Date: 2008-06-28 16:55 Subject: June 2008 update Security: Public Location: home Mood: chipper Music: none Tags: art, auburn, hiking, photography, trail

Rachel is 6 1/2 months pregnant now and everything is still going great with the pregnancy.

I've taken up hiking and have been trying to get out on the trails at least 3 or 4 times per week. Today I hiked the Stagecoach Trail from Russell Road down to the American River Confluence. According to my hiking guide book, it's 2 miles each way. The direction I traveled was all downhill for the first half and, oh boy, was it ever a killer coming back out. Whew! On Father's Day Weekend, Parker (my 8 year old daughter) and I hiked 6 miles along the Western States Trail. It was a great workout.

I've also really gotten back into photography and my art. I recently completed an 18x24 pencil sketch of a lighthouse for a friend's birthday. My photos are here: www.flickr.com/photos/donchaddock

I was supposed to be on the Western States Trail this weekend to help film and photograph the 100-Mile Endurance Run, but because of two fires burning near the course and the thick smoke blanketing the area, the run was called off for the first time in its 35 year history.