Mackenzie and I went out today to enjoy the snow. The last flakes came down last night around midnight so it was great to be able to see where we were driving.

We ended up taking a hike in McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area, near the Potomac Rover.

On the way out we saw this, stuck:

All pictures are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestevensons/sets/72157623032797908/

Videos are here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A3B8981902B5154E

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The biggest snowstorm since we moved to Washington, DC hit this weekend, with Beth getting back from college just in time to go out and play.

We spent all day riding the backroads in the truck, occasionally getting out to enjoy the snow.

All pictures are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestevensons/sets/72157623032797908/

Videos are here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A3B8981902B5154E

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The girls and I wandered down to Delaware for our Thanksgiving vacation and had a great time with my brother's family. It's always fun down there.

We rode the 4 wheeler, ate turkey, went shopping and shot some guns.

Beth and Mackenzie even drove a (little) motorcycle. Here's a shot of Beth's first time driving on her own:

I did tell her that she was supposed to sit on the seat instead of dragging herself along behind it but you know how kids like to do things their own way...

Here's a video of Mackenzie's first time shooting a 12 gauge shotgun:

Lots of fun.

All Thanksgiving 2009 photos are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestevensons/sets/72157622882798930/

All Thanksgiving 2009 videos are here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=51475CE70A02BD31

For her roomies at U of Md. She said they were practicing for when it "really counts".



We're going down to Chip and Tina Stevenson's next week for their Thanksgiving dinner.

Just got back from riding the Pine Barrens 300, a motorcycle Adventure Ride in the wilds of Southern New Jersey. The ride is 300 miles of GPS-navigated off-road style riding over two days through woods, cranberry bogs, trails and sand. The event had well over 100 riders and the bikes ranged from small 250cc enduros to 1200cc BMW behemoths.

No camping this time as 300 off-road miles over two days is tiring and a king-sized bed is better than the hard ground.

All the pictures are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestevensons/sets/72157622558585052/

Here's some video from Day 2. This time I happened to be the rider in front of the guy with the camera so that's me you see barreling through the woods.

And a much better video:

My buddy for 15 years.

Had a chance to go to Delaware for my niece's birthday party this weekend. It was held in the Georgetown fire hall and the girls had a chance to pose with my father, a volunteer firefighter with over 40 years of experience running into burning buildings and pulling people from wrecked cars. My admiration for him is immeasurable.



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Went riding with a group of guys from D.A.M.N. Riders this past weekend and enjoyed the massive Pine Barrens area of NJ.

I know that it is hard to conceive, but about a third of the state of New Jersey is actually wilderness as evidenced by the map below:

Imagine a sandy area roughly the size of the entire DC metropolitan area covered with pine trees and bogs and that's the Jersey Pine Barrens.

Here's a couple of us taking a break, sucking sweet, nourishing water from our Camelbak packs.

Here's a video of the riding. It's not my video but one of the guys that rode with us giving you an idea of the fun we had.

Mackenzie and I went on our annual motorcycle trip recently. Deciding to head South after going West and North the last two years, we took Beth's advice and stuck to the high altitudes to counter the heat this time of year in the southern latitudes.

We headed down two of the best motorcycle touring roads in the East - Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway. During the week these roads are essentially devoid of the traffic that clogs them during the week. Mackenzie and I lolled along at the speed limit (imagine that) and enjoy the slow sweepers, putting both of us in a blissful, calm state. Even spotting a couple of black bears on Skyline did not take us out of our daze.

Mackenzie chilling at a rest stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway



In Boone, NC getting ready to ride



All pictures here


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Jeff Stevenson

Beth and Mackenzie ventured to Prague in the Czech Republic this summer. Mackenzie is back home but Beth stayed over there for a photography course.

Beth's Prague Blog

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