Richland Wrap-up

Well......I completed the Richland, WA assignment.  The last week of work was a blur, seeing as I got back in semi-late (as usual) on Monday and never really felt like I caught up on sleep.  I also did a poor job of packing right up to the last minute.  Luckily for me I took a load to Port Angeles (PA) last weekend, b/c it was a 2/3-3/4 load again this time.  I never seem to realize how much stuff I have until I try to pack it into my truck.  Living w/ Faith Martin was nice and she gave me lots of space (was at her BF Bobby's a lot).  I never really hung out with anyone during the week, usually spending time after work plucking around on the computer trying to chart my next move, watching bike movies to keep myself stoked, or doing the Core Performance workout (which I gained a new respect for- if I could keep it up for the full 13 weeks I would be a BEAST!!).  I managed to not eat out once during the whole 13 weeks in the Tri-Cities.  I only went to the health food store for a frozen burrito or almond butter and jam the few times I didn't have left-overs or garden burgers to eat.  I was proud of myself for keeping up with cooking and eating mainly vegan and not packing on the pounds during a semi-sedentary spell (I was boarding and biking for 7 months before this gig!!).  It was kind of a bummer being hurt the past few weeks.  I nailed a tree on "Mechanical Tragedy" at the North Fork doing my fourth top-to-bottom run of the day.  I was really in the zone and just took my eye off the trail for a SPLIT second which was long enough to drift towards a tree, nail it with my fist first, then my shoulder, then my head.  It sucked!!  Three weeks later it still hurts.  I was silly enough to NOT go and get an x-ray.  Probably ligamentous damage anyways (fifth carpal metacarpal joint).  I needed a moment off the bike anyways as I was getting WAY too comfortable and riding faster than ever.  Something was bound to take me out and this is pretty minor compared to all the other injuries sustained by my friends this year- John Cooley- femur fx, Seth Esterby- collar bone fracture, Spencer- radius and ulna, Sam Burkhart- T6 fracture, Brad- wrist on GMG, Seth's GF Sherry- dislocated shoulder at Galbraith.  We do some pretty gnarly stuff!!