June 16, 2015

We had an extended stay at the cabin last week thanks to my job change and a few days off work.  We arrived on Thursday evening and were able to stay until late Tuesday afternoon.  The weather was absolutely perfect during the trip with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s.  We had a few rain showers on Friday and Monday, but it was otherwise clear.

On Friday, Rick and I (mostly Rick) pressure-washed and sealed the front and back decks.  The back deck had been treated last year, but the front deck had been neglected for years.  JD, Jill, and Vince arrived later on Friday evening and we made our usual trip to the Western Bar (minus Vince who arrived too late, sorry!) for Friday night dinner and beers.

Rick, Vince and I mountain biked from the cabin on Saturday in the late morning and JD & Jill hiked in the forest near the cabin.  We later picked cherries at High Rolls and ate an early dinner at the pizza place on the ski resort.

We all 5 rode MTBs from Cloudcroft on Sunday and ended up with around 18 miles before heading to the new BBQ place for some excellent brisket.  JD, Jill and Vince headed back home, Rick worked more on the front deck and I went for a hike.

On Monday, Rick and I drove to Ruidoso for some pizza at Cafe Rio and some shopping.  We detoured back through Cloudcroft for some visiting and coconut cream pie at The Western Bar.  We cut some smaller, dead trees back at the cabin and cleaned up branches/stacked firewood.

Tuesday morning we had an appointment for a quote to remove the huge pine tree coming up through the back deck.  We'll have it removed sometime around the 4th of July.  We then did a MTB ride near the cabin and included some new trails until Rick's rear disk brake died during some screaming downhill areas and we had to climb back out and head home.  It was a very nice and relaxing vacation.

Entry to the National Forest from the back of our subdivision 

The deck prior to cleaning and staining.

The deck from the opposite end.

The pressure washing stage.

The front deck after 2 coats of stain/sealer

During the Saturday MTB ride

View from the top of the ladder in the cherry tree

Loaded cherry trees at the back of the orchard

Almost have my 4# bucket full

Rick during the Sunday MTB ride

On the single track on Sunday's ride

Vince at the top of Bailey Canyon Climb on Sunday

Jill on Sunday

JD & Jill coming out of the meadow near the end of Sunday's MTB ride

Minx and Toby spend a lot of time relaxing in the sun and watching hummingbirds

Tuesday MTB ride with Rick 

Rick on the Tuesday MTB ride with a large pinion pine tree in the background

Huge pine tree through back deck

Another view of the huge pine tree near house and thru back deck