Rainbow loom

                          Rainbow loom

                                     Ila Wilson
The product rainbow loom is sweeping the nation. Just a little bit more than one million have been sold.
I got one for Christmas this year. I have made all sorts of things from bracelets to mini-figures. This is a great thing to have you can make a lot of things with it the one problem is that the hook that come with it breaks in like a month or after you get the loom other than that this is a great craft for 11-13 year old. I'll put pictures below, well thanks for reading my article be shore to check back to great more revises bye,

My Goals for this year.

My goals for 2014

Ila Wilson

My two goals for this year are.

1. To be nicer and less pushy with my siblings.

2.To read the hole series of The Gallagher Girl Academe.

These are my two goals for this year

2012 MTB Rides

Cathy Johnson Trail (Ken Caryl Valley)

April 1st, 2012-

I have been looking forward this spring since the beginning of the new year. I wanted to get in as much riding as my schedule would allow. I like riding the most in the spring and fall months. Summer is too hot unless you get an early start before the hottest part of the day. Spring is perfect. The weather is not too hot or cold and the trails aren't dusty or too muddy. 

I decided to get a start on my riding earlier this year by weight lifting. I recently had to visit a Physical Therapist for some knee pain. I have had pain ever since last year when I went paintballing. You can read about it here. I felt better since lifting than I have in awhile. I really wanted to see what my body could do this season. On April Fool's Day, I drove out to the Cathy Johnson trail in the Ken Caryl Valley. I have a friend who lives in the community who had invited me to try out the trails. 

My ride started out with a steady uphill dirt track. I was trying to keep my bike in the middle ring and the third cassette gear. I had read that it's better to pick a little bit more difficult gear to go uphill because it gets you farther up the hill faster. I knew this the hard part was whether my body could keep up with this gearing. I started out behind two other bikers, but soon was passing them. They were not in any hurry but it felt good to pass someone instead being passed. The rest of the uphill trek was very rewarding. I crossed South Valley road and continued on a few more miles north up the valley.  I came to a burn area where a controlled burn had been conducted. I rested at a picnic area and took pictures of this structure below.

 The return journey was blur. I flew down the hill bouncing over several dips in the trail. I was having some serious fun as I got both bike tires off the ground. I focused on pumping through some of the dips to keep from losing control. It was not a hard trip but a good open to my season.

Bear Creek Lake Park
April 12, 2012-

My favorite local trail in the Denver Metro area is Bear Creek Lake Park. It is a Lakewood city park near Morrison. They have a great lake with a beach called Big Soda Lake. I have often taken the kids there. I also have taken my kids to the park to mountain bike with them. I decided to ride through the park on after work. It's on my drive home from Golden, Co. I stopped off in a neighborhood near the park. I parked and rode out from there. I know that I should have paid the $5 to get into to park but I didn't. 

I rode over Highway 285 on the pedestrian bridge down into the park. I knew the park only a little. I tried to download a map but couldn't really find one I liked. When I got into the park I rode east toward the damn. The trail was damp not muddy but in places. I rode fast. I bounced along the rocks and ruts. I was going fast as my gears would let me. The reason that I love this park is because of speed of the trails. They are just the right mix of rolling hills and flat. You can ride fast and climb only a little bit.

I rode around the damn to the north side of park. I flowed my memory of the park more than any maps. I barely stopped for anything. I took the picture above just to prove I was in the park. I could have stopped every minute though. The most tempting places were in the tree lined areas of the trail. I felt like I was biking through vaulted halls of green leaves.

I biked around till I reached the main entrance. I was trying to find a way over the river running through the park. I had to cross at paved bridge at the entrance but then got back onto the trail. I rode south toward my car. I hit another stream running half full. I passed several crossings that looked deep and muddy. I finally had to cross at a horse crossing. Lucky, it was had lots of big round rocks and little mud. I carried my bike across and only got one foot wet. I then headed to my car. I set a stead pace out of the park, and I was proud to pass several other bikers on the concrete trail over Highway 285. I am definitely looking forward to riding the park again this month.


