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!