Heather is pregnant with our 5th child.  “Number 5″ as I have taken to call him/her is due October 18, 2009.  

Number 5

Heather had an ultrasound this morning and I am happy to tell you that it does seem to be a human baby and it has 2 arms, 2 legs, a head, and other parts that we would expect.  We did not see the part that most people are concerned about with this type of test.  They say we will get that information at the next ultrasound in 6 weeks.

D.J.  wants a little brother and has told us that he will not be happy if it comes out a girl.  We told him we would do what we can about that, but we will get what we get and we won’t have a fit. 

Ashley, Alyssa, and Arianna all want a little sister.  I think their American Girl dolls are a little to static and they want a real baby go poo-poo. 

All of the kids are very excited and have volunteered to share a room with Number 5.  Heather is REALLY excited.  I am happy, mostly because Heather is REALLY excited and the kids are so positive about this new addition.  I am sure when the time comes and this little guy is with us I will be just as excited and happy as everyone.

Heather and I are both undecided on any gender preference.  I think we both just hope for a happy healthy baby.  A low-maintenance baby would be great!  So long as it has a gender we will be satisfied. 

Here is a short clip of the ultrasound with more proof that Heather does indeed have a human living inside her and not some grotesque belly popper from a 1986 science fiction movie.

Rode Friday April 10, 2009 at Government Canyon State Natural Area near Helotes, Texas.   Rode 4.95 miles then popped my rear tube, then walked 1 mile back to my car.

My overall impression of the park is mixed, I have never ridden through so much rock, the constant barrage of sharp rocks and a slow leak did my back tube in.    Riding up-hill through the rocks is tough, not much fun at all.  Bashing down hill through the rocks was fun, but caused me to lay sweetness down for the first time since starting to ride again.  I have a strong instinct towards saving myself over my bike, so I escaped unscathed.

I will go back to Government Canyon because  there is lots of beautiful country to see and I am a gluton for punishment.  Plus 3 days removed from the ride, it doesn’t seem so bad.  I just don’t enjoy riding in so much rock.  Living in the Texas Hill Country that is pretty much going to be a common problem.  The only other trails I have ridden in Texas are at McAllister Park in San Antonio, they have a number of rocky sections, but there is a lot of smoother dirt single track.

One of the smoother section of trail at Government Canyon

I started the ride heading north on Joe Johnston Route.  This trail is rocky double-track with a steady gentle ascent.  It was a good trail for warming up the legs.  About 0.8 miles up I turned right onto Wildcat Canyon.  I was ready for some single track and some good climbs.  The first .2 miles of this trail was excellent, some fast smoother trails and a few woop-de-dos in the middle of one nice dip in the trail.   Then the trail gets very rocky and the ascent becomes more intense with some 1-2 ft rock steps.  If you pick the right line most intermediate riders could handle this trail.   I was able to ride up more then 80% of the trail, then my age and general bad shape caught up to me and I had to walk my bike over some of the steeper sections.

Wildcat Canyon Trail

About 1.2 miles on this trail and I noticed my back tire was getting very low.  I left my pump in a friends backpack so I was very concerned about making it back to my car.  I decided to walk my bike the rest of the way up to avoid all the pressure on the tire caused by climbing.  I figured I could ride it back down.  I hit a fork in the trail and decided to take Sendero Balcones back to the parking area.

Sendero Balcones Trail

I figured I had climed so much that it would have to be mostly down-hill.  I was having too much fun riding down many long sections of rock steps then I popped the rear tube completely.  I made it 4.95 miles before the blowout, then I had to walk 1 mile back to my car.

GPS Track of ride at Government Canyon State Nature Area

Arggggh