Vacation from Vacation

So since I have become gainfully unemployed, Hilary and I figured the best thing to do would be to take a vacation.........after all not working can be very stressful. So we drove up to Tahoe and stayed with some friends in Truckee to get some skiing in, then we drove over the hill to Auburn for a few more days. I was able to snap a few pictures along the way.

Everytime I go back up that way I realize how much I miss my adopted home.....where else can you ski incredible skiing, go for a Mtn. bike or road bike ride and surf all in one day?!? That's why you gotta love it!

Looking across San Francisco towards the Golden Gate from Coit Tower.

Truckee River

View from Donner Summit looking down towards Donner Lake and Truckee.

Moonrise over the ridge top driving from Tahoe City to Truckee one afternoon.

View from the top of Squaw looking towards Lake Tahoe.

Big Big Gun! (a la The Pixies)

So today I got to take part & witness one of the coolest things I have done and seen in a while. I was able to help out with the ski areas avalanche safety by way of a decomissioned U.S. Military 105mm Howitzer gun. Now to put it in to perspective a little, 105mm roughly equals 4.13 inches......to me that's kind of a big projectile flying at high velocities! Anyways I was able to help out with the four shots that were fired. It goes without saying, this was verrrry cool (yes I know I'm a nerd). So one of our shots was into a gladed area that is prone to sliding.........I'll just say I don't think the pine tree that the shot connected with is going to make it. The last glimpse I saw of the tree, before the detonation, there was a large flash of flames and a puff of smoke. It was a magnificent spectacle of nature.......it will be missed (it was still cool though).

This is what a 105mm round looks like.........I know I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of one of these babies!

The James Bond shot, looking down the barrel of the gun.

Soma is done & ready to ride

So my Soma S.S. has actually been done for a while now but I just haven't taken the time to take any pictures of it since I added the last few items to complete it. Well thanks to some good ol' fashioned unemployment I now have the time (tip of the hat to my crappy former employer). So here it is all trimmed out with my personal picks of goodies to finish it off. Let me know what ya think of her. I personally like it quite a bit and foresee it being ridden frequently.