tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55798442668408795932024-02-19T17:40:51.683-08:00The Shaw ShowJason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-27063297928357803582018-01-30T08:02:00.002-08:002018-01-30T08:02:21.648-08:00This Blog Has MovedStill Interested in The Shaw Show? <br />
<br />
The site has moved to <a href="http://theshawshow.com/">theshawshow.com</a>. Hope to see you over there!Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-4070039629417037122017-11-11T08:22:00.002-08:002017-11-11T08:22:22.681-08:00Counting Can Be Really Tough<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQP1rsiel767ens5nu6jNV26pCrAlDJ45MWkINF41XYcpx-qQtkSWOvK9NeISEHpmHkL4AV_C3tr5LH2wODDWiMyxAZ4cznwEAm_W3GrWuxdmubhnyS7bRyGKQQV609nEe-6O9sQc4Lk/s1600/20171111_091208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQP1rsiel767ens5nu6jNV26pCrAlDJ45MWkINF41XYcpx-qQtkSWOvK9NeISEHpmHkL4AV_C3tr5LH2wODDWiMyxAZ4cznwEAm_W3GrWuxdmubhnyS7bRyGKQQV609nEe-6O9sQc4Lk/s400/20171111_091208.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Factorial, Permutation, and Combination</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
How do I count?</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On most calculators, you can find a factorial button (displayed in the picture here as x!, however it may just be ! on other calculators), a permutation button (nPr), and a combination button (nCr). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm going to attempt at explaining why you would ever need such buttons. If you don't have a calculator handy with these buttons, open up the computational knowledge engine <a href="http://www.wolframalpha.com/">WolframAlpha</a> and standby. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Factorial First</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Suppose you have 3 songs that you would like to listen to. Let's call those songs A, B, and C, and let's assume they are in a playlist on your smart device. You push the random playback button. How many ways can your smart device play back those songs for you? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This question can be answered using factorials. Before I show you how this works, let's simply list all the possible ways and count them up:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
{ABC, ACB, BAC, BCA, CAB, CBA} </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There seem to be only six ways the smart device can play the songs back to me. What if there were 20 songs? Listing them out is not an option anymore, so we need a clever way of counting when we have more than 3 songs. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here is how we could have obtained the 6 ways systematically. Your smart device must choose from 3 songs randomly to play the first song. Once that is chosen, the device must choose randomly from two remaining songs for the second choice. There is only one song remaining to choose from for the final song. Thus, the number of ways to play 3 songs randomly is 3*2*1 = 6. To visualize <i>why </i>we multiply, here is a tree diagram. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPfrmQNWlJoxGtiYnt8EUkF_KyEUTO4-P4BsfiNYwN_Jt7-XV6n4Jxc91EfdMtZhF3M0XptyFxUlFYPdxfnIFHOvodioVX8m7rTr7mxM2dNoYTN1fBNZE62UN7y56ipIUTNrXMbaKb7M/s1600/Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPfrmQNWlJoxGtiYnt8EUkF_KyEUTO4-P4BsfiNYwN_Jt7-XV6n4Jxc91EfdMtZhF3M0XptyFxUlFYPdxfnIFHOvodioVX8m7rTr7mxM2dNoYTN1fBNZE62UN7y56ipIUTNrXMbaKb7M/s1600/Tree.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Descending products like these are <b>factorials</b>. Try it now. Plug in 3! into your calculator by pushing 3 first and then the factorial button. Or, simply type in 3! into WolframAlpha. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now, try 20! in WolframAlpha. You should get 2 quintillion, 432 quadrillion, 902 trillion, 8 billion, 176 million, 640 thousand. Or 2,432,902,008,176,640,000. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That would have taken a while to list out. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Permutations</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Suppose your playlist has 5 songs instead of 3. Let's call the songs A, B, C, D, and E. From the previous section, we learned that the number of ways our smart device can play them all back to us is 5! = 120. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, we have time to listen to only two of them. How many ways can our smart device do this? We will first count them up the old fashioned way, by listing all the possibilities. Here goes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
{AB, AC, AD, AE, BA, BC, BD, BE, CA, CB, CD, CE, DA, DB, DC, DE, EA, EB, EC, ED}</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It looks like there are 20. What if the playlist has 20 songs and you have time to listen to 6? Do you want to list them out? Nope. So, let's find an easier way of getting that 20 and apply it to the more difficult problem. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The smart device had 5 choices of songs for the first song. Once it chose that song, it had 4 choices for the second. So, the final count is 5*4=20. Unlike the factorial, this product does not descend all the way down to 1. It only considers permuting 2 of 5 values. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On the calculator function, n=5 and r=2. So, plug in 5 nPr 2 into WolframAlpha to see what you get. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Likewise, 20 nPr 6 can be obtained by plugging this in OR by plugging 20*19*18*17*16*15 into the calculator. One method is a little more quick and efficient. You should confirm that this value is 27,907,200. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Combinations</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Suppose someone displays in front of you five gifts. Let's call them gift A, B, C, D, and E for simplicity. You are given the opportunity to select two of these gifts for yourself. How many ways can you do this? How is this different from the previous problem with listening to 2 of 5 songs? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If we have gifts AB or BA we have the same two gifts, and we don't really care about the order in which we select them. We need a way of not counting BOTH of those. So, refining the list above, we will get</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
{AB, AC, AD, AE, BC, BD, BE, CD, CE, DE}</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This can be quickly obtained by using nCr. Here again, n=5 and r=2 because you want to select 2 of 5 things. Plug in 5 nCr 2 to confirm the value 10. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How many ways can you be dealt two hole cards in Texas Hold 'Em? How many ways can you be dealt five cards in Five Card Draw? For these two examples, n=52. For the first example r=2, and for the second, r=5. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Use WolframAlpha again to find 52 nCr 2 and 52 nCr 5. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
These numbers are 1326 and 2,598,960, respectively. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Congratulations! You've learned a few basics in counting!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Want to have more fun with WolframAlpha? Plug in your birthday to find out how old you are in days. Plug in the city you live in for your city's demographics and income statistics among other things. Type in "maximum value of y=x-x^2" to find out that the maximum value of y=1/4 is obtained when x=1/2. Cool, huh? </div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-64307476555483908422017-11-08T13:17:00.004-08:002017-11-08T13:17:59.900-08:00The Price is Wrong. Or, Ego is Never On Your Side<h3>
The Price is Wrong</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Last week, I published an analysis of spinning the wheel on The Price is Right. Even if my original assumption was correct, there are still mistakes in my analysis. However, the logic in my original assumption was not sound. Here was my assumption last week:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
If the probability that you will not bust on the next spin exceeds the probability that you will win by staying where you are at, then you should spin again. </blockquote>
This was incorrect. Instead, the assumption and logic should have been as follows:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
If the probability that you will not bust on another spin AND you end up winning exceeds the probability that you will win by staying where you are at, then you should spin again. </blockquote>
Under this assumption, the calculations are more difficult, but doable.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Ego is the Enemy</h3>
<br />
I'm currently reading <i>Ego is the Enemy</i> by Ryan Holiday. This fits perfectly with what I was trying to accomplish with the last few posts.<br />
<br />
When I posted about how to escape from prison, I had thought about that problem all week, bouncing ideas with a colleague who checked my work and kept me in line. When I finally stumbled upon the solution, he confirmed it worked before I wrote it out. In other words, I was able to keep my ego in check.<br />
<br />
Now, guess what happened with the post about the Price is Right? I didn't confirm with my colleague, and get a second opinion. I was confident in my answer and let my ego take control. My ego is not on my side, and it would be very good for me to remember that. <br />
<br />
Posting an incorrect solution for the world to see was a great reminder.Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-23071341767809425032017-11-02T13:36:00.000-07:002017-11-02T13:36:05.463-07:00The Price is Right Wheel: How to Spin it Optimally<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglEV3g_CVCt4gyzgqMKeshTx2NVhzkCEFPCDYu7SC6ngfY6X4wqlMBMk_qUgJ7NtjF4fZuXQFLyhN3Bfvp8drdw1mBHZvUIPut5C-e6nS-wjEdd0pWUtNBe3iIPBnRHK0AWK4nEmmxFM/s1600/PriceIsRightWheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="495" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglEV3g_CVCt4gyzgqMKeshTx2NVhzkCEFPCDYu7SC6ngfY6X4wqlMBMk_qUgJ7NtjF4fZuXQFLyhN3Bfvp8drdw1mBHZvUIPut5C-e6nS-wjEdd0pWUtNBe3iIPBnRHK0AWK4nEmmxFM/s400/PriceIsRightWheel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Price Is Right Wheel has 20 sectors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
The Problem</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is the <a href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/can-you-play-the-price-is-right-perfectly/">97th Riddle</a> proposed by The Riddler from FiveThirtyEight.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The three contestants that win all go head to head at this wheel at a chance to advance to the Showcase Showdown. The one with the least amount of money goes first (the worst position in this game), while the one that won the most goes last. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The first player must get to as close to 100 as they can without going over. They are allowed a maximum of two spins. The wheel has 20 slots, with the lowest being 5, and the last being 100, all the rest increase in increments of 5 and are distributed all around the wheel. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If they go over, they are automatically out of the game. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The second player must beat the first player's number, and have a number that the last player cannot beat. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The last player, if the first two bust, automatically advances. Otherwise, they have to beat whoever is in front of them. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What strategy should the first player adopt to give them the best chance at advancing to the Showcase Showdown? Specifically, at what value (or above) should the first player definitely not spin again, and therefore below what value should the first player definitely spin again? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
An Attempt at a Solution</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To answer this question, we are interested in two conditional probabilities: </div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Under the condition that we stay with this number, what is the probability that we win?</li>
<li>Under the condition that we spin again with this number, what is the probability that we will not bust? </li>
</ol>
<div>
If the probability calculated in 1 is larger than the probability calculated in 2, than we should stay with that number. Otherwise, we should spin again. Our goal is to find the largest such number for which the probability of 1 is greater than the probability of 2. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Before going any further, let's make calculations a little easier by assuming that the values 1-20 are on the wheel instead of 5-100 in increments of 5. So now, we must try and add to 20 and not go over. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Player 2's Perspective</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Suppose for the moment that player 1 has busted, and that player 2 only has to worry about player 3. Also, let's assume their first spin is a 10. Then the conditional probability for #2 above is 50%, since they will not bust only if a 1-10 is spun <i>again</i>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The probability that player 3 will win is <i>more</i> than 50% since that is the probability that they win on the <i>first</i> spin. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thus, in this situation, they should spin again. So, we will only consider values above 10. Let the value of player 2's first spin be X. For probability 2, we will need to also consider S, the sum of their two spins. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Let the value of player 3's first spin be Y and the sum of their two spins be S (if they end up spinning twice). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The notation for the probabilities in #1 and #2 above are given as: </div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>P(Y < X) * P(S < X or S > 20 | Y < X) + 0.5*(P(Y = X)+P(Y < X)*P(S = X | Y < X))</li>
<li>P(S < 21 | X) = (X-20)/20</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
The first probability can be explained in this way. If I stay with X, then in order to win, player 3 must spin a value less than X, and then given that... when they spin a 2nd time, their sum must be lower than X or above 20, OR, their first spin must match X or their sum must match X given their first spin was lower and they win the spin-off. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The second probability is easier. If X is 15 for example, the probability of not busting, is the probability of spinning a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, which is 5/20. This is the same as (20-X)/20 for when X=15. This works for all other values of X.</div>
<div>
<br />
For those mathematically inclined, I hope you can confirm that<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>P(Y < X) = (X-1)/20, and that </li>
<li>P(S < X or S > 20 | Y < X) = (X-1)^2/400, so that the product is </li>
<li>(X-1)^3/8000</li>
</ul>
<div>
This is then summed with 0.5 multiplied by</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>P(Y=X) = 1/20, plus</li>
<li>(X-1)/400</li>
</ul>
<div>
It is OK to skip that part. Let's compare these probabilities for some different values. </div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When X=13, the probability in #1 is 0.276 while the probability in #2 is 0.35. Therefore, player 2 should spin again. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When X=14, the probability in #1 is 0.316 while the probability in #2 is 0.3. Therefore, player 2 should stay. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now, player 2 can only do this if player 1 has spun something less than or equal to 14, or has busted. They must beat our value otherwise. Assuming player 2 will play in this optimal way, let's continue with the calculations for player 1. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Player 1's Perspective</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
From watching several YouTube videos involving spin-offs, it seems that spin-offs occur among two contestants at a time. So, if the first two tie, they spin-off to go against the third contestant, on which another spin-off can occur. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, the probabilities for player 1 to win must be the probability for player 2 to win squared. Player 1 must defeat both player 2 and player 3. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, for X=14, the probability of player 1 winning is now .0998 while the probability of not busting on a second spin is 0.3. Player 1 should spin again. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For X=15, the win probability is .149 while the probability of not busting is .25. Player 1 should spin again. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For X=16, the win probability is .217 while the probability of not busting is .20. Player 1 should stay. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is equivalent to getting 80 or more on the wheel in the Price is Right. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-68006521242509264162017-10-26T14:03:00.000-07:002017-10-26T14:11:54.028-07:00Escaping Prison<h3>
The Problem</h3>
<div>
Last Friday, The Riddler posed quite the challenging problem. Here it is in my own words. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You are in prison with 99 other inmates (there are 100 of you). The warden presents you with a game. Prisoners are to be randomly selected <i>with replacement</i> and taken into Cell Zero. Inside Cell Zero, there are two levers that could be in <i>any</i> of the following configurations: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv8hf4NK2Eg873zQHV8NupFNPkrGrmnUUmArI4c6xO_aA1m-g0N3J41yy3dQcLNN3Px3tfbFijRi4BG1Kn1TQBMs1ZDArcbock6M3jBZ13gk-Yn4p4AenglTUFoKZqT1JZBy4KcpKbPw/s1600/PrisonerLevers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="656" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv8hf4NK2Eg873zQHV8NupFNPkrGrmnUUmArI4c6xO_aA1m-g0N3J41yy3dQcLNN3Px3tfbFijRi4BG1Kn1TQBMs1ZDArcbock6M3jBZ13gk-Yn4p4AenglTUFoKZqT1JZBy4KcpKbPw/s400/PrisonerLevers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Each prisoner that is let into Cell Zero can either declare "All prisoners have now been in Cell Zero" or move exactly one lever (and they must move exactly one lever). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If the prisoner declares and is wrong, all prisoners are executed. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If the prisoner declares and is correct, all prisoners go free. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once the game has begun, there can be no communication between prisoners. What strategy at the outset will ensure that all prisoners go free? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Common Questions</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Do the prisoners know the original configuration of the levers? NO.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Do we know which prisoner will be selected first? NO.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Can prisoners be selected multiple times before another prisoner has ever visited Cell Zero? YES.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
A Solution</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I <i>think</i> I have <i>a </i>solution to this. It may not be the best, but here goes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Since I have strong leadership skills among all the prisoners, I declare myself "the counter." My job is to only move the left lever UP, and count each time I do it. If it is already in the up position, I just move the right lever down or up, regardless of its orientation. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All other prisoners' job is to move the left lever DOWN <i>exactly twice</i>. Once they have moved the left lever from the UP position to the DOWN position twice, they forever will move only the right lever. If the left lever is already in the down position, they leave it be and move only the right lever. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once I have counted to 198, I declare everyone has been in Cell Zero. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
So Why Twice? And why does this work? </h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I first visit Cell Zero and the left lever is down, I have no way of knowing whether it started that way or if another prisoner moved it down from the up position. So, when I move it up, I don't know whether I'm starting at 0 or counting an actual prisoner. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Therefore, once I count to 99, I'm in a state of uncertainty. Have I counted all prisoners, or am I perhaps missing one? This uncertainty is just that, uncertainty. Since I cannot be certain, we should devise a different strategy. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
By having all the prisoners pull the left lever down exactly twice, then I will <i>eventually </i>lift the left lever up 198 times. There is still now an uncertain state, and that is whether all prisoners have pulled the left lever down twice (a prisoner visited Cell Zero the first time before me with the left lever up and pulled it down), or there is still one out there that hasn't pulled it down a second time yet (the left lever started in the down position). But that gives us the level of certainty that we need: that all the prisoners have been in Cell Zero at least once. </div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-89704414371701193662017-10-17T10:26:00.001-07:002017-10-17T10:26:22.740-07:00A Day Without an X<h2>
