As Day 3 began, the three of us were heading back toward the car from our incomplete attempt to get to the random spot on Day 2.  Up and over the hills again...

Marilyn: The sun was setting and it was time to head back to the condo.

After a hill or two, we finally got to the point where we could see the truck.

Marilyn: The SUV looked pretty far away as you can see but I was really glad that it was within our eyesight again.

Around this time, Marilyn felt a need to go searching around inside Chad's pack looking for something.  Probably a drink.

Marilyn: I was pretty thirty at this point and needed to quench my thirst. Thanks Chad for stopping to let me grab a drink.

Chad: I aim to please.

And of course, looking around things were still spectacular...

Marilyn: Yes, the views and scenery were beautiful.

And I had time to snap a quick self-portrait of myself in Chad's sunglasses...

Marilyn: Here Sam goes again with his Alfred Hitchcock. Very clever Sam!

And just a few more shots...

Marilyn: I look cool in this picture with the hiking stick...as if I do this every day. :-)

Then moments later we were back in the SUV, heading "home" toward Ketchum, and got to see all the good views again from the other direction.

Marilyn: Look at Sam above being silly!

And we wondered what the story on this little house was.

Marilyn: The house looks abandoned to me.

And Marilyn was REALLY insistant that we needed to get a picture of a cattle guard sign.  So she saw one and yelled and I *slammed * on the breaks and skidded to a halt. 

Chad was not pleased.

Marilyn: It was a good thing that I was wearing my seat belt because Sam really slammed on the brakes but at least I got a good picture of the Cattle Guard sign. I don't get to see that very often especially when you live in a city.

Chad: You are a jackass.

And more views...

Marilyn: Yes, lots of views.

Now, on the picture above you can barely see the road we were on twisting around the corner.  Below is a closer view.

Marilyn: It was a scary road without a guard rails and falling rocks coming down from the mountain and onto the road. One bad move and we would fall off the mountain to our deaths. We are all very quiet while driving on this twisty mountain road. Thank goodness that Sam did a good job concentrating because we made off the mountain safely and soundly...good driving Sam.

Even that does not do it justice.  It was a narrow dirt road, twisting and turning with a steep cliff on the right at all times and often no visibility of oncoming cars.  We had passed this going the other direction, but it wasn't as bad when your car was on the non-cliff side of the road. 

But going this way, I slowed to 10 to 15 miles per hour most of the time.  Sometimes 20.  But not faster.  It was a scary road.  It was slippery gravel that I skidded a little on even at those speeds.  There was a big CLIFF!

It was like this for probably only a mile or two, but it felt like FOREVER!

We didn't get all too many pictures of it, because everybody was too busy hanging on for dear life.

But soon we were past the scary road, and we had a straight shot back to Ketchum.  It was dark though, so no more scenery pictures.

Marilyn: The crazy part of driving on this road is that other cars decided to pass you if you were going to slow. That is just so insane. I would never want to drive on this road in the winter. Hopefully, it is closed altogether.

Chad: I think we were all in agreement that it was a relief to get to the bottom of the hill.

After getting back to Ketchum, we wandered around a bit looking for someplace to eat, and decided on a pizza place.  We were pretty tired and wiped out.

Marilyn: Chad and I look like crap in this picture. Chad looks like he is on drugs while I look like I haven't combed my hair in days. After an afternoon hiking, I prefer not to have any pictures to remind me that I look aweful. Thanks Sam.

We had our pizza, which was good, then we headed home.

Marilyn: The pizza was really good and we definitely worked up an appetite.

As soon as we got home, it was hot tub time.  This time Marilyn had a suit and was able to join us.

Chad: Should have just skinnydipped, we would have made it to the random point if it weren't for that bikini!

After we were all overheated, we went in and just watched TV for awhile.  I think Marilyn and Chad picked some stupid dating show or another.  ZZZzzz...  Whatever.

Then Marilyn wanted a massage.  I volunteered and started at it.  She kept saying she wanted it harder and harder, and to use my elbows on her back.  So I pounded my elbows into her back.  She kept asking for more, so I kept at it awhile. 

I'm not sure that was really a good idea.  Oh well!

Oh, and of course I got a return massage too.  Required ya know.

Marilyn: Thanks for the massage Sam. It wasn't your fault that my back hurt for 3 days afterwards. I was the one that told you to press harder. It felt good at the time. I have learned my lesson to go easier next time. :-)

Chad: Wanted it harder.  That's what she said.

It was time for my second night on the couch.  As Marilyn and Chad headed to bed I realized two things.

One: I had neglected to mention anything about switching beds with anybody at any point.

Two:  I once again had forgotten to get any sheets, pillows or blankets.

