High in a towering saguaro near Mesa and Apache Junction, a small woodpecker peeked from its hollowed nest to survey the desert before swiftly vanishing back into the shadows. . Of course, I couldn't visit Mesa without hitting the trails. Before the swim meet humidity took over my day, I headed out to Usery Mountain Regional Park for a 4.5 mile run . Coming from the higher elevations of Castle Rock, I thought I’d be ready for the challenge, but the Sonoran Desert is its own beast. The terrain at Usery is beautiful sweeping views of the Goldfield Mountains and trails lined with those architectural Saguaros, even though I was terrified of seeing a rattlesnake. We kicked off the trip with a visit to Saguaro Lake, spending the day at Butcher Jones Beach. Nestled in the desert, it truly felt like an oasis, surrounded by towering saguaro cacti and rugged canyon walls. To cool down, we made a stop at Boba Shack near our hotel, which quickly became a favorite. Betw...
What an incredible week in Boise! Between the intense competition, personal milestones, and some much-needed team bonding, it’s safe to say this trip will go down in the books as a massive success. I am so incredibly proud of Carly. She had an absolute standout meet, proving that all her hard work is paying off in a big way. Among her highlights: • Helping set a new team record in the 400 relay. • Securing a hard-earned time cut in the 200 free. • Helping the ROCK relay team bring the heat to earn 3rd place in the 800 relay, edging out 4th place by a nail-biting .07 seconds! Best of all, Carly is officially heading home with a medal! It wasn't just a big week for the swimmers; it was a huge milestone for me, too. I had my very first experience officiating at the elite level! Getting to work the deck alongside so many fantastic Colorado officials was an absolute honor and an experience I won't soon forget. We didn't spend the entire week smelling like chlorine. We managed...
Athens, Greece – First Impressions (June 23, 2026) After a long day of traveling, we finally landed in Athens at 5:40 p.m. on June 23, 2026. Our driver picked us up from the airport, and by 7:30 p.m. we had arrived at our hotel. The drive through Athens was an adventure all by itself. The streets were incredibly narrow, and I honestly couldn’t believe that cars could fit through some of them. Our driver spent much of the ride complaining about the traffic, but somehow he navigated the maze of tiny streets like a pro. When we arrived, our hotel was unlike anything I expected. It was a tall, skinny building tucked into the city. The staff was incredibly friendly and immediately gave us tips on staying hydrated and taking care of ourselves in the intense Greek heat. Since we were eager to enjoy Greece, I wanted to get to the beach as quickly as possible. We headed straight to Freattida Beach , enjoying the walk through the neighborhood. Along the way we stumbled across a book fair, spo...
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