FOXY!!!

This is the fork that I'm getting to put on my BLT! A 2008 Fox 36 TALAS RC2 (20mm). I'm buying a used but completely overhualed by FOX, like new version from my friend Glenn, I could not pass it up. It has adjustable travel from 100mm to 160mm of buttery smooth travel. This also means I'm going to get a new front wheel as well. I'm super stoked for the new fork, the additional travel and the rigidity provided by the 20mm thru-axle. My BLT is morphing into a creature of my own design, sweet!

Home Sweet Home

Aaron

Finally home after a whirlwind and bittersweet trip back east. It was good to see various family members, catch up a little bit and take care of some business that needed to get done as well. I was able to finally deliver the ceramic urn that I made for my Mother's ashes, and it was even All Soul's Day, the urn worked beautifully. We stayed with my sister so that meant I got to spend time with my nephew Aaron whom I love and adore. I actually got to buy him his first helmet while there, $3.00 at the thrift store, he'll wear it while riding his big wheel which he does with no thought of crashing, he's quite fearless.

A-Ron with his new helmet ready to rip it up.

After leaving Virginia we headed to Michigan for a visit with Craig's family. That was nice as well, getting to catch up with family that we don't see often enough and Craig being able to spend time talking with his father who is in the beginning stages of Althizmers.

Craig and his Dad.

I spent most of my time reading and I went for some runs around a local lake, the day after my first run I could barely walk, my muscles aren't used to being worked in that way. Though after that I was enjoying myself while running and really enjoying using an IPOD that we borrowed from a friend for the trip. What a difference music makes to running, now I'd like to get one of my own.
The Tercel which we now call Zippy worked great and got us home safely, the Midwest was bitter cold though and the folks around Chicago drive insanely, we got almost 40 MPG which was awesome and gas prices are way down.
I'm glad to be home, Colorado is so awesome, ready to get back into my life, ride my bike, run if it's too windy or cold, work in the studio, read more books, spend time with friends, go camping for Thanksgiving and all the other things that will certainly come along.

Land of the Rising Sun

This was my playground when I was little.

Craig and I are flying back to the Washington D.C. area this Saturday. We'll be visiting with my sister and her family as well as my step-father, they all live in Virginia outside of D.C. This trip will be bitter-sweet as it's the first time back since my Mom (outstanding Mother, person and dearest friend) passed in January, I'm not counting on it being particular easy but it will be good to see everyone and deliver a vessel that I made for her.

That's a bitchin' car!

We have been gifted my parents 1991 Toyota Tercel as well, ours is blue, it only has 130,000 miles on it and gets 35 mpg. I know you're all totally jealous but what can I say. Craig plans to use it to get around town during the week instead of the gas guzzler F150 he normally drives.

MI.

After a short visit in VA, we'll be driving to Michigan to visit Craig's Dad who lives with Craig's sister and her family. Craig's Dad is of ailing health as well and it's important the he sees him and spends some time with him.

There's no place like home and this ain't it.

Then we'll drive that dinky little Toyota home, buzzing through cornfield after cornfield, glad to be heading west, back to the mountains, hopefully back by the following weekend.

That's more like it..

Jenny's Art

I'm a huge fan of Jenny Mendes' artwork, she also works in clay but paints on the surface. Her imagery to me is fanciful and dreamlike, reminding me of the strange inner workings of the mind, soul and heart.

Photo credits are all Jenny Mendes, 2008.

Pinewood Version #3

Another Sunday and another great ride up at PW with Craig, Emma and Mr. JimiJames. I was psyched because I was going to get to ride with my best friend Emma, we've been super close friends and riding mates for over 10 years and we always have so much fun. The morning was chilly, Emma had many goose bumps, so we bundled up to begin the ride which we did somewhat differently, I'll call it version 3 of PW and I think my favorite as well. We parked a car in the town proper of PW, a shuttle, so we could ride a new to us really long, sweet DH back into the town. This DH section would turn out to be at least 20 minutes or so long and had some solid techy spots, a crowd pleaser. First though we headed to the TH, starting from Coulson Gulch this time and rode down to the saddle where we normally begin the ST.

Emma and Me all suited up and ready to go, what fine socks we wore.

Craig making his way up the first section of ST. We had shed a couple of layers by this time.

Nice wheelie Gurl!

Emma coming up on the notch exit.

Emma sizing up a drop.

Jim, Emma, Me and Craig with Longs behind. Such a lovely day!

After our break up on the western lollipop we headed down and then veered toward the Eastern section of ST, at which point we headed down a completely new to us section of ST, after a short climb the DH began in earnest, it was fantastic with tight turns, technical, rock pile sections (classic PW) and it just kept going and going. Finally we popped out on a dirt road that brought us back to town and a vehicle. Smiles were all around, another sweet fall ride with friends!

Emma borrowed a pair of Craig's socks, one of which didn't survive the ride too well, oh dear.

