Month: March 2017

Saturday we traveled to Hamilton. Once there we had some time to kill so we walked around downtown and ate at Bitterroot Brewing. The latter was a big mistake because soon my gut was aching and we had to go to our room so that I could lay down. Maybe it was all the stress of the weekend. Soon the person responsible for our new acquisition arrived and I jumped up to greet him.

As we waited for the delivery we chit chatted and got caught up on the happenings around the Root. Around 10pm it was time and everyone went into action. We all scurried to the delivery barn.

As the doc was telling us a story I got the first glimpse of the new baby. There it was … looked so tiny.There were minor complications but the doc fixed it up and finally was in my arms. Delivery time was officially at 10:30pm with a weight of around 33 pounds. Heavy little brute! We chatted about all the things we needed to do to keep our new edition healthy and hopefully around for a while. I was given some toys and supplies and we left with our new bundle of joy.

We stayed up late just looking at the newbie. So may intricate parts. So cute. Still though we had no name for it. We don’t even know the gender although we do know it was definitely trans-platform. 27 plus but sometimes a 29er. But we are cool with that.

I was up all night, once to clean minor leakage in the undercarriage. I was exhausted and got spotty sleep. Morning came and after coffee we went out for it’s first ride. It was all a blur. Our new edition was well behaved and did around 20 miles on it’s first outing.

We checked in one more time with the doc and took our little Cruz home. All the while Mo was driving I was in the back tickling and holding the new edition.

The family is now at home and everyone is getting to know each other. We don’t have the space but we are making do. Ruby is sharing her room for now.

Let the new adventures begin …o/o

It has been a long time since I went to a race by myself. But Mo was so sick she couldn’t get out of bed. And I did what every caring partner would do. I considered not going. And to be honest, I was not feeling well just yet anyway.

But then I got a sign. Upon going outside I was greeted by a fox on the porch. It did not run away immediately. It just looked into my eyes. I swear I heard a whisper … “do it … go to the race”.

So I did.

The race itself I feel good about. I was relaxed and managed my energy stores very well. I gave it my all and nothing more. Instead of racing to the front I just stayed my pace. I never buried myself and reminded my self that I was so lucky to even be able to be out there. Racing in extreme beauty. I settled into 3rd and stayed there. I did not even see anyone else, except for someone who passed … but then flatted. I gave him my pump and continued. Never seen him again! Since I turned 50 I have not had a good race. I am going to chalk this one up to that. A good race.

I did not get to stick around much as I was concerned about Mo. I missed out on catching up with friends. Like a fox I raced back to the cabin.

We were sick. But when you already have the forest service cabin rented it can somehow inspire you to go anyway. Even for a couple of sick people. Saying, “we can probably just drive it it anyway”. The fatbikepack into Hells Canyon Guard Station was pretty taxing and probably not the best decision we have ever made.

When Mo passed out in front of the wood stove I realized that maybe this was not such a good idea. I was up all night making tea and keeping things warm. Mo wheezed and coughed.  As the sun cracked the ridge the coughing stopped for 5 minutes. I slipped outside to check out the surroundings. Then a storm hit.

By the end of the storm Mo was up and messing about. I went outside to grab some wood and to also discover that we got a fresh 4-6 inches. There is something about fresh snow. It’s inspiring some how.

Even for a couple sick people and inspiring enough to do an adventure ride. Say, “just down the road a bit to see how the conditions pan out”. Turns out conditions were perfect and we went a lot further then anticipated. Mo played it safe and went back early while I stayed out.

I rode to the top of a ridge that looked out over the valley where we came from the night before. I wondered if Mo made it back to the cabin. I figured I better check and rode back. She was nestled in drinking tea and doing cross word puzzles.  And then the sun came out.

There is something about the sun shine. It’s inspiring some how. Even for a couple sick people and inspiring enough to do an adventure hike. Say, “just down the road a bit to get some fresh air”.

But the little adventures started to take their toll and we found ourselves back at the cabin to take naps and try to recover. The sun was setting and another storm rolling in. There is something about the darkness during a storm. It’s inspiring some how. Even for a sick guy and inspiring enough to do an adventure ride. Say, “just up the road a bit to test the way out tomorrow”.

And then I did it again. Got lost in the adventure. Riding by headlamp, pressed for time because a storm was near. Plus I was halfway around a big theoretical loop. Mo was monitoring me via radio from the cabin. But then I rode out of radio range. Now alone should I go for the loop or turn around? I went for the loop.

There is something about going for it without anyone knowing where you are headed. It’s inspiring some how. Even for a sick guy and inspiring enough to finish an adventure loop. Say, “I know this loops around somehow”.

We tried to get farther but the rear differential went out and we had no traction. We could get more stuck then we were so we got turned around and found a good place to park. It would have to be bike-packing from here. Gosh, I assumed we would get farther.

Biking was easy for a while. But then the road started to turn wet, then snowy. Eventually it was obvious why we brought fat bikes. We reached the cabin later that night. The snow was just soft enough to encourage walking the bike. Darn,  it was a lot harder then we expected.

We should know better, right? Never assume that it will be easy. Mo slumped in front of the newly built fire and I set about to get us some grub. Wow, I expected her to feel better.

As we approach spring we should not have any assumptions. And we all know this. Just when you think that there is more light during the day. Or the snow seems to be melting. In Montana there is no such thing as spring. There are days that seem like spring but then the next 10 below and snowing. No, usually it just becomes summer one day and it skips spring. Just like that, sometime in July … it is summer.