FORT STEILACOOM DISC GOLF COURSE

My thirteenth disc golf disc—a Discraft Buzzz ESP mid-range disc. Opaque Creamsicle orange with white stamp, 178 grams.

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I guess I forgot Liz Lopez's advice in a matter of two days. I played a 78 (+24) on Fort Steilacoom DGC's northwest course.

Hole 1 - 4
Hole 2 - 4
Hole 3 - 6
Hole 4 - 5
Hole 5 - 4
Hole 6 - 3
Hole 7 - 4
Hole 8 - 5
Hole 9 - 3
Front nine - 38 (+11)

Hole 10 - 3
Hole 11 - 6
Hole 12 - 4
Hole 13 - 4
Hole 14 - 5
Hole 15 - 3
Hole 16 - 5
Hole 17 - 6
Hole 18 - 4
Back nine - 40 (+13)

Total - 78 (+24)

I played fair. My problem was that I kept letting the course and the obstacles get into my head. Once I was off-kilter it was difficult to get balanced again.

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Sunday was a beautiful day to be out playing disc golf, though. The wife, the child, and I headed out with our various discs and water bottles to hike about in the woods and throw plastic. The weather was perfect—sunny and in the low 70s.

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I got to test out my new Buzzz ESP. It is the heaviest weight that Discraft manufactures it in. I love my 164 gram Buzzz, so I wanted a heavier version for shorter control shots and for playing in stronger wind. The 178 gram Buzzz plays almost exactly the same as my 164. I only notice that it falls a few feet shorter than its sibling, but otherwise it is an excellent addition to my bag.

NELSON NATURE PARK

The child and I wandered around Nelson Nature Park in Edgewood, gazing at flowers and birds and clouds.

WHITE RIVER DISC GOLF COURSE

Putting on hole #10. (Photograph by The Child.)

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The child and I headed out to White River disc golf course for some disc golf this morning. The weather was perfect: sunny but not too warm (mid- to upper-60s). The course was sparsely populated this early in the day (all the younger folk were sleeping in).

I went out with advice from Liz Lopez of Team Discraft bouncing around in my head. To paraphrase her, bad shots are going to happen, so you need to move on and be happy to be playing. I decided that every shot was going to be a learning experience.

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It seemed to help. I played a 66 (+12) from the red tee pads.

Hole 1 - 4
Hole 2 - 5
Hole 3 - 3
Hole 4 - 3
Hole 5 - 4
Hole 6 - 4
Hole 7 - 4
Hole 8 - 4
Hole 9 - 3
Front nine - 34 (+7)

Hole 10 - 3
Hole 11 - 4
Hole 12 - 3
Hole 13 - 4
Hole 14 - 3
Hole 15 - 3
Hole 16 - 4
Hole 17 - 4
Hole 18 - 4
Back nine - 32 (+5)

Total - 66 (+12)

I played more confidently. I wasn't worried about hitting trees or sending a disc into the river. When I did hit a tree or send a shot into the brush, I thought about how I was going to get to the basket.

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So, thank you Liz Lopez for your advice. It helped me to play a better round today.

FATHER'S DAY GIFT

Left: top of box; right: bottom of box

The child (with the help of the wife) made me my gift this Father's Day. It is a recycled plastic container that has beer bottle labels glued to it. It was intended as a place to store all of my beer bottle caps. I save them and turn them into "business cards" for my blog. Some of the reused bottle caps are handed out to interested individuals, while others are left as a calling card in geocaches that we visit.

The child and the wife:

(1) saved, cleaned, and prepared a salad greens container;

(2) dug around through our brown glass recyclables garbage can;

(3) selected bottles of different brands and styles of beer;

(4) delicately removed the labels from the bottles;

(5) glued the labels to the container;

(6) wrapped up the box and gave it to me for Father's Day.

I put this awesome gift to immediate use. There will no longer be piles of bottle caps in the kitchen window. I promise.

KANER FLAT

Pictures and journal entry highlights from our trip to Kaner Flat Campground in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.


"6:00 a.m. The child and I are up. Newly reconstituted fire + ensconced near said fire in dad's sleeping bag = happy and questioning child."

"Where does the wood go?"

