COMPUTERS...GRRRR!

Sorry for the lack of posts the past couple of weeks. We are experiencing some computer problems at home, and its been limiting our posts.

Most of the issues are solved and we'll be posting more late next week. We're off to cheer and support at BOGGS 8hr race this weekend.

NEW GAME should be ready soon...should be fun for young and old alike.

Adopt a Pet. Ride a Bike. SMILE.

Last CLUE!!! We have 3 correct answers...only 2 more!

THE CONTEST...
Every week we will be putting more of the original picture up with a hint posted below (and this messege). If you know where GU is, you can send an email to thegreatchiweenie@gmail.com or wait til its posted on our website and there will be an answer box for you to put your answer and email address (in case you WIN!!!). We will take the first 5 correct answers and then randomly choose 1 to win. ONLY ONE (1) GUESS PER WEEK PER EMAIL ADDRESS.

PLEASE BE SPECIFIC! I know someone could say GU is on EARTH. And even though that is true, its not specific enough...(there is more than one answer that we will accept for this week)

THIS WEEKS CLUE...

I'm close to another country and North of Mt. St. Helens.

week 3: Whatever is behind me (GU), is considered active.

week 2: March 25, 2010 1:40 pm, the temperature is 33 degrees, with 0 inches of new snow the past 24 hours.

week 1: Cub thinks his grandfather would have been a great _____. Hmm. (remember: Cub is a person and his grandfather is not a chihuaua)

THE PRIZE...
Any one (1) book OR $10 off any product available on website.

GOOD LUCK!

Welcome CHOMPS!

First Impressions of our new chiweenie, CHOMPS

GU, THE GREAT CHIWEENIE (DOG)

1...Are my parents having a puppy affair? Who is that they're holding?

2...Beware of growling blankets!!!! And don't step on them!

3...He's not afraid of the evil monster WALL! He just jumps over it.

4...He is always talking.

CUB, PERSON WITHOUT A NAME (PERSON)

1...The house is not a bathroom.

2...When he sleeps, he's asleep...don't try to wake him

3...If there is food in the house, he will find it (and paper is not a food).

4...Don't be surprised to find him on window ledges, desks, or anyplace else you wouldn't look for GU.

Here's a video from our first ride with CHOMPS...

Wounded Warriors

Sorry, forgot the camera, but GU and I wanted to share a story that happened on our ride today.

Ride 2 Recovery (Wounded Warriors) were riding by Cambria today and headed to Pismo Beach for the night. We always love to join in with the riders that are traveling through our area. This ride had many amputee riders (riders missing a limb) and it was amazing to see. They rode in a double paceline, but the strong riders were encouraged to head to the back of the pack to push (yes push) the less strong riders to help them stay with the group. It was great to see. Of course, GU was a hit for most of the riders, many of them taking pictures or just getting a laugh.

After riding for a little bit we (GU and I) pulled up next to this nice gentleman. We started talking and he mentioned that one of the Shimano guys told him to throw away his SIDIs and wear this new pair of Shimanos. He was telling us he thought they were great, but probably needed to adjust them since his right foot fell asleep and his left was starting to. Everyone laughed while Gu and I looked over at the new shoes to see the gentleman was an amputee and didn't have a left foot. We enjoyed his sense of humor and hope they have a safe trip to LA.

Who takes care of who (whom?)?

GU, the GREAT CHIWEENIE (dog)

(Saturday) Cub gets home and looks like someone punched him in the face a couple of times. He takes me out and then heads straight to the refillable flushing drinking bowl. He comes out and falls asleep. He wakes up and goes and sits by the refillable flushing drinking bowl, occasionally looking in (I think he was thinking of taking a drink).

He stumbles over to the foot of the bed and doesn't make it. His head is on the blankets and he keeps closing his eyes. I went over and did doggie first aid. Soon, he got up and made it to bed. Don't tell him, but he still looked like someone beat him up.

