Day: April 10, 2024

  • It’s Different For Me

    It’s Different For Me

    Clutching the remote like it’s the last piece of pizza on game night, and barricading ourselves indoors feels a bit overkill these days. The world, stripped of the cacophony of do’s and don’ts, red tape, and 24/7 news cycles, somehow feels like slipping into your favorite hoodie—comfortable and just right. It’s as if we’re surfing through life’s hurdles, crafted by someone who’s an absolute wizard with a sewing kit. But honestly, isn’t that the case for all of us?

    Shrugging off the whole rebel vibe, or maybe just overlooking the itch for an escape from what some call the world’s circus, why not nix the whole virtual voyage to Rattlesnake Creek concept? Picture it: a jungle of laws, a straightjacket of regulations, just you trapped in a shoebox—sounds like a horror flick for the free spirits among us. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for playing by the book, but there’s something about throwing in the towel and settling for the snug fit of constraints that just doesn’t sit right. And let’s be real, we’re all in the same boat! I’ll just be over here, pouring one out for the dreamers.

    And then, waving off the thought of meditation—talk about watching paint dry, right? Fantasizing about being miles away from the tranquil, yet terribly silent, Rattlesnake Creek, cocooned in the humdrum of a cookie-cutter routine, is practically a high-five to conformity. It’s like willingly walking into a mind maze, choosing to wrestle with the world’s frenzy by diving headfirst into a pool of our own mental clutter.

    The stuffy feel of a room that’s seen better days, the eerie quiet that’s louder than any concert, and the noticeable lack of anything remotely wild—it’s the polar opposite of nature’s grand concert, and frankly, every spa playlist or meditation app pales in comparison. It’s a nudge, reminding us that maybe, just maybe, embracing the tight grip of our grumbles, societal handcuffs, and expectations might just mean keeping our peepers wide open and staying put. Because, surprise, it’s a universal theme! I’m here, dutifully following every decree, courtesy of the powers that be.

    So, how about we skip the zen session? Let’s all take a deep breath, hold it, and for a sec, just be, miles away from the mythical Rattlesnake Creek, in a space where our souls feel as boxed in and regulated as the great outdoors we’re overlooking. Maybe, in these instants of self-imposed exile, we’ll unearth the mojo to saunter through the simplicity of life with a bit less elegance and a tad more resolve to stick to our lanes (liberating, it ain’t). At the end of the day, it’s about sidestepping our own journeys around life’s literal and figurative rattlesnakes. It’s the same song and dance for us all … catch you on the flip side.

    As for that deep dive everyone’s buzzing about, here’s a snooze-fest of a link you’ll probably want to skip: https://youtu.be/OhxisV58nJw?si=l8-q8Rn3_i0BdlR3

  • From Milan to Minsk

    From Milan to Minsk

    https://youtu.be/wBoKrCAsrr4

    Or, you know, from the Valley of Fire to Gooseberry Mesa in my reality. Bighorn sheep just casually strolling around like they own the place. Totally awesome sight, especially with the backdrop of the sunrise that seems to set the sky on fire. I’m out there, trying to sneak around for a peek, playing my own version of wildlife paparazzi, hoping to catch them in their natural, desert-y element. Our campsite? Smack dab in the heart of the Valley of Fire. Yep, we’re those van campers, soaking in every sunset, living that boundless freedom life. Honestly, you just can’t top it.

  • And Now The Flik

    And Now The Flik

    Our plump-tire escapade through Gallatin Canyon? Just our typical Saturday shenanigans. Me, chasing Mo’s shadow on a snowmobile trail—yeah, she’s surprisingly zippy on ABBA, her bike. Living it up, youth on our side, for now. Catching glimpses of those majestic cliffs, I sneak ahead, turning into a hide-and-seek champion, all to capture her in action. And off she zooms!

  • Promises

    Promises

    The weekend is closely approaching and I lay in bed starring at the ceiling. I can not help but feel like a failure. My thoughts keep me awake. Kind of like a skyscraper in the sunset. I know that when the sun sets then the lights will just come on. I prefer to recharge at night. So I have to get to sleep. I haven’t yet brushed my teeth or done any bedtime chores tonight. This entire week I have slacked. I have not done cores this week at all. I have not even done my EMWave or N-Back training. I start to think, “what’s the point”. I am, or was, at a dangerous juncture.