"If those are the ashes from the log, where do the ashes the pastors use [on Ash Wednesday] come from?"

"What does grandpa wear for pajamas?"

"7:30 a.m. Grandpa and the dogs join us. Coffee and hot chocolate are brewing." (The others will drag themselves out of bed over the next hour or so.)

"9:40 a.m. Father's Day. I receive a homemade butterfly card and a homemade beer label box from the child."


"11:50 a.m. Camp is down. Fire is extinguished. All wave goodbye."

KANER FLAT

Pictures and journal entry highlights from our trip to Kaner Flat Campground in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.


"6:10 a.m. My bladder is about to burst. I rekindle the fire, which takes little effort. Reading Bolaño."

"7:15 a.m. Since it appears no one else in camp will be up early, I walk to the river to warm up in the sunshine. (It will be another 1 and 1/2 hours before rays of sun begin to peek into our camp.)"

"7:30 a.m. Another trip to the river and sunshine as I walk to keep warm. I am wearing "all" of my clothes, since I expected it to be warmer and drier."

"7:45 a.m. Back in camp, reading Bolaño. I have nursed one log for heat for two hours."


"9:15 a.m. The first batch of eggs and bacon is on the table. We are responsible for breakfast this morning. Troy's Work Table = bacon master. The wife = the egg lady."


"11:00 a.m. Depart for Raven's Roost (14 miles away) in the reliable Honda Civic."

"11:50 a.m. Arrive at Raven's Roost after 4x4 adventure in a sedan!"






"Raven's Roost. Spectacular views! Lodgepole pines! Lichen! The inside of the car, due to its occupants, smells of campfire."


"1:25 Disc golf putting practice." (This is where the portable basket comes in handy.)

"2:30 p.m. Frisbee in a neighboring vacant campsite, because it had a good wide-open space."

"2:45 p.m. Butterfly party! Butterfly party!" (Code words for butterflies "getting it on" so the child wouldn't know what was really happening.)


"3:10 p.m. Walking to find geocache."

"3:55 p.m. Little Naches Meadow cache found by the brother-in-law."


"4:00 p.m. Lake. Plover 'pip pip pip pip pip pip pips' at us and flies to the shore on the other side. Rock throwing by the child and grandpa. The child likes this a lot."

5:45 p.m and on was relaxation in camp, with various campers involved in many activities—a game of Bananagrams, whittling hot dog sticks, reading, disc golf putting, bike riding around the circle, dinner of spaghetti and such, birthday cake and ice cream for one of us, many rounds of The Great Dalmuti, sitting around the campfire in conversation.

"11:45 p.m. Viewing the multitude of stars, as we cannot do at home. No lights to wash them out here."

KANER FLAT

Pictures and journal entry highlights from our trip to Kaner Flat Campground in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.


"6:15 a.m. The child is awake and ready to go. We walk over to the Little Naches River to look at the rocks and water and fields of wildflowers."


"7:45 a.m. I trade one set of smoke-infused clothing for one slightly less so. Today is going to be a good day. Dark hot chocolate awaits."

"9:20 a.m. The brother-in-law provides campfire FAIL!" (He will redeem himself later with campfire overachievement.)


"10:45 a.m. The child: 'Grandpa, it's time to go to the cave.'"

"11:15 a.m. Hiking up to Boulder Cave."








"12:30 p.m. Back at the parking lot."


"1:45 p.m. Just finished a lunch of hot dogs roasted on the fire, watermelon, chips..."

"2:10 p.m. Downpour."

"2:45 p.m. [Solo] bike ride along the Little Naches River."


"3:30 p.m. Others are playing rummy tiles game. I am reading Roberto Bolaño's Nazi Literature in America in the tent."

"4:30 p.m. Awaken from unintended nap."

"5:00 p.m. Fire is roaring. Dinner is cooking on propane camp stove—corn on the cob, BBQ pulled beef, coleslaw. KISS plays on the camp boom box."

"5:30 p.m. Will the brother-in-law be able to find his corn on the sob beneath tremendous amounts of butter, salt, and pepper. Methinks not."

"5:55 p.m. The afternoon rain has finally ceased, hopefully for good."

"6:30 p.m. The wind is picking up, blowing smoke and cinders about."