Damn! 

I contemplated just going down to Marilyn and pushing her to the side of her large king side bed.  She had plenty of room.

But then I suddenly had a revelation...

I had brought a sleeping bag!!!!

I pulled the sleeping bag out, set it up on the couch along with the little neck pillow I had brough.

Much better.

I went to sleep.  It was head and shoulders above the previous night.  Still not great, but much much better.

Marilyn: Nite! Nite! Sam at least you found your sleeping bad and stayed warm that night...much better than the night before.

Chad: You are a dumbass!

Waking up was a very slow thing.  We got up and just slowly hung around the house and got ready for hours and hours.  It was a sleepy morning.

Marilyn: As you can see, Sam played on the computer for a while. He was probably working on the website log of the trip or catching up on his 1000 emails in his inbox.

Marilyn was once again getting all agitated about how we should be hurrying up and out and start doing things instead of just sitting around the house.  We were wasting time!!!

But Marilyn still put this football helmet cookie dish on her head.

Marilyn: Yes, I wanted to get going and see stuff but we were always running behind schedule. Don't I look so silly with this football helmut on my head. I found it on top of the cabinet in the kitchen cabinet.

Chad: What is that on your shirt?

When we finally got out of the house, we headed into town for some quick food. 

Marilyn saw a dog that had the same hairstyle she did, and posed with it.

Marilyn: I guess birds of a feather flock together. :-)

When crossing streets we noticed that a few of the streets had these flag things.  Instead of a flashing walk sign or whatever, you were supposed to grab a flag while you crossed, waving it at the cars to make them not hit you.

We found this very amusing.

Marilyn: Chad and I both had fun with the flags. I had never seen crossing street flags before. This was pretty cool!

Shortly thereafter, we headed to one of the places in town that rented bikes.  Yes, this was the plan for the day.  Rent some bikes and bike around a bit.  Woo!

Marilyn: This is the first time that I was on a bike in something like 3 years. I had never ridden a mountain bike before. This was going to be a lot of fun.

Well, to be precise, Marilyn and I were riding bikes.  Chad did not want to ride a bike.  He was going to run along side us.  Chad always wants to be different.

In any case, we got underway.  It was soon apperant there was an issue.

Marilyn had no idea how to use the gears on the bike or shift.

So we stopped and spent sime time going over that.

Marilyn: Yes, Chad dares to be different. I definitely needed a lesson on how to shift gears. Thanks for your instruction Sam.

After the lesson, a quick ride back to the truck.

Marilyn: I like this picture! Nice shot Chad!

Chad: Thanx

We put the bikes in the trunk, then drove a couple of miles away to a place we had seen the bike trail going by.  We parked, and then Chad saw snow on the ground!

Marilyn: How weird! Snow at the beginning of September. It couldn't be.

Chad is like "Wow, that is some tenatious snow!  It is still here and it is in the 80's!!"

I said I thought I was pretty sure that wasn't the case, and perhaps it came from somewhere else.

Chad insisted that it had to have just been real snow that was left over from winter.

OK Chad.

Marilyn: Well, the snow was from the ice skating rink that was right next to here we were standing. That explains it now!

Chad: Yeah, what was I thinking??

So we got under way...

Marilyn: Chad looks mean in that picture above. Is he mad at us? I hope not.

Chad: I'm a very angry man.

Our first destination was the Ernest Hemingway Memorial, a little way outside of town.  Apperantly on or near his "favorite spot".  Once there, we of course took a few pictures. 

For the most part, we looked like dorks.

Marilyn: The trail was very scenic and loads of fun. I wish this trail was in Pittsburgh. It is much nicer than the Jail trail that I roller blade on.

Oh yeah, and there was the actual Ernest Hemingway Memorial...

Marilyn: My favorite picture of all three of us is above. I want to have this picture framed.

Chad: That one did turn out pretty nice, didn't it?

We spent a few more minutes around the Hemingway memorial. 

Marilyn: The Ernest Hemmingway Memorial was a very peaceful place and a nice excuse to stop and take a break from biking.

Marilyn: Chad loves Powerbars. Sam and I both think that they taste aweful. They are all yours Chad.

Chad: They are delicious!

Marilyn: Nice butt Sam! I just had to take that picture...ha! ha!

Chad had already run ahead, so now it was time for Marilyn and I to get back on our bikes and catch up and then the three of us would go a bit further.

Marilyn: More biking...this was a fun afternoon.

Then we approached the end of the bike path in this direction...

Marilyn: Darn! Too bad the trail had to end.

So, was that last picture of Marilyn at the end a good one?  It better be....

