Housing options

Which would you choose? The haunted cottage, or the tents beside the burn?

The tent option comes with wake-up call from the sun at a very early hour:

And running water:


Photos taken by my daughter on her Duke of Edinburgh Award Silver practice expedition in the Southern Cairngorms.
Edited to say that we're off on holiday for a bit. France here we come, via the Ryanair 'bus' to Bordeaux. I'll look forward to catching up with blogs when we're back.

Downtime

Downtime is not something that I particularly enjoy, but after suffering mild burnout last year, I'm reaching the conclusion that sometimes it's a necessary evil. The weekend just past was a little like that. Apart from riding to Brisbane for an errand on Saturday morning, I just didn't do a great deal -- hence a picture from Thursday's early ride to Little Nerang Dam in the rain. It was fairly convenient to schedule a lazy weekend, given that my bike currently has some mechanical issues that need resolving. Quiet contemplation was more my style last weekend, mixed with a stint of garage cleaning, but in an increasingly shallow and vapid world, contemplation is an activity that seems unlikely to hold my interest for very long.
It's clear that I need a new project, something capable of holding my interest when I'm not actually riding. This blog looks like needing a complete redesign because of it's apparent non-functionality for anyone who uses anything other than Internet Explorer, but that's hardly a fulfilling challenge. I could always get involved in cycling advocacy again, but that felt more like banging my head against a brick wall, and it's probably worse for the burn-out factor than simply riding all the time anyway.
I suppose I just need to look at downtime as a necessary evil, and just grin and bear it.

Area triathlon preview

Anyone looking for something more than an average 5K will have plenty of options in the Mankato area this summer.
Simply put, the area is teeming with multisport events, all of which are only a short drive from Mankato. Some are as established as Elysian's Rookies Triathlon, now in its 27th year. Others are still pretty new to the scene, like the Waseca tri, which is heading into its second year.
The stark differences between the area triathlons also assures that competitors can find the right race for them. The relative distances vary from short sprints to 1/3 Ironman and the difficulty of the courses offer the same variety as well. Competitors also won't have to worry about having to break the bank on local races, as most of them are relatively cheap price-wise.
Here is a breakdown of the triathlons going on this summer that are less than 30 miles from Mankato. I've competed in three of these races in the past, so the insight on those events is based on personal experience:
Loon Lake Triathlon
Location: Loon Lake public access in Lake Crystal
Driving distance from Mankato: Less than 15 miles
Race Date: June 12
Distances: 1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3 mile run
Cost: $40 individual, $50 relay team
Registration website: click here
What to expect: This is generally the smallest of area triathlons, with just over 70 competitors last year. The course was relatively easy to get through, with the run being a quick down-and-back along the south end of Loon Lake and the bike ride mostly on flat country roads. Seeing as how the first triathlon I ever signed up for set me back $75 back in 2007 (no small amount when you're a poor college student), the cost is also very reasonable. My biggest criticism of the race is in the swimming portion of it. Unlike other triathlons that begin on a beach, this one begins on a boat launch, making it a dangerous area for barefoot swimmers complete with sharp rocks and the concrete slabs of the boat landing. The single buoy competitors swam to was also tough to navigate (most other triathlons have multiple buoys to help swimmers stay on course).
Other notes: Since it's relatively early in the summer, the water temperature might still be a little chilly in Loon Lake. At least it was last year, when it took me several minutes on the bike for me to regain feeling in my limbs.
North Mankato Triathlon
Location: Hiniker Pond in North Mankato
Driving distance from Mankato: In town
Race Date: June 27
Distances: 1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3.6 mile run
Cost: $40 individual, $90 relay team
Registration website: click here
What to expect: With participation numbers annually topping 300, this is the largest of area triathlons. Since it is part of the Minnesota Tri Series, the race is generally very well ran and draws in volunteers from several different organizations. The swimming takes place in Hiniker Pond, which is generally good for water temperature by then and has a sizeable beach for competitors. The bike course is probably the most difficult of any area race, as it rides along the rolling hills of the Judson Bottom Road and features a BRUTAL hill on Rockford Road. The running portion of it is a pretty meandering route through North Mankato (I remember almost forgetting to do a lap around Spring Lake Park last year), but it features some nice shade on the roads and volunteers keep the traffic under control.
Other notes: Registration for individuals is limited to 275 competitors and the race is already nearing capacity (244 as of June 1, according to the triathlon's website). Also, at least 1 in 5 competitors had to walk their bike up the Rockford Road hill last year. So if you're competing in it this year, getting practice on a hill wouldn't be a bad idea.
Elysian Rookies Triathlon
Location: Public beach at Lake Francis in Elysian
Driving distance from Mankato: About 20 miles
Race Date: July 10
Distances: .4 mile swim, 8 mile bike, 4 mile run
Cost: $25 individual until June 20, $30 afterward. $60 relay team until June 20, $70 afterward
Registration website: click here
What to expect: This is the one area triathlon I have yet to compete in (in that sense, I'm a rookie to Rookies), so my knowledge of it is second hand. From what I've seen, it generally draws between 200-300 competitors a year and is regarded as being a pretty laid-back atmosphere to help make first-time triathletes feel comfortable. Competitors quoted in last year's Free Press article spoke highly of the event's hometown charm. Thanks to a random triathlon blog I found and a conversation I had with area triathlete Chris Crocker, I now know that the course is unique in that it has two transition areas (one near the beach, one near the Sakatah Trail) and that competitors are supposed to have their own personal assistants to handle their equipment. Crocker described the dual transition areas as being a "security nightmare" because there are no bike racks and relatively little supervision. However, because of its low entry fee and easy-going nature of the race, Crocker also said it's worth the money. As far as the course goes, the Minnesota DNR describes Lake Francis as being relatively good for clarity, the estimated route I mapped on mapmyrun.com (based on the triathlon's website, couldn't find an actual course map) pegs the bike course as generally being pretty flat and the run is entirely on the Sakatah Hills Trail.
Other notes: In its 27th year of existence, Rookies is among the oldest triathlons in Minnesota.
Waseca Sprint & 1/3 Ironman Triathlon
Location: Clear Lake Park in Waseca
Driving distance from Mankato: About 30 miles
Race Date: August 1
Distances: Sprint - 1/4 mile swim, 14 mile bike, 4.4 mile run; 1/3 Ironman - 1 mile swim, 34 bike, 8.8 mile run
Cost: Sprint - $70 individual, $110 relay; 1/3 Ironman - $90 individual, $120 relay
Registration website: click here
What to expect: Between the sprint and 1/3 Ironman races, the event drew about 250 competitors last year and they're hoping for about 350 this year. For being an inaugural event last year, I was amazed with how well-ran and organized it was. Volunteers were stationed all over the course, routes were clearly marked for competitors and the transition area was roped off in a nice park. As far as the course goes, I competed in the 1/3 Ironman race last year, so my knowledge is limited to that course. Clear Lake hardly lives up to it's namesake for clarity, but it is a manageable lake to swim in on a sizeable beach with little alge. The biking portion is all on back country roads with rolling hills and and not much for wind coverage (i.e. very few trees). The running course was my favorite part of the race, as it was a simple two laps around Clear Lake on a bike path. My one criticism of the triathlon is that its cost is high compared to other area races.
Other notes: This was the first race I can remember in which an event volunteer actually asked me if I was drowning. Considering my swimming ability, he probably wasn't that far off.

