Miss summer but the beat goes on

So it's only been 4 months ,who's counting? I have enjoyed reading the other blogs ,face book and other ways of cathchen up.

I got sorta busy with work ,travel ,family,friends and some fitness try's and here is what I tried to do . After getting all sick and travelling to Honolulu for a week I trained a weekend with 4 days in a roll then raced at the Tour De Bozeman the week after then off to Sun Valley for mt. bike nats where I barley made the podium for 5th,dam the guys my and every other age are tuff at that level. Then it was serious training for around 6 weeks with one back pack trip mixed in for cross train and pain ,there was a little to much liquid spirits packed in so well good for training and pain control right? Off to road nats I went and did better in the crit and road race than i ever have finishing right in the front packs in both but not worthy of the podium. Road so far is my nemeses to get on the steps.

So in between and after this fitness and race escapade i scooter ed all over town for visits ,bbq, and just to much fun. the summer was fast but sweet.

Now with fall and that winter thing upon us I am tryin to adapt with out haven those lay outs in the spandex on the hill above Brennen's wave then maybe a beer where ever you can get a beer in spandex, I don't recommend so much shamie time.

I did the Butte cross at the beginning of Montana's season and did better than usual but then hit a 4 week hiatus before dabbling in Redmond,WA. with visits with Danyel and family and travelling to sea town with Julie staying like royalty at the silver cloud right next to the clink and safeco field and the pyramid brewery,now that's spoilt and i like it. So after the first cross race in a month after the cushy stay at the cloud and racing with some fast and furious 55 year olds for a bareley 2nd i traind some what more and hit the magnuson park croosy the next week around beautyfull lake washington,the corse rocked and I quit the mambie routine and got away at the end with some chippy passin and cornering and a little more gas in the tank than the wek before.Also got to see the Ivanaiter turn it loose on the cat 4 ladies,she's rocken this cross stuff. Bye for now all talk again in another 4 months.

Last Weekend Was To Live For...

Now that I've set on my flat side or laid around like a beached whale ,still have no energy or much will to move off the confines of the couch,maybe I need one of those what F----- blankets. Not even getting that restless yet ,so a true sign of sicccccccccccccccck ...

I had the best time ridding trail then road the next day last weekend the weather ,the flowers ,the peeps and the panoramic views made my summer. Started out Saturday morning meeting a mostly Julie Hauck group at the farmers market for pre ride breaky and coffee, think the hole town was out in the splendor of the orb in the sky providing the color we love and miss. this is when it all comes together and life is good. So off we went towards Jumbo and beyond, up Lincoln Hills we had to do that walk of trail to the next street. How stupid is that ? But dismount and obey the sign we did for 50 yards or so , guess the guy who lives next to it is the trail nazi so do the walk. Up up we went past the house that doesn't belong on the ridge heading to three larches, i was amazed at how wet and muddy these sections are and water really running where it normally trickles or doesn't exist this time of the year. We stopped alot for Kodak moments and the catch your thin air attempt. The scenery was a main line shot of apreceation . We made way to the top of three larches then the drop down freddy that always puckers me some , mostly in respect of what has happened and can happen here. Down to Rattlesnake garden for talk of the ride a cold smoke and some eats and again life is good.

next day was a hole different ball game with the ride starting at Le Petit and consisting of the heavy hitters and I show up with the heavy finder ed up tri cross for what blindly thought would be social cruise to Alberton,anything but came of that. Pace lining at race pace soon as we hit big flat then sprints for signs and Z-man crunch up the hills. This is when i had started out with a sore throat the night before and not much for voice or breathing for the ride. There I was in pain ass cave out and back. Tried laying in that great hot sun after to bake what ever was invading the body but failed so all week has been suffer fest with the cold from hell. Much rather the pain cave of ridden with a bunch of testy dudes. So much for fitness,that's gonna be a re-do .

Catch UP And Tell

I'm tardy in so many ways. but here I set on getting a flat spot rear end with some time and the constant sound of the unending rain. I got real run down last weekend during the partaking of the 24 hour race and got the rare for me kick ass cold now.

The story of the Round And Round 24 hour mountain bike race held in Spokane at the riverside park area started about 6 weeks ago when i got the call up to the big league's from Bill Schultz with all local zoo town he being the ring leader to this kind of hell but the feal of a big accomplishment in the same moment. We had a 5 man team may ed up to qualify for the 250 age group. This was helped out do to bill and I 57 a piece with the others 50 and under,wow and no wheel chairs among us.

I didn't get a mountain tell 3 weeks ago and not having one sense last September, I've been in catch up mold with road ridding under my belt and 4 mountain bike rides with one a race to go into this suffer fest.

