Robsta Craw

Happy Birthday (Feb.22) Papa Ted. Enjoy the Maine Lobster.



Edit:
Since much of the past week's posts have showcased Clay's little ass, I figured it only fair to let the world see his big Willie too. Say "Sa-loooo" to Clay's Willie.

Want a new West Side Trail?

Or some bike lanes for access to Percy-Warner? Then hightail it here Thursday night:

Community Meetings Scheduled to Update Metro Parks’ Master Plan
Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 6:30 p.m., Warner Parks Nature Center,
7311 Highway 100, Edwin Warner Park, Nashville, TN 37221, Phone: 615-352-6299

A few of us will be riding over, shout a holla if'n you're down. Pub afterwards. (West side Fred!).

Snow Day (What is this Iowa?)

More snow. This is the most days of snow I've experienced in my 11 years in TN. Sure we've had more snow, but usually just for an overnight or two. One time we had a Friday through Monday with a decent amount of snow, but this has been the most days it has snowed. Nothing catastrophic or even life changing, just good ol' fashioned Winter. I love it, as do the wupples. Showed up to work this morning to an empty parking lot and only 2 co-workers. The "collar" (aka boss-man) brought in donuts and Ghirardelli cocoa powder and a gallon of milk to make hot cocoa for a snow day celebration. He'd woken up early and taken his daughter sledding and was feeling in the spirit.

Cleaned the sand and clay off of the Ocoee last night. Scrubbed my chain and put the first coating of Ernesto Lube on. It's not near as messy as I was expecting (based off of other soy lubes, remember that mess of your's T.roy?) and is a bit thicker and very tenacious, which I think helps. The gritty sounding chain silenced quickly upon application and spins freely. It'll get the first road test tomorrow, first to work, then to the Percy Park meeting, then hopefully either around the park or to a pub, then home. I can't wait to run it through the soupy sand/clay roads and creek crossings to see how it holds up. Hopefully I have scraped the last of waxy residues off my cogs, I like T-9's performance just hate the waxy build up.

Taunt Free Beans

I think I'm starting to get over my fear of mail day. Last week Walz love, this week a little Wisconsin love.





And a little White Industries lovin'.


The last 2 weeks of gravel grinding has left my drive train a wreck. Tonight is bike maintenance night. I'd been using Bio-lube that White Lightin' Werle gave to me at last years NashCross series. I loved it as it kept my chain quiet for miles and miles through all sorts of conditions, but the bottle top popped off and it went all over the place and I never bothered to replace it. T-9 has been my other lube of choice, but it requires a lot of weekly wax scrapin' from my cogs and frequent applications. I'm excited to get another soy-based (helps with my estrogen levels) lube to try out. Best part is I don't toss this bottle into a recycle bin or landfill, I send it back and it gets refilled. Good for me, good for Ernesto, and good for Mamma Earth.

The bearings are going into my excessively (ab)used and minimally (read: none) maintained White Industries Eccentric Eno hub. From trials (Ivory), to XC racing, to endurance racing, cross racing, alley cat racing, daily commuting, bike polo, and everything in between this hub has been the bomb. Still spins like new. I've developed a small bit of play in the bearings. Figuring the amount of miles this hub is going to see inside the next 3 months, I thought it was time to give it a little love for all it's faithful service. Between the last weekend of April until the last weekend of May there is a 300 mile gravel grinder, an unknown length SS race, a 12 hour race, and a 200 mile gravel grinder. Can you say testing grounds? Not too mention the gravel grinding mileage between now and then. Full report on the lube to follow.

Thank you for the drive train love Ernesto.

Sing with me H. & Hennessey:

Beans and corn, corn and beans
Beans and corn and corn and beans

Hee Haw Donkey

Saturday I got a special prize from Clay during the post workday swag raffle. I had my eye on a sweet DSG/Yazoo pint glass but got surprised with a more fitting take home present. Now Merle can bray me awake every morning. Who wouldn't enjoy waking up this face and an earful of braying? Thanks Clay. I love it.