"7:05 p.m. Most of us are off to walk. The brother-in-law stays behind as tender of the fire and keeper of the camp."

"7:30 p.m. We are walking over a one-lane bridge that traverses the Little Naches. Swallows fly over the river, catching abundant flies and mosquitos."

"By 11:00 p.m. Bed."

KANER FLAT

Pictures and journal entry highlights from our trip to Kaner Flat Campground in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.


"We ready the car for our camping trip. While we do so, the cat, who knows that cats do not belong in the home library's wing back reading chair, climbs up onto it for a nap. Hopefully, this is not an omen of things to come."


"Arrived. Set up tent. Sat around campfire. Bed at 11:30 p.m."

Belgica, a Belgian India Pale Ale by Great Divide Brewing Company

12 ounce bottle, served in tulip glass, $2.44 per pint.

Belgica poured as though a sparkling apple cider. The body's color was an intense light yellow that was filled with light yet lively streams of carbonation. The head was frothy and white, and one-and-one-half fingers thick. It lasted for quite some time, leaving behind excellent lacing as it the ale was consumed.

Aromas were layered with a moderate leather yeast at the forefront; followed by the sugary syrup of canned pears and a faint lemon/lime; before the background of coriander, ginger, and light honey finally appeared.

The flavor waffled between Belgian spice, similar to Duvel, and the bitterness of grapefruit, emanating from its IPA heritage. More often than not, it favored the Belgian end of things. However, just as that flavor profile would begin to settle down, then the IPA would make an encore appearance. I felt like the scientist in the scene in Altered States where he bangs himself against one wall and then another trying to "ground" himself in one identity as he involuntarily shift back and forth. (And here I thought the Great Divide was a place!)

Ultimately, the Belgian personality of the ale and the IPA personality of the ale clash with one another. I would have preferred that they played together better.

What I do know is that (1) the flavor is stronger than the nose; (2) the nose is more complex than the palate; and (3) something is slightly off here, although I am hard pressed to "put my finger on it." I like this ale, but not as much as I would if it had a single personality.

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I am tempted to try it again for the purposes of reassessment, now that I have encountered the initial shock of Belgica's multiple personalities—Belgian, IPA, and combination.

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On the bottle:
"Suggested food pairings: Thai curry mussels, crab cakes, roast turkey or pheasant, Taleggio or Époisses cheese."

I had it with pork ribs that I barbecued over charcoal grills and alder bark. It seemed to be a good match with the ribs, although I could definitely see it being a good match with roasted turkey or pheasant.

I just like the fact that Great Divide placed food pairing suggestions right on the bottle's label.

FREE HOT DOG on a STICK DAY

(1) It was FREE Hot Dog on a Stick Day, so the child and I obviously headed down to the Auburn Supermall, location of the closest Hot Dog on a Stick, for our free corn dogs. Oops! I mean, "breaded" hot dogs on sticks.


(2) We picked up a couple order of fries and two lime-flavored lemonades to accompany our FREE Hot Dog on a Stick(s). Heaven!


(3) Mall denizens awaiting their very own FREE Hot Dog on a Stick.

ITEMS for the BEER CELLAR

A few friends have inspired me. One gave me a bottle of Russian River Consecration and split a schooner of Walking Man Homo Erectus with me at the Parkway Tavern. Another couple gave me a bottle of New Belgium (Lips of Faith reserve series) Biere de Mars and let me sample Midnight Sun Meltdown Double IPA. A few weeks ago, I had purchased a half-rack of Deschutes Cinder Cone Red Ale to drink with the occasional meal or while mowing the lawn. But now my "taphandle tastebuds" are fired up again.

Therefore, a trip to 99 Bottles in Federal Way was in order. I had a gift certificate, which allowed me to purchase more beer than I would normally pick up in a single trip. "Half" of the bottles will be cellared and the other "half" (including one can) will be placed in the refrigerator for more immediate consumption and enjoyment.

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FOR THE REFRIGERATOR

*Caldera IPA, 12 ounce can, $2.48 per pint.
*Dogfish Head Immort Ale, 12 ounce bottle, $5.33 per pint.
*Great Divide Belgica Belgian-Style IPA, 12 ounce bottle, $2.44 per pint.
*Great Divide Wild Raspberry Ale, 12 ounce bottle, $2.67 per pint.
*Russian River Pliny the Elder Ale, 16.9 ounce bottle, $8.58 per pint.

