Larmie Enduro

We drove up Friday to partake in the Laramie Enduro. Camped out and got rained on all night. Thankfully the tent held up considering it was brand new. Having the larger tent this year made for a more pleasant sleeping experience. I failed to seam seal the tent and it leaked a bit, but we stayed dry. The morning was crazy, it always goes by so fast at that event. I get so anxious there I think because someone is constantly announcing the count down time to the start. I started boiling some water on the ol' Coleman 2 burner, fortunately it did pound rain last night, because I thought I was going to start a forest fire as the flame on the stove reached to 2 feet high, sometimes higher, but eventually it petered out and the blue flame finally boiled water for the morning coffee. "30 minutes until start time..."

Laramie Enduro was kind of a last minute decision. I did it last year, but when Will asked me if I had registered back in late Feb. or March, I turned my nose down on the event and racing all together. Funny how my attitude changes when summer comes on and ski season is over, I am ready to be on the bike. Luckily I got in a couple weeks ago. I had to go to Houston the 2nd week before the event, when I would normally log on the miles and intensify the rides, but oh well, Houston was great and still overwhelmed about the opportunity to show art out of state.


"15 minutes until start time." Rushed to put on my bike gear get everything sorted, I am not a good morning person. Headed over to the line up and ended up at the very back of the start, which sucked because it was a bike traffic jam into the single track, great track standing practice, but jeez could it go any slower.

I tried hard to get out in front, but my legs were so cold and stiff, my back hurt 45 minutes into the race. Not feeling so great, but thought maybe when it starts to warm up I'll feel better. The Aleve and Sport Legs kicked in and made me feel a bit more energized. I had no idea where I was in the pack of single speed riders, my main goal was to beat my time from last year. There was a larger than normal and strong group single speed women riders this year. The first place woman got 3rd overall, she switched categories from Pro Open to single speed last minute I guess. She has a nice life, from El Paso, she and her husband travel around all summer racing in the Rockies.

The water crossings were epic, waist deep in some sections. Luckily I did not get off course, like last year. The last 10 miles seemed to go on for an eternity. So ready to be done, I could hear the drone of I-80 and knew the finish line and beer was close! I saw Will at the finish all clean and changed. I asked if he won, and he laughed with a beer in hand and told me he got lost, spent about 10 miles off course, bummer. He got 3rd last year and I bet he would have had a podium finish if he didn't get off course.

I ended up getting 4th place in single speed and 2nd in the 40-49 State Ultra Marathon Championships, and I beat my time last year by 20 minutes.


finish photo by WFS 2

Hot Art in Houston

The week finally arrived for Angela Beloian and I to fly out to Houston to install our "Detritus" show at the Art League of Houston. My first out of state show. I have been super excited about the opportunity and nervous at the same time. We had to ship all our work and I decided to omit a few pieces to save money as the shipping costs added up quickly and the space is a bit smaller than the Dairy Center, where our Detritus show exhibited a few months earlier.

Houston surprised me, it has quite the art scene and a quaint historic district, where we stayed, which is in the Heights district. Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, the largest city within the state of Texas, and "the energy capital of the world." My energy levels were low, I attributed this to the constant humid air vs. air conditioning contrasts. People in Houston spend the majority of the summer living in A/C.






















Day 1: we pick up the rental car, drive to the Art League to see if our art survived the journey via UPS. I took 2 rubber rabbits with me on the plane and added those to the pile at Houston Art League. Two of my packages were damaged, the only 2 which I did not insure, don't think I'll use UPS to send art again. Luckily my art is not too fragile since it's mostly made of rubber and plastic bags, but the blower for my inflatables broke, which was easily repaired. We headed back to Angela's friends' home to find a branch for her 1,000 crane installation piece. She lucks out and finds a dead fig tree branch in their backyard.




Day 2: installation scheduled to begin, but repairs needed to happen first. Madame X was set up to be installed but the hanging wire broke immediately before we even hung it. Thank god for Sarah, she rigged up a chain to hang it up, it weighs about 80 + pounds, so I figured 100lb test picture hooks should work just fine. We got Madame X up, the inflatable rabbit as well as Angela's album cover piece. We needed to head out to give an artist talk at Artist SPEAKeasy in Houston. Heard some fabulous stories read by two different authors. Diggin' the art scene in Houston it's pretty hot!


(madame X is the long rubber piece left, on the wall)

Day 3: hit up Inversion coffee house for a double espresso. Inversion Coffee House is a pretty hip spot attached to the Art League. It draws its name from the now infamous Inversion house that once stood in the location of the original Art League of Houston building. In 2005, the Art League was preparing to begin construction of a new facility to house its art classes and the new coffee house. But first, two 1930's bungalows that stood on the site needed to be demolished and cleared. The director of Art League, decided it might be interesting to utilize the abandoned spaces for a temporary art project. She contacted artists Dan Havel and Dean Ruck, a collaborative team that had created installations using condemned buildings. Lacking any budget, Havel and Ruck erected the work with the materials at hand, an exercise in architectonic excavation. After about 400 hours of work over a month of nights and weekends, Havel and Ruck opened the piece ( literally ) to the public in mid April 2005 by cutting a 30 ft. opening in the west facade facing Montrose Boulevard, exposing what appeared to be a vertical tornado of whitewashed wooden siding. The funnel bore through the two houses, dropping back 80 ft. and shrinking in size until it reached a 4 ft. opening onto the east sculpture garden.