Sunday the plan initially was for a quick gravel grinder as I had a bit of a time limit, but that soon fell way and the day was wide open. Mike and gRant met me in Leiper's with The Mannondale making a rare early morning appearance. We loaded up into the two trucks and headed off for Fly as we wanted to spend more time on clay, dirt, and gravel than the familiar pavement. We met pumptrack/downhill Jim at the store. The Fly store owner is a really cool guy. He graciously offered up parking for us and he and I went over my map with him spending probably 20-30 minutes showing me all sorts of dirt roads in the area. Even hooking them up to 2 wineries so we could "refuel". He also noted where other general stores were in the event we needed water. He used to be active in small dirt bikes and led dirt road excursions for off-roaders. Even has maps of tours for touring cyclists to explore. He also makes a mean turkey on wheat. Nothing beats small town hospitality. I enjoyed watching The Mannondale's face (who knew nothing of the ride that lay ahead) as the old guy said "you're going up Elam? Boy I'd love to see that I've watched many a motorcycle not be able make that turn going up or down". Classic.

The loop ended about perfectly in our desired mileage window and all of us were pretty well spent after playing in the hills all day. I mentioned to gRant and Mike after we met back up after getting split up, how I have no idea on how many miles I've put in this year or even an average speed/wattage idea, but I remember every fun mile, joke, smack talking, and cheesy grin inspiring downhill. Last weekend the description from most was that the roads are "the closest thing to downhills skiing on a bike". Mannondale said the same words of praise after the end of Tyler Ridge (Trevor). Dinner and fish bowls of Gerst with the ladies joining us after their long day of errands. Eli made an appearance and made a comment about my life being like a sitcom. Upon a short reflection I answered with "that's because I don't hang out with people I wouldn't watch on TV." So thanks to all my loony friends (the characters and the train wreck reality shows for making life worth smiling about.

Ridin' Clay's Ass

photo courtesy of twolfcon Mike

Today was a workday out at the Cotton Mill Preserve preparing and repairing the DSG course. Old Greg, Hennessey and I loaded up the truckster with bikes and mutts and headed out to meet gRant and the SORBA/NMB crew. Good times. Clay put me in charge, so I made certain to act the part. Thanks Clay, I had fun ridin' your ass.  

Video courtesy of Old Greg:

"The dream will come to you" - Randy Pausch

I got this video forwarded to me via email and in my opinion it is very much worth the 11 minutes of viewing. It's an Oprah clip but just ignore that part. This is a portion of a lecture series that Randy Pausch (who is dying from pancreatic cancer) gave at Carnegie Melon University. He very eloquently explains how to live your life, a model of which I've been striving very hard to achieve, especially over the last 4 years.

It's funny that he mentions choosing to be a Tigger over an Eyeore, besides the obvious fact that the most wonderful thing about tiggers is that I'm the only one. I've always been a Tigger (still have my stuffed one from childhood) mostly because I bounce well when I wreck my bike. In reality though I'm more of a Tiggore, I choose to always have fun but usually end up feeling guilty because of it. Has anyone seen my tail?

Thanks Randy.

Wooly Ljove

Stopped by the mailbox today for my semi-bi-weekly check and was happily surprised to find a package from Walz Caps awaiting me. Friday I ordered a cap for a friend who has admired my caps for over a year now and always says "I'm going to have to get me one of them go to hell hats". I decided a good friend would get him one, so I did and well, had to order me a sweet grey wool too. I mean spring is coming and I need to color coordinate and we all can't pull off plaid I fjear.

Cheap camera pics so they don't show the pure beauty, quality, and craftswomanship poured into each cap. I got a black one for my friend, a grey one for me, and Jen threw in a super secret racing stripe one as a surprise. She's two up on me now, I'm going to have to get more creative in my score settling. Currently she's kicking my arse faster than a Dillen at ORAMM.

WOW only $10

I got a new toy today, a Vivitar Mini Digital Camera and it's pink ta-boot! H. was running some errands after her Residency interview today and saw the camera behind the clerk counter. She asked if it was really ten bucks and the clerk said "it has a sticker that says 'Wow only $10' on the front". Knowing I had to steal (er, legally borrow) photos of the gravel grinder from gRant, she bought it for me as a su-prise (the best kinda prise). She was in the neighborhood so she swung by work and we had brunch at J. Christopher's. Photos aren't near the quality of my trusty old Nikon, but then again this camera is small, easy to carry on a key chain, and isn't a gargantuan expensive brick like my Nikon. The perfect gravel grinder snap shot camera. Thanks H.!