We had some very strong and well rounded guys with close to the same times through out the ordeal which was key to beat ting the Old Wymm dudes from the west side. We got top spot on the podium a cool jersey bottle of wine and a big oh medal. There was a good representation of Montanaians racing and doing well !!!

Well other things going on have been work and more work with me already wishing for the end of September cause i am ruined for that sort of thing anymore with being so good at 6 months of retirement per year.

I've been hang en with fam allot rock en easter at my daughter Angelas with lots of gran daughter time . Check en out the circus the easter egg hunt with many curtain hangers running about. Trying to get Amaya off the training wheels which I may need back some day.

So is anyone bothered about the lack of rainless days yet? Dam gonna need to like duck with water tight rear end if it keeps this up. And due to the run off and rain there wont be a stse road race this weekend which for me on the sick list is a blessing.

Take care all and as per usual rubber side all the way down...

Travel but back in the Center of univerce

I took the long way back from Oregon but enjoyed all the visits and different spots to ride some old to me and some new. I rode down by the snake river and up some grades that were usually 5 to 6 mile climbs. I got a real nice and long ride in with Danyel my daughter who was in Pullman for a visit and birthday for joes 85 year old Granny. We ran into masssive head wind that put uss down to a crawel at times . I stayed in my house on wheels down around Lewiston Idaho loven the ridding and the green was up and coming. I busted my chops to do the frozen flat land but the chops won out and no race,little things like only haven my cross bike ,just dodell ridden latley things like that . I did get back to the Zoo Friday in time for first friday and saw many peeps which was cool and rode the next day with Z-man and he slayed me bad. I'm finding it harder to find the drive to push in and out of the pain cave. just like putting latley,whats wrong with that? So on we go towards spring or in the search of it. Take care all.

The reprieave is over 2011

Oh it was great while it lasted I got my much needed hit of sun,blue sky and warmth for 3 weeks. But now back in Oregon for a few weeks then back to Zoo Town to mines of work. At best I may see the sky again in April. It has rained here sense Friday when I rolled in and it's Monday -what the???

I spoil easily and the acclamation back to dark,cold and dreaie isn't easy. But on the other side of it the green,great smelling air and a glimpse of sun here and there are nice.

The travel was perky with the parts moving around from Barrago to Yuma then back to Barrago Springs for a few more days because I could. When I first got back there I jumped on the crossy with it's road tire set up and headed up to Julian California which is around 45 hundred feet up from around 4oo feet start from Barrago. Lots of switches and great hilly scenery up and into the snow on the side of the road I went. I meant a dude touring from Minneapolis and we shared some talk over bosen berry pie and tortilla soup at the famous Julian bakery eatery.

I road the next day up Montezuma Pass again trying to make the 55 mile loop but cross winds had a different plan. I turned around and tried to stand with my back to the wind to put some warmer duds on and couldn't hardly hold my spot from the push of the gail force. So back to barrago and the flat with some wind but do able.

I hung one more day in Barrago going to a bar the night before and listening to some great music by a band from Cordalane Idaho that could CCR-The Stones-The Doors-Johny Cash-etc and did it right. Next day I had a real treat with a meat ting from Heidi Swift and Sal Bondi from Portland,I've known them a couple of years now from Cycling House rides. Swifty was going to tour the area and Sal was meeting up with Russel Creed camp in Palm Springs. The weather kinda sucked that day so I suggested Wild Turkey Honey flavored to Swifty if she was stuck for the day there. She sent a tex out later that day with the Turkey photo-nice Swifty.

Off to Palm Springs where the ridding to me isn't that great because of the bad cally roads and way to many drivers on the good climbs. I meant up with the Sal gang of 9 riders one day.

Then off to Vegas which I myself have always kinda just done drive by's but I found out a thing or two this time. The down town vibe was actually kinda fun the peeps watching after a few gin and tonics got more interesting especially with both sexes in troll mode. The guys in there under sized designer tee shirts and the girls also in their under sized dresses,not such a bad thing... I did a Circus Oh la show with the Beetles Love which was a life changer . Same night did a BB Kings Bar with a great Jazz band toured the new Cosmopolitan ,saw the Bolshoi fountain show,played pool did arcade games,drained seven and sevens with a tequila shot,played the slots and was back at the hotel by one o'clock. Now for me because maybe I am a Mam bi Pambie that was sensory over load.

Before and after this did a couple of great hikes with a beautiful slot canyon by Lake Mead and a ten k and scuttle around Red Rock Canyon.