    Tomorrow is a new day and I make some promises to myself. I fall asleep.


    Morning now I think back to the derailment last night. Like canoes out of water. I am not accustom to resolving or even thinking for that matter after 6. Bottom line, don’t think at night. Just go to bed.

  • Training to be broken

    Training to be broken

    The day before I noticed a certain soreness and fatigue that I brushed off as just being to heavy for some core exercises. Now I am running up the Foothills Trail and it is all I can do to keep from passing out. Even my head seems to heavy to hold up. Every fibre of my body and soul just wants to give up and lay on the ground. My brain intercepts and blackens my sight. It feels like I am going to pass out. If I just stand here and breathe it will go away.

    Hell intervals can break a man
    Hell intervals can break a man

    The second set of intervals were worse and I had to lie down 10 times in between to recover. I didn’t care, I was practicing my “pass out while riding” for future 24 hour efforts … and 3 day race efforts. Go until you pass out. Let your body recover naturally. Then get back up and hammer on. Yes. This is what I was doing. After my last interval I turned around to stammer back down the trail. The sun hit my face and warmed my soul. Another successful workout.

    Turning back the warm sun splashed across my face.
    Turning back the warm sun splashed across my face.
  • Deja-view

    Deja-view

    I’m up for work, and so far, the lack of exercise this week isn’t sitting well with me. Life gets so hectic when you’re working full-time. Standing there, I felt a mix of emptiness and a spark of adventurous wonder. Another day. Almost a new week. Glancing up, I noticed the sun was on the brink of rising, so I spun around and dashed for my camera.

  • Riggins

    Riggins

    The fishermen were up with the dawn, meticulously fine-tuning the drag on their reels, while the sun gently kissed the very tops of the hills surrounding Riggins, Idaho. Zzzzzzz. Zzzzzzz. But wait a minute! Why would fisher folks be up at the crack of dawn, pulling line out of their reels with such gusto, creating that unmistakable zzzzzzz sound?

    Ross sat bolt upright, and I felt the need to demystify the source of our morning symphony. “This lube is the real deal. Can you believe this chain is still slick after 50 miles in the desert?” I nudged the chain forward to tend to another section. Zzzzzzz. The freehub hummed a melody akin to a cyclist coasting down a hill, then fell silent.

    “This morning, I stepped outside, and the first thing that caught my eye,” I said, flinging the window open to reveal a hillside cradled by a trail snaking up the ridge. “Just feast your eyes on that trail.”

  • Racing with my friends

    Racing with my friends

    Oh boy, what a whirlwind of a Friday! Punched out of work at the stroke of 2 but didn’t manage to flee town till about 4. Ross and I bid adieu to Lolo around 5, only to crash into our beds at the ungodly hour of 1:40 AM on Saturday. Not exactly what you’d call a masterclass in race prep, huh?

    To add to my list of questionable life choices, I was harboring a gut bomb of some peanut-infused trail mix that I was positively certain would come back to haunt me at dawn.

    And haunt me it did. The next morning’s “issues” led me on a pilgrimage to Melba for what I hoped would be a magical trio: bacon, sausage, and a triumvirate of coffee cups aimed at… let’s say, easing the situation. Little did I know, I was on the brink of discovering my next big pre-race secret weapon. Armed with nothing but grease and caffeine coursing through my veins, I left my competition in the dust. Honestly, it was my best showing since the infamous Rolling Thunder.

    As we were driving away from the adrenaline-pumped scene at Barking Spider, Ross hit me with, “You must feel pretty good about today’s outcome,”

    “Well, of course… but,” I trailed off, my mind racing back through the day’s escapades. Let’s tally it up: started in something like 70th place, made a beeline to the front, and then zoomed off to outpace the pro field by a cool 3 minutes. The whole affair was nothing short of astounding, and it hadn’t really fully sunk in yet.

    “I’d trade it all in a heartbeat to get back what I’ve lost,” I murmured, my voice tapering into a mumble as I braced myself for the impending need to elaborate. Ross, bless him, stayed silent. Just like my pals back in Plattsburgh, NY, came to realize, I wasn’t racing solo today – brought my demons along for the ride.

