My New Bike!

I am SO excited! I've been missing riding a road bike for some time now. I love to do spinning class, but this stupid gym I joined, promised they'd have the class by spring, and still they don't! So, I decided that I'd buy a new road bike, and get back to riding. I tried running for exercise last year, but I really don't like to do it very much. I've never been much of a running lover, but always have loved to bike. My mountain bike is a fabulous bike, but really is made for off-road riding. I tried to put semi slick tires on it, but still, it takes a tremendous amount of effort to go anywhere near fast. Since I made the decision to get a new bike, I spent the last week going to various bike shops, to try and find the right size for me. I knew that I wanted an older model, because I knew that I could get much more "bang for my buck." The new models were junk for my budget, not providing many features, and I knew that if I looked long enough, I'd find one in good shape with everything I wanted. One day, Robb came home and said, "I found your bike!" He found it on Craigslist, and it was just perfect! It was a 2005 Lemond Reno, upgraded rear derailleur, carbon fiber fork and seat post, and just the right size! Plus, when we researched it online, it was a beautiful pearly white. Yesterday, we went to meet the bike out in North Olmsted. As soon as I sat on it, I knew, it was perfect! It was in brand new condition, with not a scratch on it! And, it was so fast! Here's a picture of my beautiful fast new bike!

I went on my first ride with is last night, and I'm in LOVE!  It shifts so smoothly, is very comfortable, and goes faster than ever!  I love my new bike!!

Chuck-It

I think Koby go tired of the "extra" part of putting the ball in the Chuck-it, so he just decided that if he threw it at Daddy, it was much faster! Look at him go! He's a happy dog!

Koby in action

Here's Koby putting the ball in the Chuck-it. I didn't believe what Robb was asking him to do, with letting Robb take the ball right from his mouth, but Koby is a very smart dog, and figures just about anything out. Soon enough, he realized that when he let go, the ball would go again for him!

Dog Welcoming

One of the main reasons we chose Lock 30 Woodlands was because they were so dog friendly. In Ohio, generally, people are not very dog friendly. Instead of shops having dog water bowls, and "cookies" there are posted signs that say, "no dogs allowed." When you try to find a park or beach to take your dog to, it always says, "pets must be on a leash." When we go camping, it would never be complete without our Koby. It's probably his absolute favorite thing in the whole world to do. Dog friendly campgrounds aren't that easy to come by, most of the state parks "allow" dogs, but to find a dog welcoming campground is very rare for Ohio. Lock 30 Woodlands advertised, "Dogs who are under voice control can be exercised off-leash in the twenty acre riverfront, wilderness conservation area. Here, your dog can swim in the creek or in our 3 acre private, fishing lake. Afterwards, give Fido a scrub down in an easy to use dog-shower before returning to your site" Sounded wonderful for our Koby!

Behind our campsite was the path to the riverfront. Here's the view on the way down...
Once we were at the bottom, Koby got to play with his "Chuck-it!"

He just has the best time being a "retriever!" We came down here several times a day. Koby even found us our own private beach on the river...

Stealth Flower Picking

All over the place there were those pretty purple flower that we had on our picnic table. They were all over the sides of the roads, everywhere we went!Robb saw some daisies that he wanted to add to our bouquet back at camp, so he pulled over on the side of this road, got out of the car, and ran across the street.(Sorry about the butt-shot Honey) This is the funniest progression of picking daisies. Here he is quickly picking.

Here he is gathering them up, quickly!And this is the funniest one... He was on the lookout! I was wondering why he was picking so fast and looking all over the place! Robb got back in the car, and said, "is this illegal to pick flowers from the side of the road?"

Lock 30 Woodlands

Memorial Day weekend, Robb, Koby, and me went on our first camping trip of the year! It was a much needed break from the world. This are pictures of our campground. Lock 30 Woodlands. It was one of the nicest campgrounds we've stayed at in a while (that wasn't in Maine), although, next time, we'll pick a different spot because we were right on top of our neighbors, and didn't like that very much.Road leading to the campground from the streetCamp office. Campground opened in 1839. It's probably the oldest place we've ever stayed.Old firetruck they take kids around for rides in.See how nice and pine-treey the place was? They must've been planted when the place first opened, because they were in nice strait rows. That makes them 171 years old!On the way to our site.See this one shows the rows better.Our campsite!Our PU! This is the other side view of our site from the path that lead to the river. (More on the river later)

On the first morning, Robb and Koby went on a walk while I slept in, and came back with these beautiful purple wildflowers for me! We always like to pick the flowers around our campsite to put on our table. They were very pretty!

Here's Kob taking a little nap in the PU. He loves camping!

Hey, It's Hot! Time For Cool Summer Recipes

Yum, I know this will be delicious! Hey, It's Hot! Time For Cool Summer Recipes