I enjoyed a great ride in this morning starting off with snow flurries and ending with warm sunshine. Last night I got to hang out with my farm family for dinner and conversation. Riding back to the barn the clouds had parted and a bright, nearly full moon (lunar eclipse Weds don't forget!) lit up the farm like pre-dawn sun. The wind had died down and my lights weren't needed. By the time I reached the barn I was having too much fun so I released the hounds and we went for a moonlight run/ride. It was a pleasant surprise of an evening, I'd planned a boring night of just sitting in the recliner and working on the computer but the night turned out to have better plans for me.

Berry Crepes w/o the whipped cream... mmm mmm good!

Gravel Grinding Goodness

Saturday my 2 loyal riding mates and 4 suckers met up outside town for a nice day of grinding and gravel. We've been inundated with rain lately and our local trails are either closed or soup. Hating to just ride on the road, I pulled out the trusty (and sometimes untrusty) map and plotted a loose course to parts unknown. Gravel, dirt, creek crossings, and as many hills as one could muster up (and believe me a few it took all I could muster to get up) were the only goals aside from having fun and post ride brews. gRant was kind enough to tote his camera along for the journey, so all the photos were legally stolen from his posts over on the NMB board. (I think you might need to be a member to view photos)


We ended the ride with 73 miles and 5,810' of climbing and 5,813' of descending (I don't know why they were complaining about the climbs, clearly there was more down hill action). Two pit stops at the old general store in Fly (I highly recommend the turkey sandwhich, 24oz. bottle of water and a Yoohoo for $2.97) were welcomed refueling stops. We were out in the boonies with rarely a sign of a house let alone a service station or store. gRant pointed out that Fly is cash only so come prepared, though he's certain you might be able to trade a pelt for something if you're out of cash.

Highlights of the ride:

• Tyler Ridge, Webb, Johnny Davis, Turkey Farm, the Goshen and Leatherwood climbs.
• "Holy Craftsman Toolbox Scott!" - Adam referring to Scott's massive camelbak-o-tools during a tube change.
• "F*@k my bike" - 8-ball re: the reality of trying to stuff 7 bikes and 7 guys into Sexpot's big orange box at the last pit stop in Fly.
• 4 creek crossings for the price of 3
• The Yoda Maneuver - When a hard charging and barking American Bulldog/Boxer sized dog suddenly stopped all forward momentum and jumped high into the air backwards at the sight of my pointing finger while we all rode passed.
• The little kid at Honda Hills that tried to get me with the rooster tail
  
• Everyone digging deep and finishing strong.
• PTJ, Adam, and Greg completing their longest rides to day. 73 miles, 5+ hours, 5,810' of climbing.
• Mike and gRant constantly upping the game
  

Happy VD from the Death Clown

So, Mr. Dicky has been busy spewing forth verbose ramblings from high atop Mt. Smacky, calling out the clowns. He's one to talk, check out the new TD racing kit. Calling out props to Walz won't save you from your fashion faux paus . Walz was Yazoo before you even thought to plaid your pate. Fjool.

Quick shout out to Extreme Tomato Clown and Ohio Rob. They'll both be out enjoying The Most Horrible Thing Ever this weekend. Thanks also to JutRut for the nipple shot of the day.

Since it's Valentine's Day and custom designed by the card and merchandising mafia as a day to spend time with your sweety, I've got the bike with me today. Hoping for a pain free commute tonight. It'll be loverly.

To keep with the randomness of the post, here are some highlights from responses to one of those spammy, viral email chain letter of doom things I got yesterday then sent off for shitz n giggles to some friends.

What are you most afraid of?

I am afraid of many things. The dark, tight places, gumdrops, the color blueish green and dogs with no tails are just a few. I am also afraid of the declining morals in the world and that the future of all man kind is dependent on the dumbasses I currently work with in my high school. Im also afraid that if I say something stupid or oddly funny it will end up as my new nick name.

Have you ever been to Alaska?

No, but once in 8th grade, I had to do an extesive project which involved planning a trip to Anchorage Alaska. I had to cut pictures alaskan landscpapes, and cloths you could wear in alaska out of magazines. I also had to give a long history of the "folly" involved in purchasing Alaska. Turns out it may have been a good move after all...Thanks Oil reserves!! So I guess it feels like I have been to Alaska, but never really been there. I also watched the movie "insomnia" with Al Pacino and Robin Williams. The movie wasnt that great, but the cinematography was beautiful and made me feel like I was actually there.

Ever been toilet paper rolling?

I think so, but that seems a bit personal. I once new a guy who said he folded his toilet paper to wipe. That seems inefficient to me as I am a wadder.

Favorite sport to watch?

