Dirt and Bikes...

Sunset on the Aqueduct, My contest entry (see the last paragraph)

Hi All,
It has been a busy few weeks since my last post, and it is time to bring you up to date on the on-going adventures here in our new home. I have been working on several projects that relate well to conditioning and physical fitness; working on the back yard landscaping project, and actually spending some time repairing and riding my bikes.

Shovels anyone? Kathy, our neighbor Leena, and I moved this 6 cubic yards to the backyard in a little more than 4 hours!

Mmmmmmmm, Sprinklers, topsoil, and fresh sod!
The main thing I have learned is that I am getting much stronger from all the physical labor of landscaping our yard! Kathy and I have spent many Saturdays looking at the world from the working end of a shovel and wheelbarrow. And I have to admit a great sense of satisfaction every time we finish another part of the project. We work on the project together, enjoy the fruits of our labors, and get wonderfully dusty and dirty in the process!

Before...

After.... Come visit and sit on the patio!

I worked on all 3 bikes!
And, speaking of bike maintenance let me mention right here that adding a cycle-computer to the Surly LHT was a bad idea. Yes, it tracks the miles I have ridden, however it also shamelessly indicates the woeful average speed I am riding these days. This is the penalty I pay for basically being off the bike since last spring.

Brian's very own dump truck....
The fact that I am in poor cycling shape needs to stay in perspective; yes, I am not riding a lot of miles, but in the great scheme of things it has been a great few months. Amy and Jon keep us smiling from their adventures with Andy K, and Paul and Christina’s son, Brian calls often to tell of his view of the world. Just ask him about dump trucks and he will tell you all about it! So, my miles will come eventually. One day at a time. I just keep plugging along.

The naughty hill I climb to get to the Aqueduct...
Speaking of riding; tonight I am heading out on a group ride sponsored by a local bike shop. I happened across this shop in search of new tubes for the Surly. Block Bikes of Lancaster; from the outside not the fanciest shop around. But, once I went inside I found a vast inventory of all classes of bikes, and friendly knowledgeable folks who RIDE. Their emphasis is getting people on bikes! A nice place. I found out that Block sponsors a group ride every Wednesday evening. It’s a local fun ride, not a race, and not a “Critical Mass” type of ride. More a family outing geared (pun?) towards people spending time on their bikes. We’ll see how things shake out. I am taking the Virginia GT for the ride – 20-25 miles at a leisurely pace. Look for a report in a few days.

Moonrise over the desert...

And lastly, my friend Alan Barnard, web genius of EcoVelo.info, is sponsoring an Endless Summer photo contest. Check out this link; Here, and enjoy some wonderful cycling photography. I will be submitting my entry today. Who knows, maybe I’ll win a doorprize!
See down the road…
Jim

An Unexpected Surprise...

Sunset along the aqueduct...
Hi all,
Once again, a planned route turns into an unexpected pleasure. This evening, as Kathy was headed off shopping with a neighbor, I was inspired to take a quick evening spin. It was a lovely outside, not too warm, not chilly, and the usually ever-present Antelope Valley wind machine was taking a break. So, off I went for what was supposedly a quick neighborhood spin.

My Surly Long Haul Trucker...
The Barcroft Virginia GT is non-op, awaiting a new rear tire, so I took the Surly LHT. I have the bike configured with lights, so if it got past twilight I would be reasonably safe riding home. I headed west towards Highland High School to revisit some of the roads we had walked last Sunday up towards the Joshua Ranch Trailhead. While we had been hiking last Sunday, I noticed a short, VERY steep little hill off to the north. As I rode near this hill, I was inspired to try and ride up it, and see what was up there.

The road follows the aqueduct for miles! I started my ride in the lower-right corner, near the High School...
Well, after 200 yards of gasping, wheezing, down- shifting, and minor swearing, I discovered a lovely surprise; The California Aqueduct. Now, I am sure that some of you are pondering why I would be so overjoyed at a man-made river, lined with concrete. It wasn’t the Aqueduct, it was the beautiful smooth road that followed it, disappearing into the distance! So, for 200 yards of gasping, I was rewarded with miles upon miles of perfectly smooth, unpopulated, quiet, peaceful riding.