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FOR THE BEER CELLAR

*Deschutes Mirror, Mirror Barleywine, 22 ounce bottle, $10.19 per pint.
*Great Divide Chocolate Oak-Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, 22 ounce bottle, $8.43 per pint.
*Rogue Double Dead Guy Ale, 22 ounce bottle, $8.58 per pint.

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These are all new to me, with the exception of Pliny the Elder, which is an awesome ale that I will most enjoy again!

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Mirror, Mirror is recommended to be left cellared and undisturbed until April 20, 2010. I will heed the advice of Deschutes and leave it be. I am looking forward to it as another "version" of Mirror Pond Pale Ale to try, having previously tried (a) Mirror Pond Pale Ale in a bottle, (b) Mirror Pond Pale Ale on tap, (c) Fresh Hopped Mirror Pond Pale Ale on tap, (d) Cask Conditioned Mirror Pond Pale Ale on tap, (e) and Goschie's Sterling Pale Ale on tap, which was essentially a variation on Mirror Pond.

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I am excited to try Rogue Double Dead Guy Ale with no promotion or prompting. I really like Dead Guy Ale, so I am looking forward to its stronger sibling.

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I have heard people raving about Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout, so when I saw on the 99 Bottles Twitter page that Great Divide Chocolate Oak-Aged Yeti Imperial Stout had arrived, I was out the door. I figure that "chocolate" and "oak-aged," two favorite flavors of mine in ales, are the key selling points for me—along with the word-of-mouth raves.

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So look forward to new taphandle posts over the next couple of weeks as I try out some new beers.

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Thank you to M. and A. & G. for the gifts from the barley gods.

SAM PEACH PARK

One of the wide open fields of Sam Peach Park plus...


...a few of my disc golf drivers...

...equals an hour of disc golf practice while the child plays on the playground.

AN EVENING WALK

I headed out at dusk for a walk around downtown Puyallup. The temperature was still around 70º F with only a minor breeze. The photograph was taken from where I was standing in Pioneer Plaza on the backside of City Hall looking down the stairs and across Meridian Avenue at Pioneer Park and Pioneer Plaza. People were playing in the park, singing karaoke in the bars, enjoying beer and wine and late dinners (2 J's Saloon, Bumpy's, Charlie's, Northwest Vintage Wine Bar, The Powerhouse), smoking cigarettes outside, laughing, skateboarding, riding bicycles, walking dogs, playing Frisbee, and wandering about on their own journeys.

TRIDUUM (NOT *THOSE* THREE DAYS...)

What a wild ride this past weekend was. It was spent in the company of family and friends, some long absent from my life, some not so. Nevertheless, it was a weekend of joy with people that I like being around. It was what Troy's Work Table is all about—books, art, beer.

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If I could stop being such a deliberate misanthrope, then I am sure that more of these weekends would present themselves to me.

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FRIDAY

Highlights included:
*Two rounds of miniature golf at Interbay Golf in Seattle (one loss, one win).
*Dinner at Via Tribunali with the friend D.
*Viewing the movie Picnic at Hanging Rock on DVD.


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SATURDAY

Highlights included:
*A full round of disc golf at Fort Steilacoom DGC.
*Chicago-style hot dogs at Lucky's Hot Dog Diner.
*Beginning the novel The Good Life by Jay McInerney.
*Picking up a new Champion Valkyrie golf disc (175 grams for wind) from Mando's.

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SUNDAY

Highlights included:
*A full round of disc golf at Fort Steilacoom DGC with the friend M.
*Sharing a schooner of Walking Man Homo Erectus Imperial IPA at the Parkway Tavern.
*Receiving two gifts of beer in one day—a bottle of New Belgium Lips of Faith (Biere de Mars) and a bottle of Russian River Consecration.

FORT STEILACOOM DISC GOLF COURSE

My twelfth disc golf disc—a Ching Velocity Power distance driver disc. Opaque blue with silver foil stamp, 175 grams.


(1) Calling Rik, in regard to finding his Innova DX Leopard on hole #11 of Fort Steilacoom's Northwest (pink) course. (Photograph taken by the brother.)