Football or any high level cock fight. Gotta love a pissed off chicken.

What do you want to do before you die?

Arm wrestle Sylvester Stalone.

What is your natural hair color?

Light brown and all forehead.

Have you ever been on a ship?

I heard Thad was born on a Pirate Ship, but thats just what I heard

Argh! An' wit'at me matey's n lasses, I bid ye a good Day! Heeve ho!

A Portland Kind Of Day

Friday I decided that the headache and nausea lingering throughout the week had to be the onset of withdrawal, fearing the dt's would soon follow I rushed to the Yazoo Tap Room after work Friday. With Hennessey and T.roy playing bike snobs and hoity-toity beer connoisseurs in Portland, I decided to get a night of Nashie culture. Some good local brew from the local brewery, a nice greasy French bread cheeseburger and onion rings at Rotiers, and a banana caramel pecan yogurt from Shakes. Old Greg was along for the ride and it was nice to have company. He was working late at a studio but was able to get out for food and beers, but split before Shakes. I was craving Shakes, especially after watching Old Greg slam down his chocolate shake at dinner. But I was holding out for the real deal, only to pull up to Shakes and find it gone, in it's stead is a Mexican restaurant. Oh the horror. I headed home deflated and sad.

Saturday was a great ride out at the local mtb hole that drains well. I left my gerber gear on from Snake to kinda "neuter" myself. With the shoulder still on the mend and just getting over 8-ball's cooking, I didn't want to get out and run myself into the ground on my first foray back on the bike. No shoulder pain or ill affects from 8-ball's toxic burgers. I was all smiles and giggles on a course that I typically don't care for, but Saturday it felt like the greatest trail in the world.

Last night I attended my first WalkBikeNashville meeting and was appointed to the board. I had submitted a letter of candidacy a while back thanks to a persistent lass. I figured it's time to stop bitching about the deplorable condition of people powered movement around the city and get actively involved to help change it for the better. Really I'd just like a safe avenue of travel into the city and to educate riders and drivers as that really seems to be the crux of the problem, no one knows the laws or right of ways. I tried to keep to myself and take it all in, seeing as I didn't test the water but rather jumped right in and nobody likes that guy. I'm reserving judgments, but I was surprised to see an area of revenue so greatly under utilized. I'm hoping I can help turn that around, or at least spark some new ideas for revenue generation. I'm not big on asking people for money and would rather earn it, which may or may not shoot my big political aspirations in the foot. We'll see, I might just end up lynched or under the concrete of a new greenway project.

Window Shopping

Apparently the Vassago demons protect their own, no more trying to make Hodge wet himself on the death bus. Thanks to Hodge's henchmen my February has started off like my January: S-H-I-T-T-Y. Literally (see post below). The weekend is almost here and Saturday promises 52 degrees of sunny bliss. The shoulder is feeling better and I've been doing exercises to strengthen it up, but is it better enough to get out on some dirt? I think so. The Giardia picked up from the muddy Snake or intestinal distress from 8-ball cooking (the debate rages on) seems to be passing and I'm able to hold food and water down, but will the body be ready for a dirt filled beat down? I hope so.

I've been having some fun, fiery chats with The Rev (bottom-o-page) about bikes, steel, and builders. I've been oogling some of his fares. Sealed tubes, o-rings, straight forward talk about rust, rust inhibition, and design comes from Sean. Hope he doesn't mind me re-posting his words here, I figured T.roy would love to read about rust.

"Speaking of things rusting, it can never be said too many times: Steel rusts. Soulcraft frames are steel. Soulcraft frames can rust. We've spent a lot of time figuring out ways to make our frames more rust/corrosion resistant: sealed tubes, forward-facing seat tube slots, stainless braze-ons, double-coat powder paint, rust inhibitor inside the seat tubes, and o-rings seals for your seat post, to name a few. But, there needs to be a certain amount of responsibility on your part to help make your frame last."

