A few more...

On the way up. We pretty much just followed that rockslide you can see.

Another view looking down.

Getting back to the "flat" part...

Neat little flume/section of trail, stream over bedrock.

Kristen crossing the stream, I mean trail.

More Katahdin Pictures.

Another view from partway up, before getting into clouds...

Melting rime-ice.

Kristen nears the summit.

Kristen at Thoreau Spring, where we intersected the AT.

Me somewhere on the table-lands...

Somewhere on the way down...

Rime-ice on a cairn.

Snow near the top.

Summit shot.

Catching her balance or disco inferno? On the way down...

Maine: Katahdin

Kristen and I (mostly Kristen) had been feeling bad about sitting around this whole break, so we decided we'd go get our asses kicked by Katahdin. The only trail to the top open was the Abol Trail, which is to the east of the Appalachian Trail route (the "Hunt Trail"). The ranger told us it was shorter, but steeper. It started off pretty wet, with a stream gushing down the trail, then got up into a bunch of that typical Katahdin straight up the scree slope stuff. Pretty clear until we were about to the table-lands, when we got up into clouds. Didn't see much at all once we got up there. Intersected the AT at Thoreau Spring and took that the rest of the way up. Wasn't too windy or nasty up there, but there was still some snow and rime ice here and there. This route as only 3.8 up (7.6 round trip) instead of 5.2 that the AT route takes. We both felt it was a lot easier than the AT route up. That route just kicks your ass, but this one didn't. Both our knees and ankles were a bit sore on the way down, but nothing like after the other route. Anyway, it was a fun trip. Made it home in time for dinner too. Mmm chili and biscuits... Here some pictures. Enjoy.

The trail was a bit moist...

We really suck at taking pictures together.

Kristen conquers the mountain.

Looking down on the way up. Bit steep.

View from partway up...

Ye olde Waterstrat haus...

At mom's request, some pictures of the old house. Doesn't look like they give the garden TLC like you mom...

Maine: Kayaking

Went down to Boothbay for a bit yesterday. Had lunch and dinner with Kristen's grandparents and did a little kayaking. We didn't have time for much and it was pretty windy, but it sure was nice to be on the water again. It all came back quickly... Here's a few pictures (including Kristen's new haircut).

Kristen pre-haircut, clearly excited to be done with school.
And with short hair, in a kayak, also happy. :)

Somewhere back in Mill Cove (near DMR & Coastguard)

Me in the back o' the tandem. Tugboat Inn in background, on the way out.
Looking at seaweed and algae blooms... lots of jellyfish about too...

Artsy shot of my paddle...

Crazy Storm Front...

Some really cool looking cloud formations scudding over us today. I was looking out the bathroom window and saw this really well defined squall line coming out of the north. Rained really hard for a little bit. Went in and checked out the radar, and saw another one on the way. Got outside and took some pictures of it. Looks really cool... I'd hate to see it from a boat though. Not as much rain with this one...

Cats and Dogs

Zephyr was lounging around and Athena's cat, Circles, snuggled up beside her. Aww...
Look at them all snuggley wuggley...

Look cozy don't they?

Busted!

Bad luck with bikes...

Man, what crappy luck I've had with my bikes in the past week...
Wednesday night, I went on a group road ride. On the way back, my front derailleur explodes, my chain breaks, and spoke tension on my rear wheel goes to nothing, wobbling all over the place.

Saturday, I put on new cranks on the MTB because my rings were totally worn. Found a nice old LX crankset around and used those. But, aparently 8spd cranks don't work with 9spd front derailleurs. Before I discovered that though, I noticed a few small cracks on the chainstays. It was still rideable though, just not for too much longer. Got rid of the LX cranks, and put on some el cheapo icons just so I could ride something. Went for a short ride at southfarm last night, and noticed the rear shifting was acting goofy. I figured it was maybe because the chainline was a bit different with this crankset and didn't worry much about it. Today I was going to go for another little ride, having seemingly fixed rear shifting issues. Stopped by the "turtle ditch" on the way out just to have a look. Got moving again and the rear shifts over into the spokes. Fortunately I was barely moving, so it didn't mess up my derailleur or wheel, but the dropout was toast. Or so I thought... Took a closer look (see below)...