(2) Teeing off on hole #14. Look at that form and follow-through! (Photograph taken by the brother.)


(3) Playing from the middle of bushes on throw #2 on hole #18. (Photograph taken by the brother.)


(4) Playing from behind bushes on throw #3 on hole #18. I sense a theme here... (Photograph taken by the brother.)

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The wife, the child, the brother, and I headed down to Fort Steilacoom for a half round of disc golf. We played the back nine of the Nortwest (pink) course.


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I played a 38 on the back nine of the Northwest Course. I seem to be regressing. Oh well...

Hole 10 - 4
Hole 11 - 5
Hole 12 - 4
Hole 13 - 4
Hole 14 - 4
Hole 15 - 3
Hole 16 - 4
Hole 17 - 4
Hole 18 - 6
Back nine - 38 (+11)

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The brother played a 42.

Hole 10 - 3
Hole 11 - 5
Hole 12 - 4
Hole 13 - 6
Hole 14 - 5
Hole 15 - 4
Hole 16 - 6
Hole 17 - 4
Hole 18 - 5
Back nine - 42 (+15)

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The wife played a 47.

Hole 10 - 4
Hole 11 - 7
Hole 12 - 6
Hole 13 - 6
Hole 14 - 5
Hole 15 - 4
Hole 16 - 5
Hole 17 - 5
Hole 18 - 5
Back nine - 47 (+20)

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We had a lot of fun as we tried to figure out what we were doing and played some monster holes that should really be more than par 3.

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The Velocity came in handy on many holes. I find myself tending toward its use on anhyzer, hammer, and thumber shots. I think of it as my "brush hog." If I need to get over, around, or through trees or bushes, then it is the disc I reach for. In this regard, it performs spectacularly, and has seen quite a bit of use, especially recently, as the flora of the Northwest takes root and leaf in the abnormally warm late spring.

FORT STEILACOOM DISC GOLF COURSE

My eleventh disc golf disc—a Latitude 64º Mirus distance driver disc. Opaque white with gold foil stamp, 169 grams.


(1) The child and I headed out to Fort Steilacoom Disc Golf Course, just south of Tacoma (in Lakewood). I was hesitant to visit it because I had been told that it was difficult to navigate the courses due to inadequate signage and poor layout. In other words, I was expecting a repeat of my experience at Riverside DGC in Sumner. Nothing could be further from the truth. Fort Steilacoom is a beautiful course with varied terrain. You may have some difficulty if you don't take a map along, but there will always be a nearby tee and/or basket to throw from/at.


(2) We played the back nine holes of the Northwest (Pink) Course. The child threw the Skeeter midrange about, while Troy's Work Table tried out his new Mirus driver and really worked in the Buzzz midrange and Sinus SP putter. Hole #10 was a spectacular opportunity to throw down an incline into a grove of fir trees.


(3) Hole #11 was a monster hole for me. I wasn't sure I would be able to handle a 500-foot-long fairway, but I somehow managed to play this hole in five shots. I considered that pretty good since I don't have a lot of arm strength to throw the big bombs.


(4) I was very happy with my performance on hole #13. I drove well through the stand of oak trees, approached the base of the basket with the Buzzz (pictured above), and laid in the easy putt.


(5) This is the view of hole #18 when throwing my second shot—through the fir branches I am standing within and around the madrona tree that hides the basket.

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I played a 35 from back nine of the Northwest Course. I'm happy with that score for my first play on these holes.

Hole 10 - 3
Hole 11 - 5
Hole 12 - 4
Hole 13 - 3
Hole 14 - 5
Hole 15 - 4
Hole 16 - 4
Hole 17 - 3
Hole 18 - 4
Back nine - 35 (+8)

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I really like the grippiness of Latitude 64º's Gripline plastic in the Mirus. It feels very similar to Innova's Star plastic. It is easy to grasp and release. It is flexible without being overly so.

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I also really like the 64 dome on the Mirus. The raised dome makes it leave my hand differently than some of my lower profile discs.

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Now I just need to learn how to control it. I had some trouble figuring out where it was going to go, and, therefore, where I needed to aim it. Hopefully, my skill with it will increase over time.