Apostle Collapses

Anyone who has cycled (or indeed, visited) the Great Ocean Road in Australia might find this of interest. One of the Twelve Apostles collapsed into the ocean this morning. The effect of the thousands of years of erosion which has shaped that part of the coastline. Evidently this now means there are eight of them left standing. I am almost in shock, even though it was inevitable. Incredibly, I can't find a picture taken since the collapse (not even with Google), but I understand it might have been the big one in the middle of this shot (the "third" one) -- taken by "yours truly" in 2002.

Jack in the Pulpit

We're lucky enough to have more than one type of Jack in the Pulpit growing wild on our property. This is the most common, Arisaema triphyllum spp triphyllum. (Triphyllum = three leaves.)

Technically speaking, the "jack" is the spadix, and the "pulpit" is the spathe.

One of these days I'm going to memorize plant anatomy so I don't have to look it up all the time. I always feel dumb when I ask a question, and the answer involves so many technical terms that I feel like Gilligan, with all the Professor's lofty knowledge floating away right over my head.
At that point I never can decide the best course of action:
1) Nod and act like I understand,
2) Look confused and hope the expert will realize that I don't understand,
3) Admit outright that I don't understand, or
4) Look around frantically for another interesting flower, so I can shout "Ooh pretty!" and run away just as soon as the expert's lips quit moving.
Usually I opt for something between #1 and #2. "Hmm..." combined with a thoughtful look -- neither too confused nor too satisfied. A look that should convey, "Although I'm not a total idiot, I didn't quite catch your meaning, because obviously I'm not as smart as you are."

Here's Arisaema triphyllum ssp quinatum. I could only find one that was in bloom already.

Up close and personal.

There is another type here, but I couldn't find it blooming yet, so I'll write a "part 2" later.
Jacks are easy to confuse with Trilliums sometimes, especially before they bloom. The lighter colored leaves in the lower portion of the photo are Jacks:

In a garden I toured recently, the owner showed us what she called a "Japanese Jack in the Pulpit":

See how long the spadix is? Note my friend's fingers at the top of the picture below. She's holding the tip of the spadix! And that's the spathe way down on the ground, underneath the leaves (that look more like our Green Dragon's leaves).

