Enjoying the Last Days of Summer

It has been quite the summer loaded with volunteering, work, playing, and training. An amazing summer at that. During the past couple of weeks I have put in some good training hours and some good, important resting hours.

I recently returned from one of my best friend's cabins in Ontario, Canada. A very unique place, where the only access is by boat and there is no electricity. I have been going up there since I was a freshman in high school and have never had as much fun in my life as when I am up there. 5am fishing trips to catch nothing but lily pads, wake boarding, wake surfing, water skiing, porch-sittin', book-readin', laughing 'till our cheeks are sore, and running are all apart of the Lake Wah Wash Kesh experience.

Before we took off to Canada we had a day in Washington D.C. to explore.

Sarah and I in front of the White House. If you look close you can see President Obama waving a sign that says, "Welcome Sylvan and Sarah to my giant white house and my giant white lawn!"

After visiting Canada, we arrived back in Vail in the midst of the US Pro Cycling Challenge. This race was an awesome experience because the valley or the state hasn't seen this caliber of racing since the Coors Classic in the 80's and 90's. The Challenge just so happened to have the Top-3 finishers from the Tour de France, along with a strong contingency of other riders. The crowds were unbelievable. Most of the pictures that you see below had to be taken a couple rows back or up high to even try and get a shot of the rider coming by.

Our beautiful Colorado flag 50m from the finish of the Vail Uphill TT

Christian Vande Velde

Levi Leipheimer on his way to winning and taking the Overall

We arrived that morning at Ski and Snowboard Club Vail knowing that we were going to run to the TT, but didn't know how. We ended up running 4.5 hours up and over the top of Vail and into a gully that brought us out to the end of the TT. A great time followed by a great time.

Heading up to the top of Benchmark

Top of Benchmark overlooking the road the TT'ers went up

Currently I am still looking for my next volunteer opportunity in the valley. Right now it looks as if I will be working at Edwards Elementary in a unique environment where English is spoken on one day and then Spanish the next. Still in the process of cementing my time there.

Yes'm...

Sylvan