Making A Splash

Lesson given, eh Park?

After a very tough week of mixed emotions I was in dire need of a good ride. One had been planned for Sunday, a gravel adventure ride, aimed at getting some junior racers out for a training ride but it had pretty much fallen through by Saturday night. Early Sunday morning I was about to abandon and just ride a local trail, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was going to miss out on something great. So I loaded up and headed out.

The MOOTS MX RSL twins before the gravel.

A Country Boy Will Survive: The Redneck Bike Stand

Since both the juniors had bailed out on the ride, along with an over imbibed 'dorfer, the number of riders was small and our time commitments unrestrained, which meant an exploratory route was definitely in the cards.

PTJ, Fellow Gravel Explorer extraordinaire.

A verbal vote was taken and soon we were off in search of new adventure roads. We headed out West on an unknown course with only a destination road in mind. PTJ and I wanted to introduce Graham and Parker to one of our new favorite roads. How we got there and back would round out the adventure. It was perfect. Thanks for the adventure fellas.

Parker putting his new MOOTS MX RSL to the test.

Graham descends the pig path.

Yeah, not so scary.

Scary.

Descending switchback before the kicker.

The kicker.

And the butt kicker.

Crossing Mill Creek.

Graham at Graham.

Losing My Compass

H. brought Dish into my life. It was a package deal. I wasn't really a 'big dog' kinda guy back then. I had a whippet. She was well mannered. Quiet. Refined. More human than dog in her behavior. Dish, on the other hand, was all dog. He loved to run amok and when he wasn't running amok, he was contemplating running amok. In essence, a free spirit.

He jumped on doors. Climbed kitchen walls to get to cat food. Chewed up my shoes. He was a wild child. As we grew to know one another, the chewing stopped (thanks to a near fatal beating with a chaco by H.), and he started mountain biking with me. That's when he really started to grow on me.

He loved to run alongside the bike, much like JD does now, only he would run amok whenever we'd stop. He loved running through tall grass. Swimming in stinky water. And just being. The only things that trumped all else were a good snurfle in the sun, riding in the truck, and eating horse poop.

As he aged, he got more subdued, but never lost that free spirit excitement about going out. He was a tolerant step-brother. A watchful big brother. And a cranky old man. But ever faithful, always loving, and always, always watching. After I lost Poey, Dish took on a more active role as a protector of me. He seemed to know what I needed even when I didn't.

A Dish's job: Keeping watch in the field...

And always letting his sister have the big bed...

And tolerating getting walked on in the car...

And leading the next generation along the path.

That damn dog taught me a lot about how I should be living my life. How to loosen up and just be in the moment. In essence, he reminded me how to have fun. Daily.

He even showed me the way out many times when I was lost in the woods. He was my compass and I will always be a little lost without him. Rest in peace my sweet Dishy waggle tail.

TN State XC Championships

Podium Pal: JD Sporting the Silver Medal.

Tennessee State XC Championships were today. After the rigorous trail ride Friday, and the soreness that ensued, I wasn't feeling very chipper about the way the cards were looking to fall. After a tough first half lap the pistons started firing and I felt great. I had a lot of time to make up and tried my best. I made my way through most of the crowd but Michael Edens (new State SS Champ) was better prepared. I walked away with silver, and pretty damn happy about it. The form is coming.

Fellow GrassMooter KRS follows as we make our way into our first lap.

Thanks to Michael Edens, Jeremy Nagoshiner, and everyone who helped organize this race. It was a great day out in the woods. Special thanks to David Hardin of Biker's Choice for making a good race great. The new layout was perfect. The bar has been set higher than before. Thanks for taking constructive criticism and turning it into a fantastic event.

Adam D. kicking butt and taking names on superior wheels (26"). Great to see him back out racing again.

Congratulations to all the new state champions and the medalists out there too. Also, thanks to H. for coming out and supporting us, watching JD, and taking all of these fantastic photos.

Blurring the lines. The MootoX RSL rocks. 

Chasing.

Finishing.

SS State Champ Podium. 

JD has a huge fan club. More fans than I have.

GrassMooter Meanjoe in full aero-tuck on his way to Cat 1 victory (on his MootoX SS).

MJ standing tall. Congrats Champ!

The boys talking pre-race.

Putting their game-faces on. 

Daniel takes flight!

Daniel motoring away.

Focused.

Jameson hammering through.

Putting on the gas.

Determination.

Jameson riding hard through the finish.

Finished.

Swapping tales after the race. Great job boys!