heavy dark times

The weekend was productive. Got a long trail run in and a long road bike ride up to Brainard Lake and back down around the flats. I would have ridden the mtb, but feeling a bit overwhelmed with art that needs to get done and also wanting to go away next weekend prevented me from heading up to the hills for some real biking, PLUS Will's bike was in the shop, well it still is. We had plans to head down to NM, he was going to ride the DBT for the second time and I was going to ride the South Boundry. Next year, if I get a GPS, or a buddy who rides at my pace, I'd like to give it a go.

Feelin' heavvvvyyyyy! Winter is coming on, we did go to the Italian Festival Saturday night. Perhaps, I ate too many sausages and cannoli, but it sure was tasty. Added to the Italian food is the lack of sunlight, I can already feel it. The days are shorter, less time to ride after work, and now, I start to become a runner again, until ski season of course. I would love to get a cyclocross bike. I have been debating putting down a bunch of cash for a nice new carbon fiber road bike and converting my old steel Italian road bike to a commuter. For commuter bikes I currently have a 1970 something blue Schwinn (which now has 2 flats) and a 1943 Schwinn (looks just like the Fat Tire Beer bike). But damn when you get a flat, those tires are a pain in the ass to change, no quick release, I suppose I could convert them, need to venture on over to Community Cycles (my used inner tube supplier).

Well the shorter days and more pressure to get ready for Open Studios makes me feel like I have less time for my real passion, biking. I mean, I love art and making it is incredibly meditative. Selling your creations is also a wonderful feeling. But, and it's a big but, I love to be outside and abhor indoor work especially when the sky is so blue and inviting, maybe we should move to Vancouver? I could get more art done there for sure. But I have lived in Eugene, and the lack of sunlight did put a damper on my mood. So it's a battle or I better put, a balance of work-art-biking/skiing(outside time). I find the older I get the less time there is, I suppose it is because a given length of time becomes smaller and smaller in relation to your whole life as you age.

The Flying Marmot: commuting home

The Flying Marmot: commuting home

commuting home

Work is getting hectic at least my Boulder school is. Too many negative vibes from that place sending me into a downward spiral. I really appreciate my Ned school and the kids there. However, today I wished for a different job or not to have one at all. It is frustrating dealing with people who live in the rumor mill. I feel like I am dealing with the same type of mentality as the folks who believe Obama is a Muslim terrorist. The rumor mill is an ugly dark place where poor souls get trapped and they can't seem to think outside the box. Enough about that crap.

The clouds rolled in over the divide later in the afternoon up in Ned. I left my car at the bus stop after work and road some single track back home. Fall is beginning to arrive, the colors are incredible right now. I managed to get a few shots on the commute home. Hopefully I'll have more time next week to link up the single track better.

"plants and animals disappear to make room for your fat a**,"

just to quote a bumper sticker. Feeling like an true single speed outlaw up in the land near the kill kare inn. A beautiful early fall day. We headed out and not too far into the ride ran into Jen and Josh. I had not seen Jen since the Backcountry Magazine ski test out in Powder Mountain, which was more like coral reef mountain. Unfortunately we hit that resort at their absolute worst conditions. Jen just returned form a South American adventure of sorts.

Will just got his new GPS so now we know how many miles we have ridden, elevation gain, speed, cadence, price of tea in China, etc. , etc. We linked up some great single track that I had forgotten about. Ended the day with some China Gourmet!