Lair o' the Bear May 6th, 2012- 
I don't know how it happened that I have not been on my bike for almost a month.  I told myself that I would be riding every week but as usual life just never works out.  I wanted to get back to Lair o' the Bear since last year when I biked it.  I remember it being a really fun ride.  I got myself together in the afternoon.  There was a chance of showers but I wanted to risk it anyways.  I arrived at the trail head at about 3:30.  It was busy as I expected for a Sunday afternoon.

I was not happy about that but there is not much you can do when everyone in Colorado hikes or bikes on the weekends.  I like having the trails to myself because I'm slow and I don't want people trying to get around me.  The ride was nice but I was huffing and puffing right away.  I rode about and a half miles up the trail when I meet with a rock wall that has stopped me before.

I decided to turn around because I didn't want to hike a bike over the rock.  I turned around but on the way down I hit a sandy patch and took digger.  My bike was fine but my knee got a nice big scrap.  I thought it wasn't bleeding so I kept riding but a minute down the trail I felt something dibbling into my shoe.  Looking down I found out it was my own blood.  I stopped and tied my bandanna around my knee.  It stopped the blood running down my leg.  I rode down the trail with everyone asking me if I was all right.  Nice to know people on the trail are looking out for one another.  I got back to the car as the rain started.  My knee was starting to hurt but I was okay.  I really didn't like the trail all that much this time.  I think I am going to have to visit during the week to avoid the crowd next time.

Green Mountain May 8th, 2012-

I like to get in a ride during the week if I can.  I love to ride green mountain when it is not to hot out.  It's close to work and is a good workout.  This Tuesday I decided I would try to ride the whole mountain in an hour.  I have ridden the mountain before and reached the top several times see the post Conquering the Mountain.  I started around 3:50.  I left the parking lot and turned to the right on the Green Mountain trail.  I followed that trail around the south then to the east side of the mountain.  It's a standard route for main bikers.  It's a great rolling trail.  A little uphill but nothing serious.  I made good time around to the east side.  I stayed with Green Mountain trail until I met up with Hayden Trail.  I rode up that trail to the top of the mountain.  It's not a steep trail but is a steady climb up winding around a bit until it meets up with a wide access road at the top.  I took the access road northwest to Rooney Valley Trail.  The ride down is a blast there are loose rocks near the top and switch back midway down.  I was rocking and rolling down the mountain.  My eyes were watering as I sped downhill.  I made the seven mile journey in a little over an hour and I am counting this as one of my best rides this year.

Indian Creek Trail #800 May 20th, 2012-

Find out what happened to me by reading the post Lost in the Woods.

Family

I am hoping over the this summer to get this blog back up and running with some new content from my family.  I am looking forward to the coming sections.  Thanks.

Lost in the woods

  I hope that some of you have been reading my Mountain Biking page to hear about how my year of biking is going if not please click on the link or the one above this post.  I have a great tale to share with you about my last trip.  I had been looking forward to this trip for a couple of days.  My wife and kids were heading out of town so that meant I would have the whole day to myself.  I thought what better than a long ride and then home alone.  If no one knew this before I am a solitary person to a point.  I like to be alone for a time but then get lonely pretty quick.  I don’t often go on long rides when my wife has to stay home alone with the all the kids.  I don’t really think that’s entirely far.  That’s her day job and she shouldn’t have to have to put up with them all weekend as well.  That meaning getting the chance to get out for a day without worrying about her is great.  I had planned on going to Centennial Cone for my ride.  I had planned it out because at this time Highway 6 up the parking lot is closed during the week and on the weekends mountain biking is only allowed on even dates. 

I was ready to go but for one little problem.  I checked the county open space website one more time before leaving.  I had missed an important notice.  The Elk Range Trail would be closed until mid-June.  That meant half of the loop would not be accessible.  I didn’t really want to do half the trail the turn around and come back.  So I needed to pick another trail.  I have had it my mind to try out a new area to me called Indian Creek Campground.  The trail I wanted to ride was called Indian Creek trail #800.  I had read various descriptions of the trail.  Some said it was moderate to advance and some sites called it easy to moderate.  I had hiked the trail last year with my family.  I didn’t think based on that experience it wouldn’t be to hard a trail.  I packed my pack with water, food, go goo's, and some survival and first aid supplies.  I am not one to be under prepared but I did forget one important detail.  I didn’t have a good map of the area that will come up later.