Just look at that beautiful road to ride...
Suffice to say, I rode home in the dark! What a pleasant surprise, going out for a routine spin, and discovering new road, and a safe place to ride. One never knows what to expect from the seat of one’s bike!
More news later this weekend,
Jim

A Hike and Bike Weekend

Looking north, towards Lancaster with Mojave in the distance...

Hi all,

Yesterday, I took the Surly LHT out for a spin. I had intended to test ride my route to work, double-checking the shoulders and other assorted safety issues. But, as I got to Palmdale Blvd, I stopped to take a picture, looking west towards Leona Valley. As I got back on the bike, I had to wait for another cyclist who was coming up the bridge. As he passed, we chatted briefly, and after a short discussion about not having any particular direction to go, we decided to head west together, towards Leona Valley, not east as I had planned.

Looking west, and Elizabeth Lake Road and miles of gentle climbing...

This turned out to be one of those good news/bad news situations. The good news was that the ride towards Leona Valley was lovely; a nice sunny day, not too much traffic, and nice country cruising. The bad news was that I am woefully out of shape and as I climbed west up Elizabeth Lake road, I was wheezing and shifting to easier gears. I guess due to moving, and all the work travel, there hasn’t been a riding season for me, and it feels like I have wiped the slate clean, and am starting over again.

Joshua trees and Juniper trees, just west of our house...

In the long run, it was a lovely ride. I met a new friend; Dave, a contractor/engineer who lives close and works up north in Mojave. He likes to ride brevets and enjoyed not being in a particular hurry as we rode. The scenery was lovely; the company pleasant, and that’s all you can ask for on a bike. I will test ride the commute to work route later this week. Who knows, I might just ride in and see how it works!

Today, Kathy, our neighbor, Leena, the pup-dogs, and I went for an early morning hike into the foothills near the house. We hiked the Joshua Ranch trail, and climbed about 400 ft. above the valley.

Looking east, towards Palmdale Airport and Plant 42. Our house is down in the lower right corner...

A nice hike! great views of the valley, and a nice mix of Joshua trees, Yucca trees, California Junipers, and pleasant friendship. Now that the weather is tolerable outside, it was great to get out and enjoy some more of the local area. Nice to be outside when it's not 110 degrees!

A hot husky!

More news and pictures next week.

Jim

Random Collections...

Fall Leaf, Cactoctin Mountain Park...

Hi all.
Fall is here in the desert. I never expected it, but it’s here. Mild days, breezy cool evenings. The air conditioner is finally taking a break from the usual heat wave that we have enjoyed since moving here.

Louis XVI (Perhaps), The National Gallery of Art
I was spending some time this evening looking through my 2009 picture folders. It occurred to me to publish a set of pictures that have never gotten the chance to be seen by anyone. I have had a lot of travels this year, and as I have always taken pictures along the way, I find I sometimes never edit, publish or even share them with anyone. They tend to end up in random folders labeled; “May09” or “DC2009” etc.

Thomas Jefferson
So, for your enjoyment, here are a few of my favorite, but yet, unpublished pictures from the year. No, I do not have any new pictures of Brian or Andrea. You will just have to be patient, and wait until I travel to see everybody this winter. For now, enjoy my humble efforts.
Jim

The Air and Space Museum; Washington, DC

Renoir's Signature...

My impression of the Wall...

One of my favorite RAAM portraits; Larry Cleveland...

A color we don't see often here in Palmdale...

Ok, what's a blog without a random frog portait, too...

Sunrise over the Missouri river, RAAM, 2009

Giant Things, Small Things

Teeny Tiny Feet!

Hi All,
It’s been a busy week or two as usual here in the desert. Kathy and I are both back home from Tucson, and together in the same house! We had a great time in Arizona, both with Andrea K. arriving in the world, and also getting to help Jon and Amy move to their new house.

I promise, these colors are raw, right off the camera!

Along the way, I got to spend some time with Jon and a great telescope; A Celestron 5; that had been languishing at my sister Sue’s house without use for many years. Sue, wanting the telescope to have some use, sent it along with me to Tucson for Jon to further his enjoyment of astronomy.

Jon, getting to know his new friend...
I only wish I had the capability to have photographs for you of Jupiter and its 4 major moons. It’s been a long time since I saw Jupiter, and it reopened my eyes to the immensity of the solar system. I did, however, piggy-back my Nikon digital SLR on the Celestron, and using the telescope’s tracking motor, took some 4-5 minute exposures of the stars. The results are here, and you may ask why the foreground is fuzzy. Well, the telescope was moving with the stars! I wasn’t sure what results I would get, but I was pleasantly pleased.

