What has been up lately? Mostly, I have been working; which while interesting does not produce the most blogable material. For this reason, it has been silent on this front. There are a few things worth noting of late.
Mountain biking in the Wasatch front is unreal. Having never been into mountain biking, I felt no rush to get out onto the trails. For those moving to this area, do not make the same mistake I did! I am running out of daylight here, which is a bit of a bummer, but thankfully I have made it (thanks to my boss really) out the last 4 weeks in a row. These single tracks are the stuff of legend. After going a few times, I see why people develop such a passion for the sport. My boss has been known to say: “it makes you feel 10 years old again”. Truly spoken.
I will have to post some pictures soon, but for now just take my word for it: there is nothing like it and it is hard to imagine another place so perfectly made for it. Heres why: it is free, it is not crowded, it is well maintained, the people you do meet out there are very friendly, it is a great workout, the downhill, while only about 15 minutes after a grueling 75-minute climb, is about as much fun as you can have (legally at least, as far as I know). Some facts:
Average Starting Elevation: 7,200ft
Highest Elevation Achieved so far: 8,500ft
Air thickness at this altitude: comparable to the atmosphere of a small asteroid
Make you feel outta shape factor: 6.42 out of 6.43
Average temperature: whatever the perfect temperature is (72 F?)
Summer here in the valley has been awesome. Amy and I love the sunshine! We loved the Portland area, but have to admit that we are sun-seeking people. SLC suits us better in this regard. One other positive factor, wait, scratch that, another CRITICAL factor is that there are NO BUGS in the valley! I have not seen a mosquito in the valley since I have been here, except the one that was flying around confusedly asking for directions to a lake.
September and October promise to be about as relaxing as running a marathon while trying to type a manuscript on a touchscreen smartphone. We will be heading to Oregon for a wedding in September (my buddy Grant’s wedding, should be super awesome). After that, I have global engineering gatherings in Park City, studying 4 nights a week for my PE, on top of my work project. Should be a fun and exciting time, capped off by me sitting for my PE at the end of October.
Well this is a brief update, more to come soon I hope. A few more things to mention…
What I am reading:
A Dance with Dragons – George R. R. Martin
The most recent book in the Song of Ice and Fire Series. I have been waiting about 4ish years for this one to come out, but I think it was worth the wait. Interestingly, they have made an HBO drama about this series called “A Game of Thrones” (the title of the first book in the series as well). Status: 100% Complete
Bossypants – Tina Fey
A delightful read from a very smart and funny woman. Between laughs you even get some insight into management and the creative process. Highly recommend this read for men and women alike. Status: 75% Complete
What I am listening to:
Well, as usual, I am listening to a lot of music right now. The band I find myself navigating Rhapsody to most often, however, has to be Manchester Orchestra. These guys are a perfect combo of rock and “pretty” music. Very enjoyable rain or shine, and pairs well with beers or coffee.
