Team camp #1

After a long winter, the team activities have begun. This past weekend the team got together in Seattle to meet each other, meet some of our sponsors, and just have a good time.

First things first: a trip to the mother ship. Hagens-Berman LLP treated us to an afternoon in their conference room to learn about them and a few of our other sponsors.

Also got a chance to catch a seattle sunset from the 33rd floor.

After dinner we caught the ferry to Bainbridge Island to prepare for day two. David, while posing as an asian tourist, got photobombed but a group of youth soccer players.

 

But as an expert on Shimano footwear, David was also in charge of our Shimano shoe oven for the weekend. I just got to drive it around.

We spent Saturday at GraviTec doing a bunch of team building exercises. GraviTec designs systems and does training for people who work at height (window washers, wind turbine technicians etc). Lots of learning, problem solving, and a few fun exercises with rope and harness. However since they do not allow photos inside their building Saturday will be represented by Peter, mechanic at Recycled, rocking the headset cup dookie rope. Rock rock on.

Sunday I watched the Seahawks play the Falcons while the guys went on a ride. Cardboard Danny, at the front of the van, was the first guy suited up.

Stewart got a chance to rock his Euro kit on this side of the Atlantic. Bold choice.

The weekend ended with a few interviews about the weekend that will hopefully end up on the new season of "The HB show". I might even make it this year. That is, if I can keep a straight face long enough to do an entire interview. Jury is still out on that one.

 

Only 5 weeks until team camp in California. Get ready!!

 

But first...

While curling up and relaxing would be a nice thing to do (or maybe working), why not take a road trip? Where? New Orleans to San Diego. Obviously. What kind of question is that?

My first time standing next to the Mississippi River. I did not fully understand how big this thing is. I guess I'm not used to cargo ships in rivers yet.

And it being the South they're really into Andrew Jackson. If the south is going to rise again they may do so on horseback. You have been warned.

At one time New Orleans belonged to the Spanish so you also get the good old Euro style church. I was told novelty Catholic guilt can be purchased inside.

There were also a number of hitching posts around the French Quarter. Since I had a bunch of time to kill I thought I would find someone renting horses. I mean why hitching posts and no horses?

After about an hour of walking all I was able to find were these more modern horse like contraptions. I'm assuming these need to be tied up when not in use so they do not take off. Perhaps the south will rise again on Segway.

Or ride to victory in a pedicab.

I did feel bad for this tree. Apparently it lost it's spouse in the battle for Eisenguard. Sad stuff.

But all joking aside, the French Quarter is very beautiful.

Plus the clubs have a great pricing structure.

 

Local wildlife.

But enough of New Orleans. This is a road trip. This water was to the right as we headed west. I have no idea which water it is. Maybe I should get my hands on a map.

Welcome to Texas! I think the state motto is "Good luck getting across"

We did manage to get from New Orleans to Junction, TX the first day. I don't understand why more people don't live here. So much to do.

Only 860 miles after the challenge began, we escaped the bounds of Texas.

Things got a bit more scenic when we got to New Mexico. The hills are taller, even if the brush is still sagey.

However Arizona is the state well known for its native dinosaur population. This one is pretty well domesticated. It let my friend Camille pet it and then posed for a photo op.

Dinosaur fist bump!!!

At long last, the ocean. A great view from the Navy Amphibious Base on Coronado Island. This is a shot of where the Seals train. If you look really closely you can see Demi Moore. God she's buff.

Since I like to end with a strange photo, I will offer this challenge: What the hell is this beach bug?

Seriously! This thing is huge and I almost stepped on it. What is this?

 

 

 

 

The end

It would seem, after six and a half years, my tenure at Recycled Cycles is coming to a close. Its been a great ride that has taken me from relative ineptitude ( I blew a tire off of a rim my first day at the shop), to coordinating service at one of the biggest shops in Seattle. I'm very grateful to all of those I've worked with over the years and especially to Steve and Scott for seeing fit to employ me for so long.

 

With the start of the new year, new job, and new workspace came the replacement of the old.

My former home. As it stood for a good few years.

And thank god the drawers come out of that thing. It turns out the solid steel construction doesn't make for the most lightweight toolbox.

Ready to travel!! Even with the drawers out the box is still a bit on the heavy side.

However now we're a bit short on workspace. Mmm....

New years day. How does one spend one of the 4 days a year Recycled Cycles is closed? At the shop, building a new bench. Also it turns out Tre is much better with wood than I am.

And if the bench fits...

Then it gets legs.

If you look around close enough, most of the stuff around the shop is signed by those who constructed it. Hopefully this is so future generations can remember who build such sturdy and long lasting benches. Hopefully.

Max didn't sign due to his lack of thumbs and thus ability to hold a sharpie. This does not in any way imply that he was not exceedingly helpful in the contruction.

 

The final product. A couple of shelves, a bit of stain (all Tre's doing) later and one more bench in the basement is ready for a new owner.

Now just enough time to curl up and relax for a few days before team camp.