Not Breaking the Chain</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Previously, in my blog post <a href="http://jason-shaw.blogspot.com/2017/08/homebrew-daily.html">Homebrew Daily</a>, I referred to the habit building technique that requires you to keep track of each day that you devote to building the habit. This can be done by marking an X on the calendar, thereby building a chain of days which you psychologically do not want to break. It is a great method.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Not stated in that blog post, but something I started on that same day, was learning Norwegian on Duolingo. According to Duolingo, I'm on a 66 day streak today. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, I started this 67 days ago. I missed a day. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I also missed a day of my Homebrew Daily ritual. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
The Day Without the X</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On my last blog post, I wrote about <a href="http://jason-shaw.blogspot.com/2017/09/choose-your-suffering.html">choosing your suffering</a>. I wrote about how I chose to suffer through a 100 mile bike ride one Saturday. What I didn't write about, was that on that same day, I couldn't mark an X on the calendar. I missed studying Norwegian. I missed learning anything about homebrewing. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Somewhere between 20 and 30 miles into the bike ride, my phone died. Even using it in airplane mode, my phone went to the dark side. Little did I know, it would be for good. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Upon finishing the bike ride over an hour later than I thought I would (I took a wrong turn at one point that took me 5 miles out of my way), I was not going to make the 6 pm dinner that Erin and I had planned with friends Ed and Mary in Lawrence. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was able to shower at the facility where we started the ride, and get on my way. However, my phone would not charge. Not only could I not contact Erin to let her know I was OK, but I couldn't ask for directions to Ed and Mary's place. Although I had been there twice, and could have probably got myself in the general vicinity, I didn't know exactly where it was. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Using someone's phone at the first gas station I pulled into in Lawrence, I let them know everything was fine and got directions. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There was much fun and wine drinking at the dinner party. Eventually, it was determined that we should stay the night instead of driving back to Topeka. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Up until that point, I had a plan of working from my iPad or desktop computer as soon as I had arrived back home to complete my daily habit ritual. I began thinking of alternatives. Maybe I could ask to borrow their computer for a little while? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Or maybe I shouldn't worry about it. Maybe I've built a great habit, and am going to stick with it, and don't need another X in a calendar day to do that. Maybe I should enjoy the moment that has been dealt to me. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Perhaps we should allow ourselves a "Weekend Amulet" that can be used to put a temporary freeze on your streak of days. You remember those days when you did a little extra work building your habit? Maybe you were earning yourself "lingots" that can be used to purchase "Streak Freeze Amulets" for when they are needed. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It is important to completely own a great new habit that you have built. But it is probably just as important for that habit not to own you. </div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-78588495374719300852017-09-26T13:35:00.000-07:002017-09-26T13:35:21.249-07:00Choose Your Suffering<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3j0c2zOW5RFAlRmFAlKn9EfQN9L68V4jaDn-g_pJWstl-wmuw8Di_D9he9IUKjSY7qav1WMhBneDzgWGZe6HXa_hlvTfas3fCVNpKeQXC83r3Abs1k9E_EschWKLtBR63lFBpA-zyl2k/s1600/SunRays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3j0c2zOW5RFAlRmFAlKn9EfQN9L68V4jaDn-g_pJWstl-wmuw8Di_D9he9IUKjSY7qav1WMhBneDzgWGZe6HXa_hlvTfas3fCVNpKeQXC83r3Abs1k9E_EschWKLtBR63lFBpA-zyl2k/s640/SunRays.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pretty view during a recent bike ride around Shawnee Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2>
A Subtle Art</h2>
<div>
<br />
In Mark Manson's book, <i>The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck</i>, he presents a counter intuitive approach of looking at life. For some it may work. It worked for me last weekend. Here is how it works.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We all suffer on some level. In fact, life can be alternatively viewed as just a long time of unavoidable suffering. With each decision you make, you choose some level of suffering. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Earlier last week, I was informed of the Buffalo Bill Century Ride in Leavenworth, KS. The ride had 25, 60, and 100 mile road options, along with a 50 mile gravel ride. The 60 and 100 mile rides grabbed my interest. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When the weekend came, I was under no obligation to choose to get up at 5:45am to get ready and travel to Leavenworth to begin riding 60 or 100 miles at 8:00am. I could have chosen a lesser form of suffering. Sitting on the couch, reading, studying, or maybe watching some TV could have been my choices. I only would have suffered my own feeling of guilt for not having taken advantage of such an adventure. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I chose a higher level of suffering, because that was easier in my mind. I would suffer the open roads of eastern Kansas. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Along the route, there was a fork in the road. To choose right would mean only 60 miles, and to be done with the ride in a more reasonable time frame. To choose left would mean a commitment to 100 miles, and more suffering. I chose left. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The pains that one goes through in a 100 mile ride are really not all that bad when compared to other forms of discomfort. I'll take the swollen underside over a guilty conscience. I will take the sore quads and aching back over the simple discomfort of <i>more decisions</i> that would need to be made in a normal day (like, what beer I should have next? Or, should I leisure read longer or take a break and do some push-ups? Perhaps I should go to the library and rent some movies.) <br />
<br />
For me, framing it in terms of suffering helped me get out there and on my bicycle. I like to have a full calendar, and to schedule each moment of my day. This requires a lot of decisions, and as such, a small amount of suffering. I didn't want that suffering. I wanted the decision free kind of suffering of an increasingly stiffening neck and shoulders as the day wore on.<br />
<br />
The next time you need to make a decision on doing something difficult, you might give this method of framing your decision in terms of suffering a try. </div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-19403118469687581572017-09-19T07:02:00.001-07:002017-09-20T11:26:41.388-07:00Pushing a 2 Ton Baby Giant on a Swing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zFlnKLHd5tmWZCtYNwQBOQhClIsRose-Vf_ue8HGgnWaX4wJytiJa6xs5i8Sec7eDVqgGB02IVT1kAkOrJLvR8Arp-DQnBf17Q24MJFpunoluwSETa4spnASKCH2RnI7NV660MdaML8/s1600/20170919_123823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zFlnKLHd5tmWZCtYNwQBOQhClIsRose-Vf_ue8HGgnWaX4wJytiJa6xs5i8Sec7eDVqgGB02IVT1kAkOrJLvR8Arp-DQnBf17Q24MJFpunoluwSETa4spnASKCH2RnI7NV660MdaML8/s640/20170919_123823.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't push all at once. Use the momentum of the swing, silly!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Imagine a 2 ton baby giant on a swing, and it is crying at you to push her. You feel obliged since it could possibly crush you with a swat of her arm.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Although difficult, when your hard pushes are timed just right, the giant will begin to swing higher and higher. However, it takes quite a mighty push, and it takes a mighty push at a specific time during the swing. Specifically, on the apex of its back swing. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Learning Something New and Very Difficult</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When you are first learning something that is really hard to grasp, it will take a lot of your time. In fact, it better take some of your time every day. Otherwise, you will lose what you've gained. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Say you want to pass a class with an A. That is equivalent to getting the baby giant up to some high level on her swing. Trying to cram everything in the night before the test is like pushing the baby giant to that level with <i>one push.</i> It isn't going to happen. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If we think as each swing forward and back as a day, then we can reach that A level with a timely push <i>every day. </i>Skipping a push, and the giant will quickly lose its momentum and it will take an extra day to get back on track. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A quick review of notes is the equivalent of giving a simple <i>maintenance push, </i>that will keep the giant at her same level. Anything extra, and you can gain a little more toward your goal. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This idea came to me while listening to a similar analogy in <i>Mind Hacking</i> by Sir John Hargrave on my way back and forth to work. I hope it provides an avenue for you to hack your own mind, and perhaps conquer that difficult challenge that looms in front of you. </div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-65972167718216709102017-09-05T20:23:00.004-07:002017-09-05T20:23:37.001-07:00ApplicationAs an avid reader, I often ask myself what is the purpose of reading so much if I'm not going to apply what I read. For example, the book <i>Give and Take</i> by Adam Grant outlines the benefits of giving to others. Here are a few ways in which you can give: <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Nominate someone for an award.</li>
<li>Download all the birthdays of friends into your phone and set reminders to send physical birthday cards. </li>
<li>When traveling, send postcards to friends and family.</li>
<li>Volunteer for duties that need done. </li>
<li>Follow through with friendly inquiries. </li>
</ul>
<div>
When books are read that are not in a personal improvement category, look for parts that you can write about and share with others. This is how one can "apply" that knowledge. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Books of fiction are for entertainment. You can "apply" these books by smiling, laughing, or simply being amazed. Then one can tell of their experience to others. If this application isn't possible, then the book should probably not be finished. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Application may not be that important to you. There are a few camps of mathematicians: those that enjoy the pureness of mathematics, and those that don't see the point unless it can be applied. Even the purest of mathematics will have an application someday in the distant future. It is good to keep that in mind when you're reading, even if you're enjoying it for enjoyment's sake. </div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-1672742579000376192017-08-29T18:21:00.002-07:002017-08-29T18:21:50.046-07:00Drama is Resistance<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCgRPme5YlUlxiV7S0Kce7spXyvAbCtp2n-z5kSsMKM6pEF63WjF8eepikoebf4dax_gYLr1zcLyrUbEWhYCQp3kGQg176ntVqh-9ouB5DNB1zyIwvChuH4y3HHClm6TIW7FXFhMpZjs/s1600/received_10213172032684849.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCgRPme5YlUlxiV7S0Kce7spXyvAbCtp2n-z5kSsMKM6pEF63WjF8eepikoebf4dax_gYLr1zcLyrUbEWhYCQp3kGQg176ntVqh-9ouB5DNB1zyIwvChuH4y3HHClm6TIW7FXFhMpZjs/s640/received_10213172032684849.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin and I about to enjoy solar eclipse totality in Highland. We are shooting this picture blind, as many of you know.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
The Email</h3>
<br />
<div>
One of the forms of The Resistance, as defined by Steven Pressfield in his amazing book, <i>The War of Art, </i>is drama. Our species is so addicted to it that we can become a prisoner of our own self inflicted version of it.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Let me give you an example. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A student emails me about what I'm going to do about class for the solar eclipse, which is on the first day of class, a Monday. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The class to which he is referring is a Tuesday, Thursday class. I slap my forehead. Literally. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now, prior Jason would have been so beyond disturbed about the stupidity of this. Prior Jason would have written an email that would be littered with hidden sarcasm. He would have spent perhaps 30 minutes to an hour trying to wrap his mind around how someone could bring themselves to make such an error. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Eventually, any email that was created would be edited down to this: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Dear Student,</div>
<div>
Our class meets on Tuesday and Thursday, so you don't have to worry. </div>
<div>
-Dr. Shaw</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's it. That's the email.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yet I would spend more than a half hour of my time stewing about it. I would be angry about the fact that I couldn't, as a professional, send the more snarky email. Even getting back to work, I may have to take a break and visit a colleague's office just to tell them the story about it (now wasting TWO people's time). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, I am not prior Jason. This time around, I literally did slap my forehead. However, I followed that up by closing my eyes, taking a few deep breaths while thinking to myself how much time I could waste with this individual if I let The Resistance take its course. I pulled the solar glasses over my eyes, so to speak, and shut all of that other stuff out.<br />
<br />
After a few deep breaths, the above email is produced and I move on, because I've got stuff to do (don't we all). </div>
</div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-65785399958070035572017-08-15T11:55:00.001-07:002017-08-15T11:55:18.105-07:00My Google ABC's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmpXRl14Vz4_9JVjWk7nO0uuL1fLYLkxeuFi1VLGKVjewlicN5tBTueK4kWOEnBaK7pF32BuvGwRaHOT_3oa9I3cZta5-RoLhVZlZmd2n0Nz_aq7cgpmwY93dPtPX5DAu6vs3yvOYA5E/s1600/IMG_20170801_072022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmpXRl14Vz4_9JVjWk7nO0uuL1fLYLkxeuFi1VLGKVjewlicN5tBTueK4kWOEnBaK7pF32BuvGwRaHOT_3oa9I3cZta5-RoLhVZlZmd2n0Nz_aq7cgpmwY93dPtPX5DAu6vs3yvOYA5E/s640/IMG_20170801_072022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Everybody lies." - Seth Stephens-Davidowitz</blockquote>
<br />
<h3>
New Way of Getting Data</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Polling people doesn't reveal what's true anymore. We all found that out when Trump became our president. The reason behind this is explained very well in the new book <i>Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are </i>by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are many points made in the book (so far, I'm not yet half way) that are not surprising, but a few that are. For example, one of the depressing but not surprising realities that surface from Google searches are that<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>"Parents are two and a half times as likely to ask "Is my son gifted?" than "Is my daughter gifted?"" (Reality: Girls are 9 percent more likely to be in gifted programs than boys in school). </li>
<li>"Parents Google "Is my daughter overweight?" roughly twice as frequently as they Google "Is my son overweight?"" (Reality: 28% of girls and 35% of boys are overweight).</li>
<li>"Areas that supported Trump in the largest numbers were those that made the most Google searches for "nigger.""</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There were a few surprising findings in this enlightening book. Here is one example. Select two people at random from any given news site, whether that be Fox News or ThinkProgress. What would you think the probability would be that the two have <i>different</i> political views? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My idea of the internet led me to think that it is segregated in the sense that conservatives tend to mainly view conservative sites while liberals view more liberal sites. This led to a guess that would be closer to 0% (a perfectly desegregated site would give close to 50%). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The result: 45.2%. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What?!? </div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<h3>
My ABCs of Google Searches</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This idea of Google searching providing an avenue of who we really are gave me the idea of finding out who I really was by looking at my Google search history. Simply by typing each letter individually into Google, Google will fill in "suggestions" for you based on what you have searched for in the past. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here is a glimpse of my Google ABCs: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
a. amazon music</div>
<div>
b. beersmith podcasts</div>
<div>
c. cyanide and happiness</div>
<div>
d. duolingo norwegian</div>
<div>
e. eagle statue washburn campus</div>
<div>
f. fractional reserve system</div>
<div>
g. great taste of the midwest</div>
<div>
h. homebrewing podcasts</div>
<div>
i. international monetary fund</div>
<div>
j. jse data sets and stories</div>
<div>
k. kansas v. board of education</div>
<div>
l. loop de loop decorah</div>
<div>
m. mirepoix pronounce </div>
<div>
n. nonparametric statistical methods</div>
<div>
o. ordering prints online</div>
<div>
p. public service announcement vertical videos</div>
<div>
q. quantasia sharpton</div>
<div>
r. rgb for washburn university</div>
<div>
s. sagbraw</div>
<div>
t. top paying statistics jobs</div>
<div>
u. us news and world report statistician</div>
<div>
v. videos not coming up on gopro mtp client disk volume</div>
<div>
w. wings of freedom washburn</div>
<div>
x. xkcd</div>
<div>
y. yo</div>
<div>
z. zillow</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This speaks very highly about how big of a dork I am.</div>
</div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-90988006426992274322017-08-08T07:00:00.001-07:002017-08-08T07:00:10.736-07:00Homebrew Daily<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beginning of Not Breaking the Chain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As I read Steven Pressfield's <i>The War of Art,</i> I eventually found myself wondering where I was giving into the Resistance. It takes his entire Book One (pages 5-57) to define the Resistance. Generally speaking, it is anything and everything that keeps you from harnessing your creative side.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
My Creative Side</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Along with the occasional blog post (writing), I think my creative expression is most prominent in my home brewing. I like to make really good beer, and I've always wanted to gain the knowledge it takes to create my own recipes. It does not take much to create a recipe. Make sure some malts, hops, yeast, and water are included and you have a recipe. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That is not what I'm talking about, though. I want to create recipes that make outstanding beer. I want to become a better brewer. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, I've been fighting the Resistance without even realizing it. It was telling me things like</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>"There's plenty of craft beers out there to choose from. There really is no need to brew your own beer."</li>
<li>"It takes several hours to brew a batch, and you don't have that kind of time."</li>
<li>"You're probably never going to make a pilsner-lager, so there is no need to read that email from Brad Smith."</li>
</ul>
<div>
So I made a game plan on how to fight this Resistance. A while ago, I commented on Jonathan Vieker's wonderful blog post, <a href="http://jonathanvieker.com/dont-break-the-chain/">The Secret to Doing Hard Things Daily</a>. In that comment, I vowed to "use this method of not breaking the chain to achieve the next big goal, whatever that may be." </div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The chain to which I was referring is the streak of days in which you have devoted to building the habit or skill you want to build. Once a solid streak is in place, you don't want to break that chain. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The reason it works is as Jonathan says,</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>It substitutes a highly specific, immediate goal (avoid the psychological pain of seeing the chain broken) for a vague, long-term goal (develop a new skill or habit).</i> </blockquote>
