Author: Bill

  • Riding home

    Today, Mother Nature threw a wintry surprise our way – snow, and plenty of it! ❄️ But that’s just the beginning of the story. As if on cue, the wind decided to join the party and blew away the freshly fallen snow, leaving the trails in pristine condition.

    Now, you might be thinking, “Great, perfect conditions for a ride!” Well, here’s the twist – it wasn’t just cold; it was bone-chilling, teeth-chattering cold. The kind of cold that makes your breath turn into frosty clouds. And the relentless blowing wind? It didn’t let up.

    Yet, in true mountain biking spirit, I embarked on my usual 25-mile commute, affectionately known as ‘The Urban Legend.’ As I pedaled through the frigid air, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of adventure, a touch of madness, and a whole lot of determination.

    The ride took on an almost eerie quality as I ventured through what I fondly call “spookywoods.” The trees stood tall, their branches covered in a delicate dusting of snow, casting long shadows in the fading light.

    Then, as the day turned into night, I knew it was time to head back home. After all, there’s Missoula waiting for me tomorrow. Despite the cold and the snow, I relished the ride, knowing that I was squeezing in some quality time on the trails.

    As I reflect on today’s winter wonderland adventure, I can’t help but wonder what tomorrow has in store. Will it bring more surprises, more challenges, and more opportunities to explore the rugged beauty of Montana? One thing’s for sure – the thrill of mountain biking and the mysteries of nature will always keep us coming back for more.

  • A day in my life

    A day in my life

    Today I have traveled oh around 230 miles. 200 miles at 5AM from Missoula to Bozeman by car.  Then 5 miles by bike to work. At lunch I took a 10 mile bike ride for fresh air. Then after work a 15 mile “long way home” ride. It all started at 5 and now it is 10. Travel, work, play, and now unpacking.  I am tired. A day in my life.

  • Election day

    Election day

     

    Happy election day everyone. It is all pretty straight forward for me this time around. Usually I am on the fence. But this year the fence looks too uncomfortable to be on. So I went with what I did last time. I needed a 16 lawyer and advisement panel to decode the initives; why do they word them so confusingly? But in the end I figured them all out.  What about the judges … didnt vote for any of them except to vote in female … I dont trust the dudes, one of which had a pretty shady name.

  • Appreciate the trails

    Appreciate the trails

    Being on foot was a refreshing shift. After cranking out over 60 miles on the bike the day before, complete with a whole lot of climbing, walking the trails brought a whole new perspective. It reminded me of just how remarkable mountain biking is. To think, you cover all that distance, tackle all those tough terrains, with just a few spins of the pedals. Walking those same trails really drove home how efficient—and honestly, kind of magical—biking truly is.

  • Getting out of town

    Some people really “get outta town” when they go somewhere. Like Mexico and Switzerland. Me, I am not much of a world traveler.  I can find what I need in montana. But that dosent mean I dont travel.  In fact I love traveling. And in Montana it is large enough that traveling can take a while.  But is is always worth it. Traveling to hamilton to ride the Coyote Coolie Trail or cruising the back roads between the Crazy Mountain Range and the Bridgers.  Love getting out of town.

  • Where do you live

    Where do you live

    Ah, you’re speaking my language. A cozy cabin under the mountains sounds like heaven to me. Just the idea of waking up to a view of rugged peaks, a bit of morning mist clinging to the pines, and absolute quiet? I mean, where do I sign up?

    But no, like you, I’m not quite living that dream right now. You’re splitting your time between Bozeman and Missoula, huh? Those are solid places though, lots of character and some good people. But yeah, it’s not exactly the solitude of a mountain retreat. Sometimes you just want to be where the only sounds are the wind and maybe a curious elk wandering by, right?

    And yes, I’d swap out the city life for a mountain cabin in a heartbeat. There’s just something grounding about being in nature like that, where you can think without all the noise.

  • What the …

    What the …

    I have this pretty photo but for the life of me I cant rotate it so it looks crooked.  Isn’t that life. It seems beautiful but you gotta put up with the crooked. You live in a wonderful area but you travel away every weekend. Argh …o/o

  • Long way home notes

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    I got out of work late and with what remaining sunlight I did have on my “long way home” I thought of a time comming back to the cars after a hike and the sun was setting the same way.  I love how it highlights certain mountain ranges when the sun goes down.  And now the sun has set and I flip on my headlamp.  Immediately I notice something diffrent tonight.  There are little goblins and gouls running around.

  • Shafthouse

    Shafthouse

    What exactly is a “Shaft House,” and why is the trail called Shaft House Trail? Is it named after the historic buildings along the path? On a beautiful, sunny October Sunday, we hiked this trail, and these were the questions on our minds.

    Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to adjust or explore further.

  • Time for change

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    So Frog Hollow is coming up and I have decided to stop trying to defend my titles. I mean it is important to me to challenge myself but that is my point.  If I spent most of my time defending what I have won then at some point I will be to busy training and racing to do anything new.  What is it that will be the new thing?  I’ll cross that cattle guard when I come to it. For now … trying to come to terms with not going to Utah.

  • Color

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    Sometimes it is  landscape scene.  Sometimes it is form.  And some times it is the color, natural color, that captures my eye.  If I could only capture my experience.

  • Inside

    Inside

    Ok, I want to be outside.  Instead of inside. Downloading drivers.  And watching my computer update.  How do I get sucked into this crap. I am definitely in a slump. Sumer is over and I am just waiting for the snow to cover me up and break me down.

  • Upgrading

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    Windows Vista is crap, much like Windows Millennium. But now Windows 8 is out and I need to upgrade.  Two reasons, one being that it is only 40 bucks.  The other is that my old laptop will not upgrade to windows 7 … DVD driver issue.  I’ve tried.  Numerous times.  So this is what I am doing today.  Windows are like weeds that look pretty but attach themselves and make it hard to do laundry.

  • Having it good

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    Riding smooth gravel roads, even though at times they seem extremely rough, are easy. Imagine a time when you bump along the prairie in a wagon. On misdirected line and you break a wheel. No trees in sight. No materials.  Now that is going to be a pain in the ass repair.  Us?  We just pull put a cartridge and a tube. Worst case scenario a multi tool.  Yea … we have it good.

  • Still

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    “I think they still use it”

    “yea …”

  • Finally

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    We had been on the road for hours. To be honest I had hoped for dirt sooner. A gravel road headed North and we turned off onto it.

    “Which way should we go?”

    “Right, towards Bonanza Creek”

    Finally on dirt again we felt lucky to just be off the pavement. That is all that mattered…o/o

  • A brick is part of a larger structure

    A brick is part of a larger structure

    You know, sometimes a single brick seems insignificant on its own, just a hunk of clay or concrete. But take a step back and it’s part of something bigger: a wall, a home, a whole structure. Alone, it might feel small or isolated, but in reality, it holds everything together.

    Funny how that works with people, too.

    … I have nothing more to say…

    o/o