This website and the pictures you are about to see will never give justice to how much fun this trip was. We had beautiful weather everyday. We had great hostesses -- Mike and Linda treated us like kings (thank you!). Nobody got hurt (always a plus!). And I have to say, the massaging couch of Mike's does wonders after a long day of riding bike (aaaahhhhhhh!).

Below is the list of Brian's firsts:

• First car ride over five hours.
• First time in Nebraska.
• First time above 7000 feet.
• First time on single track on a bike.
• First time on a bike for over 13 miles.
• First time white water rafting.
• First time at the top of a mountain.
• First time climbing a mountain on a bike.
• First ice cream........bar.
• First time seeing rocks bigger than a house.
• First time climbing over an hour mountain bike.
• First time seeing "The Matrix".
• First time drinking fat tire beer (he's a mountain biker now you know).
• First time at a Hooters restraunt.

Day 2 Rampart Info:
The following pictures are from a 14 mile ride around Rampart reservoir. Rick and Brian did very well. Some of the highlites of the ride were

• Brian crashing 25 feet into the single track trail and saying, "this is a lot different than Minnesota streets." Mike thinking it is going to be a long ride.
• Brian doing an endo but looking very good doing it.
• Brian and Rick's faces when looking at Pikes Peak over the lake. Very cool views.
• Brian, drooling on the longest hill climb.

Day 3 Rafting Info:
The following pictures are from our white-water rafting trip thru the Royal Gorge. Below are some highlights:

• Rick losing one of his contact lenses half-way thru the trip.
• Mike falling (getting pushed so he says) out of the raft and being the only "swimmer" of our group. The funniest part of it was the fact that noone even knew he fell in. In one of the pictures taken, you can clearly see Brian has his back turned to Mike (who's in the water) as if nothing is happening.
• Floating on a raft under the world's highest suspension bridge. Being 1000 feet above the river, everyone looked like ants crawling around on it. Cool!
• Brian losing a contact lense....or did he???? The post rafting party was held at Hooters restaurant (one of Brian's firsts). After sitting at Hooters for about 5 minutes, Rick starts complaining about losing his contact and not being able to see. Then Brian speaks up, "I think I lost my contact as well?!", as he holds a hand over one eye to see if things are blurry. At this time (3:00pm or so), Brian goes to the bathroom to confirm he's lost his contact. We then begin to enjoy our Hooters buffalo wings, beers and meals. After getting back to Mike's, we sit down to enjoy another beer and begin talking about our awesome trip down the Royal Gorge. At this time (8:00pm or so), Brian speaks up again, "I think I found my contact?!". As both Mike and Rick look at him in wonder, there's Brian sitting on the couch with a contact lense stuck to the end of his finger. Needless to say, Mike and Rick began laughing hysterically. All Brian could say is, "I thought I felt something in my eye". Make sure you ask Brian where his contact is next time you see him.

Day 5 Limbaugh Info:
The last ride of the vacation. The ride is through Limbaugh Canyon. Some highlites of the ride were...

• The five mile hill climb to the trail head. Rick did awesome and overshot the trail head by two miles, which Mike than sprinted to find him.
• Brian and Rick making it to the top and not complaining. A 1+ hour climb is a good endurance tester and both Rick and Brian passed.
• Rick crashing in the water. See photos.
• Brian crashing and scarring the hell out of Mike. This was the only crash that could have really hurt something. Brian was ok though.