Flowers

Some Blooms around the property.

Mojave Sage

Poppies

Cosmos

Chinny Chin Chin

My lovely chin bruise and scraps from Keystone..

Decked it...

Well I finally got to ride up in Keystone and meet Kim, Craig came a long as well. We had great weather and it was a beautiful day with some challanging technical riding. Kim is a very confident rider and it was fun to be riding with another women like that. My BLT and I kept up just fine. We had three super good runs in and decided to take a break at the cars, have some food and rest. Craig and I both were feeling tired and my arms and hands were flamed out from holding and braking so much, not used to that in my AM riding.

Anyway some weather was moving in and everyone decided on one last run, there as a little voice in the back of my head that was trying to catch my attention, something about being tired, maybe you should sit this run out, people get hurt when they're tired. I of course ignored this voice and Craig and I went up the lift.

Everything started out OK, I was holding back a little because I was tired but I was solid, no mistakes. Then it happened, though I don't remember much. A ladder bridge with a skinny up onto it. What I remember is seeing the skinny and thinking that's a narrow entrance up onto the 4' bridge. I was moving pretty fast too, I got up on the bridge and then the rest is a blur. I went over the side, don't know why really, did I hit the brakes to hard once on top and flip, did I just sail right up and off, did I hit the V sl0t in the middle of the bridge and launch? No clue..

Anyway I landed hard and the side of my head and the helmet also whacked my chin pretty good. No blood but a swollen chin with scraps and a nice, fuzzy concussion. I don't remember much after that, I didn't black out but I have memory loss. Things started to clear up quickly when I got to the lift and a EMT checked me over real quick. Said I probably didn't have to go to ER but to go home, take it easy etc...

So now I have the tiredness, the pain in my head when I stand up or sit down, some queasyness, lack of appitite and just plain brain fog at this point. I don't think I'll be riding my bike this week or the Crest this weekend..I don't know how long it will take to feel somewhat normal as it can vary from person to person.

I'm trying to except it, be OK with it, know that this can happen when you play the games that I play, roll the dice you just never know what you'll get. But the emotions that come with the concussion are just as uncomfortable sometimes as the pyhsical symptoms.

I have to let myself heal, get better and then get back on my bike and ride, listen to little voices in my head a bit more going forward.

I'm shaken a bit but I'll be back out there again..

For some pictures that Kim took of the day please follow this link..

http://picasaweb.google.com/kimluks/Keystone082308

Cedar Mesa

I miss Cedar Mesa. Cedar Mesa is this amazing and sacred chunk of land SW of Blanding Utah that is riddled with deep canyons that provide solitude and quiet adventure.
We used to go there all the time but haven't been since last spring. The area is remote and provides very rustic camping, no water, no toilets, no nothing which is the beauty of it all. There are no trail signs or markers, you need a map and if you get lost you need self reliance, I love it.
There is evidence on the mesa as well as in the canyons of the people who came before, the native people of the area left their dwellings and their fingerprints for us to discover. I miss the pace of walking, observing, slowing it down so you notice what is happening around you. When I'm in Cedar Mesa my body slows down as well as my mind but my spirit tends to soar. The place is magic for me and I would love to get back there this fall. You hardly see anyone out there, though it has gotten busier over the years, word has gotten out.
The memory of the days where we just walked all day, across the mesa, down into a canyon and then back out, exploring along the way, feeling like little kids. That memory of being so tired but content at the end of a long day outside will never pass. The memory of sitting in a dark, ruined Kiva, the one shaft of sunlight beaming in through the opening in the ceiling, the smell of earth all around you, the adobe plaster still hanging onto the walls with ancient fingerprints, those memories sustain me and make me long to return.
I've been thinking about Cedar Mesa a lot lately, it happens to me this time of year as fall comes on, cooler days make me yearn for the high desert with crisp clear days and nights full of stars so abundent and skies so clear you can see a different galaxy.
Soon I hope to return, leave the rush of humanity behind and find that nurishment again.

