Lower Corner


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Airstream Back on Course


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
This time going correctly down the driveway.

Scott to the rescue


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
The truck had to be disconneceted from the hitch to rescue it from the ditch...while the trailer was secured with a chain (after breaking a prior attachment. Fortunately, our neighbor Scott had both a jack and lots of ideas on what to do....having been through similar conundrums himself.

Arrival of the Firemen


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
Fortunately our driver Dan is from the local fireman corps, so reinforcements arrive. Patrick's sister comes up for a look as well.

Truck Woes


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
The trailer arrives at Muir Beach and pulls the truck from Dan (our delivery man) off the course of the driveway and into a ditch. At this juncture, the trailer is pointed at the neighbors driveway and their new 6-series BMW. Yikes!

Monday, August 14, 2006

The Barrel Work is On!


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
Rob and Gregory started demolition today of the top deck so that a waterproof ceiling can be put in over the downstairs deck area. They used a hydraulic jack to pop the boards off.....

Urgh -- its official -- my staph infection has returned -- 11 days of antibiotics. Grrrr.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Three Men and a Blonde


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
Rob and Jack round out the Daddy role. Sasha be happy!

Adventure Race Training

Went to a recommended training day for our adventure race in two weeks. I'm bushed -- mostly from the trail (and poison oak run). Nice folks, but my bod hates that trail pounding.

Rob has arrived and now Jack is here visiting as well....so its men-a-plenty and Sahsa is getting spoiled rotten by all her "uncles."

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Sasha and Daddy's Kayak is Orange


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
Courtesy of our local builder so that I can train for the upcoming adventure race.

My Sister Rebecca and Kathi

Some old family footage of early dance skills has turned up!

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Running Bites

Just did a gym workout with 30 minutes of running -- bites! Much preferred the redwood park ride I did yesterday or the 150km road ride to Marshall on Saturday....but I need these running miles for the adventure race.

Friday, August 04, 2006

My Transport


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
1952 Ralegh 3-speed

Early Pumpkins


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
Growing in the Gardens....

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Arrivals and Promotions and Pay


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

November 1917


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
From my grand dad's diary

Our New Home


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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.
Just purchased on eBay from Sacramento. We'll use this as our project management office for all the upcoming work at the Barrel. Rob should live out there to keep things moving forward. Gotta figure out how to get it here and how it all works. Yikes! Hope to use it next year for the Trans-Rockies.

Starting the Training Log Again

I don't yet have a program from Smilie, as I want to free form this for a bit, but the training log is back up and in place at:

http://www.uptonperformancesystems.com/calendar.php

Username:gregkidd
Password: (ask me and I'll give it out)