Wyoming Update

Great view of the Tetons on the way to Jackson, Wy.






Any travel log of Yellowstone would be amiss without a picture of the great "Old Faithful". It 'went off' shortly after we arrived at the Old Faithful Lodge and were waiting for dinner. Taken about 8:30 pm !







Getting "close up and personal" with a bison (buffalo) in the park. We saw elk, mule deer, a grizzly, Osprey, wild flowers, fantastic waterfalls and beautiful valleys.






This is 'my' painting crew that painted two bedrooms, a living room and all trim in a single lady's house (church member-center in the picture) in Cody. This was our team's project for Monday.






Monday night we had a Western music jam session in the parking lot of our motel. There were 3 different groups of musicians having a blast jamming - 'The New Pioneers', 'Western Shadows', "Trails and Rails', and 'Bill Barwick'-male western music vocalist of 2005.


Jana has been walking and wogging most days and is planning a wog for in the morning. I will post another blog tomorrow with a few more pics. Work project Tuesday, professional rodeo Tuesday night, white water rafting today. Thursday is a free day and we will do the Bill Cody Historic Center (5 museums), some shopping (thrilled) and start preparing catfish for a huge cooking on Friday. It was 95 degrees today - HOT (even with low humidity). This place is fantastic...... if it just didn't get to -35 degrees in the winter (4-5 months of winter).........

Later,

Clark

Boston Butts on the "Egg"

OK, I will give in and post my recipe/technique for cooking the Boston butt for the party. This is tailored for cooking on a Big Green Egg (BGE) smoker/grill - the last grill one will ever buy!



I used BBQ Rub (as pictured) which I call "Rebel Rub" and worked it into the meat liberally. I scored the fat and worked the rub into the meat of each cut.


I wrapped the meat in clear wrap and let sit in the frig for several hours (24 in this case).


Build a small lump charcoal fire, adding lots of soaked hickory chips. I added the 'plate setter' for indirect heat, a foil pan for drippings and placed the meat in a V-rack. Meat and pit temp probes were inserted, the lid closed and left for 12 hrs.

I liberally basted with apple juice, then returned to the BGE until the internal temp was 180 degrees. I removed them, wrapped them in aluminum foil and 'sweated them' for 2 hours in an insulated ice chest.

These are the Butts, unwrapped and ready to shred into "pulled pork". Serve with favorite barbeque sauce.

Bon Appetit,

Clark

MM Weatherman

Tony Mastro here..... Predicted morning temps for Saturday ----- 65 degrees !!! WooHoo !!

That should make the halfer a whole lot better than the 12 miler 2 weeks ago.

Jana and I rode our bikes this evening (6 pm) and it was 75 degrees - felt MUCH better. We rode about 12.5 miles on Hoghland Colony Parkway from Madison to the round about, but also explored the roads of Cypress Lake sbdvn and the new Township construction. Called in and picked up a veggie lovers pizza on the way home.

Nice outing.

Gotta get to bed. I was on call Monday and only got about 3 1/2 hrs of sleep - I'm getting tooooo old for so little sleep!

Clark

Saturday Run...

Well, all I've got to say is that riding up and down the trails and observing everybody was really impressive! Ya'll are all looking so good. Everyone seemed to be running their own race, hydrating, and actually completing 10 MILES !! Woohoo !

Forget about those ole 'Team in Training' guys - they only ran 4 miles today, NOT 10 !

I rode the whole course twice (20.68 miles-yes it was 10.34 miles according to Jana's Garmin GPS). That is the longest time and distance I have ever ridden on a bike. I had to peel off the bike seat at Fleet Feet ! No injuries I heard of, except a few blisters. Make sure you have the proper running sox (not cotton ones) AND if you bought new ones back when we started this adventure, it's probably time for some new ones - those old ones have likely lost their protective properties.