After the java stop we walked into the art league, I was shocked to see Madame X lying on the floor, guess she ripped out of the wall last night. Maybe I should have named it the Beast of Burden or better yet, Pain in the Ass. Sarah came to the rescue again beefing up the wall mounts using huge screws placed into the studs. We finally got the show up and headed to Angela's friends for dinner.


(notice above madame X on the ground)






Day 4: The day of the opening. Angela has great connections in Houston and she really knows the art scene there even after 3 years of not living there. We hit up some galleries dropped off some portfolios in hopes that a gallery will want to represent us and take all our work so we won't need to ship it back, fingers crossed. We stopped by the Rothko Chapel to relax and meditate before the opening, I was so tired.




A large number of people showed up for the opening, we gave an artist talk and then mingled with the crowd. Met some really amazing artists doing incredible work. Hopefully this will fire up some inspiration for creating new work. We received wonderful feedback, so thankful for this opportunity.





Day 5: last day in Houston. Stopped into Apama Mackey Gallery to drop off a portfolio and veiw the current exhibit. We visited the museum district. Visited the houston contemporary art museum and the fine arts museum. Definitely more to see than time allowed. Thanks to Angela for being such a great tour guide! Looking forward to the next opportunity to show Detritus.

Hopefully I'll become a better blogger. Perhaps I'll get a post up of previous events, maybe. Stay tuned.

Flintstone bikes hit bedrock

Finally made it out to the desert. We had been planning this trip the past 2 weeks but were denied by various factors. Drove out Friday evening stopped in GJ around midnight, headed out early to hit up Moab. Last time I road in Moab was probably in 2003 when a group of us crazy tripped out Ned Heads ventured out to do White Rim in a day, would like to do that again or Kokopelli. Found some vacant trails luckily as town was packed tight like a can of sardines. Amazing overlooks and crazy winds.





Sunday we rode up from town to ride Porcupine Rim, damn think I rode that trail back in the late 90's. The whole experience seemed so green to me and it was a maiden voyage for the ss black sheep. The descent mighty fun and technical. I appreciated the curved seat stay James welded on my bike during the downhill. Encountered some folks outfitted in DH apparel. Some guys, aka. "steaks" trying their hardest to bomb down sections, tryin' to look all tough and buff but crashing and bleeding.



After PR ride we cruised out of town towards Fruita, made it in time to ride some trails on 18 rd. Great way to end the day riding on the backs of dinosaurs on our Fred Flintstone bikes. Verdant trail abound in Fruita, the greenest I have ever seen. Would be nice to hit it up in May to see the cactus flowers in their bloom.




Monday was our Sunday and we road all morning and afternoon in the sun in Fruita. We descending back to Boulder into the fog and clouds after a weekend of sunshine! Ah glorious weekend and perfect timing! Gracias Guierllmo por un fin de semana fantastica!


photo credits WFS II

Now back to a rainy weekend. Worked in the garden most of the afternoon digging trenches for papas and getting intimate with the mattox.

Time Warp

Feel like I have been in a time machine since we got back from Mexico. Which by the way was fantastic! Warm humid air, long left point break, and loads of fresh lobster. Surfed everyday by lats were good and sore. I think I will need to spend my old age days on the water. Surfing so simple all you need is a board and some lycra to cover you privates and a wave and off you go. Saw a whale and a sea turtle out on the water. Hope to get out on the water at least one more time before 2010 arrives.

So came back from Mexico to my dad having major brain surgery, scary. Can't imagine having someone open up my skull and expose my brain to clip an aneurysm. He is recovering at home finally after 4 weeks in the hospital. He finally started to swallow, something I take for granted and don't really think about, and is eating food! Yea Papa!! 3 weeks in ICU, not a fun place, hope that kid who was hit by a car on his bike off 30th and Colorado recovers, he wasn't looking so good, hooked up to every machine possible. No helmet, not sure if that would have helped him, but it sure got me to wear my helmet when I ride around town or ski.



Ski? Damn I have hardly been out this year pretty pathetic but I spending the time in the hospital and trying to get ready for my art show at the Dairy Center for the Arts has me might busy.



Wondering how I found time to write on my blog after nearly 6 months? It's called procrastination and coffee.

Looking forward to getting the show up and skiing as much as I possibly can. Gots to get ready for the ENDURO baby! yikes

falling behind

Okay it's been awhile since I last posted and a lot has happened. The stock market has gone through major fluctuations since the bail out plan was announced. Palin continues to be a national disgrace. She is much better off playing the role of the Pit Bull Hockey mom, especially since it looks like she likes her lipstick. I think someone should seal those lips together. McCain looks like he is in pain when he had to walk around during the "town hall debate" I think the networks or debate organizers need to look up the word debate in the dictionary.

