Doing the Non-Doing.

Me and my shadow.

Craig and I headed down to the Arkansas River Valley this past weekend. Saturday was Craig's birthday and we were in need of a get away from everything kinda trip. Craig and I both love the Ark Valley, it's beauty is in the sage, pinion and juniper, the lovely Arkansas river and tall mountain peaks surrounding you. There's so much to do here or not do and the vibe is low-key.

Craig preparing for some morning birthday fly fishin'

Meanwhile I prepared one of my favorite breakfasts ever on the tailgate. GF oatmeal with almond butter, bananas, strawberries and honey and a Bhakti chai on the side, yum and good fuel for riding.

Craig with the goods!

After leaving camp we headed into Buena Vista for a stop at Loback's Bakery. This place is almost exactly like the bakeries in my Grandparent's town of New Kensignton, PA outside of Pittsburgh. It was established in the 1930's and still has the old display cases and wooden shelves, the bric a brac everywhere. I get a huge sensory memory hit every time I walk in this place. The string tied paper boxes, the old cash register and of course the old fashioned pastries and that smell just wafts out of the screen door onto the street. Nothing fancy here, basic doughnuts, maple rolls, cookies but I'm told they're oh so good. Unfortunately I can't even have a bite but Craig sure does enjoy them.

Heading up to some ST goodness.

After fueling up we ride, a nice long ride on super skinny singletrack that whips and whoops through the forest. Grinning at our good fortune.

No room to pass here.

It is this good..

We did have to stop once in awhile to stretch the old back and hips out, eat some stingers and put some pads on. There were many good burly downhills to enjoy.

Ringo putting the dog in cattle.

The view from my resting place in the back of the truck. This for me is heaven and doesn't get much better except when you add homemade GF/DF peanut butter and chocolate chip cupcakes with a candle on top. Dirtbag bliss.

Another day means more superfunkylovinit' trail riding. Some of it was smooth and buff and some of it was rough and tough..a good mix.

Food for our souls~

And food for my belly! GF/DF pesto pasta with spinach by a river, this makes me happy. Damn, am I becoming a foodie..

And this is what makes Craig happy. Being on the river casting his fly rod even if he doesn't catch anything.

The water was high, really high and cold. Great for ducks and the many boaters that were out but not for catching fish. But it was still a great way to spend an evening.

Cantilevered river cube house

Near Stone Cabin on the other side of the river is a piece of property with some very cool structures on it. A mix of modern and mountain, this place captures my imagination every time I see it, so I took some pictures of it from across the river.

Super cool, modern mountain hut on stilts. I want to go inside.

Our time out went by fast, too fast for me. I want to still be out there, in the sun playing and resting and reading and breathing and looking at my dirt covered hands. I find great nourishment in disconnecting from the day to day life, from the world at large, from technology and it's devices, from knowing what other people are doing, from chores, from the DOING, DOING, DOING, always DOING. When I'm home I have the drive to be busy. I need the non-doing and yes I know that riding my bike and making myself a good dinner and driving to a remote place is actually "doing" something but it doesn't feel the same to me and that's why I keep doing the non-doing, whatever that actually means.