Day: March 20, 2024

Day 3 at the Pipestone Training Camp, and folks, it’s as if Coach Bear took it upon himself to personally redefine human limits—and my ability to stand without looking like I’ve just discovered gravity. We kicked off with what I’ve lovingly dubbed the “deceptive saunter” spanning a breezy 0.72 miles. Seems relaxing, doesn’t it? Zoom to later in the day, and we’re not just talking about a lunch ride; we’re talking a lunch expedition that saw us conquering 16.58 miles with a skyward struggle of 2,300 feet.

But why call it a day there? After work, since our legs hadn’t yet thrown in the towel, we embarked on another 19-mile odyssey, ascending a “modest” 2,203 feet. By this stage, I’m half-convinced my bicycle is drafting a breakup text to me.

And just when you think it’s finally time to hit pause, boom—downhill frenzy! This “quick sip” morphed into a 39-minute, 6.4-mile blitz with a 1,139-foot descent, essentially my adrenaline’s way of pinching me to say, “Yup, still not a dream.”

Here I am, sprawled out, pondering whether my arms will ever heed my commands again, and all I can do is chuckle at the sheer lunacy of it all. Today wasn’t just about pushing boundaries; it was about buying those boundaries a one-way ticket to the next galaxy over. Exhaustion? Met its match. Satisfaction? Redefined. Day 4, you’re on notice—ready or not, here I come?

Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness? Man, that place is a certified slice of heaven on Earth, let me tell ya! Nestled along that rugged stretch of the Oregon coast, it’s an oasis of natural splendor that never fails to take my breath away.

Just picture it: you’re standing there, the salty sea breeze whipping at your face, and before you looms this majestic trio of towering rock formations jutting defiantly out of the crashing waves. It’s like nature’s own architectural masterpiece, sculpted by the relentless power of the Pacific. And let’s not forget the real stars of the show – the thousands upon thousands of seabirds and marine mammals that call this place home. Tufted puffins, marbled murrelets, bald eagles…you name it, they’ve got it!

I remember the time I laid eyes on that scene, it hit me like a ton of bricks. There I was, a peaks person through and through, gawking like a kid in a candy store at this raw, untamed beauty.

If you’re a nature nut like me, or just someone who appreciates a good jaw-dropping view, you owe it to yourself to experience Three Arch Rocks.

A couple of days ago, it snowed again. While the locals are complaining about the storm, I have been taking advantage of opportunities to ride in the snow. Soon, it will all be gone. I have been riding these trails to, from, and around work since I got the new bike last December. Wouldn’t it be cool to reach 1,000 miles riding in the snow before spring arrives? In this photo, we were at mile 10… today we are around 40 miles away from reaching the grand total of 1,000 snow miles. Anyone interested in a long ride after work?

The weird thing about waiting rooms is the TV. The second hour in the waiting room, I was glued to it. Trying to read the captions to try and figure out what the figures on the screen were saying. To make things even more challenging, the volume was up a little, so I could hear sound. But the sound was out of sync with the text…very confusing. In the end, I didn’t actually understand what was happening, but it was something to stare at. My mind was on someone in the operating room, so I don’t think I could have really been “into” what was going on anyway. My mind was drifting, imagining biking aimlessly through a desolate desert.

As the third hour approached, I started doing calculations. We arrived at 6:30, and it was now 9:30. The first hour, we sat and waited for some IV drugs to take effect. There were some tough moments to handle. There is a risk going into surgery, and we were realizing it as one of us was in a gown and the other sitting to the side. I was the onlooker and felt helpless, and I have to say, I don’t like seeing someone I care about getting hooked up to be “jacked out” of consciousness. I mean, as humans, it’s all we have, right? It’s what makes us alive. My mind was drifting… I needed to focus. I imagined biking aimlessly along in that desert. The damn TV was so easy to look at, but I needed to appear as if I was watching it because I was dreaming of being lost in an ever-ending region of desolation. I looked at the clock – 10:30.

Okay, recalculating. Surgery started at 8…so she had been under for about 2.5 hours. I was worried. All the thoughts of a bad anesthesiologist kept creeping into my head. She is so small…what if? The stress was unbearable, so I stood up and walked over to the window. A long walk, as I imagined getting off my bike now and feeling the hot sand beneath my feet. Walking the bike now to an endless horizon.