<h4>
How I'm Going to Do It</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Obviously, I cannot brew every day. I do not have the time, money, or the desire to do such a thing. The good thing is, that you don't have to brew every day to get better at brewing. There is plenty of literature out there about brewing, and there is always <i>something </i>that needs cleaned, measured, or manipulated in the brewing process. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My plan is to devote some block of time to the following every day.</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Brewing better beer</li>
<li>Pre- and post-brewing related activities (yeast starters, dry hopping, racking, cleaning, etc.)</li>
<li>Learning about brewing (reading literature or newsletters, listening to podcasts, attending conferences, etc.)</li>
<li>Writing about brewing</li>
</ul>
<div>
Last night, I began reading the book <i>For the Love of Hops</i>, by Stan Hieronymus. Today, I have a keg and tap to clean since I just cashed my Mosaic IPA. There are home brewing podcasts that I can download for when I'm traveling or walking back and forth to work. I have 54 emails in a folder labeled "Home Brewing" from Brad Smith (his Beer Smith Home Brewing Newsletter). </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In other words, there are things I can choose to do that will take 5 minutes, and some that will take 5 hours. Whatever I choose, I'm not going to break the chain. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-25017156076343817532017-08-01T17:49:00.000-07:002017-08-01T17:49:03.841-07:00Self Motivating Speech<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXfQQ89pSUJNht4FANg2xUisPSlbA-_hNOGKf5YOv2gHKlWdnD242ta6Qf1clgqsm1apR52pJcc7NILg_lQDhV5JG8zlfeVZECxY3foSI3O_SwRgomr9nM8moJtKIgkMXKXgwTsPExMo/s1600/IMG_20170729_114630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXfQQ89pSUJNht4FANg2xUisPSlbA-_hNOGKf5YOv2gHKlWdnD242ta6Qf1clgqsm1apR52pJcc7NILg_lQDhV5JG8zlfeVZECxY3foSI3O_SwRgomr9nM8moJtKIgkMXKXgwTsPExMo/s640/IMG_20170729_114630.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Finish of Ragbrai XLV</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Somewhere on Day 5 or 6, I remember thinking of my self motivational speech and letting Juan in on a little of it. It goes a little something like this.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
The Setup</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You are in the middle of doing something very grueling, challenging, and taxing on your body. If that isn't bad enough, there are other elements that can get in the way such as Mother Nature to name one. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The truth of the matter is that it wouldn't be that big a deal to quit. Why go through with the rest of this? Maybe you've accomplished something like this before. Maybe you've had your fun, and now it is just too much work. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Those voices in your head are the Resistance. For more on the Resistance, read Steven Pressfield's <i>The War of Art</i>, or Seth Godin's <i>Linchpin.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<h3>
The Decision</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You've all but succumbed to the Resistance, and have decided to quit. Really... it is no big deal. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
The Ultimate Decision</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now that you've made a decision, you can now make the ultimate one: to continue.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But why? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Because having made the decision to quit, accomplishing the goal will <i>mean so much more</i>. When you finish, you will break out in goose flesh and tears will come to your eyes. The Final Countdown may be playing in your head. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Training yourself to overcome the Resistance is difficult, but defeating the Resistance after it already won is quite a feat. </div>
<br />
It is the best feeling ever.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Ragbrai XLV</h3>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Juan and I would never had let each other decide to quit, but the Resistance was there. It was in our individual heads. We were tired. Our legs were sore. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Together, we conquered, and it was a proud and beautiful moment. </div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-4463754721332102782017-07-18T15:39:00.001-07:002017-07-18T15:39:02.516-07:00Ragbrai Over the Years<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjWONP4epUQLgF7Bu3u7pios8NwNoIWkggnhJjYqL2yNgsxqU6y6G-ML5wFFadNOOn9z0ax_6vMnoEccXQz_LCziK_EskNRVfkbC-ILcGO9P1Z0zz_AKDWHiiSnOllJ6AXiiDhA3pG4g/s1600/proposalBoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjWONP4epUQLgF7Bu3u7pios8NwNoIWkggnhJjYqL2yNgsxqU6y6G-ML5wFFadNOOn9z0ax_6vMnoEccXQz_LCziK_EskNRVfkbC-ILcGO9P1Z0zz_AKDWHiiSnOllJ6AXiiDhA3pG4g/s640/proposalBoth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Big Question, and the Great Answer!</td></tr>
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Next week, I will begin what will hope to be my seventh full Ragbrai experience. Before I hit the road, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the fun times we've had over the years.<br />
<br />
<h3>
2009</h3>
<br />
Our first Ragbrai in 2009 went from Council Bluffs to Burlington, IA with overnight stops in Indianola and Ottumwa. At a distance of 442 miles and a total of 22,806 feet of climb, it was the hilliest Ragbrai that we've ever experienced. Our second and third day ever of having ridden Ragbrai had us climb 5096 feet and then 4470 feet. The hilliest and third hilliest days of Ragbrai we have ever done.<br />
<br />
It was the year Erin and I became engaged, as I put together a big engagement party at my mother's place it Ottumwa. See the opening picture.<br />
<br />
It is hard to describe now the awe that I felt on the first morning as we took off from Council Bluffs. We had just taken down a soaking wet camp (from dew) and there was a pretty thick fog. I was mesmerized by the number of bicycles all around me.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fog hasn't quite lifted</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtyrGjKkPuQxhTQJ_Kzr0ZtF1_NsanHF4Qhy5clDl-dxox5cwdco1u6zkY3xJbJci5447E0FQJt2yAOjXlXq9aw48zy0ZOXue6gA9xbbTtpg0YWdXnAUWSjPqsuP8oW8OPD2t7W8ssJA/s1600/IMG_0667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtyrGjKkPuQxhTQJ_Kzr0ZtF1_NsanHF4Qhy5clDl-dxox5cwdco1u6zkY3xJbJci5447E0FQJt2yAOjXlXq9aw48zy0ZOXue6gA9xbbTtpg0YWdXnAUWSjPqsuP8oW8OPD2t7W8ssJA/s640/IMG_0667.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike and Cara Corey, and Cara's dad Ron on our way to Ottumwa (to surprise Erin)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newly engaged, we celebrate with Cory and Jake in Ottumwa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAOiQOcAhj9T1xbZ1lxW4wJHlWj6Yno0JQCcpTLsaKU7F9qQr1lL_u8zBfVussAbkPJe-b-zddOtDSaznVgnVqonWPky2Sexy7zs7DC0v3LsA3A6ydbPt_rjCDZKiKyMw4dJrAuxCum0/s1600/Ragbrai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAOiQOcAhj9T1xbZ1lxW4wJHlWj6Yno0JQCcpTLsaKU7F9qQr1lL_u8zBfVussAbkPJe-b-zddOtDSaznVgnVqonWPky2Sexy7zs7DC0v3LsA3A6ydbPt_rjCDZKiKyMw4dJrAuxCum0/s640/Ragbrai.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was just Erin, myself and Dad that rode the whole distance in 2009.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
2010</h3>
<div>
<br />
Our second Ragbrai ride was the the second longest clocking in at 451 miles total (the patch says 442, which is inaccurate). This was the year I kept a journal. On Friday evening before we got on our charter with Lake Country Cyclists, a tornado went right by dad's place in Indianola. He witnessed it coming directly at his house, but it turned and they missed the damage. Having missed his house, he was able to still go on Ragbrai.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLvDjho79l7XnRA47zA1T5S7fq1l5Bb79eEES9JNSq-0nxbzoEXaPf7Y3Rrm_VkSTSjmT-R8Y_vaGVFA0VJd8-8b06G96Le9OWfX5YTkkaMi6-6ohN8HZGEiKV0SfSzIkvsi8R4X2F_g/s1600/Missouri+Dip+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLvDjho79l7XnRA47zA1T5S7fq1l5Bb79eEES9JNSq-0nxbzoEXaPf7Y3Rrm_VkSTSjmT-R8Y_vaGVFA0VJd8-8b06G96Le9OWfX5YTkkaMi6-6ohN8HZGEiKV0SfSzIkvsi8R4X2F_g/s640/Missouri+Dip+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missouri Dip in Sioux City, IA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lonnie joined our small crew for the 2nd year. Erin and I thought it would be fun to wear the same shirts the entire week. Here you see us wearing the Novinger Coal Miner Days 5K shirt. We were big into races back then.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFlkLfzAGLFu7sJaT4pbD7O3ZEgV5WlWubPdo9vTHBPFyt8qBusPjXmlRaXnbEfTkKWi8Q3FFPR0Xqed229wlJ26bGh4W1aOvsGxhlB6IjBB8j5JziP6XAmortMH0-j3-u9MlKvaQ61c/s1600/Lake+Avenue+Lounge%252C+Storm+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFlkLfzAGLFu7sJaT4pbD7O3ZEgV5WlWubPdo9vTHBPFyt8qBusPjXmlRaXnbEfTkKWi8Q3FFPR0Xqed229wlJ26bGh4W1aOvsGxhlB6IjBB8j5JziP6XAmortMH0-j3-u9MlKvaQ61c/s640/Lake+Avenue+Lounge%252C+Storm+Lake.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Storm Lake at the end of Day 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwKiXUsBWdlXjTQe5zbWTPQSGMovlfRbS8HVIkmmVhiDewPcpahqJwZmSECIWHicGoTdd6Kji_qgqRq7tiiC6e9y_dS1shWjfwP0YOOON4Su488M9PkKd8GaUORP7hJYoi0Ut_6l2FCo/s1600/Outlaw+and+Jones%252C+Algona+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwKiXUsBWdlXjTQe5zbWTPQSGMovlfRbS8HVIkmmVhiDewPcpahqJwZmSECIWHicGoTdd6Kji_qgqRq7tiiC6e9y_dS1shWjfwP0YOOON4Su488M9PkKd8GaUORP7hJYoi0Ut_6l2FCo/s640/Outlaw+and+Jones%252C+Algona+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Algona at the end of Day 2</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKTxi91SsuoIfmOra0z8yQ4q6i7rBAHa_Glm3GxhASPHMOm4LkD3CXd1MKkJy6ktjCzSPVzigjmwNChSzbLYqfIKIDWSuLXSZfkhAFQ-5gUXgsT0rHcpM49gYI47la5V94rSTB53gAQE/s1600/Jones+and+Outlaw%252C+Clear+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKTxi91SsuoIfmOra0z8yQ4q6i7rBAHa_Glm3GxhASPHMOm4LkD3CXd1MKkJy6ktjCzSPVzigjmwNChSzbLYqfIKIDWSuLXSZfkhAFQ-5gUXgsT0rHcpM49gYI47la5V94rSTB53gAQE/s640/Jones+and+Outlaw%252C+Clear+Lake.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Clear Lake at the end of Day 3</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-9DTsNJkkS49CE4SE1iNRCZs9gjo7u4W1SjTebCtCQ5_2EAWqbQTvDNcvUTKG-o8pTk4Uqeyn_wSao9bfCjN6KI9pZmAzAS3D-tpRAw8VN9l6eY3gQB5KzCYlXJ3Y9qB_dyhCO2HEUA/s1600/Jones+and+Outlaw%252C+Waterloo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-9DTsNJkkS49CE4SE1iNRCZs9gjo7u4W1SjTebCtCQ5_2EAWqbQTvDNcvUTKG-o8pTk4Uqeyn_wSao9bfCjN6KI9pZmAzAS3D-tpRAw8VN9l6eY3gQB5KzCYlXJ3Y9qB_dyhCO2HEUA/s640/Jones+and+Outlaw%252C+Waterloo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the campus of Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, end of Day 5</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One of the highlights of the week for me was swinging from this amazing rope swing. Not too long after I had left, someone went off nude and they had to shut the whole thing down. They had it roped off, were charging $5 to get in, and then you had to sign a waiver. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIuDXWGidmOfEmjrQMdS361H9SRwYULc5wYkzd-rLr7zHbVgf9K9BucpuQwFufSasZ99LlvBX93nPDJG3k0J8p2jFsG7CuacqZ8k2pUFSyRs8iQVqsruqgI1GYOy4lVqDm2OVUfPocRk/s1600/IMG_1783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIuDXWGidmOfEmjrQMdS361H9SRwYULc5wYkzd-rLr7zHbVgf9K9BucpuQwFufSasZ99LlvBX93nPDJG3k0J8p2jFsG7CuacqZ8k2pUFSyRs8iQVqsruqgI1GYOy4lVqDm2OVUfPocRk/s320/IMG_1783.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoBgCkI8pZNvNeORf6kbUJy3P7XtRvMn8psyovp74dLddoeDCXVK6Ogjf2ZPMSabxHQUNuHmi3-5GjfiPc4LxBSkExkmPpqagteNeyMKeR2gJyjKxTQuhtbmuhkkyAlDfiTRvEM6xoxY/s1600/IMG_1784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoBgCkI8pZNvNeORf6kbUJy3P7XtRvMn8psyovp74dLddoeDCXVK6Ogjf2ZPMSabxHQUNuHmi3-5GjfiPc4LxBSkExkmPpqagteNeyMKeR2gJyjKxTQuhtbmuhkkyAlDfiTRvEM6xoxY/s200/IMG_1784.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<div>
The 2010 Ragbrai was also the one that contained Potter Hill. It was brutal, as only a small percentage of riders could make it to the top without walking their bikes. From what I understand, walking your bike up the hill was tough enough. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBviS8uSsUdZ8UWoAMzXa8lAeIsr3asHWf5S36YNuzCnnrmiqbwcKkKIicCs8NEZE2ucFCXi9CwOPheBdqjLxYk3i4TZv6f6rief6ytV16qtnIJA-SvAsyH46WIHjIZ_aYgyNfaXa9Tc/s1600/PotterHill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBviS8uSsUdZ8UWoAMzXa8lAeIsr3asHWf5S36YNuzCnnrmiqbwcKkKIicCs8NEZE2ucFCXi9CwOPheBdqjLxYk3i4TZv6f6rief6ytV16qtnIJA-SvAsyH46WIHjIZ_aYgyNfaXa9Tc/s640/PotterHill.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was very proud of having climbed that hill. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We finished in Dubuque for another fantastic year. It was the year of my favorite jersey, which I still have and will wear this year. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJGpNrSDS_HE9uv2j3dXTRAK_WHY2eOSTWaNsG5NFLzbeMzr4oYteOdoNlqppIzRSlTsYTvEYTp3OeVSfilNy0XdwdSCqhul1r7QZAf2hV9sOHgoW9iyvj0eiGtgYGVwi5iWEERhnIlE/s1600/Mississippi+Dip+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJGpNrSDS_HE9uv2j3dXTRAK_WHY2eOSTWaNsG5NFLzbeMzr4oYteOdoNlqppIzRSlTsYTvEYTp3OeVSfilNy0XdwdSCqhul1r7QZAf2hV9sOHgoW9iyvj0eiGtgYGVwi5iWEERhnIlE/s640/Mississippi+Dip+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lonnie almost matches.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
2011</h3>
<div>
<br />
At 450 miles, 2011 was the third longest ride I have done (although it may as well be tied for 2nd since 2010 was 451) and the second hilliest at 20197 feet of climb. The first two days were brutal, climbing 4298 from Glenwood to Atlantic, and then 4719 from Atlantic to Carroll. These two days were the 2nd and 4th hilliest days of Ragbrai that I have ever done.<br />
<br />
Erin took a break from Ragbrai in 2011, and would continue the streak until her return in 2014, as she was putting a lot of focus on her dissertation.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3n0j5uZ9VzY0nbryRX1hBeKe5u4oZEK_l_3kEzwXl6ogqIcog558qa7kiJMlG_Qf2seo-VppPP-BnFef8YZUpwQ8SN-hgknd-n301X5KbexcU87s0jq5dbs2U-fl7Fw3V8dcICHo3Yzg/s1600/100_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3n0j5uZ9VzY0nbryRX1hBeKe5u4oZEK_l_3kEzwXl6ogqIcog558qa7kiJMlG_Qf2seo-VppPP-BnFef8YZUpwQ8SN-hgknd-n301X5KbexcU87s0jq5dbs2U-fl7Fw3V8dcICHo3Yzg/s640/100_0025.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason, Ralph, Lonnie, Chuck, Don, Larry, Bitz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Prior to Ragbrai 2011, I created several ideas for a video that I would create. This script was more detailed than my entire journal of Ragbrai itself. The videos I took were only during the first two days. Apparently, I gave up on the idea.<br />
<br />
So, instead of any decent photos, I have a bunch of crummy videos that could not be used for anything.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXOhroAorFUGYmsTlp9SJZqsV3I9AecbV86Hy1In5h4qruf01Zunn7tl0Vj3rjEbAmIY8XPuifBq-Qy6V8ffPA6bBipdXbMoEG9cjahnvVrwD5uI4VBDTe7RFH_slJkABeYOrt5Ht6MA/s1600/100_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXOhroAorFUGYmsTlp9SJZqsV3I9AecbV86Hy1In5h4qruf01Zunn7tl0Vj3rjEbAmIY8XPuifBq-Qy6V8ffPA6bBipdXbMoEG9cjahnvVrwD5uI4VBDTe7RFH_slJkABeYOrt5Ht6MA/s640/100_0047.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of only four photos taken during 2011. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
2012</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPoctuOcJv4iIruYS-5ZeghK3IPQFsPnh6ggEwpC-llnEPR9Mlyunbt6X2KQu56QL3oR50T1J4CceOnn_2Gh0lpSZ5TuHV918L-Jgd78nukZfsnCTyCsVzwpFnGnoF6xJauceBdB4bkQ/s1600/100_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPoctuOcJv4iIruYS-5ZeghK3IPQFsPnh6ggEwpC-llnEPR9Mlyunbt6X2KQu56QL3oR50T1J4CceOnn_2Gh0lpSZ5TuHV918L-Jgd78nukZfsnCTyCsVzwpFnGnoF6xJauceBdB4bkQ/s640/100_0001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting off on the 2012 Ragbrai together: Jason, Mike, Lonnie, Ralph, Chuck, Don, Bitz, Larry (not pictured: John)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There were nine of us that started the longest (at 471 miles) and hottest of all of my Ragbrai rides, and only four of us that finished. The heat took out three, and a storm in Marshalltown the last two. It was myself, Don, Larry, and John that made it the whole way. Turns out Don and Larry are the oldest of this crew, too. They are rock stars. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Opposite of 2011, I captured both videos and pictures and had a much better plan in place of creating a big video. I also journaled a lot more and wrote down some very good advice for my future self: </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Do not bring reading material. You will not read it.</li>
<li>Do not bring MP3 player & headphones. You will not listen to music during the week unless it is on stage. </li>
<li>Get pedals and shoes that are more Ragbrai friendly (which I have sense done). </li>
<li>Pack a laundry bag. </li>
<li>Pack things in watertight bags.</li>
<li>Sweats and hoodie for air conditioned places and cooler evenings. </li>
<li>A small bit of laundry detergent for hand washing clothes. </li>
<li>You do not need a tripod or selfie stick. There are several thousand people all around you willing to take your picture.</li>
<li>Do not use a front bike bag. You do not use it. Get a mount for your phone. (Front bag is gone now, and a mount for my phone is in place!)</li>
<li>Do not pay for tent service. Putting your tent up is not that big a deal. This saves money and gives you more freedom to pick a spot. </li>
<li>Bring clothes pins, hammer, Swiss Army knife, and zip ties. (I forgot clothes pins on B.A.K. but not on Ragbrai this year!)</li>
<li>Look into creating a team or joining a team. I like <u>The Motivators</u>. This team should consist of individuals who can coach & encourage others having difficulty while conquering hills/weather/fatigue etc. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
I had forgotten about the last piece of advice. The idea came from encouraging people up hills and coming up with a speech in hindsight that I could have delivered to my dad and Lonnie on the fifth day after a storm took down their tent and soaked all their stuff. It would have motivated them to keep going. Someday, I will bring this idea to fruition. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here was the highly unedited and way too long video I put together of 2012. I've learned my lesson on keeping videos like these under 5 minutes, and preferably, under 3. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-fmk6anjtxo/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-fmk6anjtxo?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div>
<br />
My 20th blog post ever happened to be about <a href="http://jason-shaw.blogspot.com/2012/08/ragbrai-2012.html">Ragbrai 2012</a>! I'm not sure why I didn't post any pictures.<br />
<br />
<h3>
2013</h3>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Rabrai is over and it was the best ever. I suppose I only have four others for reference, but it was pretty awesome. I'm sitting here relaxing and listening to Radiohead when I should be blogging about this instead." - Tuesday, July 30, 2013 Journal Entry</blockquote>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ_ZqOWaRE6zQ0UMa4R1WXNE9ZOpVYt5GuuqG4hMwZuHweRowFsARcw3uCIpQOqitaeXgIYs5zcMK7CW3e_UNukV31h4JmW1l3mSN3ou9h1B2oayjAvh3ID4SuIuVhRo-rInd-RHxoXU/s1600/IMG_20130720_142223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ_ZqOWaRE6zQ0UMa4R1WXNE9ZOpVYt5GuuqG4hMwZuHweRowFsARcw3uCIpQOqitaeXgIYs5zcMK7CW3e_UNukV31h4JmW1l3mSN3ou9h1B2oayjAvh3ID4SuIuVhRo-rInd-RHxoXU/s640/IMG_20130720_142223.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad, a fellow Lake Country Cyclist, Lonnie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Ragbrai 2013 was unique to the previous years, as my core group shrunk down to just Dad, Lonnie, and me riding with Lake Country Cyclists. Don and Larry were still on the ride, but they were with a different outfit. My friend Jonathan and his sister Becca were biking it, too, with my friend Sarah (Jonathan's wife) as their driver.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnh8UiiYk-wqVgWJD8SZF0WHOVzPgTB-Hmi4uHi0l-qEwlU_qczLgW_1qaxJ-u2xkX9LhleQMyY5MRDkq3eNL2YzKLmfs9n_1RBEtv4axtM7iDD8kP_ATUT0mMzsT2YYMeh5Un47nXjwQ/s1600/IMG_20130722_081229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnh8UiiYk-wqVgWJD8SZF0WHOVzPgTB-Hmi4uHi0l-qEwlU_qczLgW_1qaxJ-u2xkX9LhleQMyY5MRDkq3eNL2YzKLmfs9n_1RBEtv4axtM7iDD8kP_ATUT0mMzsT2YYMeh5Un47nXjwQ/s640/IMG_20130722_081229.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Karras Loop patch with John Karras himself. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nsc_ytoIuTsjrNzhRI1uoqrxPuYxfCbvw98Y-88y-ECqpgQA51Lu8sC8HSu0nESthPG5Ex8bzolvw7CYbRuA7kJDYiPfUSAxQ72ZJKIeNs_gN7alR2zkzSpfi7r2T03Jf_yW5KS5jLw/s1600/IMG_20130722_145137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nsc_ytoIuTsjrNzhRI1uoqrxPuYxfCbvw98Y-88y-ECqpgQA51Lu8sC8HSu0nESthPG5Ex8bzolvw7CYbRuA7kJDYiPfUSAxQ72ZJKIeNs_gN7alR2zkzSpfi7r2T03Jf_yW5KS5jLw/s640/IMG_20130722_145137.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am with some goats. Because why not? It's Ragbrail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When I look through the pictures of Ragbrai 2013, I took a LOT of selfies. Many of them included a picture of me in front of each pass-through-town's sign. I'm not sure why I thought that would be a good idea. We all live and learn.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7Y8D8EhBOOqMJsIeOHikjfJK0VSc1YLfYC_b25UFA54uTaWrKELPAatPyjo0Q77cGY7Jg50F2l817BL8vMvTYNoll_KqU9I4KVRjsQMrgvZHRYhOkqjEB5Qowe0-OZbfG1vGy6Sikjg/s1600/IMG_20130722_193947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7Y8D8EhBOOqMJsIeOHikjfJK0VSc1YLfYC_b25UFA54uTaWrKELPAatPyjo0Q77cGY7Jg50F2l817BL8vMvTYNoll_KqU9I4KVRjsQMrgvZHRYhOkqjEB5Qowe0-OZbfG1vGy6Sikjg/s640/IMG_20130722_193947.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outlaw, Chops, Scrappy, and Stilts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Qbj_n2GbUPo_idqeTrjI9LRSv-K_IaU_u4GQRV9wgYw0AcnTbAnM0ZDnPJSQh56uqzRj7-IGhrzZqy1ZiZAzoGoMIW1YQOlMFG857SKYbFPuQNc-8nk9jjXnUAonJy9ppauliWbGnN0/s1600/IMG_20130723_092223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Qbj_n2GbUPo_idqeTrjI9LRSv-K_IaU_u4GQRV9wgYw0AcnTbAnM0ZDnPJSQh56uqzRj7-IGhrzZqy1ZiZAzoGoMIW1YQOlMFG857SKYbFPuQNc-8nk9jjXnUAonJy9ppauliWbGnN0/s640/IMG_20130723_092223.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don and Larry!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Ragbrai went through Des Moines in 2013. I hung out at the craft beer tent in downtown Des Moines for hours with friends Cory and Simpson. Although they had ridden that day, I couldn't wait long enough in any of the towns for them. They simply could not catch up.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I had an extremely brief paragraph and four other pictures of Ragbrai 2013 in my blog post, <a href="http://jason-shaw.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-busy-summer.html">My Busy Summer. </a> One of those pictures includes Cory.<br />
