Wednesday, December 17, 2008

North Loop

Skied at the North Loop today, classical style.  The tracks were excellent!  Good Job, Kyia!
I didn't hit any rocks.  I went out of the tracks once to avoid dirt.  Used good skis waxed with
Start Green (glide) and Toko Blue (kick).  I ran into Brian Emo skating on lap number four (of five).  After doing one loop with me, he left for Riverside, which was groomed for skating.  

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Crazy

Yep, went for a ride in minus 35 windchill weather.  The Surly was perfect even without sudded tires. I wore the Denali outfit, that is, what I wore when I summited Mt. McKinley in Alaska--climbing boots, overboots, down jacket, face mask, etc.  No crampons. I don't think I got any
frostbite, but it was close.  I need an indoor trainer! 

Cold Weather Biking


Saturday, December 13, 2008

Skiing on Lake Sagatagan

We started at the Back Bay area and did the coves, the beaver house, the marsh area,
the inner lake, and then back down to the dock area.  It was good to very good.  Pat
had previously made a track around the coves.  We saw one other skier and several
icefisherpeople.  They said the ice was a foot and a half thick.  Elena said the Jetstream
was fast.  No pics today, forgot the camera.

Monday, December 8, 2008


Skiing on Warner Lake


Skating on the Lake.  Artic Cat kicks ass.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Skiing at Riverside





Skied on artificial snow at Riverside.  Three hills, up and down, up and down, etc. etc.
Matt Stone groomed.  Rogo consulted.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Cold Biking

I biked today in 20F weather.  For feet:  chemical warmers, solomon x-c overboots.  Head: snowboarder helmet with googles.  Hands:  Lobster Mitts.  I was pretty warm, actually.  Worked
the West Side Mt. Bike Trails.  There is a sweet little drop just before Al's trail down the four-wheeler trail, a little steep at the bottom but totally doable.  At the bottom of Jim's trail go right
just after the down log to avoid the down tree on the last uphill.  This is a re-routing that has
been totally approved by the City Council and the Environmentalists.  Plum Creek is ridable again, just go left where the trail is gone.  At the narrow tree opening, angle slightly to the left
and sail through.  I did the Illegal Trail along the river (sorry guys, it's there, so why not?).
Just go around the little tree and drop in.  You still have to cyclecross over the big log.  

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Friday, November 28, 2008

More Skating

We skated again today.   The ice was not so perfect.  Some melting had occurred and as
a result the ice was not as smooth and had lots of strange bubbles.  Various theories
about the bubbles were discussed.  
The weather was perfect--warm and windless.
We did several sprints across the lake--about one half mile.  Pat won some times,
and other times Al took the win (although I think Pat let him win).
I was last every time.  Now my legs are sore. Elena didn't compete.  

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Skating at Warner Lake

Yes, the ice was perfect!  Clear and smooth.  You could look down at the bottom
of the lake near the edges.  On the west side the ice was a little thin and it creaked!
We don't really have a plan if someone goes through the ice.  Well, Pat chopped
a hole in the ice and it was nearly 4 inches thick so I guess we were sort of safe.
We get to do this about once or twice each year.

Skating at Warner Lake


Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Skating

Pat, Al, Elena and I have moved on to ice skating.  The word is that Warner
Lake is ready.  We will see who falls through the ice.  Don't tell the DNR.
They don't need to know.  It's always fun to do things that are illegal
or prohibited or against the advice of the experts.  As for mt. biking, I'm
sticking to the illegal trails to maintain my Outlaw image.  Think Marlon
Brando in the Wild Ones.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Plum Creek Trashed

