I'm starting to lose track of which round numbers we are on, in which series.  This weekend was the first warm, sunny weekend we have had for Western WA. racing.  Almost too hot.... and I forgot to wear sunscreen (paying for it today -- I look like spawning salmon).

It was a great Sunday for races.  Meli came out to witness her first race... she even brought Cecilia, our new summer intern.  Cheerleaders can make all the difference in the world!

The turnout wasn't so great this weekend... but the competition was still fierce... and for whatever reason, everybody was REALLY FAST this weekend.  I ran my normal Open AM, and 450+Unlimited classes.  Like usual, I wasn't a top contender in the 450 Unlimited class, but I made further progression in the Open AM -- Podium finishes in both heats.

We had our work cut-out for us.... mainly it was just Sam Roher and myself battling for 1st and 2nd place.  He was definitely faster on the dirt... and I was definitely faster on the tarmac.  I got the hole-shot in the first round, and he managed to get it in the final.  We were pretty much neck-n-neck the entire 2 heats, both of us pushing as hard as we could... and both of us having a great time.

Here is the write-up from track correspondent:

"In the Open Amateur final, Sam Roher and Milne swapped the lead back and forth several times, with Roher faster in the dirt section and Milne having better speed on the asphalt. Roher was finally able to hold the lead through the dirt section and hold on for the victory, with Milne second and Eric Montenegro third."

We had a bit of a photo finish for the final heat.... just 0.005 seconds separating our front tires across the line.  What a blast..! 

I haven't posted in a while... some weeks actually.  But, I have good reason:

I have been completely consumed in the final purchase process of my new home in Woodinville, WA.  (err... "property").

I stutter at the term "home", because in fact, the existing structure is not really livable - [abandoned] neglected, actually.  Its a cabin, an old 1950's modified A-Frame.... and its seen better days.  My project for the summer will be to get the A-Frame back into its prime.

About the Property:

5-acres of densely wooded, Northwest terrain.  At the SW corner of the property, Bear Creek crosses through, which is a well-known salmon spawning waterway.  The creek consumes about 1 acre of the property and the remaining 4-acres are elevated woods, gently sloping from 200ft above sea-level in the W of the property, to 230ft above sea-level on the E border.  Because of the creek, there are actually NO direct access roads to the property... in other words, it feels  a bit like an island.  The only access to the property is by crossing my private 50ft bridge.  My first order of business is to install automated spotlight turrets and hire a troll to live beneath the bridge. (kidding).

The A-Frame sits on an elevated ledge above the creek, perhaps 30ft from the water's edge.  It is - to say the least - a very charming setting.

I will be putting a bunch of photos up in the coming days and weeks - as we bash through walls and tear-out rotten floors (the photo above is not the house!).  For the moment, I will just leave you with a couple map aerials of the property, for perspective.  EDIT:  I have taken one of the photos out for security reasons.