3 minute exposure , the Pleadides in the lower/center
Along with the immensity of the universe, I was quickly brought back to the amazing little things, like Andrea’s tiny hands and feet. It’s amazing to me that something so small could be so gigantic in our little world.

Teeny Tiny Fingers!
Oh yes, and I am now on Facebook. I signed up so that I could stay in better touch with all my friends back in Utah. So, if you are interested, you can find me there!
See you down the road.
Jim

News from the Garage

Sunrise over a Joshua tree, just east of Palmdale...

Hi all,
No, I don’t have any new Andrea pictures. You’ll just have to wait one more week when I go back to Tucson to help Amy, Jon, and Andy move to their new place. For what its worth, I am getting to know Interstate 10 quite well this month!

Ok, I know my audience! Here she is; "squeaking at grandma."
In other news, I have succeeded in shuffling through a lot of stuff in the garage, and I am proud to say I have parking spots for both cars, and all three bikes. The Redline Single-Speed has been relegated to hooks on the ceiling, as there is no real purpose for that bike right now. I just couldn’t part with such a nice little bike.

The new-look Barcroft...
My Barcroft Virginia GT is back from Dana’s shop in Van Nuys. Bent-Up Cycles is the premier ‘bent store in southern California, and with all the fun stuff and carbon frames in that place, probably to close for my wallet’s comfort!

The ‘Ginny now sports U-shaped handlebars, and is now configured with an open cockpit. I originally had what are called “hamster bars” on the bike, with my hands fairly close together. After 4,000 miles I finally came to the notion that there was a better, more comfortable way for me to ride. So, we’ll see. It’s a much different feel, but when I rode open cockpit bikes in Maryland this past July, I noticed that I was in a more relaxed position to ride. Time will tell.

My mood from not getting my Andrea/Brian fix these days!
My new Surly LHT touring bike is up and running, too. I finally got to the carton in the garage and managed to put things together without dinging up the frame or losing my temper. The bike rides wonderfully. It is not a speed bike; it is a bike for commuting, designed for heavy loads, bad roads, and many, many miles. Also, I noticed that at slow speeds the bike is docile, and not twitchy in the slightest. I still have some configuring to do to ready the bike for commuting. A headlight, and bags for the rack are the next order of business.

"General Rommel;" note the not-so-skinny tires...
I leave you now, with a trivia question. The Joshua trees in the headline photo are only found in two places in the world; here in California, and ….. (where?)

Drop me a note with your answer and I’ll work out some sort of prize, or tacky recognition.
See you down the road.
Jim

Welcome Andrea!

Andrea Kathleen! Look at those eyes...
Hi All,
Well, the dawn of a new day is upon us! Welcome to the world, Andrea Kathleen! She is our second grandchild, and Amy and John are the proud parents! She is 6 lbs. 12 Oz, born on September 4^th at 3:59 PM. ten fingers, ten toes, everything in its proper place.

Two of the proud grandparents...

You can see even cooler pictures on Jon’s blog. ( On the tab list to the right!) I won’t put many here on my site, as John and Amy can send along more for you to enjoy. Baby is fine; Mom is fine; Dad is fine; the grandparents (all four of them!) are all excited and proud.

The proud Mommy...

The proud doting new Dad...

I am sure there are lots of other details I could give you, but I figure you are looking at the pictures, and I could just about write anything I want from here on!

Enjoy all the pictures; there really is some more cycling and house information to come, but it can all wait until later in the week.

Jim

Hello from the Desert...

Our new house in Palmdale...
Hi all,
Busy times here in the desert, and we finally have time to publish a few pictures of our new place. We are slowly getting settled in our new neighborhood, and have gotten to know some neighbors. We have lots of room, and are always ready for company!
In this post, are a few pictures of the inside, and in a few days, I will take you on a tour of the yard.

The day we got keys, tile flooring throughout the main areas...

Plenty of room to cook and craft! (Kathy did an amazing job decorating and arranging our new place)

The upstairs loft guest suite...

The upstairs grandkids play in the bubbles bath!

Our peaceful living room..
More news and photos from all the yard projects in a few days...

That's Done...