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BcgBWlTbz7_t_4iwBDnYxFxVP95Jtova0CrCHGWF-HbhUbv0__fdfnGH4c6x0jvzkueWy9bAZuB-1fFmMx9kwBPAhcFtXLWnbVpgu8fH0QBGY5ol34x0vwT3BbDIQqht0wL1BbvFcxA/s1600/IMG_20130724_084036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BcgBWlTbz7_t_4iwBDnYxFxVP95Jtova0CrCHGWF-HbhUbv0__fdfnGH4c6x0jvzkueWy9bAZuB-1fFmMx9kwBPAhcFtXLWnbVpgu8fH0QBGY5ol34x0vwT3BbDIQqht0wL1BbvFcxA/s640/IMG_20130724_084036.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simpson and I riding together from Des Moines to Knoxville</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWcEzPbYMOJLkMvWmBqQvqzi_1C771S47ks7N9rl6oEq_v8F_qXGr8cSdeWrBJKPWmOV0n4kkiCpWmPZ5zwEk-aEEWyHaCA2RYnWuNbckaGM7x0Uu7gtmKjKf2ID8odU1sTZxfLlKOXc/s1600/IMG_20130726_160819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWcEzPbYMOJLkMvWmBqQvqzi_1C771S47ks7N9rl6oEq_v8F_qXGr8cSdeWrBJKPWmOV0n4kkiCpWmPZ5zwEk-aEEWyHaCA2RYnWuNbckaGM7x0Uu7gtmKjKf2ID8odU1sTZxfLlKOXc/s640/IMG_20130726_160819.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are in Fairfield after some Indian Food.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I recall walking up to the square in Fairfield, IA and almost passing out from low blood sugar. I began sweating profusely, and went into a gas station really quick to down some sugar in the form of soda and cookies (I think). It gave Jonathan, Sarah, and Becca a little scare, but it soon passed. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
By the time we got done with the Indian Food Buffet downtown, we had forgotten about it. Not really. </div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpS8UPDIrKImsVrVPphopSTXmw5PmUMVDCxdB8UEeCwudwCtv7po_DmUaQ9Jm3341vdAI-n8LyhhtqD31tU4loIqrj_7oIRiVdy9XXtQPDdhSfLpGCCbF6sHrpoQecaVi4ki60OTq4D4w/s1600/IMG_20130727_111342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpS8UPDIrKImsVrVPphopSTXmw5PmUMVDCxdB8UEeCwudwCtv7po_DmUaQ9Jm3341vdAI-n8LyhhtqD31tU4loIqrj_7oIRiVdy9XXtQPDdhSfLpGCCbF6sHrpoQecaVi4ki60OTq4D4w/s640/IMG_20130727_111342.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fifth Ragbrai conquered. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
2014</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSZxalIhASZzMqDSvrAjTibLWdmVDZeqf2eWgqmEsfnzxdPpbRoZxOp4IUfTWhL4w5PZeZawecutnojqvyPdy1ufa8MJRozLLz2FIZ1GSK_-AlKKwfPkQRSpIc642GQ51DpZX_SGSpVw/s1600/20140726_100155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSZxalIhASZzMqDSvrAjTibLWdmVDZeqf2eWgqmEsfnzxdPpbRoZxOp4IUfTWhL4w5PZeZawecutnojqvyPdy1ufa8MJRozLLz2FIZ1GSK_-AlKKwfPkQRSpIc642GQ51DpZX_SGSpVw/s640/20140726_100155.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chops and I with chops</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
I was able to blog about <a href="http://jason-shaw.blogspot.com/2014/07/ragbrai-2014.html">Ragbrai 2012</a> much more extensively! However, there are definitely elements missing from that blog. Take these videos of Jonathan for example, where he plays Taps at three different campgrounds. Try and follow me here... Chops with chops showing off his chops.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cgC0LJo-tdc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cgC0LJo-tdc?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfCpoRTG07RcGKb_fs_XMX1e0c1zPxfvIlPk0DEcmOKfNE0gqTz7DQJNjTufEWg2UJDigdkVWpcAYgeGZG8So8TKc8_EpjuiryUyw9L38IVzyQqw-ZdNNWEo_dmi_pyZWVuFttXCDw78/s1600/20140721_084404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfCpoRTG07RcGKb_fs_XMX1e0c1zPxfvIlPk0DEcmOKfNE0gqTz7DQJNjTufEWg2UJDigdkVWpcAYgeGZG8So8TKc8_EpjuiryUyw9L38IVzyQqw-ZdNNWEo_dmi_pyZWVuFttXCDw78/s640/20140721_084404.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason and Erin on Ragbrai again!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQUAzxkGKoMJrndwhv6Q5WOiQCpCt2UDGKYgVhYWjoR5JOrQiK0MKl3_mQ8pUaETbsZGmX2qp8QPkEyWhDVX2cFgD0tADzYBxiHkUPPEDU1NUD_PXPnvcQkGxTDy5WZAj18In1MaPX78/s1600/20140722_112737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQUAzxkGKoMJrndwhv6Q5WOiQCpCt2UDGKYgVhYWjoR5JOrQiK0MKl3_mQ8pUaETbsZGmX2qp8QPkEyWhDVX2cFgD0tADzYBxiHkUPPEDU1NUD_PXPnvcQkGxTDy5WZAj18In1MaPX78/s640/20140722_112737.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My fifth century ride on Ragbrai (I skipped it in 2009). </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5M4OQsMf6tnL1zDMNuoKBqj8YBF_yKtKN3YCyowzpwmf7JYRUKyucnr_FV591D7TnTWF7Amp8A9nsuaYr-LKjC5_FX8TPdHsEYO6vySHac-HkFx7n_YzYmfyGndFt1PQa-_L2IuR0N4/s1600/20140724_125032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5M4OQsMf6tnL1zDMNuoKBqj8YBF_yKtKN3YCyowzpwmf7JYRUKyucnr_FV591D7TnTWF7Amp8A9nsuaYr-LKjC5_FX8TPdHsEYO6vySHac-HkFx7n_YzYmfyGndFt1PQa-_L2IuR0N4/s640/20140724_125032.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonder what I was doing in there? </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVT4ylY_MwHnzma4x9Lm-MfioF8cOa9vpGKh6l6e4VAvht0SCz_HPIVCVy_qfmCCNQWl6wMQQIND3SEzko-qgWd7xpjwrfGxu7uXym2D2Jc1LJHNhObVRQHfHAC03VKQw-vxR3Rx6rygI/s1600/20140726_130730-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVT4ylY_MwHnzma4x9Lm-MfioF8cOa9vpGKh6l6e4VAvht0SCz_HPIVCVy_qfmCCNQWl6wMQQIND3SEzko-qgWd7xpjwrfGxu7uXym2D2Jc1LJHNhObVRQHfHAC03VKQw-vxR3Rx6rygI/s640/20140726_130730-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chops being a good guy and riding with me on the day after my concussion.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4a1M_gP34Sl8TESYPMtEizbDIpJikSquYd3tLhwocjziiRfPvT0SS2MucfxxqLlmNWJLUD_RlhduCKp5McQ6Kw4Y8MNyvUrwrwJooCPY2HfCEUevy6uR_KhRB-wgKjKzIIrKReYM4ivw/s1600/20140726_133704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4a1M_gP34Sl8TESYPMtEizbDIpJikSquYd3tLhwocjziiRfPvT0SS2MucfxxqLlmNWJLUD_RlhduCKp5McQ6Kw4Y8MNyvUrwrwJooCPY2HfCEUevy6uR_KhRB-wgKjKzIIrKReYM4ivw/s640/20140726_133704.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're close enough to done for a finish photo. What's the matter, Chops? Bike a bit heavy?</td></tr>
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</div>
<div>
Dennis, our driver, made Ragbrai 2016 the actual best Ragbrai I have experienced. It will be hard to top this. </div>
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<div>
<h3>
2016</h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindg8SZ4d5K1-mQoFod3ghtEJjI1lu51OAMFqOyeQrX58XbTXh0DdadsfJ7Dz23vHSKKSDYxrOaB5yKX1j_tZ2QS3B8H-7z50xlnKsLTfCk1D2r8lTDODEncMwZdEyavtXJMRv-I3aHYo/s1600/IMG_20160728_202035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindg8SZ4d5K1-mQoFod3ghtEJjI1lu51OAMFqOyeQrX58XbTXh0DdadsfJ7Dz23vHSKKSDYxrOaB5yKX1j_tZ2QS3B8H-7z50xlnKsLTfCk1D2r8lTDODEncMwZdEyavtXJMRv-I3aHYo/s640/IMG_20160728_202035.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to Right: Jason, Ted, Erin, Alyce, Dale, Cory, Sharon, Mike, Dave, Jonathan, Juan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<div>
Our move to Topeka hindered us from doing Ragbrai 2015. Even for Ragbrai 2016, we did not fully commit, but only went for the Thursday and Friday rides of the week. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Cory, Simpson, and Juan rode Wednesday from Leon to Centerville and camped there for the evening. Mom took Ted, Jonathan, Erin, and me over to Centerville to join them Thursday morning. While Jonathan, Ted, and Erin beat us all to Ottumwa, I rode with Cory, Simpson, and Juan almost the entire day. </div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtKqYKj_t2MxmxXqfxCsBBR2yeJHW9zvbHYVqWfx3z8yvJLefwxOBOtf0wj1OwCfVSC9PzWHbhtFiNYeykWh43XKEGngAB-fZbxlraFP8P2aJ7XK1O_d3H4qRHAnxy4sogbNc3j2twJ4/s1600/IMG_20160728_105406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtKqYKj_t2MxmxXqfxCsBBR2yeJHW9zvbHYVqWfx3z8yvJLefwxOBOtf0wj1OwCfVSC9PzWHbhtFiNYeykWh43XKEGngAB-fZbxlraFP8P2aJ7XK1O_d3H4qRHAnxy4sogbNc3j2twJ4/s640/IMG_20160728_105406.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are on the ride from Centerville to Ottumwa. Bloodys!!!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXf7cvR8RA18lB_Lmf2-5crGrsqYf8PXinbnNprPiceH19niMDUMRVfOGGAjvl6Q0FtXyc5-O17fS8hi_y6Q2wurwKXN_0y-8m7gmELPnK9WEXu1gzJB_kKh6zrPbyPslz4CxFJ87u0WY/s1600/IMG_20160728_144939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXf7cvR8RA18lB_Lmf2-5crGrsqYf8PXinbnNprPiceH19niMDUMRVfOGGAjvl6Q0FtXyc5-O17fS8hi_y6Q2wurwKXN_0y-8m7gmELPnK9WEXu1gzJB_kKh6zrPbyPslz4CxFJ87u0WY/s640/IMG_20160728_144939.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before Erin took off for Ottumwa ahead of us, we all had some Turkey Toms to pass around.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK52ieIkpSkoZiZNH25eDUPQ2Sf1WI5msmlG-Rb4a_GgT_DU7kveFjeYzdQjbYM4MlIJU5rwLiAosskatRU69o3fW_wV7YwaxZxph7vD9QN1KJBMDBRpvAQ9PwdvIhtpBltEHmMbfCFcU/s1600/IMG_20160728_145006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK52ieIkpSkoZiZNH25eDUPQ2Sf1WI5msmlG-Rb4a_GgT_DU7kveFjeYzdQjbYM4MlIJU5rwLiAosskatRU69o3fW_wV7YwaxZxph7vD9QN1KJBMDBRpvAQ9PwdvIhtpBltEHmMbfCFcU/s640/IMG_20160728_145006.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As Mike pays attention to whatever is being said, Cory is distracted from the inflammation in his taint. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahFF62pTamwqCkkRMDqdnnalBXSJFVeSXj8FcKrv501_oPI-6ZmpVUlJhaFNlhUN9TyjgkqynEt5c-ubjzEhC1mV2hASleb4yZMprp17ILFsgPFUDLY9gZIgQrDPJgsxSBrm-YCa_K0o/s1600/IMG_20160728_162715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahFF62pTamwqCkkRMDqdnnalBXSJFVeSXj8FcKrv501_oPI-6ZmpVUlJhaFNlhUN9TyjgkqynEt5c-ubjzEhC1mV2hASleb4yZMprp17ILFsgPFUDLY9gZIgQrDPJgsxSBrm-YCa_K0o/s640/IMG_20160728_162715.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two miles from home, we're all taking a necessary break at the Iowa Craft Beer Tent</td></tr>
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<br />Around the corner from the Iowa Craft Beer Tent, I threw my shoulder out of socket on a slip in side. This had just happened during my first softball game in two years just two weeks prior. I tried to coach people to get it back into place, but to no avail. Instead, I instructed someone to go up to the roadside and ask for a doctor. </div>
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Within 10 seconds a doctor pulled down the driveway exclaiming, "I'm a doctor. BUT. I'm a <i>drunk</i> doctor." </div>
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Once we explained that it was just a shoulder out of place, he said that wouldn't be a problem. A few instructions later, it was back into place. The crowd that had accumulated cheered. Someone else has the picture of the doctor and me. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was very skeptical of my ability to ride with Erin, Ted, and Jonathan the next day (Friday) from Ottumwa to Washington. Ultimately, I decided to ride the first few miles and turn around if my shoulder hurt too much. Turns out, the shoulder felt better by leaning on handlebars. And to think, I was really close to calling it quits. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYbxyuAIEhxoHFDaIrEwysKB4ehOcfIgOA2UwravJxQsIfh_Y3wuTI7NYkGGA-u-COi2nSlmIs_DWCAZXXXqoUGUdS1z-CC9txVhi7sDpADIouz3RIf82Aw_Z-Ww1muyvO4VTsWuaZMk/s1600/IMG_20160729_112717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYbxyuAIEhxoHFDaIrEwysKB4ehOcfIgOA2UwravJxQsIfh_Y3wuTI7NYkGGA-u-COi2nSlmIs_DWCAZXXXqoUGUdS1z-CC9txVhi7sDpADIouz3RIf82Aw_Z-Ww1muyvO4VTsWuaZMk/s640/IMG_20160729_112717.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was tough, but Chops and Outlaw were Day 6 Champions. The sign was just for us. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5Xki65LEOFbIGizjPUzjajutxhzqUbq7FY-XSapS6g3qOkYzIp2hIofw04-TD5LX8_yCxir4pUvn-As1-_e8GiAF97I0FidT_ChxNagc4JsPVeroU3KC0ua9VxQBSm4DTASK0xe_Y6E/s1600/IMG_20160729_155742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5Xki65LEOFbIGizjPUzjajutxhzqUbq7FY-XSapS6g3qOkYzIp2hIofw04-TD5LX8_yCxir4pUvn-As1-_e8GiAF97I0FidT_ChxNagc4JsPVeroU3KC0ua9VxQBSm4DTASK0xe_Y6E/s640/IMG_20160729_155742.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always stop for the Iowa Craft Beer Tent!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Jo0zoLZvzkjY4mDFOvND5XxKcDhP_sh97PI2oprL51OEiiwIHFidq259MeWJGYE0KjD6lEudFvXyIwnARp7gIkBV5_mwl_jCTugel_QHRfG697B5MWfev22bGmeg2VI2ocSwy_S1qkU/s1600/IMG_20160729_160852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Jo0zoLZvzkjY4mDFOvND5XxKcDhP_sh97PI2oprL51OEiiwIHFidq259MeWJGYE0KjD6lEudFvXyIwnARp7gIkBV5_mwl_jCTugel_QHRfG697B5MWfev22bGmeg2VI2ocSwy_S1qkU/s640/IMG_20160729_160852.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ted is well rested here. He had a long nap waiting for our arrival. </td></tr>
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<br />I convinced these guys to go much slower and enjoy the ride on Friday. That we did. When we arrived in Washington behind Erin at the Hy-Vee, we purchased a 4-pack of Tallgrass Top Rope IPA and drank them in the parking lot while we waited for Mom to come get us from Ottumwa. She was such a big help. </div>
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<h3>
2017</h3>
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So... Ragbrai is next week. This year, Juan and I will be the only ones riding the whole week. Erin, Cory, and Mindy will be joining us Thursday and Friday so they can experience Decorah. Mom is planning on taking their camper up to Decorah on Sunday and staying the entire week. </div>
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I'll report back on how it goes. </div>
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Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-58511379594314704642017-07-13T14:47:00.004-07:002017-07-13T14:47:55.462-07:00PAC it Northwest: Part III<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipY_YgvGAO5OJua8NczyMDJPW4u9_QZkvGI8UmZkirBSS1nkqGLzLnPcuFyNTe2zEJzz6u2yr1REJVjZa71VO1PdsdcxKunZxtq-HfJ_m2gChAbr9uNttbE7ab0yYyUO2SrWuSlcNDH0o/s1600/20170626_084046-PANO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="1600" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipY_YgvGAO5OJua8NczyMDJPW4u9_QZkvGI8UmZkirBSS1nkqGLzLnPcuFyNTe2zEJzz6u2yr1REJVjZa71VO1PdsdcxKunZxtq-HfJ_m2gChAbr9uNttbE7ab0yYyUO2SrWuSlcNDH0o/s640/20170626_084046-PANO.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down at our campsite while hiking along the Red Beds Trail. The Tower is behind us.</td></tr>
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<h3>
Days 9 and 10: On the road to Devils Tower</h3>
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We said goodbye to Joe and Sara Jo on the morning of Day 9 after breakfast at Heydey, which was a walk to the top of the hill from their house in Seattle. Our destination that evening was the KOA campground in Missoula, the same one we camped at on our trip out. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First stop was in Ellensburg, WA to visit Jason White and to eat lunch at Iron Horse Brewery</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Break from the road at Wild Horse Monument looking down at the Columbia River/Wanapum Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Completing our Idaho experience at the Crafted Tap House + Kitchen in Coeur d'Alene</td></tr>
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I convinced Erin that I can't really say I have visited a state until I have had both a coffee and a beer there. We had already had coffee in Idaho Falls, ID on the drive out, but we had yet to have a beer. So, we stopped for an early dinner and some beer at the Crafted Tap House + Kitchen in beautiful Coeur d'Alene where the Ironman was about to take place the next day. <br />
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By doing so, we had to forfeit any more fun time in Missoula. </div>
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We had a quick breakfast at the KOA campground before our long drive to Devils Tower the next day. There were two major stops. The first was for lunch at Bridger Brewery in Bozeman, MT.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oooooh! Rooftop seating? Count us in!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUUG4mMUGKhyphenhyphenjkS55hQ_addQh-XTZ58WA05VMskHqoSsrd9nd7tm-ZqqyKUTkr9yIDBqCLUSUJL-2TbhDlbPB5U2ySXrQi5I1Qv83TPJPGpsOBLC-frX23Ck8wXkdIfg26Og8gcJzIdM/s1600/IMG_20170625_125617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUUG4mMUGKhyphenhyphenjkS55hQ_addQh-XTZ58WA05VMskHqoSsrd9nd7tm-ZqqyKUTkr9yIDBqCLUSUJL-2TbhDlbPB5U2ySXrQi5I1Qv83TPJPGpsOBLC-frX23Ck8wXkdIfg26Og8gcJzIdM/s640/IMG_20170625_125617.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You may have to click on this picture to get the full size so you can best enjoy the mountains in the background.</td></tr>
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The second major stop was in Sheridan, WY at the Wyoming Rib and Chop House. I ordered and ate the best pork chop I've ever had.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best pork chop I have ever eaten.</td></tr>
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With the long stops, we knew we would be arriving at Devils Tower in the dark to set up camp. Indeed, the KOA office was already closed, but an envelope with my name on it was hanging outside with all the information we needed. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusk photo of the moon and Devils Tower</td></tr>
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As we set up camp, other campers were watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind at the outdoor theater. They play the movie there every night since it is the campground where it was filmed. </div>
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Day 11: The Tower</h3>
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I awoke before sunrise and enjoyed some pretty views and a cup of coffee before Erin got up. After experiencing Devils Tower, I believe we did everything right and couldn't have asked for a better time. Here are some of the things we both did and recommend: </div>
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<li>Stay at the KOA campground where Close Encounters was filmed.</li>
<li>Get up at the crack of dawn to begin hiking, and hike from the campground along the road. You will walk past the entry station where people in vehicles will pay a fee to enter the park.</li>
<li>Just a little ways beyond the bridge, turn right onto the first trail you come upon. This will take you up to the Red Beds Trail loop. </li>
<li>Hike the Red Beds Trail in a clockwise fashion until you reach the Visitor Center up at the top. You will see a LOT of deer. </li>
<li>Now switch to the Tower Loop and hike that in any direction you would like. You will see plenty more deer and several breathtaking views of the tower and the land beyond. </li>
<li>Get back on the Red Beds Trail and continue in a clockwise fashion. The deer will start to disappear since it is getting to those peak hours of foot and vehicle traffic. </li>
<li>Return to the campground and be sure and wave at all the cars that are lining up and waiting at the gate, which you so intelligently bypassed. </li>
<li>Get into your car that was parked at the campground (because you camped there or because you parked their strategically) and travel home.</li>
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Devils Tower gave us plenty of opportunity for pictures. Please enjoy the several pictures and captions that follow. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise at the KOA campground. Our new Base Camp 6 and the rental car we drove over 4000 miles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun is so high for it being so early!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are so many different perspectives of this behemoth. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The steep decline from the trail away from the tower.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just off the Red Beds Trail, and now on the Tower Loop</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming down the back side along the Red Beds Trail. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the shade of the Tower not to much after Sunrise.</td></tr>
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We had breakfast after our hike, and I sent out several postcards from this place. It was magical.<br />