I believe this variety is either Arisaema urashima or Arisaema thunbergii. (They're similar.)

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More information:
Wildwood Park's look at Jacks.
Primrose Path's page on American Jack varieties.
Paghat's Jack in the Pulpits and Cobra Lilies.
Arisaema Info.
International Aroid Society.

Porky Cornered....

Uh Oh... Owww owwwwww....

Y'got me... oooooohhhhhh. We are having 'puter probs... as one kitty put it, our puter's got hairballs uchhhhh. We are having a respite this weekend. So excited to be going to Lake Tahoe woohee!!! See ya next week bloggerinos!!! Hugs xo Sammie and Ozzie

You Think You Got Problems?

Chuckles for the weekend...

Chipping sparrow

Poor little stunned Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina).
Birds do still occasionally fly into our windows, dirty as they are.
I found a sheltered spot in the woods and left him there to recover on his own. Later I googled, and it suggested that we should have kept the bird in a towel-lined, dark shoebox for an hour or two.
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Don't forget to visit the Friday Ark.

Long weekend

'Tis the season for baby toads.

Everywhere a nest, nest.

Woodpecker playground.

Top of the previous tree, now on the ground.

Somewhere behind these leaves, many warblers were cheerfully singing.
(Kentucky, Blue-winged, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Louisiana Waterthrush.)

Happy with "just clover".

Black Knot & the Cherry Tree.

It's a Giveaway!

Every increased possession loads us with new weariness. John Ruskin
In that spirit, I'm giving away this 1912 Embroidery Lessons with Colored Studies book. All you have to do is tell me why my blog is your absolute favorite blog of all time. Just kidding!
What I do want to know is why you want it. Just leave a comment. I'll pick the one that delights me the most. No random generator here!
I'll announce the winner over the weekend; probably Sunday night. Happy providence!

Man conquers mountain, but not without a price

As the subject matter of my blog would indicate, I consider myself to be in relatively good shape.
I go for runs pretty regularly, I weight lift and I can rip off a long bike ride without too much trouble. I won't be setting any marathon records in the near future, but I also won't be gasping for air after walking up a flight of stairs.
With being in shape comes the expectation that you can perform most physical activities with ease, even if it's an activity that your body isn't used to. The activity might feel taxing at first, but if you're in good enough shape, your body should be able to adapt to it as you go.
As I would come to find out the other day after doing a day hike near Seattle with my step brother Derek, that's not quite the case for me.
One of the goals I had while visiting Derek in the Pacific Northwest last week was to do a hiking trip of some sort. He's a pretty avid hiker and I figured the area was probably brimming with good trail options in the surrounding mountain ranges.
Derek suggested McClellan Butte, a 4.6-mile hike up roughly 3,300 feet of elevation. According to him, it was a popular trail in the area that featured a relatively easy climb and some pretty impressive views at the summit (the first photo is an actual picture of the mountain, it certainly doesn't LOOK easy).
One thing to know about my agreement to do this hike: I haven't done any serious hiking in years. The last trip I did was a week-long excursion in the Grand Canyon more than three years ago, and that had much more gradual elevation changes for most of the trek. I've hiked most of the parks in the Mankato area, but mountain ranges aren't exactly common in southern Minnesota.
Despite knowing all of this, I reasoned that I was in good enough shape to keep up with Derek on the hike. Besides, nobody wants to look like a wimp in front of their brother. So instead of asking him to slow down and rest more frequently, I pressed on and tried to zone out whatever pain might have been creeping up my legs.
About midway through the hike to the summit, my legs felt limber and my cardiovascular system seemed like it had adjusted to the activity. I figured that meant I would get through the hike with no issues and wouldn't have any residual effects in the days that followed.
As it turns out, I was half-right.
As the photo on the right would indicate, I did indeed make it to the summit of McClellan Butte. And aside from a pretty embarrassing fall in a snow bank along the trail, I handled the hike about as well as a novice hiker can be expected to handle it.
However, when I tried to get out of bed the next morning, it became obvious that the hike had written a check my body was having trouble cashing. My legs felt stiff, my knees were sore and my hips ached. It hurt to go up and down stairs and any attempts to stretch were met with angry shrieks from my leg muscles telling me something along the lines of "I told you this was a bad idea, you idiot!"
Matter of fact, my lower body still feels that way two days later. I've gone on a couple of decent bike rides since the hike, so it's not as bad as the first few days after a marathon (the time period I like to refer to as a "cardio vacation"). But for a guy who thought he was in pretty decent shape, it's a pretty surprising revelation.
Lesson learned: Take it slow with new activities. The hike was an absolute blast and one of the highlights of my trip, but I think my legs would've appreciated another rest stop or two along the way.