I am still alive...barely

Exams have begun at Logan College of Chiropractic...needless to say, I thought I would need CPR before the end of the week. It all started with Biochem part duex, and then today was the big dog: neuroanatomy. 100 questions over a two hour block...and we have like six of these this tri. Seriously, next to impossible. Lets just say that I never thought I could be taken to such a limit. The road has not turned however, as we have 4 more exams and two major quizzes next week.

I know I said I was done with the catch-up game, but in this case I will make an exception. Last weekend, I headed down to Arkansas for the second edition of the Mercy Team Camp. The location was absolutely perfect. Jasper boasts an undulated horizon, coupled with serenity and beauty. Most of the guys cruised down to Springdale on Friday, in order to traverse 95 miles to our weekend retreat: an amazing cabin tucked into the Boston Mountains. I had obligations at school on Friday, so I rolled into Springpatch on Friday evening. Doug and I took off early the next morning. We stopped at a little diner in Jasper-proper, and had a wonderful meal. Then, upon our arrival, the team had breakfast number two ready. Grant it we had just eaten 20 minutes earlier, I still indulged in a little bit of grub (hey, I was getting ready to double my yearly miles this weekend...a little kid has got to eat!) After breakfast, we took a short hike it the woods to catch up with everyone, and do a little team building exercise. TJ was stepping lightly, as snakes are near the top of his fear list. I assured him that snakes were long gone by this point in the winter, except for the cryophibious species.

Ride time: 11:00am, maybe 30 degrees and windy. We had most of the team there, so hiding in the pack was pretty obtainable. The 12 of us rolled out, an really did not know what to expect. Andres did not really fill us in on the route, but rater required some of the new guys to use the radios and communicate the ride details with the rest of us. This worked out ok...only three wrong turns, and a lot of miscommunication later and we had defeated the first day. There were three major climbs today, all of which buried me. The first climb I managed to stay with the guys, but the second two put nails in my coffin. The last bump reached pitches of 20%, and all of the climbs were at least 4 miles long. I was destroyed, but good-spirited. All of the scenery, being around all the guys, and just being away from school kept my moral high. I limped in, but felt horribly good!

That night was typical camp protocol. Eating, sitting, chattering, meetings, and of course, sleeping. Staying at the cabin was nice; no noise, no distractions.

Day two: Ride time, 8:30am, temp...I think we saw the needle hit 13 degrees before we left. The good news: day two was sunny. We set sail to tackle 2 major climbs today (which really turned into 3): the climb out of Ponca, and the bump out of Boxley. Ponca was by far the steepest average grade of the weekend, but it was over pretty quickly. The last kick of 18% was nasty, but still doable. Boxley wasn't bad either: I was able to stay with the guys all day today. Descending down into Jasper was a bit sketch: there was ice on some parts of the road, which Doug and I both found under our rear tires. 45 mph on ice isn't something you look forward to. Anyway, both of us kept the rubber side down, and made it down the mountain. The secret third climb came from Jasper back to the cabin, which was about 14 miles all in all. Grant it, the average was 6-7%, a non-climbing brother like myself, who is not in all that great of shape to begin with, got spit off the back nearly half way home. It was almost better that way, b/c I stopped at all the scenic overlooks to take a peek at things like the Arkansas Grand Canyon, Lookout mountain, and a few without names, that were nearly as breath-taking.

Quick to pack and quick to leave, Doug and I stopped at the diner on our way back, and bolted to MO. I made it back just in time for our "Logan Family Dinner", hosted by Shelby, where I think I ate more than everyone combined.

Today (Sunday), K and I are hosting the get-together for the Stupid Bowl. That is all for now, hopefully, I will never have to play the catch up game again.