another weekend in the life of the Outback

I figured it only appropriate that after trail work on weekend 1 and the airport during the week that she got out in the open for the weekend so off to the Sespe Wilderness in the Los Padres National Forest.

and there she sat from Friday through Sunday...

Me, well I ...

and immediately had to cross

and again wet feet

a little guidance 

finally the open trail

Oh wait here we go again

Sespe from the trail

I see my site for the first night, only 2 hours and about 3 miles in.

Just past the interesting sandstone rocks on the left side of the creek

Looking back 

Playing with my new multi fuel Ti stove.  I actually ended up bringing Everclear as a multi purpose, fire starter, stove fuel, antiseptic and social beverage...

I 

It was a great day hiking through some interesting desert like setting, not what I am used to  yet very unique.  I awoke Saturday morning to a frozen backpack 

and hit the trail, I ended up fording the river 4 more times on my way to Willet Hot Springs but ended up missing the cut off.  Explored for a while with a couple of others and finally decided to start working my way back through the 4 water crossings, crossing the last 2 in the dark using my headlight.  I enjoy moving alone through the night, the trail seems a totally different experience as your range of sight is much shorter, and the forest comes alive with a new set of sounds.  Saw some great tracks from deer to a bear 

and met some amazing people along the way.

On the way back I just kept pushing to find water to cook with and just the right site to set, until finally I found myself through all 4 of the deeper crossings in Bear Creek campground after about 17 miles of out and back, There were 4 people around a huge campfire and I set up a bit closer to the river hungry and tired.  it was time to eat, but I needed water, ended up slipping down a muddy bank into a 4 foot deep pool now drenched, in the dark and cold about 50 degrees and quickly dropping with no firewood about.   I hear a voice from heaven, or was it the other site inviting me to come and enjoy the fire, I grabbed my food and the multipurpose bottle of joy and headed over for a relaxing evening of drying off, warming up and actually meeting new people, interacting face to face rather than Facebook to Facebook.  pretty amazing how the whole dynamic changes when phones do not work. Woke up the following morning well rested and finished the 3.5 mile hike out with my 4 new friends from Simi Valley.

So many more pictures, so many more experiences along the way. 

As I mentioned Sespe is not the traditional forest setting that I am used to while packing and camping, but I must say that along the way I found that although a bit harsh in places it has a unique beauty that is all it's own.  Will I return, oh yeah I already figured out where I went wrong and am planning another out and back hopefully this time with the Girl.  We need time away from electronics, TV, computers and distractions to connect on a much more human level. 

Upon returning home I read on Facebook that there was an alternate way of friending people and it was called outside.  Kelly was headed there and that statement resonated through me like no other as I had just spent 72 hours there and met 6 very interesting and unique individuals, all with very unique stories and experiences to learn from.  People and experiences that I would never have, had I not unplugged and hit the road.  I think there will be many more

 "poof"

and

"Blip"

in my future both with those that I care about and alone to continue to learn who I am and what I am all about.

Oh by the way it must suck to be a horse in a bears world...

See you  on the trail wheels are optional

Sometimes it just all comes together

What a weekend...
it has again been a while since blogging but I have not been in the best place and choose not to dwell here.  November and December were sickly months with flues and bronchitis and all things that are not fun, but on to this weekend

Friday after work I decided to finally get off the fence and head down to southcoastsubaru.com and pick up a ride that actually fits my lifestyle rather than a self indulgent slice into the high performance auto world that suffers every weekend as I load bikes or packs into or onto highly customized rack systems to escape all that I am on a weekly basis and find all the goodness that is not so civilized.  Once complete I returned home to BBQ some carne asada and enjoy company of those close to me.  Although not all were present, you were missed

I awoke early Saturday morning and headed off to Aliso for another day of trail maintenance, only fitting for the first day in life of a new Subaru.  Over the last 2 weekends I have decided to not let my last round of knee surgery keep me off the trails so I have been doing trail work to help get Aliso back up and running after the storms.  On this day we were to work on Meadows and were allowed to drive into the park

A relaxing afternoon of froYo and the beach with the Gerl a coffee stop with one of the top tier  then we were off to SSKBBQ and baby octopi on the grill...We closed Road to Seoul as always and woke up Sunday morning with only room for coffee.  Still a little full from the 8 plates that we grilled the night before.  The more I thought about the work invested on the trails the harder it was to climb on the roadie for an hour of PT.

Long story short

Rolled from the house on the Sworks over to see how others were enjoying the fruits of our labor.  Having no idea how the knee would hold up I was only committed to making it to the top of the canyon and rolling back.  Well having ridden this far I found it hard to turn back so...

Ended up heading up Cholla and over to Rock It to see how our work was holding up.  All looked good and I had a huge grin on my tear strewn face as I descended and enjoyed all that mountains and bikes together have to offer.  Once I pedaled home it was time for a little ice ice baby!!!
Busy afternoon and it was off the the Ducks/Oilers game at The Honda Center with Xander,  Renee, and her father.  About 8 rows off the ice in the corner, not too bad.

 Now just sipping a Delirium and getting ready for a short week at work as I have shifted my MLK day to next Friday...  What does that hold in store, I have no idea, hiking, biking maybe snow shoeing and a tent.  Only time will tell...
 So many people in this world are suffering from so many different challenges, whether it be health, wealth, loneliness. or whatever keeps you from happiness.    May everything clear up, matter it not what ails you or keeps you from living life the way that you choose.  Have faith and the world may just surprise you...