9/17 - More Black Hills

Sorry I didn't post anything for the last few days. I've been so busy running (and riding my bike) all over the Black Hills that I didn't have the time to upload some photos that I took! Now that I have some time, here are the photos from the past weekend:

Spike was so excited to join us on the road trip to the Black Hills! 

The Roughlock Falls in the Spearfish Canyon in the northern portion of the Black Hills. 

The Spearfish Canyon. One of my favorite places in the Black Hills. 

A young mountain goat working his way up the hill.

Obligatory Mt. Rushmore photo here. 

The Crazy Horse Memorial. This thing is so HUGE. It's about 10x bigger than the entire Mt. Rushmore! 

Sylvan Lake in the Custer State Park of the Black Hills. National Treasure 2 was filmed here! 

Spike scoping out the lake. 

Mountain Poodle. Seriously. It's a whole new breed! 

Don't forget a special appearance by my Aunt Linda's dog, Maverick! 

And finally, I wanted to congratulate my parents on their 25th anniversary! If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be where I am today. Love you guys!  

9/13 - Black Hills, Day 1

Mt. Rushmore main entrance

The George Washington face through a ravine

A donkey stopped by to say hello!

Tired donkey...

Our dog, Spike, is a Mountain Poodle. It's a whole new breed! 

The Needles of the Black Hills

A small ravine in the Black Hills

8/5 - My continuation of experimenting with landsacpe

Shot these in Water Works Park in Des Moines, by the Bill Riley Trail and the Raccoon River. 

8/3 - Des Moines Sunset

8/29 - Final home game for Iowa, now just 2 games behind Omaha

Smoke rises behind Principal Park before the game between the Cubs and the Storm Chasers in Des Moines, Iowa.

The United States flag waves in front of smoke from a fire that was happening outside Principal Park.

Cubs starter Casey Coleman pitches against the Storm Chasers during the first inning.

The Cubs' Julio Borbon celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Storm Chasers during the first inning.

The Cubs' Ty Wright hits a single against the Storm Chasers during the first inning.

The Cubs' Greg Rohan and Tim Torres watches the game from the dugout against the Storm Chasers during the fifth inning.

Cubs center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha catches a fly ball while second baseman Edgar Gonzalez attempts to catch the ball too against the Storm Chasers during the sixth inning.

The Cubs' Edgar Gonzalez singles against the Storm Chasers during the seventh inning.

The Cubs' Brad Nelson and Edwin Maysonet celebrate with teammates after Nelson scored on Maysonet's sacrifice fly against the Storm Chasers during the sixth inning.

Cubs starter Casey Coleman confers with catcher J.C. Boscan against the Storm Chasers during the seventh inning.

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt makes a throw to first base for an out against the Storm Chasers during the seventh inning.

The Cubs' Edwin Maysonet tends to Storm Chasers catcher Manny Pina after Pina tagged Maysonet out at home during the seventh inning.

Cubs reliever Eduardo Sanchez pitches against the Storm Chasers during the ninth inning.

Cubs shortstop Edwin Maysonet catches a pop fly for the final out against the Storm Chasers during the ninth inning.

Cubs reliever Eduardo Sanchez and catcher J.C. Boscan celebrate their 4-2 win over the Storm Chasers.

8/29 - Visiting the Midwest League

When I saw that the Cubs' Single-A team, the Kane County Cougars, were in Iowa playing the Cedar Rapids Kernels, I knew I had to catch a game. So I drove for about two hours from Des Moines to Eastern Iowa and shot it.

It was my first ever game that I've attended that is NOT Triple A or Major League level. My first impression about Single-A?

College baseball, but without the atmosphere.

The majority of the players there were college-age kids and sure played like them. Nobody's perfect. There are some hotshots, some kids that'd never sniff the majors. And who could forget the occasional rehabbing MLB player (hint: there was one in tonight's game)?

I really enjoyed the game, even though it was sweltering hot. I enjoyed it so much that I'm thinking about doing a mini-tour of minor league baseball next summer. I would probably pick a "bus league" and try to touch each ballpark in that league.

Of course I'll bring my camera along.

Anyway, here are the photos between the Cougars and the Kernels!

An official Midwest League baseball sits in the grass before the game between the Cougars and the Kernels.

Cougars starter Scott Baker delivers against the Kernels during the first inning.

Kernels starter Jose Berrios pitches against the Cougars during the second inning.

The Cougars' Trevor Gretzky runs to first after hitting a single to left field against the Kernels during the third inning.

The Cougars' Jeimer Candelario rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Kernels during the third inning.

The Cougars' Jeimer Candelario celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run against the Kernels during the third inning.

The Cougars' Carlos Escobar celebrates his two-run home run with Jose Dore against the Kernels during the fourth inning.

The Cougars' Jeimer Candelario hits against the Kernels during the fifth inning.

Cougars left fielder Trevor Gretzky lunges for the ball as shortstop Brad Zapenas gets out of the way against the Kernels during the fifth inning.

Cougars "piggy-back" starter Jose Arias pitches against the Kernels during the seventh inning.

The Cougars' Reggie Golden hits against the Kernels during the eighth inning.

Cougars first baseman Willson Contreras steps on first base for the out and dodges the Kernels' Jeremias Pineda during the eighth inning.

Cougars shortstop Brad Zapenas turns a double play at second base beside the Kernels' Jorge Polanco during the eighth inning.

Cougars reliever Stephen Perakslis pitches against the Kernels during the eighth inning.

The Cougars' Brad Zapenas runs the bases against the Kernels during the ninth inning.

Cougars outfielders (L to R) Trevor Gretzky, Jose Dore and Reggie Golden celebrate their 9-1 victory over the Kernels.