Coming Attractions

• Bill, Mark, Byronn, and I had dinner at Blackie's in North Smithfield, RI again to plan our summer's hiking trips.  We have two group trips planned, one in June to the Adirondacks, and one in August to the Whites in New Hampshire.  Everyone has their own side trips planned (Mark with his brother, Bill with his son, me with Brooke), so our dance card is going to be pretty full this summer.
• Hit Town & Country in Gorham, NH for our annual family trip to the great white north.  Dad and I did 80 smooth miles, while a few cousins shredded Sunday River's slopes.  A full report with pictures will be posted in the coming days.  On our way home, as we always do, we hit the L.L. Bean outlet store, but in Conway this time.  I came {{this close}} to buying their Microlight FS1 solo backpacking tent on sale for $129.  It would have cut close to four pounds off my total pack weight, but it just wasn't in the cards.  I totally regret it, though, so don't be shocked if I take a stroll north and pick one up before our trips this summer.
• So Bill, Mark, and I, along with Max, hit the REI garage sale at their Cranston store yesterday morning.  It was my first garage sale, and I was pretty impressed.  I scored an REI down vest for all of $30, but Bill walked out the hero that day.  Nothing like a brand new Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 tent and SteriPen water sterilizer to put a smile on his face.  With his tent he cuts weight in half, from over 6lbs. with his old EMS tent to 3lbs. 1oz. with the new Big Agnes.  Also, the threat of diarrhea is now greatly minimized with his purchase of the SteriPen.  I came close to pulling the trigger on a Black Diamond Spot headlamp, but with Princeton Tec's lifetime warranty, there's really no excuse to not get my Quad fixed.  
• Heading up to Rangeley, ME this weekend to do some serious riding with Dad and a few other guys.  The trail system up there is other-worldly, so plenty of pics and full report will be posted some time this spring.