Jay Richards

Wow, what a great run of skiing for October. I didn't think we would get four days out of it. Couple days even got out twice. Trudged out to Suicide Hill this morning with the no wax rentals and did some hill repeats. After about 5 times, you get used to it and it all blends together but it is so nice out and with the sun shining, is about as good as it gets. Probably the highlight was skiing with Jonell yesterday. Jonell even did the up and down thing about 7 times and watched me go up and down a bunch of times after that.

But the coolest thing were the hundreds if not 1000's of ducks on Bullhead lake. Haven't really seen anything like that in MN. Canada, yes. But holy moly were there ducks out there. Also a bunch of trumpeter swans and I really couldn't go out there and duck hunt with the swans there. Just wouldn't be right. Plus, the thing I like about most when duck hunting is just watching the birds set their wings, whistle through the air and drop in like crazy. If you have duck hunted, you know what I am talking about.





Jonell watching the ducks fly over Suicide Hill. Might have to click on the photo to see the dark spots. Awesome.



When were were coming back, found this gut pile. Appeared to be a rabbit and probably killed by a fox. Ate everything except the guts. Gross. Jens saw this picture and said "Cool Dad, I could look at this all day" What a nut.
Skiing up Suicide this morning.
Laced up the skates for the first time this year and made it to old timers hockey tonight. After watching so much hockey last weekend with Jon's tryout scrimmages and even caught some other games, I was itching to get on ice. Felt good, didn't pull my groin and hope to get my legs back and make it as many times as I can. My dad got a pair of Mission skates from one of his contacts with the Wild organization and just a tad big for me. But I put in the Aline insoles I picked up at MT Snow during USAC MTB NATS and put them in the skates and they are money. The steel on those skates are amazing. Nothing like I have ever skated on the past. I have been using the soles in every shoe. I used to get sore hips and knees but having the same sole for everything makes sense and makes a difference. They are hard to get in and out of the skate ski boots (not pictured) so I ordered two new pair today and the rep said they are lighter and better. (of course) but that was one draw back, they were a bit heavy so looking forward to seeing if the new ones are really lighter. At MT Snow they used this laser to check alignment and things looked pretty good but the right sole they added two small spacers on the left side rear.