Pete Heal, somewhere in SA...
“There, that’s done.” Is all he said crossing the finish line, and that’s all that needed to be said. My good friend Pete Heal of Canberra, Australia, had just completed a 4014km (near 2700 miles) ride from Perth to Sydney, in 11 days, 18 hours. That’s more than 200 miles a day for almost twelve days straight. And here I sit, pondering whether or not I will ever complete a single-day double, much less 12 of them in a row!

These photos shamelessly borrowed...

Pete set off on his ride two weeks ago, today, writing me that this was a personal goal of his, to ride across Australia. He didn’t want a lot of notoriety or publicity, and had actually asked me to not write about it in my blog. I complied, but I did follow his progress on line watching his GPS reports as he progressed across the country.

I would sit in my computer lab classroom in Maryland, paying attention to the lecture, and toggling to the GPS tracking web page that updated Pete’s progress. Quite addicting, really; looking at the closest town on the map, calculate distance from Perth; note the date/time and extrapolate an average speed. Then, sit back and ponder the immensity of what I was viewing.

For you math and cycling junkies, here are Pete's numbers for the twelve days.

209 miles a day.
Distances in kms were: (divide by 1.61 for miles)
281, 301, 359, 340, 381, 296, 316, 360, 389, 408, 301, 322.
Total 4014km.
Longest day 18hours elapsed.

At the finish near Bondi Beach...
Of course, now that he is home, (he rode home to Canberra, of course) He has E-mailed me a photo telling me that I could now publish a few comments. Since Pete is a man of few words, and many accomplishments, I too will keep this short.

There’s not really much to be said. Here’s a man with a goal; he dreams, he trains, he rides, he achieves. No strutting around, no showy tail feathers, actually happy to be home with “no one shouting about it.”

Congrats, Mate!

Jim

(Did I mention he broke the all-time cross Australia solo record?)

At the Finish Line: RAAM as an Act of Service

Mark Thul, Denny Voorhees, John Anderson, Pete Cowley, Bob Chaisson, Bob Avritt, Larry Cleveland, Bill Arnold - Finish!

And the crew....

Chaisson's foot- 7 stitches

Note the laughing, and the sleeping...

Julie from Arizona

Amanda, Kelsey, and Jen

Jess, tuning bikes in Colorado...

Chris, well, being Chris...

Late night navigating, Denny, Dave, and Tom...

Dave, a most energetic fella...

Jess, from North Carolina...

Chris, a Type1 Diabetic...

Kevin, the cruise director...

Tommy, rode his 'Bent from San Francisco to the start!

RAAM as an unconditional act of service; a subject I have been working on for a few days. I can tell you, that more than a few drafts have met the fate of the delete key. But, I have recalled the smart advice from my friend (and builder of the Fast Red Bike), Bill Cook. Keep it short, keep it simple, and only express one or two ideas. Smart man. Thanks, Bill.
My thoughts about this article seem to center around a basic premise; acts of service. From my view from the cheap seats, everyone that was on TeamType2 whether it was a rider, driver, navigator, nutritionist, manager, or utility crew; were givers of service.
The riders gave of their whole selves. They gave up better part of the year training, and then doing all the real work in riding 3020 miles in 7 days. They managed their diabetes, spread the word to the public about their disease, along with the everyday riding, racing, progressing across the country. It sure sounds simple from here in the back row. But when you see it up close, on the road, it becomes more amazing every day.
The crew; selfless, anonymous; hard working; sleep deprived, a truly great group. Remember, there are no finisher’s medals or jerseys for the crew. No special recognition on the RAAM web page. Of course, none of the 14 crew members ever expected any of those tributes. They were on the team to help the eight riders reach Annapolis in 7 days. It was a crystal clear act of service; as pure and simple as that.
Along with the total TeamType2 RAAM experience, there was one more benefit to this adventure that I wasn’t expecting. I managed to learn a few things about people, too. Specifically I would like to mention the young people. When I say young, I mean the under-thirty crowd. They were amazing! They could sleep anywhere, work harder, longer, and all the time with a smile. Also, they reassured my faith that the world is not going to heck in a hand basket. They were energetic, selfless, articulate, intelligent, and more than anything else, servants to their team and their communities. They reenergized me! For this, I thank them.
Please enjoy the photographs. I am sure I probably missed someone along the way, so forgive me in advance.
That’s it for me. One month later, it still amazes me. 3020 miles in 7 days, 7 hours, 23 minutes; enough said.
Jim
PS: I’ll be home next week. Soon, I’ll publish pictures of our new home and of finding good roads to ride in Palmdale.