  I got to the trail head about 11:30.  I unloaded and meet a fellow biker who was getting ready for a “thirty mile” day.  He and I talked about 29er bikes and the best route.  He recommended going up the trail to a fire road then riding it till it ended turning into a single track back to the trail head.  I thought this sounded like a good ride for me.  He left before me and was gone even before I could clip into my pedals.  The start of the trail was fine.  I had to go down to the granny gear but I have learned not to sweat it since I am not Lance Armstrong.  I am all about getting up the trail in my own time not someone else’s.  I would describe this part of the trail as moderate.  I would huff and puff up a rise this coast down to another rise.  I rode about half an hour before stopping for a lunch break.  There is nothing like peanut butter and honey on the trail side. 


I rode about another half hour until I reached the fire road I had been told about.  I meet a nice couple on the road who had hiked in from Roxborough State Park.  We talked about bikes and animals.  They told me they had seen a bear closer to the state park.  I thanked them for that info.  I then headed down the fire road.  It was a nice ride.  I was on the fire road for about an hour when I got the feeling I was not going in the right direction.  I was going north when I knew I needed to go south to get back to the trailhead.  I finally decided to turn around.  I stopped and pulled out my iPhone.  I used one of my apps to get a fix on my position.  Now remember I had no map.  I looked at the app map and thought I saw a way back the trail head behind me on the fire road.  I put away the phone and headed back.  I reached the junction with a trail whose name I forgot.  I thought it was Saw Gulch or Sawmill Gulch.  The direction of the trail was going right way or so I thought.  I headed down the trail and was immediately stopped by a tree down in the trail.  This seemed odd to me as I had seen several downed trees on the Indian Creek trail #800 but they had all been cut up to clear the trail.  I thought maybe this tree was a recent fall.  It’s too bad I didn’t pack my hatchet or saw I could have clear a least the trail.  Instead I carried my bike over it and continued. 

As the trail continued down into a valley I began to notice troubling signs.  I had observed on the main trail many fresh tire marks from the last day or two.  I also observed footprints and hoof prints from horses.  On this new trail I didn’t see any fresh tire marks and no foot prints.  I saw an occasional hoof print and horse dun.  But they appeared old maybe a month or more.  I also noticed the trail seemed over grown the further down I traveled.  This worried me the most.  I have been hiking and camping since I was little.  I know what a trail that is well traveled looks like.  I even know what game trails look like when they are well traveled.  A well traveled trail means it goes somewhere.  People and animals use the trail regularly.  When a trail gets over grown that’s a sure sign not many have traveled this way recently.  That means it probably is not going to take you where you want to go.  I thought it would take be back south but the valley seemed to curve northwest instead of south.

I soon hit another fallen tree then another.  I think there was more than four fallen trees on the trail.  I should have turned around.  I should have known that more than one downed tree was a bad sign.  But I thought the trail would eventually meet up with trailhead so I continued on.  I tried to get my position with my IPhone again but in the valley I had no signal not even basic cell service.  I rode on.  Farther down the trail the creek that the trail was following became part of the trail.  I was riding and sometimes walking my bike through thick mud.  I continued on.  I eventually met up with some hikers who told me that I needed to take my next left to get back to the trailhead.  I found to junctions but they seemed to go the wrong direction so I continued down the valley.  I was turned around at this point and didn’t know it.  what I thought was west was really north.  I had a compass but didn’t pull it out.  I should have.  I eventually realized my mistake and turned around.  I got back to the junction I should have taken.  I had no energy at this point.  I walked then hiked then walked my bike up the slope.  I had to stop several times to rest. 

I hiked out of the valley slowly.  I was more than an hour late at this point.  I didn’t know if I was going the right way as the trail kept winding this way and that.  Again, I didn’t have a map of the area and I didn’t look at my compass.  Stupid moves on my part but I was sure the trailhead was just over the next rise.  I eventually meet more bikers which was encouraging.  They told me which way to get to the Colorado trail or back to Roxborough State Park.  Not places I wanted to go but I was reasonable sure I could find my way if I got to one of those places.  I had to stop more than twice with painful muscle cramps in my thighs.  Riding was out of the question at this time.  I wasn’t even able to hike my bike I was just pushing it up the hill with me.  I finally made it back to the trail and walked the last mile to the trailhead.  I was two and half hours late but I was alive and still had my bike.  I learned  a lot about the little voice inside me that knew I was getting myself lost.  I also learned that I am not as prepared as I thought in this area.  Still it was fun to be out in nature even if I was lost.