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Then began our 11-12 hour ride home. Although it was sometime past 1:00 AM when we finally got home, we were very much ready to be there. The beds and air conditioning were appreciated on a much higher level.Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-22462318441855852652017-07-11T05:37:00.000-07:002017-07-11T05:37:29.134-07:00PAC it Northwest: Part II<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5Z2F6xpjsfBmiCZBtuofSZgdmt3UD1o3wQ1_93xLfabIXS1_1yZxglSB9ar3cQ_JcgxR1f5811WuWqM8TZ_zyAaptq0L9y50DeDcBscbBAS3jKQWTe8-L49XqGqTWbiAR8tNpwnDj94/s1600/20170621_152601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="1600" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5Z2F6xpjsfBmiCZBtuofSZgdmt3UD1o3wQ1_93xLfabIXS1_1yZxglSB9ar3cQ_JcgxR1f5811WuWqM8TZ_zyAaptq0L9y50DeDcBscbBAS3jKQWTe8-L49XqGqTWbiAR8tNpwnDj94/s640/20170621_152601.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front Street in Leavenworth, WA</td></tr>
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<h3>
Day 7: Leavenworth</h3>
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Jessica, Erin, and I had breakfast at the Mason Jar in Cheney before heading out. We had a tentative "drive by hugging" planned on our drive home, but (spoiler alert) we had left our shaker and a few other things at their house when we left, so the tentative became a solid plan. </div>
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Driving from eastern to western Washington is a tease. Especially if you travel along State Highway 2 through Wenatchee National Forest (and most likely 20 through North Cascades National Park, although I haven't gone that route yet). I could spend several months in the parks that run on the east side of Interstate 5. Especially if one were to hike the Pacific Coast Trail as Cheryl Strayed did. </div>
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Leavenworth is right in the heart of this beauty, and we found Icicle Brewing Company in this quaint little town. Leavenworth is a great destination city that has something for almost everyone. </div>
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Our destination that evening was the Smolden's house in Everett. Jeremy went to school with Erin in Alaska and they have stayed very good friends. Jeremy and Sarah have three amazing children, Jayden, Lucy, and Kate. When I asked Jayden how old he was he responded with "seven and ten twelfths." Sarah told him that could be reduced, and after a moment of thought, he corrected himself by answering "seven and five sixths." </div>
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Lucy had fun with my watch. I was supposed to find it in a game of hide the watch and seek it out. It may have been more fun on her end than mine. </div>
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Kate is two and one of the most adorable children I have ever encountered. She is very affectionate and can melt your heart. For example, as we were preparing to leave the next day, I came back from loading something in the car and I opened the door to Kate standing there. She looked up at me and said, "I'm giving you hug goodbye." We were foolish and didn't get any pictures, so here is one of her and me in January of 2016. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mwyPnnD1zSnDry-6ygbqQwwTaVwjLVBwGwNfkRRkY3V2vKE_Dj75HxUb38hnwXN1S-NEUMHXrQn7WtreEA7ogDBjR5ojZ5kaICnjXiRNVQprqDxqd0t9LE-Q3UpggvsKaEpGQuSrhy0/s1600/KateAndI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mwyPnnD1zSnDry-6ygbqQwwTaVwjLVBwGwNfkRRkY3V2vKE_Dj75HxUb38hnwXN1S-NEUMHXrQn7WtreEA7ogDBjR5ojZ5kaICnjXiRNVQprqDxqd0t9LE-Q3UpggvsKaEpGQuSrhy0/s640/KateAndI.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Try and add a year and a half of cuteness.</td></tr>
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<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Day 8: Deception Pass State Park</h3>
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We met Tiffany (Erin's good friend and bridesmaid who lives in Everett) at the Rusty Pelican Cafe for breakfast and met her little girl, Aria, for the first time. Since Erin and I are the best role models, we ordered bloody Marys to show Aria what was up. </div>
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Since there was some time to kill before we were to hike at Deception Pass, we drove up to Bellingham for some lunch and beers at Aslan Brewing Company. The Simcoe Slice was delicious enough that I had two, an anomaly for me.<br />
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We met Bob Keough at Deception Pass State Park for a 5 mile hike. He made sure to get a long run in that morning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMcWjnbVlpnlyFWnThBvJVFcqM6Ii8fx__0xRPWTly-dapvM89I4dngVc0z03vHAs3okkOjH3dCfzo0gSuoCdDk4zYuZa0y7C4GA4L-MQgVLodAIH7Oi2liVKXSbO3XbNjn7veG5gFzI/s1600/20170622_153104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="1600" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMcWjnbVlpnlyFWnThBvJVFcqM6Ii8fx__0xRPWTly-dapvM89I4dngVc0z03vHAs3okkOjH3dCfzo0gSuoCdDk4zYuZa0y7C4GA4L-MQgVLodAIH7Oi2liVKXSbO3XbNjn7veG5gFzI/s640/20170622_153104.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bridge connecting Fidalgo Island with Whidbey Island in Deception Pass State Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztghvQMKrB3TWr4KGg0G9MzQXXCjGFo1QH1y3UZQprPl3RFSN48O2WXt-6GUqAuJJU_my5PuVX_eJy2JQidqYONgBYXVUn5JPm1KdGoYHEJFcYC6WMgAtwJT2hkbUVrUPs0jimmFBkRU/s1600/20170622_202513.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztghvQMKrB3TWr4KGg0G9MzQXXCjGFo1QH1y3UZQprPl3RFSN48O2WXt-6GUqAuJJU_my5PuVX_eJy2JQidqYONgBYXVUn5JPm1KdGoYHEJFcYC6WMgAtwJT2hkbUVrUPs0jimmFBkRU/s640/20170622_202513.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason, Erin, and Bob </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCS4HTnVbyn7cfq_0984NgfhbvD2oDTzGgfCaxoipqA7_vbxuCTTXR_jOXLGWbO-uLUavZqa4PiNSozVwUsXiUJ53BTYwzXxkCeQvfYE9UUQf_LZNDB7WoTNDlNAGjNy7rWCbzDnld9-E/s1600/IMG_20170622_154106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCS4HTnVbyn7cfq_0984NgfhbvD2oDTzGgfCaxoipqA7_vbxuCTTXR_jOXLGWbO-uLUavZqa4PiNSozVwUsXiUJ53BTYwzXxkCeQvfYE9UUQf_LZNDB7WoTNDlNAGjNy7rWCbzDnld9-E/s640/IMG_20170622_154106.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Lighthouse Point</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgKp4J8cwalsOe6u5jt82xxzWRjlbL-Ufbxnugoo_U94n8IRgCu8vR9tFoDy32RPHdXK8FX_jikQkJj-x5xayLFSogQ28RJzUPQE5q_gxlne6tekpciGxLCUqj5ey2w9HyhqzhLfoSZE/s1600/IMG_20170622_160051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgKp4J8cwalsOe6u5jt82xxzWRjlbL-Ufbxnugoo_U94n8IRgCu8vR9tFoDy32RPHdXK8FX_jikQkJj-x5xayLFSogQ28RJzUPQE5q_gxlne6tekpciGxLCUqj5ey2w9HyhqzhLfoSZE/s640/IMG_20170622_160051.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deception Island</td></tr>
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During our hike in Deception Pass State Park, we spotted what we thought were dolphins (we definitely identified fins). The weather could not have been more perfect for this hike. </div>
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Bob suggested the Union Tavern in Anacortes for a bite to eat, so we followed him there. I kept pronouncing Anacortes as the proper name "Anna Cortez" instead of the correct way (anna-CORE-tis).<br />
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Leave yourself time enough to hike all 5 miles. Park in the "Upper" parking lot and do each of the three loops. We saved the Maiden of Deception Pass for last (but the order doesn't matter). There were some great sites, but the phone died after the first two loops. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3xY1M-2IhEqzic22Tqk3Fo1tkk7CqXbVYHLHaVXX_DfuqG_37UuG43ubEkk25k3hhPdtB5IlkhdKQLzxk9hElHcvwEZf976iBdcHIoelWETp9HnbNSQ8mpjEANjfVkHxWytboJOACcg/s1600/IMG_20170623_081641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3xY1M-2IhEqzic22Tqk3Fo1tkk7CqXbVYHLHaVXX_DfuqG_37UuG43ubEkk25k3hhPdtB5IlkhdKQLzxk9hElHcvwEZf976iBdcHIoelWETp9HnbNSQ8mpjEANjfVkHxWytboJOACcg/s400/IMG_20170623_081641.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast at Joe's with a view of Mt. Rainier</td></tr>
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<h3>
Day 8: Seattle</h3>
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Joe Pietraszewski (petra-chef-ski) had a delicious breakfast for us on the morning of our 8th day. We graduated from Ottumwa High back in 1995 together. We try and connect with him more often than our class reunions now. </div>
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From his flat, he took us for a walk along Lake Washington in Colman and Mt. Baker Parks. </div>
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One of Joe's new year's resolutions was to not drink any alcohol for the entire year. He has been very diligent in sticking with his resolution, and the results are noticeable. Hanging out with us, however, posed quite the challenge. He took us to several beer places that we wanted to visit, yet still was able to stay true to his goal. It was quite the impressive feat. </div>
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Prior to lunch, we drove over to the West Seattle area where there were pretty views of Elliot Bay, the Seattle Skyline, and a few fighting seals in the water.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EJM4-jj90GvdMPK3AVWzWIPwWQ6TWCsbV1qBgEnWcCihOrRkqs4UMz6AHyxs1catJGjEHH7IYM4JCowDVCeI3EjtIKFd2VPmO0gjGXyjhQBSmX4j1Mm52ZxQ3cTfxpfr6tulrtfnOOg/s1600/IMG_20170623_131259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EJM4-jj90GvdMPK3AVWzWIPwWQ6TWCsbV1qBgEnWcCihOrRkqs4UMz6AHyxs1catJGjEHH7IYM4JCowDVCeI3EjtIKFd2VPmO0gjGXyjhQBSmX4j1Mm52ZxQ3cTfxpfr6tulrtfnOOg/s640/IMG_20170623_131259.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our postcard views of Seattle while walking along Harbor Ave. SW</td></tr>
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Beer Junction was a place all beer nerds should visit while in Seattle. It allows you to bring food in since they only sell beer. We stopped at the Mercantile Market for some fine foods to take over to Beer Junction so that we could enjoy amazing beers in front of Joe. Strong willed, our tempting libations didn't seem to phase him. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some fine salami and chocolate (?) while Joe drinks his water. </td></tr>
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Post lunch beers were enjoyed at Seapine Brewing Company and Two Beers Brewing Co & Seattle Cider Company (located in same venue). </div>
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Erin and I very much enjoy having so many connections in Washington. It is bittersweet, however, because it is too difficult to squeeze everyone in. We do make an effort, however, and I hear that counts for something. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrXJSgSbnCOqj-zXgrtsGNm-hjH6Fx8yn_dyLlTPBKysvddKlrqxkcr6-jazRpLWgh9GmBZGfHmpOTvWkAyxO5CEvAj9YqUC__BaKPrZZNzUiINs4YXliqRNzwBKQYITf-Poeb7c47tI/s1600/20170623_192013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="1600" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrXJSgSbnCOqj-zXgrtsGNm-hjH6Fx8yn_dyLlTPBKysvddKlrqxkcr6-jazRpLWgh9GmBZGfHmpOTvWkAyxO5CEvAj9YqUC__BaKPrZZNzUiINs4YXliqRNzwBKQYITf-Poeb7c47tI/s640/20170623_192013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from top deck at Joe's. Left to right: Mt. Baker (requires zoom in), Bellevue, Mercer Island, and Mt. Rainier</td></tr>
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Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-15478939196373552902017-07-04T08:33:00.002-07:002017-07-04T08:33:27.483-07:00PAC it Northwest: Part I<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rAxrByS1qbWGxR1cMjrUddcwEHFXSWeUoelTKUmjlggeqxeyj2yiTQxAt0ha0dxSZaD64QQvbmUaifx9AOJSup5j1GXh29X5_Ra9ZTBrNa9lzJOlD4W4rGQCrXjlZQuqGAjQpl2K2NY/s1600/20170616_190237-EFFECTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rAxrByS1qbWGxR1cMjrUddcwEHFXSWeUoelTKUmjlggeqxeyj2yiTQxAt0ha0dxSZaD64QQvbmUaifx9AOJSup5j1GXh29X5_Ra9ZTBrNa9lzJOlD4W4rGQCrXjlZQuqGAjQpl2K2NY/s640/20170616_190237-EFFECTS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shot from Buckhorn Rd north of Masonville, CO</td></tr>
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The weather for our entire trip to the northwest was gorgeous. There were only a few times where it got a little warm, and how we dodged all rain is beyond me. We traversed 9 states over 11 days, and Erin drove almost the entire way.<br />
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Our trip seems to be in three parts. Part I will be the trip out, highlighting Palouse Falls State Park. Part II will be arriving at the northwest corner of the U.S., with Deception Pass State Park as the main attraction. Finally, Part III will be our trip home, and our amazing experience at Devils Tower. </div>
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Along with our own experiences and stories, I hope to also provide recommendations for those who also want to visit any of these spots. </div>
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<h3>
Day 1: Stove Prairie Creek</h3>
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Originally, our first stop was going to be in Fort Collins for a quick visit with my cousin Jody. After working through a mishap in which I provided her with the wrong date (one week early), we worked it out so that we would join her camping in Roosevelt National Forest along Stove Prairie Creek on some private land. </div>
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I had just camped for 7 straight days on my <a href="http://jason-shaw.blogspot.com/2017/06/bee-aye-kay.html">Biking Across Kansas trip</a>. However, that was in a one-person tent. With Erin along, we would be staying in our luxurious Base Camp 6. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4YHulsXF3ZiqxIJl-TwBO6VvLH1-EbnMrjBMPhAdvlqpeEaSSD6HyfSt_ZDanI2u7h9xCGXhlhCeKYoJaI8gZl4ztuS9lRcs0l3xcCIQbNxviT8famug9r0aODFUe6yKpCMErdUGua8/s1600/IMG_20170616_201744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4YHulsXF3ZiqxIJl-TwBO6VvLH1-EbnMrjBMPhAdvlqpeEaSSD6HyfSt_ZDanI2u7h9xCGXhlhCeKYoJaI8gZl4ztuS9lRcs0l3xcCIQbNxviT8famug9r0aODFUe6yKpCMErdUGua8/s640/IMG_20170616_201744.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin with our Indian Leftovers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfTkzobW2f_KTOovqVyofWDLoWW1dluZDxlUWpaIc2zobnOap6F-iXhVMUA7Shi5uJCZv8-Z3CMEEAfQlQA_jjqR_m5FHbWSL7uK45eQYY6gbktjtZBaKe6bwHkxaThtnkXA1rZuW67w/s1600/IMG_20170616_202811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfTkzobW2f_KTOovqVyofWDLoWW1dluZDxlUWpaIc2zobnOap6F-iXhVMUA7Shi5uJCZv8-Z3CMEEAfQlQA_jjqR_m5FHbWSL7uK45eQYY6gbktjtZBaKe6bwHkxaThtnkXA1rZuW67w/s640/IMG_20170616_202811.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This cool rock formation was across the creek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfldrOBhGKJk4m6DRdj8iG3Hd-zwvKYxk2eRxMvD1bS229-b549v0RvQ9Fr7cxUkCUt-jCxAtfJgBuenF1196wZQVPVe64H3m1MRyeg7j3ULrDGKIME2EiE5ivJV_CkoeboEUDTQLAcA8/s1600/IMG_20170616_203028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfldrOBhGKJk4m6DRdj8iG3Hd-zwvKYxk2eRxMvD1bS229-b549v0RvQ9Fr7cxUkCUt-jCxAtfJgBuenF1196wZQVPVe64H3m1MRyeg7j3ULrDGKIME2EiE5ivJV_CkoeboEUDTQLAcA8/s640/IMG_20170616_203028.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stove Prairie Creek offered a natural sound machine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We weren't exactly prepared to camp with no amenities, but we improvised. Holes needed to be dug, fires needed to be started, and showers were just a dream. When roughing it, remember to bring the following:<br />
<ul>
<li>Toilet Paper</li>
<li>A small spade</li>
<li>A container to heat water in a fire</li>
<li>Working Tripod Grill</li>
</ul>
<div>
Of course, there are several other things, but these were the things we missed. Jody and Erica set us up with the things we missed, however. They were great camping buddies. </div>
<div>
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<h3>
Day 2: Melvin Brewing Co.</h3>
<div>
<br />
Driving from Colorado to Wyoming, and then from southeast to west Wyoming was beautiful and windy. We had not planned on lunch in Laramie, but our timeline changes on the road. I contacted my graduate school friend Greg who is a professor of math at the University of Wyoming to check if he was available for this spontaneous stop.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkE7LQ4PaM6AWuR43idCJdHRCm6cdz2F287JWFQNoRj-nJ7Wv7R-Ukvr8niFLVGDG785EEihyphenhyphen0E86W96UP196hBEoPcppixMxt3CWj-JtJNSgqNMNiM96rc5u1W3Lw1MxDzCLoJeeXdY/s1600/IMG_20170617_183844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkE7LQ4PaM6AWuR43idCJdHRCm6cdz2F287JWFQNoRj-nJ7Wv7R-Ukvr8niFLVGDG785EEihyphenhyphen0E86W96UP196hBEoPcppixMxt3CWj-JtJNSgqNMNiM96rc5u1W3Lw1MxDzCLoJeeXdY/s640/IMG_20170617_183844.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breathtaking Wyoming</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-EfZTSOh0ONRBE9ltzuwGCg1ApsUMO5SqyAFc7RF6l7IFTmPz549BzvbhbLk_UKX8gNyUW9WFyOvNlICHB3BQDPoEb4nPYHVgnf5gVPnY9La6l9ANVLxy5q59iiEKeMVB1wWjz6-BlE/s1600/20170617_124104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-EfZTSOh0ONRBE9ltzuwGCg1ApsUMO5SqyAFc7RF6l7IFTmPz549BzvbhbLk_UKX8gNyUW9WFyOvNlICHB3BQDPoEb4nPYHVgnf5gVPnY9La6l9ANVLxy5q59iiEKeMVB1wWjz6-BlE/s640/20170617_124104.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Altitude with Greg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We met him at Altitude Chophouse and Brewery and had a great time catching up. If you find yourself in a similar situation, don't make excuses not to contact someone you haven't seen in a while. Just do it. You will feel immeasurably better for having done so.</div>
<br />
Pushing on, we arrived in Alpine at Grove's River Cove RV Park around 7:30. Erin and I set up a tent, stuffed ourselves with food from our cooler, and drove to Melvin Brewing in about 30 minutes. This left us an hour before closing.<br />
<br />
The brewery is next to an industrial area down a very bumpy, gravel road. It sits on the fork of the Salt and Snake Rivers. If one wanted to swim out from the point about 500 yds, you would be in Idaho. <br />
<br />
One day long before the brewery existed, the founders of Melvin Brewery were talking about melvins, a slang term for a frontal wedgie. One of the founders suggested, "Wouldn't it be cool if we could get someone to <i>ask </i>for a melvin?" To which, another founder inquired, "What if we could get someone to <i>buy</i> a melvin?" This discussion, we found out through our tour guide, was how the brewery was born.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXkP-5O9a4ftsBYs22lrHay0mg7XohmYAH25wn2KW9wArn9nD26oC5qmfr3L-nmTPWT_5rSJiK6a5FQQtzgXpdr0Rr6eL9AbXAXwmCXwonXYZxWnv-9BY-w5-YrzCgaeaeeqj3wKUeRQ/s1600/IMG_20170617_200541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXkP-5O9a4ftsBYs22lrHay0mg7XohmYAH25wn2KW9wArn9nD26oC5qmfr3L-nmTPWT_5rSJiK6a5FQQtzgXpdr0Rr6eL9AbXAXwmCXwonXYZxWnv-9BY-w5-YrzCgaeaeeqj3wKUeRQ/s640/IMG_20170617_200541.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now with lettering! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since they are leasing their building at the moment, they were not supposed to paint their name on the building. They did anyway, and said, "send us the penalty fee." The small town of Alpine didn't really like that, but the mayor drinks there all the time, so everything is probably going to work out for them. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In case you are interested, here is a life-sized version of Melvin with us and some new contacts in Fort Collins we will most likely hit up next time we visit. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8NEcNJftlkaYlejuZXSNVD0b6hOIX7rZ50BeZOPd3BjlAWZa6jsCpR67EWfGJiUwqXZzAJaItBbBB0tcTSfq1L-yD-MtC6K9c0H3aQ3mF1drBN5gZTVDTR_CTvLRY-ox-RARSmWd1EQ/s1600/IMG_20170617_213416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8NEcNJftlkaYlejuZXSNVD0b6hOIX7rZ50BeZOPd3BjlAWZa6jsCpR67EWfGJiUwqXZzAJaItBbBB0tcTSfq1L-yD-MtC6K9c0H3aQ3mF1drBN5gZTVDTR_CTvLRY-ox-RARSmWd1EQ/s640/IMG_20170617_213416.jpg" width="359" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MELVIN!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We brought some Melvin beers back with us, but I don't think they will last long enough for you to try any. Sorry.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Day 3: Missoula by way of Idaho Falls</h3>
<div>
<br />