RAAM as a Cultural/Social Experience

Please enjoy this Gallery, then the blog...

Sunset in Kansas...

Bob Chaisson's family met us with FOOD at 3 AM! (Bloomington, IN)

Jen's fiance' met us too, then drove all the way back to Louisville!

This Frenchman (RAAM Crew) was happily writing, I don't know what, he didn't speak english, and I don't speak french!

I can't recall whose parents these were, nice people though.

These two were touring from St. Louis to Oregon! (Fort Scott, KS)

Race Volunteer, Blanchester, OH

This crewman from the Brazilian team developed his pictures in the motorhome!

(Montezuma Creek, UT)

Kevin's parents, it was their 55th wedding anniversary, and they brought us pizza. Lots of pizza! (Blanchester, OH)

Dave, Chris, Amanda, Kelsey, and Kevin (the Type2 crew boss)

... Amazing crew members

Kelsey and her new biker friends, Oceanside...

Hi all,

I decided to forgo a part two on the RAAM as a race topic in favor of pressing forward with my project. I have really wanted to write this next section, and enough has been said about racing.
Besides being a race, RAAM is truly a cultural/social experience. The experience began on the first day when our crew and teams gathered in Oceanside. It was interesting, 16 riders and around 50 crew members gathered, most of who had never met. The crew members came from all around the United States; Tallahasee, FL, Bend, OR, Wilmington, NC, Phoenix, AZ, Ithaca, NY; the list went on and on. This team had to not only function from the first day, but people had to basically shake hands, and get to work, and build relationships at the same time. As the week passed, friendships were built, and by the end of the race, the TeamType2 group was almost a family.
After the race started, then we really got to meet people! Let me see how many I can recall. We met complete strangers, people interested in our team, and willing to share their experiences with diabetes with us; we met family members who drove long distances to meet their team members or riders, sometimes in the middle of the night! There were tired race volunteers at the manned time stations who were so encouraging and generous. We met people on touring bikes who stopped by to wish us well. I spoke with an elderly woman in Blanchester, OH who offered her house (the hot shower specifically) to our crew; the gentleman who pulled up to our crew in Brawley, CA to see what we were up to. He gave us some rope from the back of his truck that we ended up using the entire week. And those are just the ones that come to mind as I write. I am pretty sure the whole team met people along the way. Did we meet any unfriendly people? I am sure we did, but I just put them out of my memory.
We got to see a whole lot of the United States. We got to see not just the countryside, but actually some of the fabric of the country, too. Let me tell you; this is a big country. And if you let your vision be narrowed by television, or Facebook, or text messages that serve as conversation, then you are missing a large part of this country. During RAAM, I became much more aware of the greatness of our nation. I would almost say I actually “get” America now.
Please enjoy a gallery of pictures from the “people side” of RAAM.
Jim

RAAM as a Race

A rider heading out... SW Arizona...

One rider in, one rider out...West Virgnia.

Sunrise over the Missouri. Jefferson City...

Racing at dusk in Oklahoma...or Kansas (Not sure)

Team transition, Fort Scott Kansas...

The ready box, for the rider's van...

Denny and Bob...near Sedona, AZ...

Climbing...

Dave, awaiting a rider....