That's right the Plum Creek has been trashed again.  This is about the 5th time the workers
have plowed over the trail with their bulldozer or now with a huge grader.  The latest
damage is on the east side of the trail where the grader has basically destroyed the trail
for about 40 feet.  You have to dismount and go through the weeds.  Also, a while ago
they plowed out a section on the west side, which is still kind of ridable.  Obviously
the workers at the compost site don't know or don't care about the trail.  I understand
that the area is basically a composting site and dump area, and that mt. biking is
not respected.  Speaking of lack of respect the geese have left their droppings all
over the paved river path.  Of course, we can expect the geese to shit on the trails,
but I had hoped for better treatment from the humans.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Warm Feet

I rode today even though it was cold and windy.  Usually I get cold feet, but today I had fairly
warm feet.  The recipe was as follows.  You being with special "stormsocks," 
thermal socks designed for skiing.  Next, you put on Lake winter boots.  Place chemical handwamers on the front of the boots and cover with the flap.  Finally cover
with old Atomic cross country ski booties with a fuzzy lining.  If it is really
cold, add another bootie. Ride On!  (Indoor trainers are for wimps and sissies.)

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Talahi

I rode on the trail in Talahi today, and I was happy to see that somebody has
worked on the trail.  I counted four different cuttings including the log
on the ground that required a dismount and the big tree blocking one of the
descents.  Cutting and removing that tree looked like a big job.  Anyway,
thanks to whoever did it:  Matt?  Ben?  K and K?  Unknown?
Yes, I did vote today.   Thanks for asking, but I did not vote for
the Socialist Worker candidate. I went for the other
socialist candidate, you know, the Arab terrorist.   

Monday, November 3, 2008

The Election

Three members of my Sunday Discussion Group predict Obama will win.  I am voting
for Obama, but I am not so sure he will win.  If the election is close, the Republicans will
sue, ask for recounts, challenge the voting process, and engage in various tactics to swing the election in their favor as they did in Florida.  And I don't trust the voting process in the
first place.  In my idealistic youth I voted for the Socialist Worker candidate, and my vote was
not counted!  No votes for that candidate!  Yes, I am a Socialist, and not embarrassed
to admit it.  We Socialists believe that the government should provide benefits to the
people like health care, education, clean water, bridges, and roads.  To do this, the
government has to tax, and the tax should be fair, that is, the rich pay more than the
poor.  But the government should stay out of our private lives.  I'm a Libertarian
when it comes to my private life. The government should
not interfere with my reproductive choices, my marriage choices, my sex life, my drug use, my religion, and my opinions   Stay out of my bathroom, bedroom, and study.  Leave me alone
already!  It's ironic that George W. Bush is a socialist, at least when it comes to Big Business. Why?  Well, look at the prescription drug program or medicare.  The big drug companies and insurance certainly benefit.  Who is making money on the wars he started?Consider the fact that he is more or less nationalizing the banks.  It's capitalism for the rich when they are making money, and socialism when they lose money.  Get it?  Win, win for Big Business!  On the other hand, he wants a nanny state when it comes to sex and drugs.
There are some contradictions here, as Marx would say.


Sunday, November 2, 2008

Party!

Before I get to the party, I should mention that I did the Melrose Quarry
Trail yesterday and it was pretty good--only one tree down, which I fixed
so it can be bunny hopped. The party for Harry and Kris was great! Let's
see who was there?  K and K, the double K, Ben and family, Josh, Darren
or is it Darrin?, Mike and Angela, Eric and friend.  I think I may have
missed somebody.  Harry made spicy chicken legs.  Lots of wine.   Art
talk with Eric.  Kris (the mathematics professor and former wall street
analyst) explained the financial meltdown.  The bankers
were greedy kids with no adult supervision, and it's going to take
years for the markets to recover.  The best explanation I've
heard yet!  Guess I'm not going to buy that house in Aspen
after all.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Camp Manitou

Worked on the trails at Camp Manitou, the YMCA Camp near Monticello, with Sammy and
Lance.  After clearing and trimming and cutting for a few hours, Lance showed me the new
trails.  They are fresh and raw, but after some use they will be great.  There are some
log crossings and an old bridge over the creek that gets your attention.  Lance showed me
how to ride the berms at full speed and where to go fast on the bumpity bumpity.  A
good time!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Trail Work