We will be out of town next week and Saturday. My middle daughter (the 'superachiever' of my 3 kids) is getting married in Boulder, CO on Saturday. This will be my first child to get married - already had 2 stepdaughters to get married). Not all of my brothers and sisters are making the trip :-( , but we are going to have a wonderful, midmorning, garden wedding (75 degrees), a brunch and party to follow. Jana will likely post pix on her blog. She will look outstanding in her new dress, though she's worried about hobbling around ,since her ankle and knees are aching so bad today.

I plan to rent a bike and ride while Jana trains and puts in her 11 miles next Saturday. While you guys are complaining about hills, think about trying to breathe at 6000+ elevation! There are just so many oxygen molecules in the whole city of Boulder and our lungs will be screaming to possess every single one!

We will have our laptops and will keep up while gone.

See you guys at the rez for 12 miles on the 9th! Have a great Memorial Day and stop to remember our soldiers, past and present.

Clark

Friday Night - "Carb loading"

Check the Forum - several of us are gathering Friday night at Macaroni Grill (off County Line) and are using "Pre-run carb loading" as the "excuse". We need a pretty close head count, so post on the Forum or here and we will include you at the table (s). Trying for 5:30 ish - to get ahead of the Friday night crowd.

(Have ya'll noticed how many people eat out on Friday nights? As a life-long Jacksonian, I am amazed. It used to be fairly easy to get a table at a nice restaurant, now you have to go real early - with the 'blue-haired seniors' - to have a chance at eating at a reasonable time!) I digress......

Biked several days this week and I am really noticing that I'm getting stronger at it. Yesterday Jana and I biked the RIdgeland trail (where ya'll run Saturday), up to hiway 51, down Harbor Rd (closed), to the Breakers and then to the Cock of the Walk - about 8 miles. I've got to get Jana to quit 'lolly-gagging' along, though, like a Sunday afternoon stroll! Today, while she ran with the Lakeshore Thursday group, I rode up to Fox Bay (our last Sat. route), around the Fox Bay neighborhood and back to the park - in about an hour - the time they took to run/walk for 5 miles. It was a great afternoon and had a great workout, as did the others.

See everybody Saturday.

Clark

Saturday WX Forecast!

Gang!

Get this --- predicted low for Saturday is in the 48-51 degree range! No kidding ! Isn't that going to be a fantastic break from the past week or so?

It was so nice and cool this evening. I really wanted to bike, but had to make a late Mother's Day visit to my Stepmom and Dad. Had a great visit with them, but really wanted to ride.......

I am planning (if I don't get stuck at work) to bike at the rez tomorrow afternoon with my pastor, also an avid rider. We might even see some of the MM crowd if they do their Thursday afternoon run. Yell at me, if I ride past you!

Keep on, you great Marathoners!!!!!

Clark

Saturday's Long Run....

Well it sounds like everyone had a great run on Saturday, despite the heat! I'm glad there were no reports of injuries in my absence. I hope that's a sign of future injury-free runs!

Jana understated the "hills" in her blog. I don't think there was any part more that a quarter mile that didn't have some kind of grade to it. We found a dirt road that took us around the back of the lake, across a rickety bridge and up an eroded incline that went on forever! She actually did a 2min run interval AND a 2 min walk interval all on that one incline. I had to put the bike in the lowest gear to keep moving up the grade - and she actually started to pass me on her jog. But, being the Alpha male, I couldn't let that happen, so I grunted up some energy and got back ahead - how male!!

I think we will all enjoy the flat terrain this Saturday at the Rez.

Hydration is the key as it gets hotter and more humid. The joint aches, headaches and exhaustion are all signs of different degrees of dehydration. It is important to keep hydrated all week, not just on Saturday. For those who have high blood pressure and/or may take a diuretic (fluid pill), it's even more important to keep your water intake high!

I will have my cell number on the sign-up sheet Saturday, so those who run with cell phones can give me a call if they encounter someone with a problem on the run.

Clark