The next pull. That’s what crystallized the experience of riding RAAM for me. The act of riding at racing speed for 3-6 miles; resting and recovering in the rider’s van for about 45 minutes, then getting back on the bike for another pull; repeating this routine for eleven to twelve hours.
For two days I had been performing my duties as an RV driver, dishwasher, navigator, and like the rest of the crew, taking care of whatever was needed to get our guys down the road. I found I was relatively separated from the actual rider experience. Sure, I had seen our guys come and go at the transitions, but I hadn’t actually gotten my mitts into the race.
That all changed on the third day. On the third day I was pressed into duty as the rider car driver for the pull from Prescott, AZ to Tuba City, AZ. The shift would be about 180 miles, with several huge climbs – from Prescott over Jerome to Sedona, and Sedona to Flagstaff. It was during this 12 hour outing, that I learned what it’s like to be a rider on RAAM. For those twelve hours, I got to be up close and personal with RAAM; watching the four-man teams take shifts climbing, rocketing downhill on power descents, and just ride hard. It was like some sort of weird dream; driving, un-racking bikes, racking bikes, in the van, out of the van, driving, over and over again. But, still the riders rode; they pressed, they encouraged, they raced!
As the week passed, the routine rarely varied. 4 men in, 4 men out. Riding, racing, eating, resting, driving, and sleeping… at all hours of the day and night. On the last day, one of the riders, Bob Chaisson, stumbled and gashed his ankle, earning 7 stitches. What did he do when he returned to the team? He kept riding of course! That one act typified our team.
Thinking back on RAAM, it’s not as much the riding that intrigued me, it was the mental focus. Imagine if you will the focus you try to attain before a big ride. It could be a race, a citizen’s century, a 300 km brevet, or just a training interval. One does their best to get focused, get mentally ready to ride. Now, imagine turning that focus on and off like a switch. Every 45 minutes to an hour, get out of the van, get loose, and ride hard. It’s something to think about.
Well, enough for now. I think I will write a part 2 to this section!
Jim

RAAM and TeamType2

TeamType2; Great athletes, all.

Denny Voorhees, Who got me on this adventure...

The bikes, racked and getting ready...

The follow and rider vans...

Lots of wheels to true...

The Boss; Dave Eldridge...

Hi all,

The 2009 RAAM has come and gone. In the spring, there was anticipation and excitement of the race to come; the adventure before me! Then, as quickly as it came upon me, it was over. Something all encompassing, then, like a flickering flame, just a memory.
Since the end of RAAM, I had been reluctant to post as I was in the process of moving, and to add to the delay, I could not make my card reader read my SD card. I know that true writers can paint pictures and give clarity without the use of pictures. But for me, I have always included pictures with my minor attempts at writing. In the meantime, I have been thinking and putting some ideas into some logical order. So, with apologies, I am now able to download pictures, and write some of my RAAM experiences to you.
The best place for me to start is with how I got involved. Early in the spring, I was lucky enough to be selected to be a crew member on the TeamType2 8-Man team. The team, made up of riders with Type 2 diabetes had one goal: 8 riders in 7 days to Annapolis. With sixteen members on the crew, there were teleconferences, mailings, phone calls, and E mails. Dave Eldridge our race director did a fine job of putting us all together as one team. For me, the only thing I can say about being selected to the team: “Denny, thanks for having me.”
Where does one start writing on a subject as expansive as RAAM? What stories should I tell from a bicycle race across America? If I wrote all my ideas in one article, all the ideas would get all jumbled up in the fray. So, I decided to divide my posts into three subjects; RAAM as a race; RAAM as a social/cultural experience; and RAAM as a gift of service. So, bear with me as I together some ideas and pictures to share.
In the next post: RAAM as a race.
Jim

RAAM Pre-Game

Team Type 2

Hi all,

Writing you from sunny San Diego where TeamType1 and TeamType2 are assembling for the 2009 RAAM. We spent the afternoon assembling and tuning bikes, applying signage to ourfleet of vehicles, and getting to know one another as the teams and crews arrived from the airport.

TEam Type1

I apologize for the lack of photographs, but, the hotel computer refuses all attempts to recognize my card reader. I was able to get my memory stick to read, and borrowed a few pictures from a crew member.

Tracking us: Several of you faithful readers have inquired about tracking our progress. The best method is to track us from the RAAM Website. Just go to http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/ and select "live coverage" Watch of course, for: TeamType1, and my team: TeamType2

As of today, the site was experiencing overload issues. So, the best advice I have is to be patient, and hopefully, things will improve.

The 8-Man teams depart Oceanside at 1-2 PM Saturday, June 20th.

More news later if I get time and access to the internet.

Jim

Keeping an Eye on the Sky

Full frame, from my back deck!...

Hi all,
Before I get on with the current events of cycling and moving, I would like to briefly mention airpower. Yep, as people around here refer to it: “the sound of freedom.” As you can tell by the lead photograph, there was an air show this past weekend at Hill Air Force Base. There were great exhibits; static displays of World War II aircraft, and of course, the headliners, the USAF Thunderbirds.

Much nicer lighting on Saturday!
Now, I didn’t make it up to the base for the show; too much to do at the house packing and fixing things up. But, then again, I didn’t need to! Living only 4 miles from the runway at Hill afforded me my own air show as the aircraft maneuvered around the base. The Thunderbirds seemed to think my house was an excellent place to make their inbound turns to the north! I got some great photos and enjoyed tremendous afterburner sounds echoing through the house.