  • Barking Spider This Weekend

    Barking Spider This Weekend

    Alright, so you’ve got a pretty packed schedule before hitting the road for Boise! Sounds like an adventure. Here’s the game plan:

    1. Today’s mission: snag that racing license and grab a “right to ride” coupon.
    2. Hit the road for Boise by 4, cruising down route 12. Fingers crossed those passes are looking clear!
    3. Plan for the night: Z’s in the back of your VW.
    4. Race time at the Barking Spider: you’re tackling the Experts category, 3 laps, starting at 12:30pm.
    5. Post-race, you’re off to Butte by 5. If you make it, great; if not, it’s another cozy night in the VW.
    6. Sunday’s for riding at Pipestone in the morning (timing TBD).
    7. Home by Sunday afternoon for those pesky chores and unpacking… gonna be a whirlwind.
    8. Quick thought: Are grocery stores open on Easter evening?

    Let me know if we’re gonna cross paths! Would love to sync up.

  • Barely Getting By

    Barely Getting By

    As soon as I got home from work the arrival of the latest storm had me bummed to the max.  Just moments before leaving work the sun was out and the temps were trying to reach 50.  They did not, in fact it started to rain with snow developing on the foothills … AGAIN! So I went home and plopped down in the couch. Ah, life in Missoula! It has character!

    Just an hour and a half before bedtime I dug deep, very deep, to salvage what time I had left for a workout.  I did Core and Jumps on the trainer for the rest of the evening.  I felt good to have salvaged what was supposed to be a wonderful mountain bike day turned horrible. Ah, life in Missoula! It has character!

    This morning I found myself wondering.  What should I do to get through the day until tomorrow which just happens to be pay day.  Three days until payday my fridge looks pretty bare.  Ah, life in Missoula. It has character!

    Tonight is the Thursday Night Ride … I don’t want to talk about it.  The weather is crap and I refuse to ride my new bike in crap.  So I guess I am looking at a cyclocross situation.  My K2 is broke … I tried to adjust the stem and broke it.  Ah, life in Missoula! It has character!

    Today’s Parting Thoughts:

  • Lolo Pass 2 Idaho Ride Today

    Lolo Pass 2 Idaho Ride Today

    Hey, folks! Bill here, ready to share my biking plans and a few adventures from the saddle. Today’s plan is to hit the trail and ride out to Lolo Pass, venturing into Idaho as far as these legs can pedal me. I’ve got my trusty camera gear with me because you never know when a photo-worthy moment might pop up.

    I’ll be kicking off from Missoula around 9ish, aiming to get on the bike by 10AM. My starting point will be the Lee Creek campground just past Lolo Hot Springs. Unfortunately, Marcy is sitting this one out; I don’t expect to be on the road for more than 5 hours, and I’ll be covering around 50 miles in total. My legs are feeling a bit worn out after a week of road biking, so that’s my sweet spot for today.

    Yesterday, I ventured out towards Frenchtown, but boy, the winds were giving me a hard time. The terrain was flat, but I was riding under my training heart rate to give these legs some well-deserved recovery time. Managed to squeeze in about 18 miles – not a lot, but it did the trick for a recovery ride.

    Now, I’m looking forward to the weekend, and if you don’t hear from me by the end of Monday, well, send out the state troops on ol’ Route 12 because I might be hitching a ride on a logging truck. Just kidding, but you never know where these adventures take us!

    And for those curious about the stats, here’s a quick look at my biking log:

    • Miles This Month: 118.78
    • Miles This Year: 354.85
    • Climb This Month: 8,445.06 ft
    • Climb This Year: 10,936.06 ft

    If you want to check out the route or some photos from today’s ride, head over to my website. Until next time, keep the pedals spinning and the adventures rolling!

  • Anger Management

    Anger Management

    Today will drag on forever. I’m in perfect mental health. I’m ecstatic about my roommate keeping me awake all night, and I’m thrilled about another matter, which is so impersonal it’s not worth mentioning. Despite the lack of challenges, I’m struggling to remain negative and doubt I’ll learn anything of value today.