CUB, the sick rider (human)

It all started when I got stung in between the eyes by a bee thursday night on a downhill while we were riding our bikes. Saturday after the meet my eyes and face still swollen I had the shakes. I spent quite a bit of time in the bathroom. Sweat was pouring out of my body despite the shivering and chicken skin. After sitting by the toilet for almost an hour, thinking I was going to see lunch again, I tried to make it back to bed.

I don't remember what happened except I was laying on the floor at the foot of the bed and every time I wanted to close my eyes GU would lick my whole face. After about an hour of this process, I started to feel better and made it to bed. By 9pm I was feeling alive, not great, but enough to watch some shows on the internet.

Mountain Bike Nationals here I come!

GU, the Great Chiweenie (dog)
The ride to the race was longer than usual, but the place we got to place our den was perfect. Up on a hill with a bunch of other dogs and their rider companions. Cub was nursing his broken ribs from playing kickball and Megan was getting ready for her 2 races, cross-country and super D.

Cub and I cruised around cheering and meeting new people around every turn. I cheered loudest for Megan and she looked to be riding pretty fast. We even got the chance to try our first pump track...I think I should have tried with Megan first, but Cub was starting to be able to hold his ground with those 5 and 6 year olds.

I was pooped. Riding around and being up for most of the daylight hours was tough. I even met some guy who was trying to be stylish like me, with his red sunglasses, and another guy who just won the short track that seemed to like getting his picture taken.

Cub, the other rider (person)
Driving to Colorado for a couple of races is always tough, but sitting in the car with broken ribs made it even tougher. Megan wanted to race the Sport Cross-country race and the Open (non-pro) Super D before we headed for more summer adventures. Camping was crazy packed on a hill above the main starting area. We were lucky to even find a spot in the high grasses on a pretty steep slope.

Megan raced great, with a 3rd in the Cross-country and 2nd in the Super D. Gu, as always, whined every time he saw her coming or going. While waiting for one of Megan's award podiums, we went over to try to pump track (small area that you should be able to use your momentum to get you over the small bumps). I wasn't very good at it. Most of the children around were way better than me.

On our last day, we watched the PRO short track races. They are fun because you can see most of the course and it doesn't take long. After the race, we asked some of the riders if we could get a pic with GU and them. JHK and Adam Craig were happy to cooperate. Too bad I almost missed getting GU in the shot with JHK.

I COULD HAVE DONE MORE.

INTERVIEWS WITH CUB AND GU (SAME QUESTIONS, BUT ASKED WHEN THEY WERE AWAY FROM EACH OTHER).

Question 1: You finished 3 laps in the 8 hour mountain bike race and you still had 3.5 hours left, why did you quit there?

GU (dog) - I could have done more, but Cub's steering in between the tree wasn't going too well. At one point he tried to run me into a tree, but luckily I moved to the other side. I think he decided that the trail was too hard for him.

CUB (person) - I could have done more, but GU kept moving the wrong directions to catch new smells right when there were trees lining the trails. We were on a technical swoopy trail that my handlebars barely fit between the tree and then he switched and ran me right into a tree. I think he was tired, so I decided we should be done.

Question 2: You stayed to watch the 24 hour race as well, what was your most memorable moment for the weekend?

GU (dog) - Dinner. (thanks Jim Northey)

CUB (person) - After seeing the legendary Tinker Juarez finish, we rode by his RV and introduced ourselves to him, his family and mechanic. He was lifting his son for a picture with GU and he had to hold him up for about 5 minutes. Tinker then said, "I'm a little tired here." Maybe it wasn't the best time to have him pose for pics...he did just ride for 24 hours and rode way over 200 miles.

THE COOLEST 24 IN 24 WORDS

GU - THE GREAT CHIWEENIE (dog)

Rain. Hard rain. GO Cub. Don't take me. YES. Rain. Sleep in warm tent. CUB. MORE Rain. Pizza! Harder Rain. Is that CUB? DONE.