So it seems my rear shifting issues were due to a bit of play in the dropout, caused by a sheared bolt (I think, the bolt may have sheared when it shifted into the spokes). Instead of the dropout snapping off or twisting, it simply bent the hell out of the permanent part of the frame. So those hairline cracks don't matter at all since this most recent crap pretty much condemns it... Total bummer, but I guess I can justify a new frame now.

Grasshopper Attack!

Remember those big ol' black and colorful grasshoppers they have down here? They're called "lubber" grasshoppers and get up to 5" long or so. Big fellas. Anywho, right now they're hatching out, and there seems to be a lot of them right around our apartment. They're kinda cute when they're little eh?

Here's some various pictures I've taken over the past couple weeks... Just for fun...

Southfarm on a rare overcast and gloomy day.

Pretty flower next to the road. What kind is it mom? Note ant for scale.

The S-Works takin' a breather on Skunk Hill. It needs a new crankset and it's starting to creak a lot. Hope it's not almost done in...

The only saddle that seems to work well with my arse. A WTB SST-X from 1998. Got it when I rebuilt my bike when I moved to Maine. That's a long time. No saddle I've tried since then has agreed well... Selle San Marco, Fi'z:k, Velo, Trico, Koobe, Selle Italia...

Zephyr making a hilarious face. She lay down on Kristen's shirt, so I decided to put it on her. She's doing her best to hide her annoyance... Can't you just tell she's rolling her eyes? :)

Summer Plans...

Well, it's been a while. Busy as usual.
Here's what I'm up to this summer.
May 13th - May 28th: Up to Maine, some hiking, some kayaking, some caving (maybe), and certainly some relaxing.
May 30th - June 8th: Fly to Bahamas. This time GTR (yay no 17 hour drive!) to Nassau, then from there to Cat Island. Doing some field work and field trip stuff out there.
June 8th - June 12th: On to San Salvador, Karst Symposium, present stuff from New Providence, listen to other people present stuff.
June 12th - July 2nd (approx.): Field work on San Salvador. Lots and lots of cave surveying. I'll be surveying sea caves, so I should be mostly on the coast where it's breezy (less bugs and nasty humidity). Athena will be surveying "tafoni" caves, many of which are on the coast, but there's lots inland as well. Since surveying takes at least two people, we'll work together. The initial plan is to do my surveying one day, hers the next, then take a day to reduce the data, and repeat as many times as we've got days there. Mylroie is teaching a field course, so I'm not sure how much help we'll be getting from him. It should be pretty interesting stuff since we're FINALLY getting to do some science of our own. I'm getting tired/bored/sick of just reading and hearing about everything. Let me go check it out for myself dammit.

So, I'll basically be out of touch once I leave for the Bahamas. Internet down there like $1.00 per minute or so, and it's a very slow connection, so I don't think I'll bother. Phone service is pretty much impossible as well. Mail takes way too long, since it goes by boat. Kristen will be all by herself again. I hate having to leave her behind. I won't be here on her birthday AGAIN. Hmph. Last year it was field camp. On the bright side, I think, she's not going to be taking any summer classes. Well, she will be taking some foofy writing class online. The rest of the time she'll busy at her "Research Experience for Undergraduates" (REU). She's going to be working with a biology prof. looking at something to do with wetlands at Noxubee Refuge. It'll probably be hot, dirty work, but I imagine it'll be a nice break from classwork, it's good experience for her resume, and it pays $3,000 or so.
By the way, in case I hadn't mentioned it, she's now decided to double major in Biology and Biological Engineering. Even taking 24 credits/semester, we're going to be here at least two more years. So when I get done next year, I'll have to figure out something to do down here while she' s finishing up.
Anywho, finals starting on Friday, I think I've got two and Kristen's got 8, so we'll be busy as usual. It sure will be nice to get up to Maine and just not think for a while. My brain is tired.