Afternoon Delight

Went for a nice ride yesterday evening with Craig and Eddie. We parked in Sunset and rode up Switzerland at a nice pace to Gold Hill, did the Aspen Grove and then back down one of my favorite DH ST trails back to Sunset. The light in the evenings now is so golden as the angle of the sun gets lower in the sky with the onset of fall. Eddie took some pictures, his photography business is keeping him busy, http://www.photo-cycle.com/. That's about it, as simple as that, grateful that it is as simple as that.
Craig finished his newly updated website, http://www.cragdesign.com/, and it looks sweet.
Tea Tag Saying: "Self Reliance Conquers all Adversity" ( I like that one)

Keenan's Pedaling!!

Here is an awesome video of my little friend Keenan pedaling his bike for the first time. Before he just pushed with his feet but now he's opening up a whole new world for himself, amazing!

Mellow Weekend

This weekend it was all about slowing down and hanging out. It rained Friday and Saturday, Sunday was cool but the sun would come and go throughout the day. I did manage to go for a ride on the trails behind my house on Sunday, the trails were actually in good shape, tacky and only a few greasy sections. The steep climb/descent I call the Backside had been rearranged again by the flow of water down it. Just when you have a line carved into that thing it rains like crazy and washes it all away, nothings permanent.
Otherwise Craig and I slept in both days, cleaned around the house, ran errands, did chores, the nuts and bolts.
Went for a nice ride over lunch today, Monday, the sun is out and the temp. outside is lovely, felt very refreshing.
We have what we think to be a ferrel cat hanging out hunting outside the house. Noticed her (I think it's a her) on Saturday and we saw her again on Sunday. She's small and young. We try to approach her and she takes off fast. It's strange to have ferrel cats where we are, they just don't survive, too many predators. There are always handmade signs up for people who are missing a cat, it's almost a sad joke up in the hills. Anyway, I bought some dry cat food today and I'm going to put some out, hopefully she'll come by and maybe we can become friends and maybe we can offer her a warm and dry place to live as winter is coming on. We'll see what happens, I'm sure the dogs will think it's a great idea but they're used to cats, they'll adapt.

Lil' Hucker

Got in a little hucking and dropping yesterday evening with Emma and Keenan too. He loves his little bike and we'd help him jump off the end of the ladder, he also liked practicing his crashing too. It was fun, then it started raining and now it's supposed to be soggy pretty much the whole weekend. Our plans for Keystone may get derailed until next weekend, but what are ya going to do, ya gotta let it rain.

Emma, Keenan and Me


Kennan on a ladder drop

What's up with my lungs?

Did a lovely Wednesday evening ride with Eddie, Craig and Paige last night. We rode Primo which is a super fun trail, though we got going at 6PM so we had to make haste. No time for warming up and straight into some climbing. Well my climbing was awful last night, argh, hate that when it happens because I'm a decent climber, not a racer fast type but capable and I do have some technical skill climbing as well. Last night I felt tired, legs heavy and my lungs gaspy and tight. Do I smoke, NO, do I have asthma, NO..well I don't know what's going on but it sucks and feels like I'm getting over a cold or I just did one to many rippers which I don't do so what gives? No answers to my stupied questions. It's just the way it is and it will pass I'm sure. I've felt kinda gaspy and winded since CB, maybe I just need a break.
Anyway the DH was awesome and fast and I felt great on that and I did eventually warm up but by then we were almost done. The sunset was beautiful and you can feel the seasons starting to turn ever so slightly in the air and the angle of the light, love it. Here is a link to my friend Eddie's Flicker site with some pictures from last evening. http://flickr.com/photos/rky_mtn_srfr/
Craig and I were planning on Keystone this Saturday but it appears that we're getting a cold and wet storm for the weekend and those plans will probably get changed, next Saturday I hope. I really want to get up there before they close for the season.
Well tonight is a session in the backyard with Emma, give my lungs a break I guess.

