Pooks Canyon

After watching Jon churn through the mud at last Sunday's Cyclocross race in Lembi Park, I felt a sudden urge to write a blog post.  Force of habit perhaps. We arrived at the course in a steady rain.  Finally, a rainy day in California!  Jon had new Challenge "Limus" tubular mud tires and was, of course, also equipped with a decade of mud experience.  I suspect, given how dusty and parched the last four years have been, some of the newer Cali-Crossers in the race had never ridden proper, muddy 'cross courses before.   After Jon's warm-up lap he came to the car and smiled, like, "I got this."  I smiled, too. All of us felt pretty confident as we headed to the start area, so imagine my surprise when, after the start whistle had blown and the racers were on their way, some guy was off the back and riding partially naked, struggling to put on his clothes, and that guy was Jon. Yes, Jon started the race about 25% naked.  Right before the start ...

On Friday, rain looming, our family set out to go camping. It was the annual Palo Duro trip with my sister-in-law, Valerie, and her contingent. This year we added the Elder Bakers to the mix. Their recreational vehicle turned out to be a great source of refuge in the early squalls, and a continuous source of refuge for the camping-averse teens who were eventually forced out into the sunlight after elicit use of the bathroom. Jon and I scrambled to set up a tarp shanty, covering tents that had varying levels of water permeability. Note: a tarp under the tent just causes water to pool, only use tarps that are less than the footprint of your tent for ground cover. Eventually we had to give up on my pop-up tent from 1996, too wet. We had relegated aforementioned camping-averse teens to that tent, so they bailed to the relative comfort of Valerie and Richard’s living room sized nylon abode. Partially dry and mostly unslept, I emerged in the grey morning seeking coffee and oatmeal. The aban...

Here's what we've been doing instead of blogging... Leah started Middle School. Here she is annoyed to have her picture taken while waiting in line to have her picture taken. I guess that is kind of annoying, but as it turns out, this is a more "natural Leah" photo than the school portrait. The school portrait has the forced smile that is de rigueur for middle school students. Axel started Big Boy school at the local Montessori Elementary (Pre-K to Fifth grade). Here he is dwarfed by the gym/stage/cafeteria. Axel turned 3 and rode this horse to Steamboat Springs for a mini-vacay. Leah absconded with Axel's cow poke vest and rubber band rifle (BD gifts from Dad). The hat is her own. Grandma gave Axel a lovely wooden US puzzle and a beading toy. All very Montessori-esque. Grandma also came to Steamboat... here she is looking cute and treating us to a Gondola ride. Axel and I at the Gondola Summit. Leah and Axel enjoyed the ride. The next day we babysat Sam wh...

Click here to see Bill handing up beer in the feed zone.

Jon and Dad have been playing this game now for 30 minutes... this is the state of play.

Leah concentrates on whittling with her new pocketknife. Yes, that is Grandma and Grandpa on the teeter-totter. While off finding mulled wine for Jon, he finds a medieval playpen for Axel. Nothing can contain this kid ;)

While Mom, Dad, Leah and Desi were in France and Jon was in Spain, Bill, Margaret and I decided to pack up Axel and take the train to Ghent. Here is Axel making kissy face in the train window: Bill at the Bicycle Exhibit in the Folk Museum: Margaret stands on the castle turret looking out at the city... did the countess used to do the same thing? Bill at the guillotine: Axel lodges himself in a castle wall: Any good Belgian day trip ends with beer, this was a good pour:

Yesterday, while driving back from Paris with Jon, it occurred to me that it was Thanksgiving Day. I said, "Happy Thanksgiving." To which Jon replied, "It isn't Thanksgiving yet, is it?" Hmmm, none of the usual turkey decor, workplace time off, and trips to see family were there to clue us in. I had remembered TG earlier in the week and mentioned to Emily (the hairstylist at La Belle Frisee) that Thursday was an American holiday. She asked if it was one of those American holidays with presents. Explaining Thanksgiving, I said it is a time to have a feast with your family. Besides family, people also open up their homes to friends that have nowhere to go. Before eating, it is customary to give thanks for all the things you have gratitude for throughout the year, but may not express. Wow, America came up with this? And regardless of the "Day After" shopping and Christmas onslaught, the actual Thursday is pretty pure. I know that some people say...

Axel and his Oma (grandma) hung out in Markt square while I was in the bank getting my ATM card.

Please scroll to the bottom of the page for the Baker Belgium Adventure Calendar, including all planned race dates (subject to change), complete with linked maps! Mimi, South Yuba Bill, Chess Racer, Rubber Chickenator, Forester Frank and Toots are all authorized/encouraged to add European events that you plan to do. Everyone should have received an email invitation to create a Google Calendar login - let me know if you did not. Since you can only view events here on the blog, you'll need to login to the actual calendar website in order to add/modify stuff. Dad- I put your tentative arrival and departure dates in there. Note the World Cups in Igorre, Spain and Milan, Italy while you're there.

Dad says Axel is being grandmothered into submission. Hilarious. (I think Axel likes it)

See Plague House