A very short distance away from Alpine, WY is the city of Idaho Falls, ID. We thought getting a coffee and walking along the falls for a while was a good idea. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYaoGm38a8YzGIMORW6uTG5pT7C-C0UpnzZJULoYri0JG1B2SOXb4KZvtYdbnj7aNAy3Gubh2bdbrNKT6sNWKucZVzssheCok6vySbPYgk8ecSNQEQ0AEq1ECopOkp8TxxRdB9Ew_4Jw/s1600/20170618_114333.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYaoGm38a8YzGIMORW6uTG5pT7C-C0UpnzZJULoYri0JG1B2SOXb4KZvtYdbnj7aNAy3Gubh2bdbrNKT6sNWKucZVzssheCok6vySbPYgk8ecSNQEQ0AEq1ECopOkp8TxxRdB9Ew_4Jw/s640/20170618_114333.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We finished our coffee and latte respectively by this point. Freed up a hand for a selfie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pD75FjdSD7h5AQOOHmfDXJZVk8zm70haV_qbqTR7Calbbk109Cdxaluh9Gwq9yB8_IuOiVb6N7_P2YbEtx-8T0VhosGnIYeJGOuBVegc1ls-JNqVfXyPuay3Nu0N5TKEKOx_vMK3SPY/s1600/IMG_20170618_111324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pD75FjdSD7h5AQOOHmfDXJZVk8zm70haV_qbqTR7Calbbk109Cdxaluh9Gwq9yB8_IuOiVb6N7_P2YbEtx-8T0VhosGnIYeJGOuBVegc1ls-JNqVfXyPuay3Nu0N5TKEKOx_vMK3SPY/s640/IMG_20170618_111324.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the Idaho Falls Greenbelt Trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiwEg7LNQI9QVdy1XOpPdt5uZsDsMMrwNIHsH5uY0Jc2IXvHj1SywWCy53GMpHYVvVPmftUUyyW2JUQaXShvWeaKQK5J1TOBwkICdVq1GTfNao7ljbQFzpI1p6-yszq6haBCSRId9Z5E/s1600/IMG_20170618_113305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiwEg7LNQI9QVdy1XOpPdt5uZsDsMMrwNIHsH5uY0Jc2IXvHj1SywWCy53GMpHYVvVPmftUUyyW2JUQaXShvWeaKQK5J1TOBwkICdVq1GTfNao7ljbQFzpI1p6-yszq6haBCSRId9Z5E/s400/IMG_20170618_113305.jpg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IW91OS5MEPJc4vVTXbfC-qbZFOkkuxd5Z1IQDDeucC0grvmE6P4Frrr0fjGTaFrJjSKjzfuPJ_Su35-pQr__7yLbhKeZACO3qY09vZfVJfER6ZAYIwRL87kg1grWz3lM8X3vPmPcLGk/s1600/IMG_20170618_113208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IW91OS5MEPJc4vVTXbfC-qbZFOkkuxd5Z1IQDDeucC0grvmE6P4Frrr0fjGTaFrJjSKjzfuPJ_Su35-pQr__7yLbhKeZACO3qY09vZfVJfER6ZAYIwRL87kg1grWz3lM8X3vPmPcLGk/s400/IMG_20170618_113208.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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The Idaho Falls Greenbelt Trail and Sportsman Park were a pleasant break from the car. Our next stop would be a late lunch at a rest area in Lima, MT. We set up a picnic spot and enjoyed a bottle of King Sue. </div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSLFreKp0mILHWlMrzu6xe7S0CY0DBvXjEXJyLmQ4sroATWZvu7PoC0VwovU2ovTuNYSFW_tNEZJ5uaMeHjXMWiJR5u-B_f3rbdNlJwJWtCKwLENT3E1M3fhe7sFHwfq4qbzn35FcGfE/s1600/IMG_20170618_130515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSLFreKp0mILHWlMrzu6xe7S0CY0DBvXjEXJyLmQ4sroATWZvu7PoC0VwovU2ovTuNYSFW_tNEZJ5uaMeHjXMWiJR5u-B_f3rbdNlJwJWtCKwLENT3E1M3fhe7sFHwfq4qbzn35FcGfE/s640/IMG_20170618_130515.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin is proudly wearing her new Melvin hoodie in Lima, MT. Garfield Mountain in the background.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
In Missoula, we had our final night of camping, although it was urban camping at the KOA Holiday. I wouldn't exactly call that roughing it. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Travel Tip: </b>If you've got a tent, and like camping in general, staying at KOAs are a great way to save money when you're on the road. </blockquote>
Highlander Beer Company was our choice for some pre-dinner drinks. The Iron Horse Bar and Grill was where we had dinner, and then we finished the evening across the street at The Old Post. Their bloody Mary mix was staring us in the face, so we had to get one even though bloodys are our usual morning drink. They were fabulous.<br />
<div>
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<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzdI14q4KfbOwnqbpUn9mJelNeWLUF8X1vYFcQN5nToblhojkWMTK4Czc6K9sj36K80htuVL4wpiQNuIDDrZcCaDx_bP9fw4jMLvAQnWwOwwQQh5Fdxc90QIwacCB2BvJS9P7SS1icgA/s1600/IMG_20170618_175614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzdI14q4KfbOwnqbpUn9mJelNeWLUF8X1vYFcQN5nToblhojkWMTK4Czc6K9sj36K80htuVL4wpiQNuIDDrZcCaDx_bP9fw4jMLvAQnWwOwwQQh5Fdxc90QIwacCB2BvJS9P7SS1icgA/s640/IMG_20170618_175614.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was our KOA campsite in Missoula.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
Days 4 & 5 - Jessica & Jake and the amazing Palouse Falls State Park</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
Suppose you don't keep a journal and you're trying to remember where you went on days 4 and 5 of your trip to the northwest in detail. If you have an android smartphone, and if you use Google Maps, one way of checking this information is through your timeline. Your location services need to be on at all times, though.<br />
<br />
For example, Monday, June 19th was the fourth day of our trip. My timeline says I had breakfast at Hob Nob in Missoula, MT, and then visited a book store called Shakespeare & Co. right next to where we parked. We then stopped at a travel center on our way for Huckleberry Ice Cream. (My timeline doesn't know that we purchased Huckleberry Ice Cream. This is a detail I had to fill in on my own.)<br />
<br />
Once in Spokane, WA, we had to kill some more time since Jessica had to finish her grading for the semester. That time was well spent at Iron Goat Brewing Company. Fifty-five minutes later (according to my timeline), we left for Jake and Jessica's cabin.<br />
<br />
They took us for a tour of Eastern Washington University, where both of them met while going there many moons ago and where both of them work now. There were margaritas drank at El Rodeo following the tour.<br />
<br />
To burn off the margaritas, they took us to Manito Park and Duncan Garden for a walk in the park.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWzaURfdQRovtVA1RbTZ6C57K-U8uOYYFhKxr5e19Ij4V-yFLhjQWnaSavhYQ31eNl_xK_rwDWE4BplfAfxw3IAAG-TcoonP_l8FJ5hLsOZrA4sEqgVpqxiNO31JAvAicUiAdOUTdV3E/s1600/IMG_20170619_171402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWzaURfdQRovtVA1RbTZ6C57K-U8uOYYFhKxr5e19Ij4V-yFLhjQWnaSavhYQ31eNl_xK_rwDWE4BplfAfxw3IAAG-TcoonP_l8FJ5hLsOZrA4sEqgVpqxiNO31JAvAicUiAdOUTdV3E/s640/IMG_20170619_171402.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessica and Erin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR9_JzfsTP8TCaighQlU7CPVmNCaYM2_x3cgexrnrKAYsKUEzofBVqoGGgBAhyht5lld5wb6gVVfCaAc7GnHDol8AFN1MDyv65OIebkQZ1X7Z8u8AS5TTsCdJro4HLpEnrf1X5RD_E6Q/s1600/IMG_20170619_172957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR9_JzfsTP8TCaighQlU7CPVmNCaYM2_x3cgexrnrKAYsKUEzofBVqoGGgBAhyht5lld5wb6gVVfCaAc7GnHDol8AFN1MDyv65OIebkQZ1X7Z8u8AS5TTsCdJro4HLpEnrf1X5RD_E6Q/s640/IMG_20170619_172957.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sneaking from one park to another</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Having just had a late meal at El Rodeo, we went to the Manito Tap Room for drinks. We stayed there long enough that we eventually got hungry and didn't want to move anywhere, so we ordered food there. It was great to finally meet Jessica's beau, Jake. They seem to be a very good match.<br />
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On our last day with Jake and Jessica, they drove us down to Palouse Falls State Park. This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip, and hence, why it deserves its own part. We spent much of the day there, and even had a picnic with meats, cheeses, and wine.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTZReoCBRVrmLE5TvNjghYiJ8A0Ij-k01OQhN2tfLU91PzTuT4JvkJ8WWO6BZBEH1mUuNV8H6dRhykmHCKRIJ9HOby9VCiE5_uRSfoPZVhsxexcpCXmozieHP2rU4dZT_4imeq7WFmhc/s1600/20170621_122421.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTZReoCBRVrmLE5TvNjghYiJ8A0Ij-k01OQhN2tfLU91PzTuT4JvkJ8WWO6BZBEH1mUuNV8H6dRhykmHCKRIJ9HOby9VCiE5_uRSfoPZVhsxexcpCXmozieHP2rU4dZT_4imeq7WFmhc/s640/20170621_122421.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Palouse Falls from the Parking Lot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uKy2IWlZkeDZJdfjSzLQh_gVjTu8lrwowOUunxmdUWvHmFkB1yEhIOuv5eTv1uhFuxNlcPFy_qSSbQnpLCCNj2Gd92rWbWhFJB5yBYoQPrH9iedGhuGzMv1QFpPYtKu5owwonkKuhBs/s1600/20170621_122307.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uKy2IWlZkeDZJdfjSzLQh_gVjTu8lrwowOUunxmdUWvHmFkB1yEhIOuv5eTv1uhFuxNlcPFy_qSSbQnpLCCNj2Gd92rWbWhFJB5yBYoQPrH9iedGhuGzMv1QFpPYtKu5owwonkKuhBs/s640/20170621_122307.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palouse River makes its way down to the Sanke River and Lyons Ferry State Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-Qc76pWavs_6Ye1lahxQYY5dWvtF8Gkum7iK3RB7HMbfZSWCvhTfXeUD5OSoon8Zut_D-nTfVu3Vc-k9kyrs1N_87NNSYfiJSyAX9mJNkHre9H5pK1zANTT6lJyinXJxvtOFDd6YnYE/s1600/20170620_211844.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-Qc76pWavs_6Ye1lahxQYY5dWvtF8Gkum7iK3RB7HMbfZSWCvhTfXeUD5OSoon8Zut_D-nTfVu3Vc-k9kyrs1N_87NNSYfiJSyAX9mJNkHre9H5pK1zANTT6lJyinXJxvtOFDd6YnYE/s640/20170620_211844.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These gorgeous set of falls lead down to the bigger falls. This is after a hike up river and then down into the basin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3Gd-kyvf04rghSrx7LBoDt1F7wR4MmwXcZ1HM9KEEHwXNBB5eLBykx5QzJbmYmPfh1koOc9Ax6LJ_lRh4G9DNv3xRPaD019mqDWfMCjPnPbGw2sSrvkDCxhkwcrS8o1u2bEEphhN4BU/s1600/20170621_122813.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3Gd-kyvf04rghSrx7LBoDt1F7wR4MmwXcZ1HM9KEEHwXNBB5eLBykx5QzJbmYmPfh1koOc9Ax6LJ_lRh4G9DNv3xRPaD019mqDWfMCjPnPbGw2sSrvkDCxhkwcrS8o1u2bEEphhN4BU/s640/20170621_122813.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking rock to rock along the Palouse River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh4q6B17jjuDwKbm9RXYj87Gknvw0_D0mvdyFLPyT-Dvj2jwfpAdOPiq-4WdXODkvBPRjxIZCMR4_vztnFmETnebLU6USVjQGt3JW7u1KrgwflFZVBzhIMddFMozI_tji4SUJoAcxPw0/s1600/IMG_20170620_132947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh4q6B17jjuDwKbm9RXYj87Gknvw0_D0mvdyFLPyT-Dvj2jwfpAdOPiq-4WdXODkvBPRjxIZCMR4_vztnFmETnebLU6USVjQGt3JW7u1KrgwflFZVBzhIMddFMozI_tji4SUJoAcxPw0/s640/IMG_20170620_132947.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a pre-picnic snack at these fingers next to the falls, the half-way point of our hike.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKr9ueeZbf-vXtnZPo0QEq35oXzJ40v8Hw7c3pkAqT5ISQIZXPjW2MboU16BedMRvFfU333t6mAfDJK406avBnA-l2YzZTWLq2XqpAxJwhcUUkLKjftrKzXkjcb-_t9RgArCNDwhrgpI/s1600/IMG_20170620_140314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKr9ueeZbf-vXtnZPo0QEq35oXzJ40v8Hw7c3pkAqT5ISQIZXPjW2MboU16BedMRvFfU333t6mAfDJK406avBnA-l2YzZTWLq2XqpAxJwhcUUkLKjftrKzXkjcb-_t9RgArCNDwhrgpI/s640/IMG_20170620_140314.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a break on our way back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
With all of the money we saved up by camping and taking food with us on the trip, we were able to splurge that evening at the <a href="http://www.wildsagebistro.com/">Wild Sage Bistro </a>in Spokane. There were cocktails, starters, entrees, and a port flight for dessert. It was decedent. </div>
</div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-29676173678181206722017-06-28T15:06:00.001-07:002017-06-28T15:06:21.951-07:00Bee Aye Kay<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQ3dmxjv_sTLm6302qgZRYfZC5BcpMbXw_SPieLXGwqFOfueQ1gnfm6ujNbDAa9U40ymdefaKYJyxI4IV0o4BSKsubvXzaSN-u8D-stN_hyNpVv_BRY76uUYMSk8yc_BRxvlp1v_v_Hs/s1600/IMG_20170609_211023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQ3dmxjv_sTLm6302qgZRYfZC5BcpMbXw_SPieLXGwqFOfueQ1gnfm6ujNbDAa9U40ymdefaKYJyxI4IV0o4BSKsubvXzaSN-u8D-stN_hyNpVv_BRY76uUYMSk8yc_BRxvlp1v_v_Hs/s640/IMG_20170609_211023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at the High School in Tribune, KS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div>
After experiencing Ragbrai from 2009-2014, and then 2 days of 2016, it was inevitable that I would compare Biking Across Kansas (BAK, pronounced "Bee-Aye-Kay" rather than "back") to Rabrai during my experience. However, I promised myself to enjoy BAK for what it was, and not hold it to any preconceived standards I may have developed from Ragbrai. <div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
My BAK Experience</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
BAK was a fantastic ride, and a wonderful experience. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Although I have lived in Kansas for over two years before BAK, I had yet to be introduced to Kansas. During the first five days of BAK, Kansas finally introduced itself to me. The wind did not cease for that amount of time. It just kept blowing. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And for five straight days, I saw infinite prairies like the one pictured below. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTd9-JyN6BN3hD2qZ7APD6K1tbeY0WmqAgWAT6AcqB_rCW1caAO4yzlpnsquSIOz__1gdDDNpR58UC6B9tKtw_Rpr-jV4EzDsWsIO8CUCzYfcq5QCYRNgfEBk3fg0y05rw1qaSB-Xdl7k/s1600/IMG_20170610_140820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTd9-JyN6BN3hD2qZ7APD6K1tbeY0WmqAgWAT6AcqB_rCW1caAO4yzlpnsquSIOz__1gdDDNpR58UC6B9tKtw_Rpr-jV4EzDsWsIO8CUCzYfcq5QCYRNgfEBk3fg0y05rw1qaSB-Xdl7k/s640/IMG_20170610_140820.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The infinite prairie of Kansas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
There was useful information in these prairies. Those tall blades informed us of how strong a cross wind we were dealing with. And we were most definitely dealing with lots of wind. <div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
BAK involves 9 days of riding. On day 1 (which some call day 0, but who are they kidding), you get yourself to the starting point and bike to the border of Colorado and back. A few hitch rides to the border so that they can simply bike to camp from the border. A few more simply skip this ride and don't worry about it; they probably think 8 days of riding is good enough. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After riding the first two days by myself, I rode the rest of the week with Wichita friends Neil McDaniel and Lauren Hirsh. Erin and I rode with them during the Cottonwood 200. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tZiVwtSf_mB0rLLuZbcyUWuAVbMrrbk92gj_acGcTsbHhuONVJ8e3Q_cIEHK0ziR1pVNhe-xnNFrfvaLYOixlXIk0GMZxTkKlF380INWSIdi7BFUnURXqdkBtUqNVRA5egxP-KHIG0o/s1600/IMG_20170611_125725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tZiVwtSf_mB0rLLuZbcyUWuAVbMrrbk92gj_acGcTsbHhuONVJ8e3Q_cIEHK0ziR1pVNhe-xnNFrfvaLYOixlXIk0GMZxTkKlF380INWSIdi7BFUnURXqdkBtUqNVRA5egxP-KHIG0o/s640/IMG_20170611_125725.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neil and Lauren using a downhill to their advantage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPC8WdEKitboGjXHAJVdfwHCnRLvecR0NOis7AvOEGYrua38v43IrckewMnDLNHEiFNIs_avDDIO8vbiWZF_xJrmlyKjq36eWVpMHPwhZJm_CadVThImcmeWXej8L5B4wbDkOc_rqrP0/s1600/IMG_20170615_115459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPC8WdEKitboGjXHAJVdfwHCnRLvecR0NOis7AvOEGYrua38v43IrckewMnDLNHEiFNIs_avDDIO8vbiWZF_xJrmlyKjq36eWVpMHPwhZJm_CadVThImcmeWXej8L5B4wbDkOc_rqrP0/s640/IMG_20170615_115459.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with Lauren and Neil at a MOST welcomed oasis: Tallgrass Tap House in Manhattan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />My ride ended on Thursday in Rossville, less than 20 miles from Topeka. Erin brought a meal for four from Globe Indian Cafe. We had a small picnic on the high school parking lot while a tornado warning was issued. I felt somewhat bad about leaving Lauren and Neil to their tents while I drove home to an air conditioned night in my own bed for the first time in 7 days. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That wouldn't last long, however, as the next three days were spent camping with Erin on our PAC it Northwest trip. More on that later. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
The Inevitable Comparison</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Since I am a Ragbrai rider, I'll give my comparison of the two rides, by listing pros and cons from the perspective of BAK. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Pros</h4>
<div>
<ul>
<li>BAK is more intimate.</li>
<li>There are four SAGs each day in which you don't have to spend a dime.</li>
<li>There are four sponsored meals during the week on which you save money.</li>
<li>If you do something barely interesting from a Ragbrai perspective (like carrying a speaker on my bike for music), it is extremely interesting to a BAK rider and will generate several comments and conversations.</li>
<li>The only logistics you have to work out are how to get there and how to get home. Sites for tents and showers at the end of the day are taken care of for you. Your gear is hauled from town to town.</li>
<li>Not as hilly as Ragbrai can be.</li>
<li>There are never any lines.</li>
<li>There are fewer inexperienced bicyclists around you to cause an accident.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Neutral Comparisons </h4>
</div>
<div>
Although these are neutral comparisons for me, they may fall in pros or cons for someone else. </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Sleeping in until 7am guarantees you will be at the back of the pack. </li>
<li>Longer average daily ride. </li>
</ul>
<h4>
<br /></h4>
<h4>
Cons</h4>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>It is one day longer than Ragbrai. </li>
<li>There are no vendors (you rely on SAGs and pass through towns only).</li>
<li>Getting a beer can be VERY difficult at times. Getting a GOOD beer can be EXTREMELY difficult at times. </li>
<li>BAK does not close roads, so you sometimes ride on very busy ones.</li>
</ul>
<div>
To be fair, it is difficult for me to compare the two objectively. Both experiences were fantastic and I look forward to experiencing them both again. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
The Numbers of BAK</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The total mileage over the 9 days is 522 miles, which averages out to 58 miles per day. This does not seem accurate to anyone who experiences BAK. A closer look at daily mileage shows that the first day of 16 miles and the last day of 21 miles are extreme outliers. Throwing those out provides us with an average of about 69.3 miles per day over seven days, which is much more like it!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The 2017 entrant list posted on the BAK website had 761 participants listed. Several of these don't make it the whole way across Kansas (including myself for having missed the last two days of riding) and some ride only a select few days. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
From this data, I was able to find that 30 states were represented along with the country of Denmark. Kansas had the most participants at 566. The breakdown of the other states and country can be seen in this bar chart that I created using Excel. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4T1zVG4OuBGaojXM950GzstWorfO1mGuPMyzIeHO2xPx_TCscT8dE3hN9M50eQWxbTdSizdmFKKPkLT7HOWyyTe4kCKZ9qh7zHLNJ6FNHyyfhbJH6xo2OuIxryM0Vi3klqBJg1WxF-gE/s1600/BAKStateBreakdown.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="816" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4T1zVG4OuBGaojXM950GzstWorfO1mGuPMyzIeHO2xPx_TCscT8dE3hN9M50eQWxbTdSizdmFKKPkLT7HOWyyTe4kCKZ9qh7zHLNJ6FNHyyfhbJH6xo2OuIxryM0Vi3klqBJg1WxF-gE/s640/BAKStateBreakdown.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">State by State participation rate in the BAK 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />From this chart and the data, the top states participating in the BAK were <div>
<ol>
<li>Missouri</li>
<li>Colorado</li>
<li>Texas</li>
<li>California</li>
<li>Nebraska-Oklahoma (Tie) </li>
</ol>
<div>
The breakdown of participants of top 12 highest populated cities in Kansas:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Wichita: 72</li>
<li>Overland Park: 20</li>
<li>Kansas City: 16</li>
<li>Topeka: 28</li>
<li>Olathe: 27</li>
<li>Lawrence: 24</li>
<li>Shawnee: 12</li>
<li>Manhattan: 30</li>
<li>Lenexa: 7</li>
<li>Salina: 19</li>
<li>Hutchinson: 34</li>
<li>Leavenworth: 10</li>
</ol>
<div>
It was interesting to see more participants from Manhattan than Lawrence, as well as see that the 11th most populated town of Hutchinson had the 2nd most participants in the state after Wichita. Way to go, Hutchinson! </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-54470201769524361372017-06-06T11:50:00.002-07:002017-06-06T11:50:58.037-07:0038th Annual Dam to Dam<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAXMDc0cHXPpuJaax0LPv8cEDOnJ5FD62X5EshBAWIxPNYl_swFt0o1QE4LUBUrmx7qRL8Mvl1UkqX8hOhaqSUDHhODGzlb9pMsmPnyYhLcjNUxSKHE30jLPUBwGWls5W7K28GEAm1K0/s1600/20170604_113246.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAXMDc0cHXPpuJaax0LPv8cEDOnJ5FD62X5EshBAWIxPNYl_swFt0o1QE4LUBUrmx7qRL8Mvl1UkqX8hOhaqSUDHhODGzlb9pMsmPnyYhLcjNUxSKHE30jLPUBwGWls5W7K28GEAm1K0/s640/20170604_113246.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhere in the 9:00-9:30 pace start for the 38th Annual Dam to Dam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
Small History of Dam to Dam</h3>
<div>
<br />
Erin ran her first Dam to Dam on Saturday, June 3. It was the second time I ran it, but it was the first time since it changed to a half marathon distance in 2014. Prior to this, it was a 20K. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Using the Dam to Dam <a href="http://damtodam.com/records-results/20k-results/">20K</a> and <a href="http://damtodam.com/records-results/half-marathon-results/">half marathon</a> results, I created a snapshot of the number of finishers each year and the fastest male and female time over the years. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWmMdJ5eH-_uUc8L4zK-WD7Tsnc98bg8LH1fAUD8VBbe93ei0ic9DnTutTKY_XL7zhEB2keTOtLp8b36MYs7GJyWZKjiFs3tA7g8TMOL89IaRBlEGwU15xOAHy-ZozhJoSp5mBEyM9GU/s1600/DamToDamFinishers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="728" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWmMdJ5eH-_uUc8L4zK-WD7Tsnc98bg8LH1fAUD8VBbe93ei0ic9DnTutTKY_XL7zhEB2keTOtLp8b36MYs7GJyWZKjiFs3tA7g8TMOL89IaRBlEGwU15xOAHy-ZozhJoSp5mBEyM9GU/s640/DamToDamFinishers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Growth of Number of DAM to DAM Finishers from 1980-2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