See, As I took those last two pictures (and a few more in between on rapid picture mode) I was riding my bike toward Marilyn, planning to wizz by her on my bike snapping pictures the whole way.  My left hand was on the left handlebar, my right hand was holding the camera and snapping away.

As I started to rapidly approach Marilyn, I realized that I was sort of aimed at the trash can.  Also, the end of the pavement and transition to grass looked a lot rougher than I expected from further away.  Now, I could probably easily have just corrected course and whoosed by her as I had planned.  But I did not.  I decided instead to slow down.

Of course, only my left hand was on the handle bars since my right hand was holding the camera.  The left brake is attached to the FRONT wheel.  The front wheel stopped almost immediately.  The back wheel did not.

Yes, indeed, while Marilyn and Chad may be able to describe it better since they saw it from the outside, the bike completely somersaulted on me, I flew into the air and in a fraction of a second stuck my left arm out to catch myself and tried to protect the camera with my right hand.  I smashed into the ground and the bike landed on top of me.

It hurt.

Marilyn came running to help.  Chad continued his walk from wherever he was in the distance. 

I was fine.  A little bumped up.  My arm and legs were really sore.  I limped for a bit.  My knee was really skinned up.  But I was OK.  It could have been a lot worse.

And I checked the camera right away.  It was still working.  Whew!!

Anyway, while I sat around nursing my wounds and recovering for a few minutes, Chad got there and took one of the bikes, and started running around in circles and trying to hop into the air.

Marilyn: Nice going Sam. Too bad my back was facing you & I didn't get an action picture. I missed your flip and crash but I am glad that you are ok. No hospital trips...thank goodness. See, that is why you wear a helmut.

Chad: I don't think I saw you bite it, unfortunately.

Marilyn: I took this action shot of Chad in the air with his bike. Cool ah? Chad was having a good time showing off. :-)

Chad: The technical term for this trick is bunny hop.  Just so you know.

And OK.  One of those pictures above does show Chad getting some air.  But Chad was very instant about wanting to to it over and over to make SURE we got a picture that clearly showed him in the air...  way in the air.

The picture that showed this best was one of a couple hundred super high speed but very low res and high compression pics I took in rapid mode.  It is not a very good picture.  The resolution is aweful.  But it shows Chad at his highest, so I know Chad would want it here.

Marilyn: Sam is hanging out and taking a break to catch some action shots of Chad so I figured that I would catch a non-action shot of him.

Chad: Thanks Sam, appreciate it.  I got some big air on that one!  

Chad having done his stunt, we headed back toward town. I let Chad continue to have the bike for a bit. I prefered to walk for a little while anyway. Eventually we switched back again though and I walked while Chad ran. And for awhile Marilyn took a turn walking too. At this point it would have been nice to have three bikes. but we didn't. So one of us was always walking, but we switched off occationally.

Marilyn: See, I was being nice and lent my bike to Chad. I agree with Sam that it would have been better if all three of us had bikes but we made do. Besides, i enjoy walking too.

Marilyn: See no hands! I feel like a kid again. I haven't done this in years.

As we approached the edge of town, Marilyn spotted some horses and of course HAD to pose with them.

Marilyn: I like this picture of me and the horses. We are all looking in the same direction and and I didn't plan that...really?

Marilyn also took some pictures of, um... close up pictures of, um... well, certain parts of the nice male horses there behind her. With a bit more detail than the bull on Day One. But really kids, do we need that? This here is a family vacation report! So I'll just leave that picture out I think...

Around this time Chad determined that it was VITAL that we take a picture of this object on the hills above the town, which Chad thought looked like a gallows.

Marilyn: I agree that it was a good thing that Sam did not put up that picture of the horse. It was quite distasteful. Next time I will pass on taking a picture like that.

Chad: Dammit Sam, you are a f***ing p**sy!  That was one of the best pictures we took!

But I had a more important goal in mind. I'd been trying to get them to leave the horses for several minutes. Right up ahead on tyhe right was a field with several large statues of bulls! The symbol of the glorious "Major Financial Company" that I work for!

Marilyn: Sam warned me that I was not allowed to climb on the animal statues since they were artwork but I did anyways. :-)

Inspired by the bull I guess, Marilyn leaped on top of me!

Marilyn: ha! ha! Sam. Cute picture...I like this one.

Having finished posing with the various types of livestock, we headed in the last little bit into town... and Day 3 was over.

Marilyn: Day 3 was a great day. The weather was not too hot or cold. It was sunny and just the right temperature for biking. I enjoyed hanging out with Chad and Sam. It was a lot of fun. Now I want to buy a mountain bike when I go home. It is a great way to get in shape. Too bad Day 3 is over but what a fun day it was.