Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Recovery, Family, & Challenges

(Debbie, Ray, and Julie enjoying a day in the Columbia River Gorge.)

I have to apologize again for not writing more often. Life has just been really busy lately. The big news is that about a month after breaking my back the doctor has released me to resume life as usual. I should have no long term damage and the bones have healed way better than expected actually. Julie's parents came for a week long visit and we showed them all over Northern Oregon. They got to see a lot of Portland, the Oregon Coast, and many of the cool sites in the Columbia River Gorge. We all also got to sample some great food and drinks around Portland, as well as some not so good food. After Debbie and Ray headed back to MD Julie started Grad school. She is enjoying being back in school, but the work is quickly stacking up and keeping her really busy. She also started teaching a few windsurf classes in the Gorge on the weekends. I am now officially the watersports buyer for Next Adventure and business has been booming. Besides the crazy busy shop the big trade shows are coming up real soon. On the 4th Julie and I both took on the challenge of the Sauvie Island 1/2 and full marathon. We also went out paddling with the Next Adventure crew to see the fireworks from the water. Needless to say life is busy and good. July is going to keep us both extremely busy.
(Multnoma Falls, the big one in the gorge and right off the highway.)
(This is the old rest stop along the old gorge highway. This shot is looking East.)
(The Borsetti's love the animals, especially cute furry ones like these Alpaca.)
(Julie looking cute in one of the many vineyards that we visited along the "Fruit Loop" in and around Hood River.)
(Debbie and Ray enjoying some wine fresh from the barrel at the Wyeast Vineyard.)
(The Borsetti's enjoying the Hood River wine tour.)
(Julie took her parents for a day at the coast, while I was at work, and they explored Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock.)
(Ray enjoying the huge variety of good micro brew beers available in PDX. We both had a sampler this night at the Rogue brewery in the Pearl District while enjoying Kobe beef burgers with fresh Tillamook cheddar cheese.)
(We all got to spend a day exploring the Portland Zoo. It was quite a little expedition with a ton of walking.)
(Debbie loved the Lorikeet exhibit where you were able to feed the MANY birds in this large cage.)
(Julie liked the birds as well, and they liked her as well.)
(On July 4th Julie ran her first 1/2 Marathon on Sauvie Island just outside Portland. She did absolutely amazing, doing way better than expected.)
(Julie got this shot of me suffering to finish the Sauvie Island Marathon. I made it 23+ miles at a sub 9 min/mile pace, and then my legs gave up! Between the lack of training and the extremely hot temperatures my muscles just gave up. I did still finish at under 10 min/mile pace though!)
(On the evening of July 4th a big group of Next Adventure employees took out our demo fleet and paddled from Sellwood Riverfront Park into downtown to watch the fireworks. It was a great group of people, great weather, and just good times had by all!)
(Julie enjoying the evening paddle.)
(Our rest/snack break at the top of Ross Island just before dark. The city is a cool site from the river.)
(We all rafted up as close as we could get to the action. The boat traffic was intense and we where shore to have as many lights and glow sticks on us and our kayaks as possible.)
(Julie had fun taking some cool fireworks photos. They were launched from a barge right in front of us! The falling debris didn't feel so good in the eyes though:) )