An interesting finding was that the number of male runners was larger than the number of female runners in the DAM to DAM by a significant amount from 1980-2009. Since 2010, the opposite has been true. There have been significantly more female finishers than male in the DAM to DAM. Way to go females!</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSrvVNq-OGdR9AeQGSZPVvtWZJl-lA0HGTPzVrsmZhbvh6uBgHOYegX5Q4XCsScodHBfHq1sY15MT0eLawxMHFozLI-QoVbzT5e3oydd9ieBHX5Wg9pqh9Q_Cjxcd-IWGYBfykZYG5tI/s1600/DamToDamFinishTimes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="728" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSrvVNq-OGdR9AeQGSZPVvtWZJl-lA0HGTPzVrsmZhbvh6uBgHOYegX5Q4XCsScodHBfHq1sY15MT0eLawxMHFozLI-QoVbzT5e3oydd9ieBHX5Wg9pqh9Q_Cjxcd-IWGYBfykZYG5tI/s640/DamToDamFinishTimes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finish Times for the Fastest Male and Females from 1980-2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The last four times above reflect the jump to the half marathon distance. It should be noted that the 1999 finish times needed to be adjusted since the course was inadvertently 177 meters short according to <a href="http://damtodam.com/pdf/racehistory.pdf">DAM to DAM history</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The fastest male 20K time was 59:23 in 1985 recorded by Phil Coppess while the fastest 20K time by a female finisher was 1:07:52 in 2012 by Diane Nukuri. It should be noted that the course changed in 2012, and also produced the third fastest male time. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Our Experience</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Erin and I were not prepared for this run. Although we had just finished a week of rest, the previous weekend had us riding 200 miles over 3 days in the Cottonwood 200. Neither of us got our 10 mile training run in. I think we both capped at 7 or 8 mile training runs. This reflected on race day, and we both finished 40-50 minutes longer than we wanted to.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My legs gave out and would not work from about 10 miles to the finish. After several poor attempts at running between mile 10 and 11, I finally gave in and walked the remaining distance, finishing in 2:55:03. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Erin, who is much more sensitive to heat than I am, had to run at a much slower pace. She was able to keep running for the whole race, with her natural walking breaks. Finishing in 3:08:46, she walked right to the medical tent since she was feeling dizzy and couldn't think straight enough to operate her phone. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Whatever! We crossed the finish line. We did it; not how we wanted, but we got it done. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once Erin had cooled down enough and her dizziness subsided, we joined friends at Vivian's Diner and Drinks for some brunch. They had a really good bloody Mary, Surly's Todd the Axe Man in the bottle (it served as a wonderful beer back), and a great brunch menu. We were happy to be introduced to Vivian's and look forward to our next visit.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5xzejPk5u7ZC1VUVNTyoFJJXfr5LxaTwjmYNE6CDZC3cAHlAzzapHmQoIJV1DewZRuTTmXMwIJ_CR_4lHpLWrrYtIaWOBEBOdHZPcN9qekms5M7d8txUxUabrzhtE2Piz-qNzwRBBQw/s1600/20170603_130328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5xzejPk5u7ZC1VUVNTyoFJJXfr5LxaTwjmYNE6CDZC3cAHlAzzapHmQoIJV1DewZRuTTmXMwIJ_CR_4lHpLWrrYtIaWOBEBOdHZPcN9qekms5M7d8txUxUabrzhtE2Piz-qNzwRBBQw/s640/20170603_130328.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look closely and deeply into our eyes, you can detect an intense amount of pain and suffering.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
This Friday, I will be getting up early and traveling to Tribune, KS for a short ride to the Colorado border and back. On Saturday, I begin my first <a href="https://bak.org/">Bike Across Kansas</a>. As I'm not taking the laptop on this adventure, I will most likely not be blogging.</div>
<br /></div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-34334912938007644792017-05-30T10:54:00.005-07:002017-05-30T17:49:44.104-07:00The 41st Cottonwood 200<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WRyovebRhMdxxwO7dbbY4Betks4dKzQHwgdfJwaZOnJPjd1x_09UONpZDngn8tB1W_wqo1od9N88Ip6zdTZIdElt_lUj3fUj3_u7RtmWkSIIM_Sn4ZXjR3ZZBAhpKLFR3kJxzvx__qE/s1600/20170527_135011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WRyovebRhMdxxwO7dbbY4Betks4dKzQHwgdfJwaZOnJPjd1x_09UONpZDngn8tB1W_wqo1od9N88Ip6zdTZIdElt_lUj3fUj3_u7RtmWkSIIM_Sn4ZXjR3ZZBAhpKLFR3kJxzvx__qE/s640/20170527_135011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cottonwood 200 Riders conquering one of the Flint Hills on Day 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h4>
What's Happening </h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Erin and I just finished the Cottonwood 200. It was tough and rewarding. Fighting through the aches and pains, we were able to observe the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas. We'll be heading up to the Des Moines area on Friday to run in the <a href="http://damtodam.com/">38th Dam to Dam: Iowa's Distance Classic</a>. Since I'm going to stay a little longer and hang out with Dad, we'll be driving separately. <br />
<br />
On Friday of the following week, I'll be getting on a charter bus that will take me to Tribune, KS. That is where I will begin the Bike Across Kansas.<br />
<br /></div>
<h4>
Number of the Day: 17</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is how old <a href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/A-Masters-in-Math-at-17-Young-Student-Gets-Grad-Degree-Before-High-School-Graduation-423045954.html">Stephanie Mui</a> is as she graduates with a master's degree in mathematics from George Mason University. She isn't even done with high school yet!<br />
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<br /></div>
<h4>
Just Do Without</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This has become a mantra of mine in the last several weeks. During the packing for Cottonwood 200, Erin would sometimes ask me why I wasn't bringing something or another. "I'll just do without," was how I responded. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Granted, there are several pleasantries that I indulge myself into bringing along. For simplicity's sake, I also rough it a little and "do without" several things on these kind of trips. When you are well traveled, you can easily simplify packing by asking yourself a few questions that measure the reward of different items. </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>How large is the benefit from bringing such an item or items?</li>
<li>How big a hassle is it to bring such an item or items?</li>
</ul>
<div>
When the first heavily outweighs the second (basic toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.) we obviously bring those items. When space is limited, the second can heavily outweigh the first on several items (an extra pair of shoes, that other book you are also reading that is 5 inches thick, the extra shirt, etc.). </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As a seasoned traveler, I place a high level of enjoyment from traveling as light as a I can. More stuff means more hassle. If we can't walk a mile carrying everything we're traveling with comfortably, then it is time to go back to the original two questions. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Cottonwood 200</h3>
<div>
<br />
There was thunder, lightning, and heavy rain when we woke on Day 1. I rode over and loaded the truck in the rain wondering if/when we would begin this ride. Since the ride started at the Washburn campus, we lounged around at our house and waited for the storm to pass before biking over.<br />
<br />
The Topeka Police escorted the 160 riders out of Topeka stopping traffic at several of the intersections and leap frogging their way to the south side.<br />
<br />
Erin fought through some horrible pains in her knee (the ibuprofen at the SAG 1 really helped), and made it through the entire first day. We biked through some rain and winds, and a few threatening clouds. </div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPfabn5codiBwdNnTOvyJmVgMtxYZS-5Kyg4CK7fM3vutublBWCf1LpKxgGITXdufgXeU_2nQkTX9eXd5-n0lPfOh6GUNiKeKrbgmsbBi668JUeiCg8FFJxUB-6DUAMkTNObbq0jsP_c/s1600/20170527_130708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPfabn5codiBwdNnTOvyJmVgMtxYZS-5Kyg4CK7fM3vutublBWCf1LpKxgGITXdufgXeU_2nQkTX9eXd5-n0lPfOh6GUNiKeKrbgmsbBi668JUeiCg8FFJxUB-6DUAMkTNObbq0jsP_c/s640/20170527_130708.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out at the Flint Hills at SAG 3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVyl2ocf95Rdk4vT_tv1UsQus7eVY4B6P3MYG835BpOj7zT4pl6HuedbUj8aTUbNTTgQiCl4YBoPe_5kAwMQiSpqv6d20HL0loP7aCg0m8pyZsHrs-aSNSUhIEBmW1usnhYk0kjKnJG0/s1600/20170527_152359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVyl2ocf95Rdk4vT_tv1UsQus7eVY4B6P3MYG835BpOj7zT4pl6HuedbUj8aTUbNTTgQiCl4YBoPe_5kAwMQiSpqv6d20HL0loP7aCg0m8pyZsHrs-aSNSUhIEBmW1usnhYk0kjKnJG0/s640/20170527_152359.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Between SAG 3 and SAG 4 on Day 1.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We set up camp under the shade of a Sycamore tree on the grounds of Council Grove High School. Our tent was a huge dome in a sea of tinier tents. They of course made fun of our vast accommodations. They sounded very envious, so we just ignored them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUakQ7aTB-abeffOzomGY29zREfCJHLCvpsti7XH4UDg8rR3gAbIV9m3CEQRINWPMaX3HMdjIANBrs0mE2244-haavEGcxYw-mVF_TEPvzQEtutY3AxHWBqWsz2R2-PdVLKqy3UjPOIA/s1600/Cottonwood200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUakQ7aTB-abeffOzomGY29zREfCJHLCvpsti7XH4UDg8rR3gAbIV9m3CEQRINWPMaX3HMdjIANBrs0mE2244-haavEGcxYw-mVF_TEPvzQEtutY3AxHWBqWsz2R2-PdVLKqy3UjPOIA/s640/Cottonwood200.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new Base Camp 6 tent (which replaced our old Base Camp 4 tent)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> On Day 2, we biked about 20 miles south to Cottonwood Falls along one of the Flint Hills Scenic Byways. Here were some photos of the Flint Hills, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, and of Cottonwood Falls. </span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuXyILBWn5xww4yPxhpFw6CDDE-snx2LjocqcCIvBZT1TX_2U07rYBrmJOFNgBiQ-8bpG_0vhynWX5wMFAKqi7_sfxS9uQHl3ontyKlWEo55GXLXhIsIiXJdlTAid2MNnNqRETvA7cTY/s1600/20170528_095641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuXyILBWn5xww4yPxhpFw6CDDE-snx2LjocqcCIvBZT1TX_2U07rYBrmJOFNgBiQ-8bpG_0vhynWX5wMFAKqi7_sfxS9uQHl3ontyKlWEo55GXLXhIsIiXJdlTAid2MNnNqRETvA7cTY/s640/20170528_095641.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a magnifying glass, you may be able to pick out the bike riders disappearing in the horizon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjplz1hVTj7ByxOUC2N85R9FhrNfyusRZQOOgRx5vZ8qbMl2qNpeqmNkreM73lsjPLQVvXBrWsa-h4_mrZk4eI13shIOzgjSjGoyJD7rNUY5DJFmhIxSI9gNj4uXorWf5as7nFyh-nl8E/s1600/20170528_103029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjplz1hVTj7ByxOUC2N85R9FhrNfyusRZQOOgRx5vZ8qbMl2qNpeqmNkreM73lsjPLQVvXBrWsa-h4_mrZk4eI13shIOzgjSjGoyJD7rNUY5DJFmhIxSI9gNj4uXorWf5as7nFyh-nl8E/s640/20170528_103029.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ranch House on the Spring Hill Farm and Stock Ranch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWISQUdx5WRUgQV7zFw-b4zI17hfJskJXxLtVvuk12FEqnuS_CAT_Qw33aEGQNnpgf9qQGU7nuPtOlcsGI_I_pfTS_CQr5drPBt5LxxjitsIu8ET3QAbOehanKKN-Ku7zw1kkdQM_QEAI/s1600/20170528_104505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWISQUdx5WRUgQV7zFw-b4zI17hfJskJXxLtVvuk12FEqnuS_CAT_Qw33aEGQNnpgf9qQGU7nuPtOlcsGI_I_pfTS_CQr5drPBt5LxxjitsIu8ET3QAbOehanKKN-Ku7zw1kkdQM_QEAI/s640/20170528_104505.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lower Fox Creek School ran from 1884 to 1930</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45MTqjkebrNwMhPo68mq3kQX5XLVr6plZ5USZGiy8vArRWyHS_6nNqoTWEyTEPJTMnoyfj9M70MwvUDnGiW2Xuao34-Qno-HgcYWw6fp9jzO1f7Ia2bc8rLRDzf6qfUxkpVA4ZezVCVw/s1600/20170528_110340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="1600" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45MTqjkebrNwMhPo68mq3kQX5XLVr6plZ5USZGiy8vArRWyHS_6nNqoTWEyTEPJTMnoyfj9M70MwvUDnGiW2Xuao34-Qno-HgcYWw6fp9jzO1f7Ia2bc8rLRDzf6qfUxkpVA4ZezVCVw/s640/20170528_110340.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking along Southwind Nature Trail at the Second Overlook</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjpubyyf2wPgsd0_wqYWGH-KaUwQbuCv2lk1P0xhXl_Srz2TkIrUQNDo1P9uBYSB4RiIKiY_WY9DwAlRix8Fm6WKmAzRs2PoxIZgR779j1ilyzLcFmZ388zg8O6x3U_XEeGDfDowvMoA/s1600/20170528_123308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjpubyyf2wPgsd0_wqYWGH-KaUwQbuCv2lk1P0xhXl_Srz2TkIrUQNDo1P9uBYSB4RiIKiY_WY9DwAlRix8Fm6WKmAzRs2PoxIZgR779j1ilyzLcFmZ388zg8O6x3U_XEeGDfDowvMoA/s640/20170528_123308.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Cottonwood Falls, KS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Keller Feed & Wine Co. opened from 11-1 for Cottonwood 200 riders only. We flooded the place, ate lunch, drank some beers and bloody Mary's and then rode the same route back to Council Grove. The route back was into the wind however, so it was much slower. The good news was that our campsite was already up in Council Grove. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We packed up camp on Day 3 to head back to Topeka. After some breakfast with some new Wichita friends, Lauren and Neal, we started toward Topeka. It was again a long day with four SAG stops. Since Erin and I were simply biking home, we offered up our house for some showers and a quick rest before they had the long drive back home to Wichita. Sadly, we didn't get any good pictures all together. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGj_exWFcOx2TDMr5YQqRfDMjBeP_zIZf9UhaPvM9cktezXTgBkEt-beNTYOXqMmzWMzHxlXcX83AqaXDuBkGVm5Tluqzeoy_UlMK6LKPk83BIJySTGOJXnkp28zGm4jYYjhBLJObqf4k/s1600/IMG_20170530_122406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGj_exWFcOx2TDMr5YQqRfDMjBeP_zIZf9UhaPvM9cktezXTgBkEt-beNTYOXqMmzWMzHxlXcX83AqaXDuBkGVm5Tluqzeoy_UlMK6LKPk83BIJySTGOJXnkp28zGm4jYYjhBLJObqf4k/s640/IMG_20170530_122406.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Erin at SAG 4, Lauren in Pink Helmet. Right Bottom: Figures on hilltops are common in the Flint Hills. Right Top: A unsuccessful selfie which was supposed to capture Neal and Lauren riding behind. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It was a great way to spend Memorial Day weekend. This will probably not be our last Cottonwood 200. I'm sure we will return again. </span></span></h3>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-49085183651891433372017-05-23T07:54:00.001-07:002017-05-23T07:54:26.615-07:00Hickory Nut Falls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPvnV4FYaYzRo9kmq9eX3pu1mLgIw1H8OhwPTATFwPjMzpG7cl8woLvDne11cuoG4xWs_YbKLOICFz0x_4WkwYZuu4s_O4-GP7hNZUEI733eHptVxVptoJxlr1ZDyYNhIKP20JCixk24/s1600/IMG_20170520_132005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPvnV4FYaYzRo9kmq9eX3pu1mLgIw1H8OhwPTATFwPjMzpG7cl8woLvDne11cuoG4xWs_YbKLOICFz0x_4WkwYZuu4s_O4-GP7hNZUEI733eHptVxVptoJxlr1ZDyYNhIKP20JCixk24/s640/IMG_20170520_132005.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up from the base of Hickory Nut Falls in Chimney Rock State Park</td></tr>
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<h3>
What's Happening</h3>
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Erin and I returned from out Asheville, NC/Atlanta, GA trip at 3:20 AM on Monday, May 22. On Saturday, May 27, we will begin the <a href="http://www.cottonwood200.org/">Cottonwood 200</a>, a 3-day bike ride through the Flint Hills of Kansas. The following weekend, on Saturday, June 3rd, both of us will run the Dam-to-Dam half marathon in the Des Moines area. I'm going to follow that with a few days of Dad-time. </div>
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<h3>
Number of the Day: 98</h3>
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Age of Dr. Brenda Milner, who still works at Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital. Many believe her to be emerita at her age, but she is still working some 7 decades after she began. She is currently weaving together the biology of memory and a hemisphere specialization: how the halves divide up labor. </div>
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I saw this article appear in the Science Times on Tuesday, May 16th although it appeared first on Monday, May 15th. It was of interest to me as I was reading The Power of Habit at that time. In chapter 1 of this book, it describes a patient "Eugene" who loses the ability to create new memories. The scientist studying Eugene was professor Larry Squire. When Larry was a PhD student a MIT, he worked alongside "the group" studying Henry Molaison. </div>
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Whether he worked with Dr. Brenda Milner, I could not assess, but Dr. Brenda Milner was one of several scientists to have studied Henry Molaison extensively. </div>
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<h3>
Atlanta</h3>
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Flights to Atlanta are much cheaper than flights to Asheville, NC. Since our friends Rachel and Dennis live in Roswell (northeast of Atlanta), we thought we could carpool with them to Asheville to meet the organizers of this trip, Gerrit and Kristi. They graciously let us crash their trip when we caught wind of it a month ago.<br />
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Rachel picked us up from the airport Friday evening and we stayed a night with her and Dennis in their new place. We had a late dinner of leftover Indian food, and stayed up late catching up.<br />
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The following morning we had a brunch at Another Broken Egg before taking off for Asheville.<br />
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<h3>
Asheville</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfbis1qSfxmkQVmeMV-7QWsJv1yN91V8H4ap_4ExnS6gV9z6k7RvnxvYrEUXx2C2mBPtKz0Su7dQUN0AoEwAFuXs_bSqXa97DR5pZr5KK0p3nKlZojtsTrwWmqb0X4f_pDrzwLCXMJkk/s1600/IMG_20170519_165122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfbis1qSfxmkQVmeMV-7QWsJv1yN91V8H4ap_4ExnS6gV9z6k7RvnxvYrEUXx2C2mBPtKz0Su7dQUN0AoEwAFuXs_bSqXa97DR5pZr5KK0p3nKlZojtsTrwWmqb0X4f_pDrzwLCXMJkk/s640/IMG_20170519_165122.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">True to our nature, our first stop in Asheville was at a brewery: Catawba Brewing Co.</td></tr>
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We made plans on the fly. I chose a brewery to go somewhat at random, and decided on Burial Brewing Company. In our attempts at parking in the area of Burial, we were unsuccessful at first, and finally found a lot that happened to be right across from Catawba. Since there was no rhyme or reason that I chose Burial in the first place, we walked into Catawba. It suited our needs and desires for that particular moment.<br />
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When Gerrit and Kristi arrived, we were able to see their 4 year old twins Gatlin and Gillian for the first time in several years! However, they had just ridden several hours in a car, and so they were wound for sound. A beer later, we decided on ordering Indian food and joining them at a local park where we ate and let the kids play before heading to the cabin. </div>
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<h4>
The Cabin</h4>
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Our cabin was in between Black Mountain and Bat Cave, NC, about 40 minutes outside of Asheville on some of the steepest and windiest roads I've been. It was a mansion of a cabin that could have very comfortably held at least one more couple. We each had our own rooms with our own bathrooms. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuofaP9EJX-l4PW4teMdGHS9MsfEuIKfnzErfDijhlwJjN8L5n8bftv1vxKwsXZXVhMW2R2n-v4Dpy8JSfNdzwWwik9NpmGdBoUMFg8I4JVyIdkb0D-4zaPstR9CnQP04NdR0pFmBLsA/s1600/IMG_3416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuofaP9EJX-l4PW4teMdGHS9MsfEuIKfnzErfDijhlwJjN8L5n8bftv1vxKwsXZXVhMW2R2n-v4Dpy8JSfNdzwWwik9NpmGdBoUMFg8I4JVyIdkb0D-4zaPstR9CnQP04NdR0pFmBLsA/s640/IMG_3416.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dennis captured this wonderful panoramic picture of the dinner table</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5-y3xEtJcmuXcn9fFZ2o8GfCUZw8rwJGWgY0HdHb3pdXLKT_764LG9jv4v166hFT7xKWNNXFPXQ9-ga6rrP02miz1NHW7bsY8gUbxa8Wk-i7jXMKXF7rcGF82mP3PoAFQvfZ9XMB4IU/s1600/20170520_194226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5-y3xEtJcmuXcn9fFZ2o8GfCUZw8rwJGWgY0HdHb3pdXLKT_764LG9jv4v166hFT7xKWNNXFPXQ9-ga6rrP02miz1NHW7bsY8gUbxa8Wk-i7jXMKXF7rcGF82mP3PoAFQvfZ9XMB4IU/s640/20170520_194226.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the deck. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTpMN0yPz_4Tw45OZQ7nm6V2ntQU6mVzVw3Z9O6d9gWSwcr5ZqJJo9Ehgq-W4TZfxkXz7TsS_QyugbnUDA8wBjkEEf-slYWn87X0cRh69zf5FLPk_YrI08miKqeU34-x5nMUkB6MKY5M/s1600/IMG_20170523_093710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTpMN0yPz_4Tw45OZQ7nm6V2ntQU6mVzVw3Z9O6d9gWSwcr5ZqJJo9Ehgq-W4TZfxkXz7TsS_QyugbnUDA8wBjkEEf-slYWn87X0cRh69zf5FLPk_YrI08miKqeU34-x5nMUkB6MKY5M/s640/IMG_20170523_093710.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left: Cuddle time with Gatlin and Gillian. Right: Erin cooking us an amazing breakfast.</td></tr>
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<h4>
Chimney Rock State Park</h4>
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Saturday plans were made on Saturday morning. We decided to go south from the cabin first and enjoy some time at Chimney Rock State Park, so we packed for a picnic. It cost a little more than we were expecting to get into the park, but it was worth it. We chose the hike to Hickory Nut Falls as that seemed to be the easiest one for the kids and the one with the most reward.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXVbrmyB5prPV4tDA03po45Rz_PhDELRHGtI4FEt7PGyGFJz7OpPd8xq9estsKyx0WzL7Jz0AIEac0IwoXpgammxifUe4MmW6Rwxf9rDcw6uX3pa2owNjEI8OpIU4yU2o7GP_g41vwvs/s1600/IMG_20170523_090408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXVbrmyB5prPV4tDA03po45Rz_PhDELRHGtI4FEt7PGyGFJz7OpPd8xq9estsKyx0WzL7Jz0AIEac0IwoXpgammxifUe4MmW6Rwxf9rDcw6uX3pa2owNjEI8OpIU4yU2o7GP_g41vwvs/s640/IMG_20170523_090408.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shots at Hickory Nut Falls</td></tr>
