Challenge Nation - Baltimore

John and I recently did a Challenge Nation urban race in Baltimore.  It was our first race in that city, and it was something new in a couple ways.

The clue sheet was rather different, for one thing.  Many of the checkpoints were not actual locations, but scavenger-type challenges.  Hmm, not exactly our forte.  I guess we should work on that!

One of the "fixed location" clues was this giant ball that you can spin at Ripley's Believe it or Not - cool!

Hula hoops at the time capsule - also cool:

We found an old-style parking meter where you can drop in coins to help the homeless - an excellent concept:

Now for some tougher ones.  First was easy, as this very nice policeman was posing with any team that asked (with our lopsided "Charlie's Angels" stance):

We glommed onto a couple other teams taking a mock wedding picture (someone had a flower??) in front of the USS Constellation:

Teams were using the outdoor amphitheater at the waterfront as a "theater" to reenact a scene from an Oscar-winning film, in this case Titanic.  We traded photo-taking duties in exchange for our picture.  Someone was very creative in coming up with this pose (it wasn't us, you can be sure of that).

Now we needed our picture with an image of any president that is on Mount Rushmore.  I had this idea that the Washington Monument at the top of the hill would be perfect for it.  Heck, you could see it from all the way down at the bottom of the hill at the waterfront.

Well, theoretically it was perfect.  In practice, taking a picture from a distance of a grey statue on a grey day with grey clouds behind it, well, that doesn't work with a little camera.  At least we couldn't see it on the camera review screen (which is what matters at the finish line).  So we spent a few minutes running up a couple blocks, trying again, running, discussing, getting a little sidetracked with a separate question, running some more, finally agreeing that this photo better work because this is taking way too much time:

That's not completely what lost it for us, but it is #1 on the list...

OK, let's see what we can salvage.  We returned to the CVS on Light Street that we had visited pre-race and met the same really nice man working there who helped us find a postcard to mail.  Thank you sir!

And there were plenty of US mail boxes around:

Our crew came up with a barber pole - nice!  And it's so cute too:

John with his Texas drivers license:

Another photo with props (I'm a fan of props) - pretending to have a pirate fight with another team at the Shot Tower.

It wasn't a huge surprise that we didn't place top 5, but our fumbling and bumbling kept us out of the top 25 as well.  Congrats to all those teams that knocked these clues out so quickly!

We did accomplish a race in a new state for us, so that's something...
http://www.kipley.com/marcy/race_locations.html

And it was fun to explore Baltimore, especially along the waterfront.  Always neat to see new things.  Thank you to Challenge Nation for organizing an urban race here!

Visit to Polyface Farm

We recently had the incredible opportunity to visit Joel Salatin's Polyface Farms - huge thanks to Kathy for finding this place and figuring out that we could all visit on a weekend tour.  We are big fans of Joel and his family's ways of farming and also of their efforts to promote local food and change the way people treat animals.  Joel's book "Folks, this ain't normal" is full of thought-provoking ideas on possible changes everybody could make (and it is an excellent audio book that Joel himself reads).

Gathered with Bob, Kathy, and Kathy's Dad before our tour of the farm:

We were all excited to be there:

"Support your local lunatic farmer"

We met some rabbits who were interested in any blades of grass we felt like poking in their cages:

The least friendly animal on the farm must be this "Guard Goose"

Getting ready for a hay ride into the hills:

The man himself - Joel is an excellent speaker and super friendly too.

John and I followed the hay ride on foot.  Here is John wondering what I'm taking a picture of:

Everything was so very green:

Talking about the "pigness of pigs" at the half-acre where the pigs were currently rooting around (before being moved to stir up another part of the woods):

The field with the broiler chicken cages.  Previously the cows had been through here, then the Egg-Mobile (the egg-laying hens), now the broilers in staggered pens.

Talking about cycling animals through the field and how it produces rich grass and healthy animals:

Demonstrating how the cages are manually moved each day for fresh grass:

We were the first group to tour his neighbor's land.  Joel and his family are just starting management of it and are working to reduce erosion and improve the health of the grass.

The "Pigaerator" where the winter cow manure is combined with hay and corn and then turned into compost by the corn-happy pigs:

Heading back to the main house and barn:

Piglets are so cute!

Joel hung out and answered questions for as long as anyone wanted to stay and talk - we loved every minute of it.

Adoring fans  :)

That was certainly a recent highlight for us!

My Dad

My father lived a long and happy life as a Peace Corps volunteer, a teacher, a handyman and a carpenter, a Green Mountain Club volunteer, a dance instructor, and most of all as an educator.  In recent years he has braved some health issues head-on, fighting a disease called amyloidosis.  We had many fun get-togethers and trips to make the most of our time.  Things seemed stable until recently when it all took an abrupt downturn.  My Dad was so courageous all the way to the end.  He died peacefully with my also-so-brave Mom by his side.

He leaves a legacy of kindness and caring and helpfulness that I can only attempt to emulate.  We will always remember and love you, Dad.

A celebration of his life with us, everything he shared with many people, in no particular order (obviously not chronological)...

Taking us hiking and exploring:

A snowy winter at the house he built in northern Vermont:

With Mom at the airport:

Visiting the Cathedral of Junk in Austin:

Christmas day:

Clowning around and making funny (and "punny") jokes as usual:

Visiting the Beard Farm in Texas:

Staying active even in the snowy Vermont winters:

He loved to teach kids:

With his mother, Gramma Fiebig, probably getting ready for some pie:

He donated a kidney to his friend Lucy and I went to visit him at the hospital:

Dad and Lucy:

Visiting us in Austin:

A hiking trip:

Trying out a via ferrata course in Grenoble, France:

One of his woodworking trucks:

Dance lessons:

With Jay and Kip in Las Vegas:

At our wedding with Kip and Billi Jo:

My parents visited us in France and we had a great time showing them around:

Dad even agreed to go up for a ride in a small plane to see some amazing views of the Alps:

In Grenoble:

In the French Alps:

Mom and Dad loved to dance wherever there was music and a dance floor:

We were so happy to all meet up on the Big Island of Hawaii for some incredible sightseeing:

Earlier hiking days with Mom:

A family photo in South Dakota - love this one:

Dad made many signs for the Green Mountain Club, so it's great to "run into" Dad whenever we are out hiking on the Long Trail:

Dad doing some Long Trail hiking of his own (at the Canadian border):

Dad helped me, John, and Kip for several days while we ran stages of the Long Trail.  He was so patient in waiting for us at the end of the trail each day.

A rainy day with Jay:

A fun trip to Maine:

Dad taught me how to cross-country ski:

He also helped me (from a distance) build a doghouse for Grete:

Mom and Dad ready to go dancing:

With a tree that Kip and I planted in Austin in their honor:

On top of Mount Mansfield in Vermont:

With Kip at Mount Bonnell in Austin:

The family helping build a wheelchair ramp with the Texas Ramp Project:

Dad designed a bridge for the Green Mountain Club and helped them build it:

Back to earlier years on the trail:

Fond memories of our wedding at the top of Jay Peak:

Miss you lots, Daddy!