Day: July 22, 2022

recently I have noticed somebody taking pictures that have bypassed me in beauty and composition. Mo is in Yellowstone National Park. And of course she’s taking lots of images of plants. My favorites are the flower close-ups.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, I mean Livingston Montana, I am working remotely and hanging out in our downtown apartment. I look out the window and dream of my bike right after work where I will be immersed in wildflowers.

And yes, Mo is also working. But in a different way. I mean, she’s immersed in flowers all day long and hangs out in her apartment after work. And I am immersed in my apartment all day long, but get out in wildflowers after work. Funny how that works.

Speaking of funny things. I don’t mean a funny subject but funny how things work out. Congratulations to Jill and Beat 🙂

Today in history.

At the beginning of every week in the summer I head out to Suce Creek and hit up Suce. Its steep and loose in parts although near the end of summer tends to get overgrown. It is a fun little “quick and dirty”.

1. Do my thing over at https://photos.google.com/, pro tip is to save a link to the gallery. You know, in case I want to blog a few sentences and lure in people to share with.
2. Transfer to https://imgur.com/user/boneshakerbike/posts, again saving a link as per discussed above.
3. I will create https://boneshakerbike.wordpress.com/ post, configuring it according to taste which will share to https://www.facebook.com/Bills-Web-Lodge-103875108068198 and https://twitter.com/boneshakerbike/ at a time of my choosing.
4. If I still feel a powerful urge to share, I can sprinkle some https://instagram.com/boneshakerbike/ throughout the day.

So today I did not get out for a big adventure and lifes journey continues on from yestarday.  It was the day for more social and family but today is good enough. Just like traying to navigate around a creek. Sometimes you dont find what you are looking for. But it is always good.

It has started to rain finally so I guess I better head for home. The week started with a couple of 90 degree days and ended with some cool 60 degree versions. Tonight is spectacular. I really don’t know what I am doing, just riding around. Some tunes from One Republic blasting from my iPod shuffle now. I ride my bike when I don’t know what to do. Today I read some posts from my old Thursday Night Ride group in Missoula and now I wonder if I made a mistake. Is this home sick? I keep riding on…o/o

For those days we felt like a mistake, Those times when love’s what you hate,  Somehow,  We keep marching on.

I am finally settling in and even have found some time for rides. This Thursday my friends and I rode a long toot around a place called Mystic Lake high in the mountains. My  mind has been busy with  constant reminders that I have a couple 100 mile races coming up. That makes me panic a little. Tonight as I ride and the tune “Marching On” blasts out more lyrics I think about a close friends recent battle in a hundred effort . I keep riding on …o/o

We’ll have the days we break, And we’ll have the scars to prove it,  We’ll have the bonds that we save,  But we’ll have the heart not to lose it.  For all of the times we’ve stopped,  For all of the things I’m not.  We put one foot in front of the other,  We move like we ain’t got no other,  We go when we go,  We’re marching on.

I round the bend and now on the home stretch I coast a little and think about the future, even the near future. At 5 AM my friend Paul rolls into town and we will drive to Missoula. A drive to watch another dear friend race in a national series race. I stop at a light and it comes into focus, beyond the city elements. Beyond the stop light and street signs. Out in the distance. The mountains, they beckon. I guess I have it all. Friends, bonds, and a place to ride to remember them.

There’s so many wars we fought, There’s so many things we’re not,  But with what we have,  I promise you that,  We’re marching on

And I continue to ride on…o/o

Today I visit my bank. It is not planned but due to an online business called Quicken Online I am left without a personal finance solution. I don’t have much, maybe $23.45, but I do have bills and all the things modern society forces upon us. I have to see where things are coming and going. Quicken Online was great because it worked with my iPhone but recently they have decided to shut down the service.

I spent the entire day yesterday (when I wasn’t working, eating, and wondering around aimlessly) trying to get another solution running. So now I have to go into my bank at lunch and request some kind of access credentials. What crap. I remember the day when a new computer came with MS Money and it just worked seamlessly with your bank. Now it is complex.

I woke up from the couch last evening realizing that I had a mental breakdown pass out and fall asleep episode. The first thought was to do a relaxing ride with a few little sprints to air out my physical being. I decided upon Jumbo Saddle and then over to Kim Williams. A nice little 1:20 jaunt.

It was nice to finally get out and hit the trails. Soon the stressful day melted away and I found the earth to be embracing me with its warm afternoon sun.

Riding on my old bike the “Leader” I found the evening sun was lighting up the landscape in such a way that I found it very healing and it rejuvenated me enough to pull out my camera a snap off a couple beauties.

Today is Missoula Thursday Night Ride. Who is going? see you at Maurice and South around 6…o/o

This course has been in existence for many years and is notorious for it

I just finished off a gigantic plate of pasta and fresh parmesan cheese. Camp is all set up and I am just about to hit the sack. It is a comfy 45 degrees and I am leaving off the fly so I can drift off to sleep under the stars. The King of the Hill race is tomorrow and I am all set to race.

I took it easy today and got to the Showdown Ski Area around 7:30 p.m. Ross rode with me from Helena and that made the trip a lot more enjoyable.

I pre rode the course and the entire loop took me about 30 minutes. It is a real short loop and tomorrows race should be real short provided I don’t crash.

The downhill sections are real dangerous so I am concerned about my friends. I don’t expect a good result because it is short and I am taking the down hills extremely tentatively.

So signing off from camp where all I hear is the rushing stream right beside my tent. Pleasant dreams!

Altitude has its Advantages. Nestled in the heart of the Little Belt Mountains you’ll find Showdown Ski Area . Since 1936, Showdown has been known for its family friendly atmosphere and amazing all natural snow.

Hello from the Break Espresso in downtown Missoula Montana where I sit looking out the window at a beautiful sunny day in its infancy. I have in front of me a muffin of unknown species but I do know that it has chocolate chips in it. It seems to be a mix between a bran muffin and a chocolate chip cookie, quite tasty with a cup-o-joe. This is a big weekend with two big events. The first big event is a race on top of Kings Hill Pass just north of White Sulfur Springs and the other big event is the arrival of my friends from New York.

Today is building up to be a busy one. I have to gather supplies with no cash on hand and manage to make my way to the Showdown Ski Area where Ill camp and race Sunday morning at the King of the Hill Mountain Bike Challenge .

Once I have raced I must rush home to pick up my friends from New York as they arrive around 4 PM. It will be quite a day Sunday as it will seem that the race will not end until I make it back before 4.

So here I sit now enjoying the benefits of caffeine making Citi Bank’s grocery list and prepare to get Citi Bank gas before setting out on this week ends big adventure. Life goes on so don’t go on with out life! What’s in your Wallet?

Well, I am off to California. Sighning off! I seem to be remembering Sept. 11th a lot now. I think I am scared to fly now.