I managed to squeeze in some autumn riding during the week when I teach up in Ned. And some road riding went up to Ward to visit my favorite friend Amber and get cookie to get me up to Brainard Lake and back down to B-town. I miss the mountains, I do miss living up there, the cozy warm fires, the aspens changing, great mtb right out the door, but that WIND and the driving I did. I drive far less these days and commute by bike when I can.

I also miss having a doggy, I miss Nikita. I miss having dog pal to go on backcountry tours during the winter, runs in the summer, fishing in the fall. I am determined to get one at some point and it will be such a good dog I know.

Did some rides on the Picture Rock trail during the week knowing my weekend would be booked up with Open Studios . That was probably the last year I participate in the event. Looking for a larger studio space to get ready for some big shows in 2009. The Dairy Center for the Arts in February and Houston Art League sometime in 2009. It was great to see some folks who showed up, such as Cynthia and her rippin' mountain bike girl posse, I hope I get to ride with them before the snow falls or perhaps ski on the snow. I am starting to think about ski season, although not quite ready for the warm weather and long days to be over quite yet.

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!

4 decades

Hard to believe another birthday past. Fun was had. Will and I took the bikes to Crested Butte for a rather short (now that I am back to work) vacation. We left Friday night after work, stopped to water the garden, which has provided us with a bounties of migit tomatoes (oh so yummy). Cannot wait to pick the purple potatoes and eat the broccoli.


Saturday, the 23rd, the big birthday! We woke to breakfast served downstairs, fresh eggs, and BUTTER toast, camp 4 coffee buffet style, basically all you can eat. Which is always way too much. I brought the SS and the full suspension, debated between the 2 for a while, decided on the FS, which I was thankful for good ol' granny gear.


We road the single track from town started on the woodland to upper loop trail up to Slate River Rd. up to 403 down to Gothic Rd. up to Scholfield Pass to 401 back to Gothic Rd. back to town. A couple beers, showers and then to the Ginger Cafe, my favorite restaurant in CB. We had incredible weather and I had an amazing birthday! Thanks to William!!!

Everyone Poops!

Back to school, back to the grind. Summer is officially over for us teachers and it has been a brutal awakening akin to the giant terd found in Switzerland.

Managed to get a nice morning mountain ride in, majority of wild flowers still in full bloom, the air crisp, and the solitary bike ride refreshing. Nice to get on the full suspension geared set up, felt so easy after riding the single speed most of the summer. Traveled along singletrack I haven't been on in years. Tried to link up a few trails but managed to get lost for a bit. Would have LOVED to get lost but I needed to get back to town for a meeting. A stellar way to start the day.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed with the new teaching position or schedule. Difficult spending the afternoon indoors sitting on uncomfortable kid sized chairs and listening to someone talk ad nauseam about data. Looking forward to next weekend and spending the big 40 with my man in CB riding all day OUTSIDE!

Exactly 2 years ago today

back to blogging

It's been a couple years since I last blogged. My trip to Peru was my main inspiration for starting a blog. Now it's procrastination that has pushed me back to blogging. I should be in the studio, I should be riding my bike, but instead I'm in front of the lap top typing.

William and I just returned home from a fantastic trip to Salida for some more mt. bike summer riding adventures. No photos were taken as I was really trying to keep up with the crew from Santa Fe, no time to pull out the camera on Saturday. The ride on Sunday was an easier pace but unfortunately my camera battery died when I decided to snap some photos. However William has a good trip report and photos. Been on the bike a fair bit this year. Preregistering to ride single speed in a few mountain bike races like the Firecracker 50 & Laramie Enduro has pushed me to ride my new bike more than the cushy gears, although I think my back might be missing the comfort. Not sure what the next event will be.

Getting ready for a few art shows this year, more on that later, so stay tuned. Time to get to the studio or maybe go for a ride....

Back to the ceramic studio

Needed to go back to Urumbamba to pick up some ceramic pieces from Henry Morales and say final goodbyes. Henry hopes to make it to the USA to sell his work and teach.

Back to Cusco

Made it back to Cusco last night from the tourist mecca of the world Machu Picchu. Cusco was once the foremost city of the Inca Empire and now is known as the archaeological capital of the Americas as well as the continent's oldest continuously inhabited city. Massive Inca built walls line the city's central streets and form the foundations of both colonial and modern buildings. The Incas conceived their city of Cusco in the shape of a puma.

Legend tells that in the 12th century, the first Inca, Manco Capac the son of the sun, was charged by Inti the sun god to find 'qosq'o' or the naval of the earth, a spot where he could plunge a golden rod into the ground until it disappeared. When Manco finally located the spot, he founded the city that was to become the thriving capital of the Americas' greatest empire. The area Manco founded was also occupied by other cultures for several centuries before the rise of the Incas.

I have a couple of days in Cusco before heading back to Lima. Spent the day with Edwin's family at their school. Independence happens here on July 28-29 and is celebrated nationwide. They start celebrating early here with a school program. Children dressed up in the traditional clothing of various Peruvian regions and performed the local dances.