I can usually convince myself to attend a picnic if there is a bike park in the neighborhood. And also if there is a once in a chance to meet up with long-lost family.
I must explain that Mo and I are introverts, so if we spend the week at work with other humans we want to be alone on the weekends. Otherwise we go postal the next week. The only way to keep sanity is to avoid crowds on the weekends.
But there are exceptions. Like a sister from Texas and nieces and nephews from Missouri. And a rare visit to Billings Montana to see the parents. And with exceptions, we need to insert the bike rides.
We could do both, one day at Action Bike Park and one in Billings. And the following week at work was no enormous deal. We feel refreshed as ever. It is nice to see people once in a while, right?
I can not tell you how many online battles I can look back at and wonder how I reacted is such a way. One thing does stands out. It is always on a Monday. So years ago Mo and I sat down and created a rule for Monday. Just survive. Just survive and make it through Monday. Talk to no one and don’t start any shit online. Answer questions, yes. But hide under a rock and endure.
I feel Mondays are a readjustment back to reality. Where you HAVE to work. It requires you to be somewhere. You have lost your freedom. You can not just go out for a ride.
It all reminds me of a recent stint at Action Bike Park. It was 107 degrees that day and all I wanted to do was to be riding. But to do so would have been my demise. So I took a run and then rested in the shade. Took time, had a drink. Rested. I just survived.
Before long I could stand back up and go out for another lap… another run. Just survive, if something needs doing, do it tomorrow. Take a break and adjust. Live for another day.
Sure there is the ignition of wildflowers. But what option do they have? Their clocks say spring. Even when the outdoors do not agree.
As the rain pours outside for the third day in a row. I glance down to the alley and look at the pedals of flowers wash down the sewers. I must, must reflect back to a few days ago.
When the MONSTER (what I call the black cloud that never leave Livingston) changes to wild colors for every twilight, when one can identify the skys.
When now I can reach George Lake. When the Yellowstone recedes. When Arrow Leaf returns to Suce Creek.
And now it seems the weather is too grieving for the moments we live in.
I will agree that maybe it was not the most competent plan. After 2 weeks of pushing snow, we would have had to turn around. OK, whatever.
A friend once said just because it is impossible doesn’t mean I cant try. Or something like that.
And … it WAS raining. And … I was in no way going to influence snuggles to do all of this. Darn it.
“Let’s just take a walk.”
“Are you kidding me? Who hikes these days. So dull.”
“Well, I am going to go up that way so do anything you want.”
I put on my rain gear and agreed to just take a little walk until it started to rain. Then I would turn back. And it was acknowledged that I couldn’t bitch about anything anymore. Just be nice.
Whatever.
And of course, wouldn’t you know it … well, can you guess? The freaking thing turned out to be a 6-hour hike. We found so many cool things.
I really hate it when my fantasies don’t come true.
Once back I cracked a beer and so did she. I assembled my thoughts and now it is time to make a statement.
If someone finds themselves saying/writing that they don’t have a bias then something is suspect. I smell a salesperson. Being a good human that believes all beings are equal is not something you can just SAY. It is something that you dispense every day in your actions. If you don’t want to talk and learn from another then you are a bad human. The good news is that every day you have a chance to open up and stop being combative and tribal.
That paragraph is a litmus test. If it offends you or you find yourself getting a little bothered then do me a favor and let me know. If we can not talk through it and learn then please unfriend me.
It is so frustrating to open up a platform to see how someone is doing and see comments from others that I know and managed to respect just to find them close-minded and just being a sore on the planet’s ass.
Much much going on and to think about so there is much walking and escaping to enduro rides. Had to call in sick today for a family medical in Billings so it’s off to that joint.
About a year later as we camped at Carabella I brought it back up.
“Let’s go for that section you spotted in the recreation map last year”
“Totally”
We parked at the snowmobile parking lot because the Donahue Trail 183 South trailhead was closed with a closed gate. https://ridewithgps.com/trips/49934770 (our route)
Biking down the forest road the enthusiasm was growing. New trails are our pleasure drug. At the trailhead, the biking yearlong symbol affixed to the excitement.
Initially, the trail drops to Rock creek apparently skirting some private land but don’t get me started on people that believe it’s their land.
As my buddy likes in a blog post… Then it happened, lol. The pitch went skyward and we climbed for what seemed like a week. I climbed but Mo decided it too ridiculous and started hike-a-biking.
At the top of the ridge, the trail turns into some big ass evergreens and it is there we stopped for a pic-a-nic, as Yogi puts it.
After a discussion of how the Sage Brush seemed to be working to kill us on the last climb and a planned tuna sandwich, we headed into the pines.
We weaved into forests and connected on private roads which seemed to be hand-holding us to the next “Public” section. But it is there that it was undesirable to proceed.
Everything underwater and looking across a big snowfield I gave up the ghost.
Maybe another day. I caught back up to Mo who turned around ages ago and we departed back the way we came. Even failed endeavors are great. There is more excitement to connect the dots and still new trails to ride.
“Out on the streets, that’s where we’ll meet You make the night, I always cross the line Tightened our belts, abuse ourselves Get in our way, we’ll put you on your shelf Another day, some other way We’re gonna go, but then we’ll see you again I’ve had enough, we’ve had enough” ~Ratt
So I go to Town and Country our local store. I grab a bunch of supplies and I meet snuggles at Carabella. The first thing we do is go for a ride and head up towards the Sphynx Trail.
You know, kind of the usual stuff. We get back, hang out wet gear, put burgers on the grill, and crack some beers. Then afterward go for a little walk to take some flower pictures and sew up the evening by hanging out in the van reading or watching Seinfeld ore even checking out the sunset. Yeah, the usual escapades, I guess.
Trying to struggle free from the grasps of winter. Seeing signs that we are almost there.
Still, changes need to be made and loved ones are not around. People dying alone. People dying needlessly. I need to go for a walk.
Someone passes me in their car and I see a flag patch on an otherwise blank button-up shirt. Who is that and why do I feel like running. I stand strong and keep eye contact.
I mean during the winter I bitch and bitch. And then when we get our week of summer I am even more surprised at how I would rather it be this way all the time.
I think we need to stop taxing mother nature and just leave it out there to make the right decisions. Make Montana great again. Confused? Awesome, so am I.
“Double Kill”, was announced pre-sunrise. The war seemed to be turning in our direction. Then the enemy brought in the heavy hitters. It started with a bombardment of devil dust.
By noon the surrender flag was raised and we packed up our regalia and retreated to warmer regions.
We are now re-grouping and getting ready for another resurgence. I can’t say when since the enemy has moles in our organization. I will say soon.
It seems that with recent events everybody and their brother and their sister and their dogs and their birds are all going camping and using public lands. Every public area that we approach is overrun. The thing is. The Bureau of Land Management has abandoned these places. When they are being used the most. You will see signs on the bathrooms that they are no longer maintained. Maybe just shut down the area? Just a thought.
Usually. Somebody, Mo usually, will clean up a bathroom. So that they can still be used … but still. The next day they start to go south.
Our public lands are in far worse disrepair than one would think. People go out of their way to poop and around pee on the walls of restrooms. Even dump their garbage into them. We don’t even attempt to approach some. Often we find ourselves in that far corner away from everybody digging our holes.
And that’s what the BLM is doing, digging themselves a hole.
Boneshakerbike 