Goodbye Cub Scouts...(sigh)

Wow! I was released from my Cub Scout calling last Sunday. I started to think back over all of my time in Cubs, and I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. I was called into scouts as a Webelos leader when Jordan was 10. Now he's 15. When Kallai came into Cubs I was still there. Now he's moved on to Boy Scouts, and I guess it's time for me to move on too. Almost 5 years of den and pack meetings, crazy costumes, funny cheers, etc. I have had such a great time. I've done so many callings in cubs: Webelos Leader (officially and unofficially), Committee Chair, Cubmaster (unofficially), Roundtable Instructor, and District Trainer. I helped build the 15th ward pack from the ground up. We started with just 3 leaders! I've had so much fun with the boys. Some of my favorite experiences were building catapults, the Science Magic pack meeting, the Knight pack meeting, and how about that indoor marshmallow gun fight? (Who knew marshmallows would stick so well to the floor?) I really enjoyed hiking up the canyon with Bro. Gallagher as our guide, learning what plants were edible, and how to run like an Indian. I worked with so many wonderful people over the years, from Shiloh Ceislak (my first webelos co-den leader) to Anna Carter (my last Webelos co-den leader) and everyone in between. I enjoyed working with Shanon, Sophie, Matt, Kevin, Lucy, Arlene, Mindy, Oralynn, DeeDee, Linda, the Rowleys and so many others. Without all of you I wouldn't have had nearly as much fun. I have learned so much, and I hope I influenced the lives of the boys I worked with in a positive way. Cub Scouts is such a great program. I will truly miss it in my life.

Moab Bike Trip

David and I have really gotten into biking over the last few months. Last weekend we went to Moab, Utah with some friends to participate in the Moab Century Ride. (Century = 100 miles)

Ok, truth be told, none of us actually rode a full century. David and I, along with our friend Anna, did the "rolling" 75 mile ride, a beautiful trip along the Colorado River. Rolling means there weren't any major elevation changes, but it was plenty challenging. There were some decent sized hills. As we started out, the first 15 miles were down hill. Since the ride was an out and back trip on the same road, I was a little worried about the fact that the last 15 miles would be uphill the whole way. It wasn't easy, but we just kept going, and we made it!

Anna's husband, Byron, did the "climbing" 65 mile ride that included "The Big Nasty", (a 3000 foot elevation gain in 7 miles). Go Byron!

We had a great time! There was a bit of excitement when around mile 60, a huge wind gust hit us unexpectedly. David was almost blown over, but he caught himself on the road's guardrail. Anna wasn't so lucky. The wind blew her off the road, causing her front brakes to seize up, and her front tire to blow. She was pretty upset at first, but we were all laughing by the time we got her tube changed (much later) because of all the funny mistakes we made trying to accomplish the task.

By the end of the ride we were tired and sore, but proud of what we had accomplished. David and I have decided that the Moab Century Ride will be an annual event for us.

And who knows... maybe next year we'll all conquer "The Big Nasty"!