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It wasn't until later that I found out this was the sight for many of the shots taken in the movie The Last of the Mohicans. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOuYnrLqk3gtNTyzsOtQKpTgYUgLdtYYxmX6hTlL0BDNUeEmurOHRY8rejnIq6sWUnPhCdJQ1Cp77Ubb0b_c8XrReBskxFgKtbwhfc_J4fUhGV9rlSjJK2AvaAXBgvC2ztdR1c4NuBDU/s1600/IMG_20170523_090508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOuYnrLqk3gtNTyzsOtQKpTgYUgLdtYYxmX6hTlL0BDNUeEmurOHRY8rejnIq6sWUnPhCdJQ1Cp77Ubb0b_c8XrReBskxFgKtbwhfc_J4fUhGV9rlSjJK2AvaAXBgvC2ztdR1c4NuBDU/s640/IMG_20170523_090508.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken during our picnic at the base of Vista and Chimney Rock</td></tr>
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The scenery and company were great. Once we were finished with our picnic and playing around, we went north to Black Mountain to enjoy Black Mountain Ciderworks + Meadery as well as Pisgah Brewing Company. They were right beside each other.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKPGNw5nJaQh82XG6TJNbxNRQ_98hZOj6ZmBKjUupKFqRFTgiGzDN1A7LhiNMBS8EpYfXz0_D3GzdG1VC08iTyHNcmEChSz-zHNt7mHGU42R-Sp4as2Ml8RF0Q6rLwnsZetMzH6ZCqyU/s1600/IMG_20170520_160419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKPGNw5nJaQh82XG6TJNbxNRQ_98hZOj6ZmBKjUupKFqRFTgiGzDN1A7LhiNMBS8EpYfXz0_D3GzdG1VC08iTyHNcmEChSz-zHNt7mHGU42R-Sp4as2Ml8RF0Q6rLwnsZetMzH6ZCqyU/s640/IMG_20170520_160419.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A selection of ciders and mead makes Pleepleus happy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2qL_RQjwkDvvj9_TbvSKr5Goy8s1lrS8bm9kZf4VJeTYDOrx_EgjX2ZHoA4WxkYoN3jZ1oSg_XWjnftXuuOqOnQ7TXuvuR0ARs1yO0gBQM1OI6YMRdomU-Mty1AvDPR04xj52HYWxEo/s1600/IMG_20170520_173047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2qL_RQjwkDvvj9_TbvSKr5Goy8s1lrS8bm9kZf4VJeTYDOrx_EgjX2ZHoA4WxkYoN3jZ1oSg_XWjnftXuuOqOnQ7TXuvuR0ARs1yO0gBQM1OI6YMRdomU-Mty1AvDPR04xj52HYWxEo/s640/IMG_20170520_173047.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick beer at Pisgah since there were no shaded tables or comfort available</td></tr>
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That evening, we interrogated Dennis to make sure he was holiday meal ready. He flawlessly passed, navigating around our intense and rigorous questions effortlessly. <br />
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<h4>
The Trip Home</h4>
We were in no hurry on Sunday morning, so we had breakfast at the cabin and some much needed R&R. After a late lunch at the Straightaway Cafe, we parted ways with Gerrit, Kristi, Gatlin, and Gillian, and headed back to Atlanta where Erin and I had a late flight out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0K1KbTYDybSTmByGWGYnb_w2XqRvQdgFFQb2RAC2MapqqeaV5RcEUtY8NU6hpbAPrUW_mQwd5uA1ds_t-wFvYaUw0KZsznWZr5Sr0ztN7iBW_LvpFsDNlDHpG3aCD8JEx5n0tuJcWzjQ/s1600/IMG_20170523_093742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0K1KbTYDybSTmByGWGYnb_w2XqRvQdgFFQb2RAC2MapqqeaV5RcEUtY8NU6hpbAPrUW_mQwd5uA1ds_t-wFvYaUw0KZsznWZr5Sr0ztN7iBW_LvpFsDNlDHpG3aCD8JEx5n0tuJcWzjQ/s640/IMG_20170523_093742.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left: Pre-dinner beers at Taco Mac. Right: Erin told me to order anything I wanted. I ate the entire boat.</td></tr>
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It felt like it was my birthday at the Japanese Sushi and Steakhouse. Erin told me I could get anything I wanted! I ordered a sushi boat for two just for myself. It was delicious. I ate it all, and even had a few bites of her dish.<br />
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We couldn't thank Dennis and Rachel enough for their willingness to drive us all the way to the airport for our late flight out, which meant they also had a late night getting back to Roswell. It was a fantastic time catching up with all of them. Postcards are coming soon! </div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-69336573412418145462017-05-16T07:20:00.001-07:002017-05-16T07:20:21.632-07:00Neophilia<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin enjoying a margarita flight</td></tr>
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<h3>
What's Happening?</h3>
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This is my second day of summer break. With more time on my hands, I will probably be writing more often. I'm going to try a format similar to how I began each of my statistics classes during the Spring 2017 semester. <br />
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On Friday the 19th we fly to Atlanta, GA where we will be picked up by the newlyweds Dennis and Rachel Ho. They will drive us to Asheville, NC where we will meet our friends Gerrit and Kristi Scholten. Once together, we plan to paint the town and do all things fun. We may send you a postcard if you're good. </div>
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Over the Memorial Day weekend, Erin and I will be riding the Cottonwood 200. This is a 200 mile, 3-day bike ride that starts as Washburn University in Topeka on Saturday, May 27th and ends that evening about 75 miles away in Council Grove, KS. On Sunday, the ride is an out-and-back that goes to Cottonwood Falls and returns to Council Grove, which is approximately 50 miles. On Monday, we ride back to Topeka.<br />
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Did You Know?</h3>
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One of my <a href="http://jason-shaw.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-resolutions-of-twenty-seventeen.html">2017 resolutions</a> is to bike 2017 miles. At the time of this writing, I have 1641 miles to go. This means I am 18.6% finished with my goal. Tuesday, May 16th is the 136th day of the year, which means that I am 37.3% finished with the year. Although behind, the summer rides are coming and will most likely get me ahead.<br />
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<h3>
Number of the Day - 44</h3>
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On Saturday, April 22nd, Erin and I met friends Jonathan and Sarah in Columbia, MO to participate in the March for Science. According to <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/2017/05/11/americans-divided-on-whether-recent-science-protests-will-benefit-scientists-causes/?utm_content=buffer1cd8c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer&ex_cid=SigDig">Pew Research</a>, the </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>percentage of U.S. adults who say the protests, marches and demonstrations about science held this April will Help/Make No Difference/Hurt public support for science</i></blockquote>
is divided evenly at 44% for both "Help" and "Make No Difference." In fact, 7% believe it will hurt public support for science. This was one of <a href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/significant-digits-for-friday-may-12-2017/">FiveThirtyEight's Significant Digits</a> on Friday, May 12.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjFX_7x45XJ6RoxybksqFrx-0-z7IXmmJufmSEfnyPMgcvLspPEFOWGO7Tm9xpKOvEePNGe9XYrj-APy6jtyb-5aPwI1lSZQoQXclXt8PGpVXfBxs8HGjEWVJ8jj_8RJpWXbehE0s7IU/s1600/IMG_20170422_145757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjFX_7x45XJ6RoxybksqFrx-0-z7IXmmJufmSEfnyPMgcvLspPEFOWGO7Tm9xpKOvEePNGe9XYrj-APy6jtyb-5aPwI1lSZQoQXclXt8PGpVXfBxs8HGjEWVJ8jj_8RJpWXbehE0s7IU/s400/IMG_20170422_145757.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">March for Science</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><h3>
Neophilia versus Neophobia</h3>
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I'm currently reading what will probably be a contender for the most influential book I've read in 2017. On shelves in 2012, I'm five years behind. It is called <i>The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion</i> by Jonathan Haidt. </div>
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This has been such an influential book, that I expect to weave much of what was written in that book into several more blog posts. I will build a foundation with this post. </div>
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Haidt first brings up neophilia while giving several moral foundations of politics in chapter 7. The six moral foundations are </div>
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<ul>
<li>Care/Harm</li>
<li>Liberty/Opression (introduced in Ch. 8)</li>
<li>Fairness/Cheating</li>
<li>Loyalty/Betrayal</li>
<li>Authority/Subversion</li>
<li>Sanctity/Degradation </li>
</ul>
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If you think of a spectrum of very liberal on the left to very conservative on the right, imagine a graph of six lines that measure the importance of these moral foundations to individuals (use the picture below to get an idea, which is not to scale and slightly inaccurate). Starting on the left, the lines from top to bottom represent each of the moral foundations given above, respectively. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXg0Qn_Mwys8Iw_faNDKSo4moDJrKLU3xt9o-6oUWeFPAEnjU-vX9I2y17qVFiIMq-3yUxzpE63c6dFPZnZE8F15xJ_wcgpr_DAGAhybStRJtIyEii72lbaH_Rxdw1YPlyjFYQbDFk8U/s1600/Foundations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXg0Qn_Mwys8Iw_faNDKSo4moDJrKLU3xt9o-6oUWeFPAEnjU-vX9I2y17qVFiIMq-3yUxzpE63c6dFPZnZE8F15xJ_wcgpr_DAGAhybStRJtIyEii72lbaH_Rxdw1YPlyjFYQbDFk8U/s320/Foundations.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hence, the more liberal minded individual puts a lot more weight in the top three (and especially the top two) than the bottom three. While the more conservative minded puts about an equal weight to all six foundations with a near opposite ordering of priority. </div>
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In the section on Sanctity and Degradation, he introduced the terms neophilia and neophobia. </div>
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<ul>
<li>Neophilia is a desire to experience and try new things, along with a general distaste for routine and tradition.</li>
<li>Neophopia is a fear of new experiences, with a general comfort in what is "tried and true."</li>
</ul>
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In my search of a more positive word that describes a general desire for routine and tradition, I was unsuccessful.</div>
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Neophilia describes me very well. Haidt claims that liberals score higher on neophilia, being more open to experience "new foods, people, music, and ideas." Conservatives, on the flip side, scored higher on neophobia. <br />
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Why was this in the sanctity and degradation section? If one thinks in the specific terms of sex and the sanctity of marriage, consider the following bumper sticker.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EsjwsijEnFKfeTffyd5ASv4JQfMU7y-6YahMS3AHjPZuaOAxvvatuEibQQIsYzG8BiRkd6yAo7Bakqoqj0ZVSLbmtzSLogDvZdXgXxQRD7dV7cNuqy3djkUk_N9CY1fOO2u3SsQM1U8/s1600/AmusementPark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EsjwsijEnFKfeTffyd5ASv4JQfMU7y-6YahMS3AHjPZuaOAxvvatuEibQQIsYzG8BiRkd6yAo7Bakqoqj0ZVSLbmtzSLogDvZdXgXxQRD7dV7cNuqy3djkUk_N9CY1fOO2u3SsQM1U8/s400/AmusementPark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This would be on the car of a neophile, and most probably, one that leans to the left. <br />
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The primary reason why I believe <i>The Righteous Mind</i> to be so influential is that it has helped me "<i>trade in anger for understanding." </i>I encourage you to do the same, whether you read this particular book or not. </div>
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</div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-2448267872633364172017-05-03T04:38:00.004-07:002017-05-03T04:38:59.036-07:00Failure<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJWX6jCj1KuVo8BV7BS8OZJA_XphYkd0YMqtoqq9xolWDNevyrgoJkMt4aAnIkZZFTej3tEdp_gZQ5ZILN5Y341oj1ximv3UMrdLE6a-MuCOgKClm0NpqXYJAyc09LVGIIOjfsykbirc/s1600/IMG_20170424_201310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJWX6jCj1KuVo8BV7BS8OZJA_XphYkd0YMqtoqq9xolWDNevyrgoJkMt4aAnIkZZFTej3tEdp_gZQ5ZILN5Y341oj1ximv3UMrdLE6a-MuCOgKClm0NpqXYJAyc09LVGIIOjfsykbirc/s640/IMG_20170424_201310.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the name of the exam that I failed</td></tr>
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This morning I woke up a little before 5:30 and remembered that yesterday was the first Tuesday of the month. I failed at getting my post in on time. This wasn't on purpose, but it completely fits into what I was going to write about.<br />
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A week ago (well, a week and a day ago now), I sat down for a four hour actuary test. Through the Society of Actuaries, it is the third exam and it is called Exam MLC, which stands for Models for Life Contingencies. I did my best. That, however, was not good enough. I failed.<br />
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There were three steps I went through that were not too different than the steps my friend Jonathan suggests in his blog post: <a href="http://jonathanvieker.com/failure-is-good-so-are-you-failing-enough/">Failure is Good. So are You Failing Enough?</a> These three steps were as follows:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Feel the pain. Failing the exam gave me a depressing feeling. I felt very psychologically drained. I knew it would pass eventually, but I did not force it to go away. I let myself feel what I was feeling. After all, we're human.</li>
<li>Begin focusing on whatever positives that come from this. I couldn't see these right away, but they surfaced soon enough. I was able to share the experience with my students, show some vulnerability, and let them know that I knew what it was like to be in their shoes. I noticed <a href="http://jonathanvieker.com/share-your-failures/">Sharing Your Failures</a> came in quite handy. </li>
<li>Think about what I have to do for next time. There was a simple fact: I wasn't ready. I didn't realize that until about a week before. I now know what to expect, and the strategies I need to use in order to pass it. </li>
</ol>
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The next MLC Exam will be in October. Since this is too much time, I will need to do some fortnightly drills to stay with the material over the summer before I begin to go into full study mode when the Fall semester begins at the end of August. My Fall semester will be light this year with old and familiar preps, so those two months will be sufficient enough time to <i>master</i> the material. </div>
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Yesterday was full of failures. It was quite the unusual day. </div>
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I failed to get to a candidate breakfast on time. </div>
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At dinner with my wife, Erin, we found out that our calendars were a week apart with regard to a two and a half week period of time that involves the Bike Across Kansas and our trip to the Pacific Northeast. I failed at communicating with her for the past several weeks - specifically, noticing that the dates she was mentioning were not the dates I had in my calendar. We have some work to do to rectify this failure in communication. </div>
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Although I'm getting better at using a calendar for my day to day activities, yesterday was a clear indication that I have some work to do. </div>
Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-45791300693249303082017-04-18T18:52:00.000-07:002017-04-18T18:52:50.986-07:00Card Trick<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2eaHG-YBB7-IPLhhtmgoTfuqWD8I6Qmi-nzl_nnT95QE4ROlUy0Rmi61TDYr2nIN-_dwAKwRf9bXp1C-xJ0STI6uUYJ8lRIBGxMopqPV0mtzH0UOJ8OHUdgNV1jR2-zqARreVQJUyRA/s1600/IMG_20170418_201234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2eaHG-YBB7-IPLhhtmgoTfuqWD8I6Qmi-nzl_nnT95QE4ROlUy0Rmi61TDYr2nIN-_dwAKwRf9bXp1C-xJ0STI6uUYJ8lRIBGxMopqPV0mtzH0UOJ8OHUdgNV1jR2-zqARreVQJUyRA/s640/IMG_20170418_201234.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you can memorize this chart, you can do a really cool card trick.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My basic statistics class gets to learn a new thing about me each class period. Today, they learned that I like card tricks, especially mathematical ones. Want to try? Grab a deck of cards. <br />
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Count out 27 cards, because that is all that is required for this trick. The next two instructions can be done in any order.<br />
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Pick any number from 1-27. Let's suppose you picked 23 like my student did this morning. <br />
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Go through the deck and choose a card as your card. Shuffle it <i>anywhere</i> in the deck. Put it in a specific spot if you want. It <i>doesn't </i>matter.<br />
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Here is the math part. You need to take the number 23 and come up with three instructions. In my picture, I want you to notice that 23 is in the <i>middle </i>of its most inside block. It's block, is in the <i>middle</i> of the outside block. Finally, the outside block is the <i>bottom </i>block. OK, so it isn't the bottom, it is the far right, but I couldn't put a huge vertical photo in the blog. You will need to remember <i>middle, middle, bottom</i>. <br />
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Now, deal the cards face up into three piles, one at a time, alternating piles. To be specific, the first card defines the first pile, the second card the second pile, the third card the third pile, and then deal the rest accordingly. <br />
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While you are doing this, keep an eye out for your card. You will need your participant to do the same thing later when you are performing. Note which pile your card is in. Once the piles are all turned over so that the cards are face down, you place the pile in the position of your first instruction: <i>middle</i>. (Yes, I know that it didn't matter if we turned the cards over for that instruction, but for top and bottom it does.)<br />
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You do this again two more times, making sure you place the pile in the intended place. <br />
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Now, count out the cards from the top until you reach the 23rd card. That is your card. If you find yourself going "wow, cool!" then you just enjoyed some math.<br />
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Try it again for a different number. Say, 6. Can you tell that the instructions for 6 are <i>bottom, middle, top</i>? Each number has a unique set of instructions that forces any card in the deck to the position you want it to be in. <br />
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Cool, huh? <br />
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For a slightly different explanation and a video tutorial, you can watch that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcgvFTfOpD8">here</a>. Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5579844266840879593.post-28568757099897556872017-04-04T17:36:00.001-07:002017-04-04T17:36:56.413-07:00MeaningfulIs what you do on a daily basis meaningful to you? <div>
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Yesterday, Erin asked me to mow the lawn. It was the first time that we mowed this year so you can imagine how overgrown it was (we live in Kansas). As I was mowing, I remember thinking these several thoughts: </div>
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<ul>
<li>Wow, our lawn looks really shitty!</li>
<li>As shitty as our lawn looks, I really don't give a shit. </li>
<li>I don't find meaningfulness in giving a shit about my lawn. </li>
<li>I wish I had rocks for a lawn so I wouldn't have to mow and I could get back to doing things that are more meaningful to me. </li>
<li>How does the guy with the immaculate lawn across the street find any kind of meaningfulness in giving a shit about his lawn?</li>
</ul>
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I admit, the last takes am unnecessary jab at people who care for their lawns, which is completely fine. People find meaningfulness in different places. </div>
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Others would ask the same question about some of the things I find meaningful:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Brewing my own beer.</li>
<li>Roasting my own coffee. Every. Single. Week. </li>
<li>Studying for the MLC Exam (If I pass this exam, it will not qualify me for a promotion in my current position. It gets me closer to a certification that will also not qualify me for a promotion in my current position.) </li>
<li>Reading incessantly. </li>
<li>Getting rid of shit.</li>
<li>Going for a hike.</li>
<li>Riding my bike.</li>
<li>Running. </li>
<li>Journaling (who's going to read these in the future and give any kind of shit about them if they survive entropy or the Trump administration?)</li>
<li>Writing in this blog. </li>
</ul>
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These things are meaningful to me. Meaningful. This word has been floating around in my mind a lot. I let it dominate. Trying to figure out why things are meaningful will bring on the unnecessary ponderings of whether I'm having fun or am happy. To that, I will defer to Matt Inman's "<a href="http://theoatmeal.com/comics/unhappy">How to be perfectly unhappy.</a>"</div>
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Jason Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10341949589770596527noreply@blogger.com2