In the parking lot, a car stood out. A golden Focus wagon with a Salsa Mukluk on the roof. It looked way out of place, as did the fat tire bike on top. Usually, I would think how cool it looked, followed by a urge to go ride it. But instead, I nervously went back to the couch and started glaring at the TV again. I comfortably slipped back into my dream stare, back on my bike and pushing towards the horizon…somewhere in the middle of nowhere. It was now 11:30 and approaching noon.

A nurse came into view and walked past me. I made eye contact to see if I could garner any information. She walked past me and into the arms of another. This must be her boyfriend. I wished I could hold my girlfriend. I then overheard her mention that one ACL surgery was down and one to go. She sighed, and I tried to soak in all the nuances of her expression to try and figure out what had happened in the operating room. I couldn’t bear it any longer, and full panic started to set in. I slipped back into my stare at the TV and was again transported to my desert…and my bike. My phone rang. It was the surgeon.

“She did very well, and it all went okay. We were able to use a piece of her hamstring successfully. We now just have to wait for her to wake up. I’ll call you tonight.”

“Thanks doctor, thanks for everything.”

Bacon tastes so good. And if it is cooked just right, the fat becomes crispy and just a wonderful explosion of hickory smoky flavor. That is what I am experiencing now. Also, the smell of my freshly made espresso wafts through my apartment, and a fresh toasted raisin bagel (gluten-free, of course) eagerly awaits its turn to be eaten. I have already visited my local free Wi-Fi haunt to check on some of my favorite blogs and post a plea for someone to ride with today. The weather channel barks out the reason no one has answered my cries. Wicked winter storms are barreling their way up the Western coast and headed our way. But I don’t care about all these details right now. The biggest question is where to ride. I am using a topo map program to rummage around for a local place to explore. I use the TopoFusion program. I love TopoFusion.

Yesterday, I found plenty of people to ride with, and plenty of miles were recorded. I rode out to Clinton for the yearly Missoula cyclists’ right of passage. Well, if you are a road racer. I am not, but I like those dudes. Um, most of them anyway. Some jerk-weed started yelling at me that I had caused an accident. In reality, I was behind two junior riders who collided with each other and went down. I proceeded to ride over a back wheel and continue but had nothing to do with it. Once accused, I quickly defended myself and slowed the pace for a possible fist fight. After it was obvious this guy was just being a jerk, I returned to pursue the main field. But they got away, so I towed a small pack around the course twice, finished up, and rode 20 miles back home. I think I better stay away from that sport. I just don’t fit in and can’t seem to conform to the “laws” of road racing. I hope I didn’t piss too many people off. Well, maybe a few. Ha.

As my program loads map tiles, I get excited. I love planning a new adventure. Somewhere you haven’t been. Mysterious landscapes which topo maps only provide tiny details. What that land has in store for me, no one can tell. I just know where I want to go. Then I go out and see what the land has in store for me.

Time to head out. At least today, I know I will not piss anyone off or get into a scuffle. I will be alone. Just the terrain, a network of gravel roads, and some possible single-track.

This is the final installation in a series of 22 blog posts that I am dedicating to my favorite photos of 2009. I took this photo on December 27th, 2009 at 5:32 PM very quickly with my Canon SD 1000.

It is just plain pretty, right? Last night, I was doing my run intervals in the South Hills, enjoying the pretty landscape, and the sun started to set. I have to say this is my favorite time of the day. Imagine if we had no stress at work and were able to enjoy every evening like this?

This weekend, I am going to Pipestone on Sunday with a friend. It will be good to reunite with the Pipestone crew. Then, next weekend, it’s off to Lewiston, Idaho, for the first race of the season. Lewiston is always warm and bursting with spring beauty at this time of year.

Isn’t it remarkable that most beauty and the experiences that come with them are free, just like this photo? Free for us to enjoy. And there are those that yearn to buy the latest cool thing. I am sure glad it doesn’t cost anything to view winter fire.