Four Bits has left to ride the Wasatch...

In other news, the packing and relocating adventure continues. With regret; “Four Bits” the Cannondale mountain bike has found another home. This is actually a good thing as the bike was gathering dust in the garage, and when I did ride it, I spent more time getting X-rays and ice packs than relaxing after a nice ride. The Klein Panzer Tank is also happily off to spend a few years with my friend, Bert, who on riding it for the first time, referred to the bike, as “bombproof!” And he is right. He will have fun working on the bike as a project bike, and promises to let me have visitation sometime when I am back in Utah.

We had real thunder and hail after Sunday's airshow...
With the departure of two bikes, the fleet is looking a little thin. I decided I needed a more effective bike to ride the narrow, no shoulder, no bike lane roads of Palmdale. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are some bike lanes and bike paths in Palmdale, but the majority of them run north/south, and my commute is of course, east/west. More than likely, I will not even ride the most direct route to work; rather I will favor quieter, safer roads out to the east side.

The new member of the fleet!
With that in mind, this morning, I ordered a Surly Long Haul Trucker from my friends at Saturday Cycles in Centerville. With luck, the bike will be here in time to get loaded on the truck, or perhaps I will have the bike shipped to Palmdale and wait patiently until we are settled into a routine at home and at work.
Will this plan work for commuting? Hard to say; with the daily afternoon wind, and the fierce August temperatures, I may have to do some adapting to the plan. But, for now, the fleet is stable, and useful. The recumbent for long rides, the Surly for commuting, and the Redline for the neighborhood ride to the grocery etc…
See you down the log…
Jim

The First Month of Retirement...

A great sculpture at the Chicago Botanical Gardens.

Hi all,
Well, I have been retired from the FAA for one month! And, even though I am already un-retired, it is a tremendous relief to no longer be a supervisor of an air traffic control operation. In my new job, I will only be a computer systems specialist/analyst, and only have to argue with software! More than likely, I will not be breaking any phones in my new job.

Some of the nifty gifts. You have to have been in Area "C" to understand the cape...
Also, I have cool friends; especially the ones that worked for me at the ARTCC. It seems they all got together and threw me a nice retirement bash, and made sure that even though upper management wasn’t up to the task, I had a proper sendoff from the FAA. Friendship, good people, some nifty gifts, and malt-based beverages made for a nice time.

I have been told this software is "finicky"...

In other news, in my new job, I have already begun the transition to the computer world. I had to learn 12 new log-ins on my first day! And to make things worse, have been issued a laptop computer. I have been assimilated!

For you inquisitive types, to answer the question from the last blog entry, this is Burbank!

In the bike world, there has been very little bike riding in the past few weeks; mainly because I fractured a toe. It’s been almost two weeks, and I still can’t get a cycling shoe on my foot. We will leave the details of how I broke my toe for another time, as it wasn’t one of my more graceful maneuvers. Yes it hurt, and no, there won’t be a picture here on the blog of the black and blue toe. So, lately I wear sandals and ride the Redline back and forth to the store.
As we glean towards relocating, I am trying to decide how to configure the bike fleet. I really don’t have the space for 4 bikes. So: The Klein Panzer Tank has a new home, my friend Bert wants a project bike. The Cannondale mountain bike will also head to a new home as I spend more time lying on the trail in pain than actually riding it. The Redline single-speed is an intriguing issue. One hand, I love this bike; one of the more enjoyable rides I have ever had.

Our new city...

But, my new home is a historically VERY windy place and I think I would like some gears under me for that daily 25-30 knot wind. The Barcroft Virginia GT is not going anywhere. It is my trusty, dependable, comfortable, distance bike; I am just not sure about riding it to work as Palmdale is lacking in bike paths that run east/west.
That’s the news from here. All is well, a busy time.
Jim

Meet the Team...

Can anyone guess the airport?

Hi all,
Another long delay between posts, but hey, packing, moving and fixing up will eat up all the hours. Moving is such an adventure! So far, it hasn’t been a very peaceful and restful retirement. Of course, it’s only retirement #1 as a new short career starts soon.