Recognize That The Other Person Is You.

I drink this yummy tea by Yogi teas called bedtime and it has these sometimes inspiring little qoutes on the tea tag, kinda like a fortune cookie but different. There have been a few that resonate, the one last night was "Share your strengths, not your weaknesses.", I agree with that but I also think it's important to demonstrate that we're human and we all have weaknesses, we're not infallable. The one that resonated the other day was "Recognize that the other person is you." That one hit home because in this busy world you can feel so isolated and like everything has something to do with you and why is that person so annoying and you drive like a jerk,get out of my way but in reality we're all like that and we're all the other person just trying to live a good life and that restores some of my compassion for my fellow people.

Backyard Fun.

Nice Face!

This weekend Craig and I built another ladder drop in the back yard, this one is almost 2' tall. I was a little nervous at first but I was determined to drop it. Which to my suprise was pretty easy to do, my comfort level has risin and it feels good. How much fun! I am also routinely launching the 5 to 6' transition jump that comes off the hill, you land and then you go roll up onto the ladder drop and launch that too. It felt so good to do and it's so much fun and addicting. It brings a different dimension to riding altogether. I think about the ladders and drops while at work and I want to build more, yea is all I can say.
I also went for a ride on Saturday with Paige, which was good. A long ride, up Ward St. to the trails above Gold Lake. Paige had never been up there so I thought I would show her around. Didn't see another soul which was nice, a lot of climbing but the reward of the DH is well worth it. Hitting the jumps and getting through the tech. sections is so much fun, I don't know what's happening to me but I'm evolving into a gravity junkie and I'm not a spring chicken either. I was pretty tired after the ride, 17 miles/4 hours later.

Back in BC

Home again, home again as the saying goes. Crested Butte was a lot of fun. The art festival worked out really good and I made some money, yeah! Plenty of Okies and Texans to stimulate my economy this past weekend. It was also kinda fun to hang out in CB for two days and reflect on all its flavors. We usually don't come into town when we're there, prefering to stay at camp and ride, etc. The best pizza in CB is Secret Stash on Elk, and the atmosphere is awesome too. Just be prepared to wait a little while for your pie but it will be worth it, things move at a slower pace in CB which is a good thing.
Besides the art festival we did a couple of good rides, the 401 on Friday AM before we loaded in the show, always a fun ride and not too long 2.5 hours for us that day. The down hill was a blast, a little dusty though and the cabbage was high. Felt the altitude on the climb up from Schoffold though, which kinda suprised me, I leaned against my fair share of trees waiting to catch my breath. Monday we did one of my favorite rides in CB out Cement Creek Rd. Reno/Flag/Bear/Deadman. It's a long ride but so worth it with 3 of the most fun downhills around. You also get a lot less traffic on this trail as it's more of commitment to ride as it's out there and it's long. We camped above Cement Creek so we just rode from camp which was so nice, we got an early start and headed up the pass. The first part is dirt road so it's not bad, just steep in a few places. The rest of the ride is all ST and a lot of fun with challanges thrown in here and there. It finishes with a good DH with 15 switchbacks I think it is and they're all rutted and rooted and techy, your arms will flame by the end. We ran into a couple of guys from Europe at the top of Reno, one from Switzerland and one from Belgium. We gave them some beta on the ride and where to go. They dropped into the Flag DH behind us, a few miles later Craig and I stopped to take our pads off and they caught up to us with big smiles on their faces, they were loving it. Then the climbing began and we basically didn't seem them again. Craig and I are both decent climbers but these guys had some mutant Euro thing going on with the climbing. Anyway it was all fun and a good time.
The flies were awful and made camping kinda not so much fun as you couldn't get away from them unless you sat in the truck, never remember it being so bad before.
It was good to get away and do something different, ride something different. We didn't stop to take many pictures due to the flies, when you stopped you got swarmed and then bitten so we kept going for the most part.
It's good to be home now too and I'm looking forward to Monarch Crest over Labor Day!