After work, I was greeted at the door with a box from Price Point. My new kit from my new team ‘Unattached’ had arrived. I couldn’t help but try on the new gear to see if I would look out of place at the races. I must say that I really like the Fox Racing jersey; it’s lightweight, has a full zipper, is inexpensive, and even has a sunglass wiper – how cool is that?

Last night, my buddy Josh showed up with some beers, and a simple shifter replacement turned into a mild overhaul of the cable system. You know how it goes when you’ve had a bike for a while and it’s been a bit neglected. You take off one thing to fix it, and you have to replace or repair all the adjoining parts.

Tonight is the Thursday Night Ride (http://thursdaynightmtbr.org/). I’ll see you all there!

I just got back from the airport where I dropped off my good friend Paul. I’m going through so many emotions and physical sensations right now that I cannot pinpoint exactly how I’m feeling. This song keeps playing in my head, “give me emotion… la la la la la.”

Yesterday was our last hurrah. We went to Lolo Pass for some dreamy, creamy telemark skiing. After that, we spent the afternoon looking through the bargain bins at REI. To finish out the day, we stopped at the Iron Horse Saloon for our last meal together. What a week!

Now I must go to work, and frankly, I don’t know if I can survive the day. A sore heart, sore ribs, exhaustion, and loneliness! I sure hate it when a good friend leaves. Just like in the movie “Touching the Void,” I plan to set little goals for myself. I’ll try to make it through the first hour, then to break time, and on to lunch. If I can only make it through the day!

Good morning, world! Bill here, and it seems like the apartment’s shrubs have met their match – the landlords decided to give them the chop. Now, anyone strolling down the street can take a sneak peek into my humble abode. But hey, let’s not dwell on that because there’s a snowy spectacle outside right now. Snowstorms are putting on a show, but the catch is, it all melts away within an hour.

Now, let’s rewind a bit and chat about last week. Well, it wasn’t the most successful adventure, I must admit. I wasn’t exactly feeling like a million bucks, but I decided to give the South Fork of Lolo Trail a shot. I made it to the junction where Lantern Ridge begins, and the trail continues back down to the South Fork of Lolo Creek. But then, Mother Nature decided to throw a fierce snowstorm my way, and visibility went from hero to zero in seconds. I had about a foot of snow dumped on me in that last mile before I had to make the tough call to turn back.

But you know me, I’m not one to shy away from a challenge. Today’s plan, weather permitting, is to tackle Lantern Ridge and conquer Lolo Peak. Now, why am I a bit skeptical? Well, those pesky snowstorms are in the forecast, and if I can’t snap some decent photographs, then Lolo Peak will have to wait for another day. As a side plan, I’m thinking of sticking to the South Fork of Lolo Trail until I stumble upon some creek or waterfall opportunities. And yes, Marcy’s joining me on this adventure!

Don’t forget to check out the map for a sneak peek at the route. So, whether it’s clear skies or a snow-filled wonderland, the adventure must go on. Stay tuned for updates, and let’s see if we can make it to the peak today. Until next time, keep exploring, stay warm, and embrace the unexpected!

In 2004, Coca-Cola, which had faced a contamination scare in Europe just five years earlier, was forced to withdraw its controversial Dasani brand of bottled water from the UK market on Friday. This action was taken after the company discovered that Dasani contained illegal levels of bromate, a potentially carcinogenic chemical. The embarrassing voluntary recall came just weeks after Dasani’s turbulent UK launch, during which Coca-Cola was criticized for using tap water instead of a natural spring as its source.

Dasani, which had been sold in the US since 1999, is essentially treated and bottled tap water. Coca-Cola had claimed to be able to improve the water’s purity through a process perfected by NASA, the US space agency, before adding “a perfect balance of minerals.” However, on Friday, Coca-Cola admitted that the much-vaunted manufacturing process had inadvertently introduced illegal levels of bromate, a chemical known to increase the risk of cancer through long-term exposure.

While the UK’s Food Standards Agency stated that there was no immediate risk to public health, the incident served as a painful reminder of a poorly handled 1999 health scare in France and Belgium that had become a public relations problem for Coca-Cola.

Still don’t know how to use my camera yet. Because of that, I haven’t been reading my emails. I must have millions of them by now. If you are one of those and it is important, call me. Otherwise, I am just too busy playing (learning) my new camera.