I dig that honesty and accountability (on both sides). Straight shooting like the Surly folks. Tempting. I also lust after the East Coast hardtail beauty of a Ted. Luckily the wallet says 'no dice' (thanks a lot Hodge) due to the last 2 months of hell. So to ease my desire for sealed steel tubes, I'm posting a photo of J.B.D.C (Yersinia Pestis) in his unsealed rust laden glory to remind me to get off-line (aka stop window shopping) and go ride. Glad I didn't pony up $$ to go the the Handbuilt Bicycle Show in Portland with T.roy and Hennessey, I have enough of a bike lust problem as it is. Besides I think H. would read me a chapter or two out of this:

The Cleansing

Back on the air. Tuesday night was a hell of a ride. Three massive storms pummeled Tennessee and the farm. The worst coming through around 3 AM, a tornado tore through Old Hillsboro Rd and surrounding areas, I grabbed the cats (travel bags are handy), the pups, and hightailed it for lower ground. The sky was green gray and eerily bright for 3 AM, lighting seemed to just stay on instead of flashing. Sitting in the hallway of the barn some dust blew in when the wind kicked up (news said 95mph wind shear) and I turned to my right to cover my eyes when "WHAM!" a huge log slammed next to me, tossed like a twig. I called the pups and we ran for cover behind the wash stall. It felt like I was in a Die Hard movie, pretty surreal. Shortly after 4AM the last of the severe storms passed and we could all rest easy. My heart and sympathies go out to those that lost everything from houses to loved ones.

News Channel 5 wins my insensitive imbeciles award for the week. Castalian Springs, TN suffered many losses and casualties, many have no homes, power, let alone working TV. They have a nightly "call in to win a flat screen tv" contest where they announce a listeners name and they have 15 minutes to call in to win. Well they announced a Castalian Springs person. After 15 minutes they went on to the next name. OK, first of all they had just been covering the whole Castalian Springs catastrophe and how many are without homes and power, do they really expect this person to be able to see this news cast and be able to call in? Secondly, this person may not have survived the tornado. Are they really that incompetent? Do they not pay attention there? Maybe it's just me.

On a lighter note, I have recovered from the stomach virus that hit about the same time as the storms. I'm referring to yesterday as "The Great Cleansing". Not near as exciting as the storms but it did have me running for cover just as much. I came into work to find emails from concerned friends and this nugget of smiles from Jut. My favorite quote: "Don't count us out but you probably shouldn't count on us either." Priceless.

Snake '08 v II

Jut, Hodge, and Froderick all sat this round out. Jut was at the icicle, Hodge had to work, and Froderick was just m-i-a. So immediately the race is off. The course conditions vary each month of the races that in my mind it has to be same day same race for the times to count. That bode well for me. My shoulder still isn't 100% and my game plan quickly became "see if we can even ride to the half-way point before the shoulder goes". I still held out hope for a party ride though. Even busted out the Leadville buckle for some mojo Friday hoping the shoulder would be magically better.

We got to the lot around 6:30 PM Friday and set up camp. It was dark and quiet with a grater in the lot. Almost looked as if there wasn't going to be a race. About an hour later the fellas started showing up and the fire, tunes and brews flowed. Philip is a crazy atv driving with a chain-saw mofo. He and Bill cleared 20 trees between 10 PM and Midnight. They'd had 60-mph winds the night before and the NWGA Sorba crew really had to put in the effort to clear the trail. Thanks guys, the trail was perfect. About 9:30 I got Texas Tall Wilkins to drive me for a pizza run. 30 minutes later we're back with 6 pizzas and Rachel the time girl, who was sober when I'd left, was lit. Don't know who flipped the switch, but she wasn't like that when we left. Luckily her hubby was there and guided her towards the car for home, though she stopped and said "I think I can hold one" referring to the pizza and I handed her a slice to go and advice of "drink 2 glasses of water before you go to bed". Night night Rachel. If you make the snake and stay in a hotel, swing by the start lot, the party rages till early morning. Plus you don’t want to miss the drunk redneck with the leaf blower smelting iron. Maybe next time the grater obstacle course race will go down (my money's still on gRant, sorry Philip).

27 degrees in the morning but the sun is creeping up in the sky and the meaty urologists promise a high of 61. But at the moment, it's freezing. Hennessey and SORBA Walt made a run into town for some grub and $12 coffee (8 cups). The coffee was a welcomed hand warmer. Sexpot Jeanie was there with her big orange box so we had hopes of avoiding the death bus. We set about gearing up and loaded the bikes onto the trailers. Quick rider meeting and we stuffed into the box. How many men can Jeanie hold in her big orange box? 6. The ride wasn’t nearly as deadly but the toxic fumes from the flex-all that Grant gave me to rub on my shoulder probably took some years off of folks lives.