Quote of day
"Don't put me down in the mud. You might not see me again."
CUB - RIDER WITHOUT A NAME (person)

Rain. Fun mud. Rain. Not fun mud. Creek pulls me in. Grips float down stream. Creek pulls me in. Warmer. HARD RAIN. I'm done.

Quote of day
"There's puddles so big they have puddles of their own."

THE COOLEST 24 was a great race that raised money for the DREAM FOUNDATION this year. Thanks to all those out there cheering and to my support crew.

I finished 8 laps before sunrise (app. 99.2 miles and over 14,ooo ft of climbing) and didn't feel that it was safe to take GU out on any of the laps. He was thankful for that.

*** The race was shortened to 22 hours due to the weather forecast and safety of the riders and my fenders made me look clean compared to other riders. GOOD CALL TYLER!

Are you Kidding me?

GU, the Great Chiweenie (dog - we think)

...I look at Cub, "why are you waking me?" Stretching my legs and elongating my back I put my head back down and go back to sleep.

CUB, the rider without a name (human - we think)

..."are you kidding me?" as I'm awoken by this loud vibrating noise. HHHHAWWWWGGGGG! I didn't know GU could pig call like that. HHHHAWWWGGGGGGGG! "GU!" I say quietly, trying not to wake Megan (how did she sleep through it I don't know) as I lightly touch GU's chest.

He wakes up and lifts his head off my pillow and gives me THE LOOK, more stern than Lance Armstrong to Jan Ullrich. He proceeds to stretch and lays his head back down and was snoring again before I could close my eyes.

CRASH AND BLEED!

GU, THE GREAT CHIWEENIE (DOG)

It was the normal wait. Cub reading as I sit patiently looking down the drive. There she is...she's home. I get a little excited and shout with glee.

I stay on Cub's lap (in the little camping chair) and when I hear the parking brake I jump away to greet Megan. My back legs clipped Cub's hands and 4 feet away I land face first.

Its a little fuzzy what happened next, but then I did my job and greeted Megan with all my heart.

My wip is a wittel swoyen now!

CUB, A RIDER WITHOUT A NAME (PERSON)

It was the normal wait. Gu sitting somewhat patiently looking down the drive and me reading a comic book. We see Megan's car and Gu can't control his excitement, wagging his tail and whining as only Gu can do.

He stays on my lap as she drove all the way down the drive and engaged the parking brake and he was off. Whack! Face plant onto the driveway. He stood up and tongue was going in and out while he looked stunned.

When he saw Megan he still tried to show all his excitement and within 2 minutes he was full Goobie dog excited.

We watched him and wouldn't let him sleep for a while, but the only thing we could see was a little blood on his chew toy, so that was taken away. For a little bit, a soft-food diet.

He seems fine today!

Podium girls, rainy days, smelly cars and oh yeah TOUR OF CALIFORNIA

HIGHLIGHTS (and LOWLIGHTS) SO FAR:

BEST things so far (as of THURSDAY of the Tour of California)

GU
1. SLEEPING IN THE SUN AND WARMTH.
2. Fancy dog treats and Cub dropping tri-tip.
3. Riding down the empty streets with the wind in my face.
4. Being kissed by the Podium Girls.
5. SMELLY CAR after the rainy days.



CUB
1. SUN AND WARMTH RETURNS (the cloud burst was cool though).
2. Seeing lots of people excited about bike racing.
3. Seeing lots of great riders race in America.
4. Talking to new and old faces alike(not age, but how long I've known them).
5. Riding my bike.

WORST things so far (as of THURSDAY of the Tour of California)

GU
1. COLD and when sitting still, the rain.
2. No 12 hour naps.
3. Not meeting LANCE or the other riders I like.
4. Getting woken up by a mean fan.
5. Not getting to ride as much as I want to.

CUB
1. COLD and the rain.
2. People being rude to each other.
3. Not getting to ride as much I want to.
4. SMELLY CAR after the rain.
5. DRIVING too much.