There wasn’t a Saturday night hockey game, so after Gracie’s soccer game we headed for the desert. I wanted to go to Anza-Borrego State Park. The map said to take highway 79 out of Temecula. Turns out there is a 79 North and a 79 South out of Temecula. I took the first 79 exit in Temecula and ended up in Hemet. Rather than backtracking 2 hours we went to Joshua Tree National Park instead. The wild flowers were in bloom, the weather was perfect, but ALL the campgrounds were full. The kids love climbing around on the rocks. Gavin still has to watch his finger, so he wore a glove on one hand. That didn’t slow him down though, he is a climbing machine! We bouldered around until dusk then looked for a place to camp. Out of JTNP we went east on 62 through 29 Palms and made a right on some BLM land. While trying to level the van I got stuck in the sand pretty bad. It took several logs, rocks and repeatedly jacking up the van to get it out, but it worked. Too bad Syncro wasn’t an option. Wouldn’t have happened in a Sportsmobile.

Grace had her first soccer game of spring league on Team Jamaica. She played well, but was a little tentative.

Gavin slashed open his finger while attempting to make an arrow. We missed the insta-care by an hour, so I took him to the ER. It took 5 HOURS to get 3 stitches!! He was brave and thinks it’s cool to have stitches.

Happy Easter!

Gavin declared “I like hockey” on the way home from the game last week. Scoring his first goal EVER probably helped. Then he scored his second, and then he scored one in the shootout. It was another name-biter…multiple lead changes, last second score by the other team to force the shootout. The regular goalie had the flu, so Dylan played goal keep again. This time our offense did better in the shootout and Dylan protected his goal.

I had a pharmacy convention in San Diego over the weekend, so we made a family trip out of it. We all went to SeaWorld Saturday, then while I was in meetings most of Sunday, the rest of the family slept in, hung out at the hotel, then went to the beach.

We have been keeping the bikes outside since it never rains in California. A dead tree in the corner of our pool area gave me an idea and an appropriately sized shed at Costco sealed the deal. With the help of the boys I cut down the dead tree, leveled the ground a bit and put up a shed. It was made in Isreal, of all places. Now our 13 bikes and whatever else we can fit in there will be protected from the rain.

Saturday my bro-in-law Dave and I went riding in the San Bernardino mountians. He rode his new 250 EX Honda quad and I rode my Kawasaki KLR 650. We rode from the Cleghorn exit off I-15 to Silverwood Lake. It was a fun road with trails taking off in every direction. Beautiful day with good visibility out in to the high desert and the snow capped mountain peaks.

Shannon had another moment at hockey last week. After melting into a puddle the week before, she rose out of it like the Terminator in T2. Tuesday night they were up 4-0 towards the end of the game. Dylan was taking the puck down, had a wide open shot, but dished it off to Gavin. Gavin missed, but mom melted right back into a puddle.

Their team has a really good girl goalie, but she wants to skate out (not be goalie) every other game. Saturday was her night to skate out, but the other goalie didn’t show. Dylan volunteered. It was his first game as goalie in this league. He did it a couple times in Portland, but this league is much more competitive. He played well, kept them in it the whole time with some great saves. The ended the gamed tied 5-5. After that it goes to a shoot-out: three players from each team go one-on-one at the other teams goalie. Gavin went first for his team (missed). They were still tied after the first shoot out, so they went to a second. On the last shot Dylan overcommitted to the low shot and the guy on the other team put it up top and scored. It was an exciting game. Dylan felt good about the game, but didn’t like how the other team gloated at the end. It was the first time the Hotwheels lost this season.

Favorite trails:
Bachalp See/ Grindelwald, Switzerland
Zion Narrows, UT
Jenny Lake Trail, WY (Tetons)
Jackass Pass, WY (Wind Rivers)
Crypt Lake trail, Waterton, Alberta
Any trail in the Redwoods
Eagle Creek, OR
Angel’s Landing, UT (Zions)
Half Dome Trail, CA (Yosemite)
Silver Falls, OR

Favorite Climbs:
Grand Teton
Mt Hood
Lone Peak
Mt Wister
Square Top Mountain

Favorite Mountain Bike Trails:
Tumalo Falls, OR
Porcupine Rim, UT
Lewis River trail, WA
White Rim trail, UT
Bolinas Ridge, CA
Slick Rock trail, UT
Mt Tamalpias, CA

Favorite Concerts
Peter Gabriel, Oakland Arena ~94
U2, Autzen Stadium, Eugene ~96
Neil Young, Huntsman Center ~90
Van Halen, Pocatello, ID ~82
Carpenters, Marriott Center, ~74
Metallica, Delta Center, ~90
Jenny Lewis, Avalon, 2007
Terence Trent D’Arby, Salt Palace, ~88
Beck, Schnitz, 2006
Arcade Fire, Hollywood Bowl, 2007
KD Lang, Paramount, ~93