Desperado Dual 107 Mile Bike Ride

Jenna and I after the race.

On Saturday, July 21, Jenna and I road the 107 mile bike race starting in Panguitch, Utah.  Jeff, Jenna and Nova will be moving to San Antonio, TX in 3 weeks, so Jenna and I decided to ride one last century together before that happened.   It was a perfect day for a ride.  It was cooler than normal and overcast. In fact during the last 8 miles it rained on us hard, but boy did it feel good.  Jenna had rode this ride before.  She set a goal to do the race in 6 hours.  That is 37 minutes faster than she did two years ago.  Jenna went out like lightening.  She was in great riding shape.  We worked together so well, drafting off of each other when one would get tired and needed a break.  Jenna and I ended up finishing in a total time of 5 hrs and 46 mins.  She ended up knocking almost an hour off her time.  I have rode this ride now 7 times, and my best time has been 5 hrs and 38 mins.   Congratulations Jenna for crushing your goal. 

Manti Aquatic Center Fun

On Friday, July 20, Julie and I took the kids to the Manti Aquatic Center.  It isn't a very big place.  It does have a water slide that was pretty fun.  The day started out with sun, however after a couple of hours, a thunder storm ended our day as the rain drove us away.  We had a great time while the weather lasted.  Wish Monroe would get something like this.  Enjoy some photos of our outing.

 

As the weather turned windy and cool, we huddled under our canopy

Probably not the smartest move by me, but it was fun to film.  Haha.

My Pulled Pork Craving!!

Last week I was craving a good pulled pork sandwich, so I acted on it on Saturday, July 14th.   It was a perfect day to smoke a pork shoulder because the temperature outside was cooler than a normal day in July.  I enlisted the help of my son Carson for the day.  It actually helped him pass of a cub scout requirement, so it was awesome.  We woke up at 6 am to start our preparations to satisfy my craving.  I have to give a shout out to my brother Shane for teaching me this skill. 

First we got our coal chunks nice and toasty!

We soaked our mesquite chunks and chips in water for at least 30 mins.

The coals are almost ready.

Here is our pork shoulder with the dry rub already applied.  It set in the fridge over night.  That was a good tip Shane, thanks.

Finally our little smoker reached temperature and it was time to place the pork shoulder on the grill.

We smoked it around 225 - 250 degrees, until the pork reached an internal temperature of 165.  However this is a loooooooooong process.  

This is our little secret.  Every 45 minutes, we spritzed the pork with homemade apple juice.  It added some great flavor and color.

The two cooks that day.

And we waited, and we waited.  It took almost six and a half hours to get the internal temperature to 165.  Then we wrapped the pork in aluminum foil and continued cooking it until the internal temperature reached 200 degrees.  Then it would be pull apart ready.

Finally after nearly 12 hours of slow cooking, the pork had reached its temperature.  Now we had to let it sit for another 20 mins.  What a painful process!  It smelled so good.

Meanwhile, we made some homemade coleslaw. While I was making the coleslaw my Brooke asked me what I was making.  I told her.  She looked at me in disgust and said, "Isn't that old people food?"

It was finally ready!!!!

The pork all shredded

Here is the final product that we slaved 12 hours for.  So good. MMMMMMMM.

Better than the sight and smell was the taste!!!!!

 Thanks Carson for helping me satisfy a craving!!

McGill Swimming Pool (Pond)

I went home to Ely, Nevada for my 20th Year Class Reunion.  I had a great time playing golf with my dad and seeing some old friends.  On July 3, I took my kids to my old stomping grounds. The McGill Swimming Pool was all we had when I grew up.  It is about 13 miles north of Ely.  It hadn't changed much since I was last there 20 years ago.  The kids had a blast that day.  Such a fun place to visit.

 

Here are the Thornock kids playing in the kiddy part.  Chloe is jumping off the Cat Walk.

 Brin is my dolphin.  Once she is in the water, she doesn't ever come out.  She never left the water the whole time we were there except to go down the slide of course.

 

Carson and Brin.

 

Carson went down the slide a bazillion times!  It was a fun slide.

 Cannon is my shy one when it comes to water.  Doesn't like to get his face wet yet. 

Brooke has so much of her mom in her.  She gets cold way easy.  Chloe just likes to follow her older sister.

 Cannon had a blast trying to catch guppies.   Yep there are guppies in the water.  They don't hurt, and if you swallow one, it is just protein.

 Brooke and Cannon playing tether ball (I think that is what it is called).

 My two princesses, laying out on the Cat Walk.

The third princess was looking for pretty rocks.

 

 Carson swimming.

We had a great afternoon.  Brought back some great childhood memories for me.