Please leave comments about times you've been lost and please Subscribe.  I hope to share more of my adventures with you.

Trip to the Zoo

As my kids get older we starting having firsts and lasts.  Firsts are the obvious things such as my oldest son being first to finish elementary school and then first to go to middle school.  On the other end my youngest, Scotlynn, is having lasts.  She will be the last to finish elementary school and this year she is the last of my children to get to go the first grade Zoo trip.  I am not usually that cognizant of last moments.  So, it was my wife who had to point out this would be the last time I could go with one my children to the Zoo.  It sounded more like, “I am signing you up Zoo trip with Scotlynn, okay!”  I then asked why and she pointed out what was obvious to her that this was the last moment I would have to take any of my children to the Zoo with their class.  

I was happy to be signed up after being told the importance of the moment.  I got the day off and bought the prepacked lunches my daughter requested.  The only hiccup was that there would be no room for me on the bus.  I would have to drive myself and pay for myself.  I was fine with both as the idea of riding the bus full of first graders was an experience I would rather avoid.  So on the appointed day, I dropped the kids off at school and drove myself downtown to the Denver Zoo.  I left right away because my wife told me I would need to be there at the Zoo ready to help when the bus dropped off.  I was told the schedule was tight.  I arrived in good time, paid for my entrance, and headed toward the school entrance.  I was a bit shocked at the bustle of the school entrance.  It reminded me more of a busy downtown bus terminal more than a public zoo or maybe that was the other way round.  Buses from all over the local area and even from other parts of the state were arriving.  The Zoo staff being experienced in the mess had a line of buses disembarking students.  While other staff greeted new busses and prepared them to unload in their turn.  A staff member manned a white board with the names of the various schools listed.  As each bus would arrive he would mark down the time, bus number, and meeting location.  I noticed my daughters bus had not arrived as the schools name was present but no arrival time had been marked.  I walked over the flag where the school was supposed to meet after getting off the bus. 

I watched as bus after bus arrived and dropped off students from preschool to high school.  The arranged time for Scotlynn’s bus came and went.  I saw several buses from her school district come and go but none seemed to contain her class.  I walked over to the white board.  I noticed my daughters school had been marked down as arriving but how could that be I never saw anyone from Scotlynn’s school walk by me.  I made a frustrated call to my wife.  I was quite testy with her.  She was gracious enough to call my daughter’s teacher who informed my wife who then informed me the the bus had arrived they were waiting to get off.  My wife even supplied me a description what all the kids would be wearing as they were dressed similarly in order to be easier to keep track of.  I waited a little longer then finally the bus arrived and students matching my wife description got off and walked right past me into the Zoo.  No one acknowledged me and I didn’t see my daughter so I had no idea if that had been her class or not.  I then got a phone call from my wife stating they’d just walked by me.  I had to hurry to catch up with the group I’d been assigned.  Even despite the miserable start the day I had a lot of fun taking the kids around the Zoo.  I was amazed that we got from one end to the other seeing almost all the animals.  The six kids including my daughter listened really well and only at the end needed to be prodded into moving.  They walked and talked the whole time.  I have no idea what they learned but they saw a lot.  I took as many pictures as I could. 






It’s fun to get to do these things with Scotlynn.  I would love to hear any of you who have had a last that really meant something to you.  Please leave a comment, subscribe, and I look forward to posting more of my adventure for you.

Ranch Experience 2

Here is the video of the ranch weekend.

Ranch Experience

One of the greatest things about parenthood is letting your kids experience something that you know is a once and lifetime event. We got this recently when we visited a cattle ranch owned by my grandfather. We were visiting to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the foreman’s service running the ranch. They were branding the spring calves so my kids got to see a rare glimpse of the American West. I was surprised that all of them enjoyed the experience. My youngest daughter did say, “Those evil men kept hurting those cows,” but she still watched it with interest. I cannot say much more than that because I think the pictures from the weekend tell more of the story. So enjoy them, leave any comments, and subscribe.