wtf bmw?

Of course I managed to total my F650GS the year after BMW stops making it. WTF are they thinking? The F800GS will be out sometime in the fall (rumor is Nov not the advertised Sep release date), but even with the lowered chassis model it's 6cm taller than the 650. I'm above average in height for women, and I like having my feet flat on the ground for riding off-road. That pretty much rules out the 800. Given the short supply of F650s and high resale I know that it's a popular bike, so why would BMW knock out most of the female/smaller male enduro market? Too bad I can't let go of that stylish German design.

dengue

Just discovered this amazing LA-based indie band, Dengue Fever.
Backed by 60s inspired psychadelic rock, chanteuse extraordinaire, Chhom Nimol, sings Cambodian and English lyrics in classic Asian pop style. Catch them live if you can or check out their recent interview on Fresh Air.

t minus 10 weeks

It's official. I handed in my letter of resignation today at work citing the need "to pursue personal goals outside of the corporate world" (i.e. beef up my climbing/travel resume). Unfortunately, I still have 10 weeks until the amount I have to pay back on my relocation package drops by 25%. April 30th can't come soon enough.

camino cielo

On 3 Feb I headed up to Santa Barbara with my friends, Dave & Adam, to climb @ El Camino Cielo (aka Gibraltar Rock). So it wasn't exactly Red Rocks sandstone, but the views from the climbs were spectacular. Dave, our sport rope gun, led Gibbon (10b), on sandstone that was a bit crumbly given our recent spell of prolonged wet weather. More photos here.

the inevitable

Well, as I've said before, it will happen sooner or later. I was hit from behind this morning on 101 on the way to work. The SUV in front of me stopped abruptly and I headed left to split the lane to avoid getting hit from behind, but still got clipped by the van in back of me. It took a fair amount of swearing to get the van driver to back up so I could unpin my bike and my leg. The van driver & passengers stood around and watched while another motorcyclist helped lift the bike off my leg. Thank you, whoever you are.

Fortunately, I landed on my left hip (not the one that just underwent $35K worth of surgery), and I walked away covered in oil, but virtually unscathed (as far as I can tell in my adrenaline altered/slightly concussive state) save some bumps and bruises. I have my side case mount to thank for saving my leg. The mount lifted the bike an extra few inches of the ground. Casualties include one oil-soaked down jacket, 1 oil reservoir, 1 top case mount, 1 side case mount, 1 fender, 1 set of handlebars, 2 turn signals, and 1 fairing. Still surveying the damage to my oil-soaked riding gear and helmet.

Will this detour me from getting back on my bike in the near future? Right...

what's the plan? : 2008 preview

2008 should prove to be an interesting year, as I ditch corporate life to pursue my climbing/travel interests full-time. Here's what's on the agenda:

• April
  
  • Quit job
• May
  
  • Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos
  • Relo to Bishop
• June - September
• Climb in the E Sierra, highlights include:
  
  • E Arete on Bear Creek Spire
  • Matthes Crest traverse
  • Venusian Blind on Temple Crag
  • secret recon missions
• UT/CO enduro trip to climb:
  
• W Slabs on Mt Olympus
• Crestone traverse
• Little Bear - Blanca traverse
• Full list of climbs here
• October - ?
• Enfield tour/travel through S Asia (Kolkota, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Varanasi, Bangladesh)
  
  

why i live in l.a.

Being able to both climb outside in 60-70F weather in the middle of January and walk to amazing Thai restaurants remind me why I brave the traffic, smog, and scarcity of parking. My friends Dave and Naomi have been particularly accommodating in feeding my climbing habit.