Machu Picchu, Peru

It's certainly not an easy place to get to.  It starts with a train ride followed by a harrowing bus ride up the switchbacks to the entrance.  But it is worth every minute.  We had a weather than you could only dream of on our visit. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

LOTOJA 2012

LOTOJA is something every recreational cyclist in the Western US has heard of and feared.  Officially known as the "Logan to Jackson" road race, it is held on the first Saturday after Labor Day.  As one-day rides go, this is a beast. 206 miles (332 km) and 7500 feet of climbing. It was meant to be a North American equivalent of the one-day European spring classics: Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Milan san Remo, and the Tour of Flanders. 

2012 was the 30th anniversary of the race and Tate's first time racing.   Tiff and I ran support. An awesome day and unbelievably strong finish for Tate finishing 12 in the Pro-1-2-3 category with a time of 9:14:44.105.  

Pre-race pit stop

No time to rest at the rest stops

 sprint for the finish line

Tate & Clint cool down after the finish

Cusco Markets, Peru

One of our best days in Peru started out with at blessing from a Peruvian shaman named Pedro.  In spite of all the cocoa leaves he was chomping, he was as calm as a summer morning (he said the prayer required him to do it). What he lacks in stature he makes up for in charisma. 

We then headed for a tour of the market in Cusco to buy groceries for our cooking demonstration at a local restaurant. Very fresh food--not all of it appetizing. 

Fortunately, the bathroom photo is terrible.  Hand-carved to demonstrate anatomic differences between the hermanas and hermanos. 

If Peru leaves me with one regret, it was not enough time in this city.

Ty & Pedro ... standing 

Take my word on this one ... it the girl's

Tate poses with a cornucopia of nasty meats

Donkey snout ... tasty! 

I think I'll just take one loaf of bread today

Peru in pastel

Pallisades - Black Salt Fish House

Long cab ride from Capitol Hill but it was great seafood. Expensive! Big Eye Tuna tartar, Dover sole and shrimp/blue mussel Vietnamese stew was great. Coconut banana pie tasty. Bathroom is quaint & green.

Bacchi Burger - Paradise, NV

An Asian-Fusion Burger joint that is awesome  There was a only one other pair of haoles there--usually a good sign. We tried truffle & parmesan fries, salt and jalapeño pepper fries with a Kiki burger & Roinin burger. We also had the white peach & strawberry soda. Great food. Best of all the kids were all gone back to school--this place isn't cheap! Signage in men's room kind of comical. I'm glad they clarified the whole "diarrhea and vomiting during food prep" thing for me.