Jim Bell has emailed me, asking for trail workers
at Camp Manitou near Monticello.  He is trying
to reclaim the old mt. bike trails there, which
were once part of the Blast Series.  Anyway,
I'm going to work there tomorrow (Thursday 16th) starting
at 10 or so, and you all are invited too!   Maybe we
will ride the trails after work.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Plum Creek

Yepper, rode the Plum Creek trail this afternoon.  The first
little left hand turn seemed easier today.  I noticed at least
four logs cut including the log pile you had to lift over.  Good.  I
was tired of those logs.  Good job you workers!   Thank you,  Kris, Kyia,
and Ben.  Also, give the Monster Machine a hug.  Hope it gets
fixed soon and feels better.  

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Tire Blowout

I started out the day with two cups of espresso,
then had another small one at the Corner 
Bean, compliments of Coach Anderson.  Kyia,
Coach et moi proceeded to ride 40 miles
on the road.  I drafted the whole time.
The most interesting event was Anderson's
Tire Blowout on the bridge near Clearwater.
His tire exploded, scaring all of us--big cut
in the Michelin Pro.  The fix?  A five dollar
bill tucked into the tire!  Money
fixes everything.  Hey President Bush!
How about some more money for me?  

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Murphy Hanrehan

Yep, I biked on the trails at Murphy with Sam St. Pierre.  He guided me around since he
had been there previously.  I think they are now my favorite trails--fast, turny, and fun.
There is one minor rock garden that we rolled over, and one strange bridge with 4 or
5 steps or drops, but otherwise it is really flows!  Sam said they were designed and
built by and for mt bikers, and it shows.  

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Party!

According to the NYT, the top bosses at AIG had a good time
after the $85 billion bailout.  They went to the exclusive
St. Regis Resort in Monarch Beach, CA.  The tab for the 
weekend?  $442,000!  That's $200,000 for rooms,
$150,000 for food (what do you get for that kind of
money?), and $23,000 for the spa.  (Don't ask!)  
Let the Good Times Roll!!!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Foreclosed House

The house across the street has a notice of foreclosure.
The unpaid mortgage is for $200,000.  But what with
the broken windows and damage the house is worth....
well, what?  Nobody is going to pay $200,000 for this
crappy little house.  Ever.  I think it is worth about 
$20,000, tops.  But the bank probably will not
sell it for that.  So there it sits.  Meanwhile there
are all the "derivatives," which were sold for more
hundreds of thousands, based on the "value" of this
house, which the market says is basically zero.  Now
multiply this situation by many thousands, and you
get some idea of the current financial crisis.  Now
our government rides to the rescue!  They buy the
mortgage for $200,000 or maybe less.  Now what?
The house still sits there unsold, and the "derivatives"
remain basically worthless.  OK, the government
sells the house for $20,000.  Great, we the people
take the loss.  And Wall Street parties on!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Trail Report

Al's trail has been mowed and one tree removed.  Apparently this trail is now legal.  See
the yellow trail signs.  The old bluff trails seem to be officially approved too.
There are new trails south of the Fire Station.  Follow the
trail signs.  One new trail goes around the gully.  Another goes along the river
bluff.  (It is interesting that the illegal trails have suddenly become legal and
the City Council doesn't know anything about it.  The Right Hand doesn't
know what the Left Hand is doing.) Kyia's trail has two down trees that need
to be removed.  The Ridge Trail needs work.  The side hill trail is getting
sketchy, and you can't get under that big tree anymore.  Coming back
on the River Trail there is a two-foot washout that requires major dabbing
or you go in the river. I think the steep little Jail climb needs to be re-done;
it is getting pretty eroded.  The college quarry is all ridable except for the
rocky trail.  The teepee is gone.  Ride On. 
Hey Ben, I wanted to comment on Harry's blog.
Now I'm a blogger!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

today

It's always today.