I am sometimes guilty of being a martyr about work, at least in my own brain if not out loud (too often) but now with the benefit of a fancy pocket computer I can scroll back through pictures of the past year and think, it's been pretty fun. I took plenty of time off, went to cool places, had adventures. Just delightful.
We started off the year with the most Covid-safe NYE possible, skinning up to a yurt in the Big Holes with Briandrew and a cold little dog to drink champagne and think about the year past (which was pretty gross) and the year to come (less gross, but not not gross).
I got pretty into snowblading which is unavoidable when you hang out with Cy too much, and he and Dapper Dan and I did a strike mission down to Nevada to ski Terminal Cancer Couloir, which is hilariously busy but a very aesthetic and easy-to-access line.
A big gang of us went to the San Rafael Swell for an overnighter. We had to carry like ten liters of water each because we weren't sure about water sources on the route, and then we camped next to a nice creek and groaned about the 20+ pounds of water each of us had strapped to our bikes in the place of enough booze. Fun outing but I continue to not love the desert.
In 2020 I used my wedding as justification to throw a bunch of parties and go on a bunch of trips so Chrissy and Whitney and I decided to keep that train rolling in 2021. In spring we went to a bougie hot springs resort for Grachelorette Part II and did a big lovely gravel ride through the southeasternmost part of Idaho and were very basic at the resort.
Andrea gave us a great excuse to finally make it down to Crested Butte in June and it rained on us the whole time (this is a theme for me) and we piloted a boat through shark-infested creek waters to watch her get hitched on a cliff.
We took a really quick trip up to Silver in Kellogg because it's truly the best bike park, i.e. doesn't feel like a bike park. It was super fun meeting up with a bunch of people for gondola shenanigans and ridiculously dusty loose riding through bomb holes.
Got to finally visit the infamous couch rock in the Palisades on a 20-mile run with Deanna, who predictably whupped my ass while claiming she was slow. I miss running. Also running sucks.
My lovely and charming sister got married and it was so so fun.
Nearly all of the Tellman and Tellman-adjacent clan gathered for Em's wedding and it was pretty dang awesome.
Gosh I sure do love Pisgah. It was really nice actually not getting rained on the entire week I was there, and we did some wonderful rides and runs. With modern bike equipment and half a summer of riding under my belt, I actually got my Pisgah root-charging groove back the last day of the trip, of course.
I got to ride bikes at Kanuga with Joh for the first time in like a decade and even off the couch (motherhood and stuff) she is still the fastest rowdiest woman I've ever ridden with, it's so hot. I remember when I used to be super jealous and intimidated of her skills...guess that hasn't really changed.
Another year of coaching kids and being so pleased and proud of them, particularly the girls, who are hungry and fast and strong and funny and great.
Central Idaho hot springs are maybe the best part of traveling for NICA races.
C and W and I went down to Park City on a lark for Chrissy's birthday in November but it had snowed and was pretty stupid. Also Park City is very very touristy. At least we got to ride bikes north of SLC for a couple hours in the dry, on a quirky little network of jump trails.
I bought a new(ish) bike and it is a sexy dreamboat, I'm fully a 29er convert now.
We went to Bellingham to ride bikes in the rain in late fall and ate tonnnnnnssss of Asian food. Even though we were wet almost constantly and had to manage moisture while sleeping in the van, it was a really delightful and eye-opening trip.
Cute butt!
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