Life is Crazy/Life is Sweet

Yesterday was a bit of a crazy day for me. Started off nicely, October 22nd is my wedding anniversary, 14 years have whizzed by for Craig and I. He surprised me with flowers Wednesday late morning. He called to let me know he was in town and heading home, asked me what I was up to, if I was going to be at work or leaving work soon to run lunch time errands. I thought that was odd, usually he doesn't care what my routine is during the day. I told him I was getting ready to run out and when I left the building he was standing outside the door with a lovely flower arrangement, nice! I love getting flowers. The man did good.
So feeling pretty good I ran my errands, went to the Levi store and purchased some new sweet jeans, I love good jeans, I'm pretty particular too with my height but I found a couple pair in their Organic line that were funky and long enough. One pair is a skinny leg that I'll wear rolled up to go with a pair of ankle boots, I was so pleased. Anyway, I digress.
I decided to pick up our vacume cleaner from Wallaces, it had been repaired, upon leaving there I was broadsided by a westbound vehicle. I hate car accidents, only have had a couple in my life, they're so freaky and leave you feeling spaced out. I'm fine but my truck's gonna need some work.
Craig came down to help me and afterwards we went home where I called the insurance company, etc.
We did go out to dinner later at Zolo's which was really nice, a couple of marg's later I was more relaxed and had a full belly. Nice. So the day was crazy but not a total loss, such is life I suppose, full of sweet, delightful moments that sparkle and then WHAM, moments that kick you in the ass and leave you breathless, good and bad, everyday different. I love my flowers!

kickers and giggles in moab

Craig and I headed out Friday for a long weekend of camping and riding in Moab. On the agenda was to ride the 26 miles or so of Hazard/UPS/LPS/Porky Proper. We had beautiful weather forecasted so starting up at Hazard wouldn't be a problem. Craig's brother Randy joined us late Friday night, he was to be our shuttle driver Saturday morning up to Hazard.

Friday evening sunset on the La Sals.

Ringo and I at camp!

Craig and I about to head out on Hazard.

There's an obligartory 1/2 mile climb at the start and then 5 miles of DH. I got to wear my new socks on this chilly morning.

Me at the top of Hazard, the views were amazing and this picture doesn't do it justice. I wish I had wings.

At this point you head down Hazard for 5 miles to the Kokopelli Trail, which is two miles of 4WD road fun with whoops and jumps as well as pinch flats. This was a sign of things to come. Hazard was fun ST, with doubles and jumps thrown in here and there but I think the real fun didn't start until you hit UPS/LPS.

Me coming up on a jump somewhere on UPS.

UPS is so much fun, it's full of everything you could ask for. Fast, flowy ST, technical lifts, jumps and hucks, technical DH sections. I couldn't believe how much jumping I did, the practice in the backyard really helped a lot. I was jumping off things that I may have rolled a year ago. I was feeling really solid on 3 foot drops, following behind Craig at times and just launching off of things he was doing. It was so much fun and I literally couldn't get enough of it.

Me decending the first half of the Notch somehwere on UPS/LPS. A steep, technical section.

Craig actually didn't want me to ride the Notch, but I couldn't help myself, I love this kinda riding and had to try. I almost knocked him off the rock as he was taking this picture, sorry! Halfway down the Notch at what I would say is the crux is a 3 or 4 foot drop/turn into a rooted and rocky section, I didn't ride this part, I think it's beyond my ability at this point in time. After the Notch the trail is steep and somewhat technical, my rear tire was surfing/skating back and forth, fun. At the bottom I reliezed that the soft talc like dirt was thinly covering the surface of slickrock below and that's what led to the surfing, deceptive!

Another of me in the Notch, it was dark in there.

I can't begin to decribe how much fun this entire ride is including Porky Proper which I've ridden multiple times before but not in this order. Everything had challanging sections and the views were awesome. We didn't take anymore pictures on this ride, having too much fun riding and changing way too many flats. We managed to get 6 pinch flats between the two of us, due to the rough, rocky terrain and loads of jumping, BTW did I mention the jumping, sorry. We came with what we thought was prepared, 3 tubes, 3 C02 cartridges, patch kit and a pump, we blew through it all and we had to depend on my ability to politly beg, borrow and not quite steal from the other kind folks riding that day. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I mean I haven't had a flat in months and it became rather comical near the end of the ride, we just couldn't help ourselves from going hard. Despite the misfortune this was the BEST ride of the year and should not be missed, I was so stoked at the end. Later at the LBS I asked the fellow selling us more tubes, etc if running tubeless tires on that type of trail was the way to go out here and he said no way, for that kinda riding most run a DH tire like a Minnion with a durable tube inside, next time we'll come prepared.

Moving on, day two...

We decided to ride something mellower the next day as Craig's brother Randy was with us, it was his 40th birthday on Sunday. He broke his back 6 months ago and is just starting to ride again. So we thought the Soveriegn Trail would be a good ride for him. Not too tough but still technical in spots with lifts and some good DH, he could pace himself. Randy did really well considering and enjoyed himself. Craig and I kept our eyes out for more jumps, and of course we found them, it is Moab.

Craig and Randy on Soveriegn

Craig on some skinny ST.

Randy too.

Ooh, look a jump, yea!

Yes, please!

Rooma, Zoom, Zoom!

We stopped at a favorite art panel along the river on our way out. Such a magical place!