Last week after not ridding for 5 days I put in 3 days with 172 mile total with the legs after so many Lake Mead rollers won ting to scream No Moss on the third 60 mile day. The scenery threw Valley of the Sun just rocks like Utah and maybe more so that 70 mile day I didn't feal much pain. SO won ting to visit and hang a little more in Oregon before the Montana journey I tore myself away from this warm, blue skied great ridding area. What the hell was I thinking ??? Maybe I got to much wattage over load in sin city. It has rained every day here seance I got back. I know buck up after all it is the great and beautiful North West and mostly I am happy to be back in it...

At last a little southern comfort

I did it got into the little red pick up and drove away from Oregon due south I-5 like Driving all day and most of the night I reached a place called Barrago Springs in Cally,kind of east and north from Mt. Palomar
This place was completely unridden by myself tell now. Right off I meant a ridder from bend Oregon ,he was down in this fine road ridders paradice with 5 others from Oregon .They had been there 5 days so new a thing or two,i listened and figured out where Montezuma Pass, I had 12 miles of warm up in a good oh south west head wind then it's
up up for 12 miles in head which doubles for more effort. Right off I can tell this is the place for serious good ridding with out much traffic and pretty good pavement . From what the maps show and I've seen this place is the other bomb to ride with long loops,big climbs,fairly good pa voe and little traffic.
When I was out fighting with the head wind and totting myself up the climbs I saw a group of 20 rider type then 5 then 2's and 3's so the place is on the map. It;s got some blue sky and warm soothing sun...
Idid some monster hikes here in Yuma and a couple of pretty San rides with the retirement group. There is this guy Big mark who is 350 with solid power about 41 yearsyoung that can and dose literally spank it when he wants. We as a group were heading back toward Yuma when Clydesdale decided to kick in the last mile and half at warp speed in a head wind. later he told me we topped out at 41 mph that's Fabian C. power
So back to Barrago tomorrow for more scouting for future stay and play then off to Palm Springs for some rest and pamper getting my poor oh self to get threw the 6 months of work coming up. Take care and share the roads.

Some winter some spring

It's all good out there I think. So I'm still here in Corvallis but putting it to use. Some days like recently it hasn't rained for like a week oh my. The weather has warmed up especially if you travel a little distance and up you emerge from the fog.

I have been ridding a little like 3 0r 4 times a week , I was suppose to be in sabbatical mode from the bike but my butts got a passion for the seat what can I say. I usually hook up with the once kick ass in Washington road racing Greg Bennit. he can still turn the peddles over and give it out. On weekends we have between 6 and 8 ridders so there you have it trainer mode in the easy stages cause we can...

On feb. 19th they have a race called the Cherry Pie road race just out of Corvallis so their season starts crazy early around these parts with some Frozen Land race the next day.

I have gotten in some good hikes here they have forest all around so one doesn't have to venture far for great trail. I went back up to Mary's Peak yesterday thinking I would beat a long drive for nordic skiing and classic like before up there well big surprise what eve feet of snow they did have had gone almost completely away except for a minuet clump here and there. I got in a 5 mile hike on some nice trail there then jumped into the red ridder for a little over an hour drive to the ocean. I hung out right on the beach set tin my leisure ass on my little fold out chair right next to the breaking surf and facing the glaring sun. One or two things missing cold beer and ?

Take care all and will see you soon at the rocky mt. r. and season of fun. ML

Where did those ten years go ? 2011 now ?

So really just yesterday it was 2000 I was there and with pretty much a eye blink here I am with you all. So now what . Live on , be good to yourself and others ...

The thing in Tucson really caught me and many others off gard again , It's called warning signs and a sociological evaluation before you can pull the trigger . Maybe weed out a few that really shouldn't be behind the firearm .

In a lighter note and my way of moving on and into the simple and happy side of life where peeps aren't hurt by others . Which is recreation in the healthy sense , where it's all good .

I gotta say Oregon is pretty spacial with all the green even now in the middle of winter , at least in the valley's and low hills. The snow is easy access from Corvallis right now with Mary's Peak 45 mins. away and places like Hoo Doo or Willamette pass around 2 hours away , then it's ski nordic or down hill one day and down in the valley with pretty dissent weather sometimes for a road or mountain bike ride . NOW that is a good and sutle way to take my mind off the warmth and great days in Tucson and other south west spots kinda.

Once you've tasted the great ridding ,hiking and other rec things in the southwest during the winter it is always that pull to bail from the cold to that warm spot. Staying longer and enjoying the nordic stuff that Northwest has to offer and ridding in the elements make me appreciate the Tucson area alot and possibly tuffen me up a bit cause I am getting fat and soft .

It's great seeing all the photos on face book and in the blogs that peeps are always putting out there especially the nordic spots , keep them coming please. ML