Once at the start we empty the bladders, find our bikes, and lined up. Hennessey rocks the bmx start and about 7 of us head out the rolling start towards the first creek and fire road climb. They had several inches of rain the days preceding and the fire roads were slick, mucky, and the creeks were high and cold. Wool socks mandatory. I had a fear of hitting the first long climb and not being able to put weight on my shoulder, luckily it wasn't an issue, and I just settled into a pace to warm up. 8-ball on my wheel, Hennessey up ahead. We get the single track and my legs aren't there yet, but my shoulder is holding up. We got lucky with some quick passes and made great time through the rolling rocky single track. Slick in spots and slippery on the power ups, but we motored on at a good clip. A few miles into the single track my legs came round and we picked up the pace. I bobbled on the short kick up before the left hand swamp turn just before the final climb to the gravel road descent. Dammit almost a clean run.

Hennessey ripped by down the gravel road while 8-ball and I kept it under control. Gravel falls hurt. Up the pine needle climb then ripped down the first rocky descent. I pinged the front wheel off a rock at full tilt and felt it hit the rim. Damn, hope I didn't pinch. I slowed a bit to make sure the tire wasn't going flat and gonna roll off, but it was holding air and I picked the pace back up. We hit the old forest road section and ripped it. I was feeling great on the downhills. The mud was so slick instead of carving the turns it was more like mud surfing a ski bike. Up the rolling single track and up the peanut buttery wet clay climb, off and walking as it was slick and deep and backed up with others hiking. 8-ball got ahead of me there as I tried to dig out some apricots and drink some fluids. He was out of sight and on a mission; Hennessey being long gone off the front. My shoulder started to falter when standing to climb and I ended up dropping it when I stood, which was straining my lower back pretty hard. I had the legs and a good pace, but I looked like Quasimodo whenever I stood up, and each climb the shoulder was hurting more and more as was my lower right back muscle.

I sucked it up and picked up the pace and came up on 8-ball who was stopped fiddling with his head set; New Rig and its stupid integrated headset. I stopped to make sure he was good, he was, and we rolled on. He gapped me on a climb and I just settled in and started debating my plan. I didn't want to bail but I also didn't want to lose another week or more of riding due to injury. The inner battle raged and I decided I was going the distance. The next long climb and I was straining to stand. OK, maybe I'll rethink this bail out. I hit the long water bar jump descent to the halfway point, having fun, smiling, but done for the day. (photo credit: gRant Castle)

Hennessey was in the can, 8-ball was messing with his head set again, and Sexpot Jeanie was ready with the beer. I tightened 8-balls head set, reset the stem, tightened his loose rear wheel (which is what I think he was feeling 'clicking') and he set off up the hill. Hennessey followed and I sat with the pups and Jeanie and waited for the rest of the crew to roll through. Everyone came through covered in mud and in varying states of discomfort, but all smiling and having a good time.

8-ball rocked it in just over 4 hours, just over by 48 seconds. Proud of the boy. His skills are growing. Charging Rhino no more. Hennessey the birthday boy also came just shy of the elusive sub 4 hour mark despite a valiant effort. Old Greg rallied and pulled out a good ride, as did Adam who even got a bowl of chili this time. Scott the monster rocked it single and rigid for the first time after only having the bike for a month. gRant had a good ride for his first time, he didn't meet his goal of 5 hours, but he left with a healthy new outlook on mtb racing. That's a rare thing. I got it from the Snake 3 years ago when T.roy and first road it, again at Leadville in '05, at ORAMM in '05, Swank this year, and the FireWater 50. That ass-kicking, eye-opening, new experience. I crave it and it drives me to continue finding these epic races, but the more hooked you get the fewer times you can repeat that freshness. I can't wait to watch gRant's second attempt.

We spread our Ambassadors of Fun around (multiple cases of Yazoo) and hung out cheering the finishers still coming in and catching up with old friends. Several new friends met and some sweet Ohio custom Dieringer 29'er frames ogled. Packed up tent city, grabbed a table for 11 at Chilies (after 20 minutes of playing door openers), honey-chipotle chicken strips with corn on the cob, stories swapped, smack talked, and 8-ball wishing he ordered what I ordered (Jeanie's order). Good times. One more next month fellas.

See ya there.

Sunday was a recovery spin with the wupples. Muscles still aching from Saturday but it felt good to get out and the pups were having a grand time. The river is up really high, which is a nice thing giving how low it was all last year. The rock island is all but submerged. The high winds that came through did little damage to the trails on the farm and the pups and I were able to get a good run in.