So, what else is going on? Most importantly, RAAM is just over a month away! Plans and organizing E-mails are flying around the country at a tremendous rate. We are learning our jobs, who will be doing what, and how we will get the whole team, (16 riders, and ab0ut 50 crew) all to San Diego at the same time!

Team Type 2!
16 riders? Well, don’t forget that there are two diabetic teams heading to RAAM. Team Type 1, a high level team of Type One diabetics that expects to WIN the team competition, and Team Type 2; obviously with Type 2 diabetes, whose goal is to complete RAAM in 7 days.

It will be a grand adventure. I am excited to be going, being a team member, and helping get our team to Annapolis.

In other news, I was in southern California last week and enjoyed a quick stop at Bent-Up Cycles in Van Nuys. This is a great store for someone with an itch for high-end recumbent bikes! I was smart enough (?) to not bring a lot of cash!

Love those curves...

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm...

I did try out an Optima Baron low racer. What a sleek and fast machine. I didn’t attempt Balboa Blvd. as a test ride road! But, if anyone needs a Father’s Day suggestion… hint hint. Just kidding. The proprietor, Dana is very knowledgeable and willing to go the distance to help any Bent rider get set up and dialed in on a bike.

More news later...

Jim

Back from the Great Circle Trip

Kathy knows what kind of flower this is, I forgot!

Hi all,
We are back from our great circle trip; SLC/PHX/TUS/PHX/ORD/SLC. For you non-ATC types, that’s Salt Lake City,Phoenix, Tucson, Phoenix, Chicago, and Salt Lake City. We had a grand time seeing our kids and grandchildren. (See Amy’s blog for more news).

The next Geithner, perhaps?
All is well. We only had rain on the last day in Barrington, and that was just for the trip to the airport. We had a great time with our grandson, Brian; playing at the Chicago Botanical Gardens, and then at the Zoo. He sure loves to run and play! I can’t tell you how many times I heard the phrase, Go! Go! Grandma! Let’s Go!

Commuters are everywhere...
Also, at the Zoo, I was walking around the Llama enclosure, and I noticed the front wheel of a ten-speed bike behind the barn. More than likely, someone’s commuter, hiding in the back. So, as the rest of the weekend continued, I noticed commuter bikes parked in all sorts of odd places; behind convenience stores, fast food joints, behind Llama stalls at the zoo, at the mall, all sorts of places.

Jake?

Magnolias...

The Botannical gardens provided a great place for Brian to run and get his wiggles out. There wasn’t much in bloom, as the spring flowers don’t really get going until mid-May. Just watch the ivy in the outfield at “The Friendly Confines” (Wrigley Field for you foreigners). But, what was in bloom was just stunning. Tulips, poppies, magnolias, and other small plants were doing their best to give some color. But, no matter, it was a gorgeous day, and the sun was out, and a lovely day to scamper all over the place.

How I relax!
I’ll have more news as the week progresses. There’s lots of work to do here at the house, and I retire from 33 years of ATC on Thursday. I get cake!
Jim.

Open Mondays from 4-7

Spring in the Desert is amazing!

Hi All,

I am writing you from Tucson, AZ, as Kathy and I are visiting our daughter, Amy and her husband, Jon. This is part 1 of a two step trip; the second half is flying to Chicago to visit Paul, Christina, and our grandson, Brian in Barrington. Then, next Sunday, a flight home; and from there only 3 workdays to go before retirement! (Well, retirement from this career!)

Yesterday, Kathy and Amy and I enjoyed a lovely afternoon walk to the local farmer’s market. Usually, on Mondays, Jon and Amy ride their bikes over to the market, buying some nice fresh things for dinner, and getting a few miles in on their bikes. But since Amy is 17 weeks along, and her doctor would prefer she not ride her bike, we got to enjoy a nice walk instead.

Marana is bike-friendly!

As is my custom, I always take my camera on jaunts like this. One never knows what will appear! This walk was no different, and I was treated to several opportunities to snap some pictures. We were able to score some lovely red potatoes, an onion, and wonderfully fresh lemons at 10 cents each.

On the return walk, Amy spotted a large hawk across the street perched on a wall. Well, not wanting to miss it, I strolled across the street to get a closer look. As I was framing up the shot, the bird started to get antsy and I got the impression he was about to fly off. So, as the bird turned I pushed the button. The shutter fired, the mirror came up and when it came back down the bird was gone! When I got back home I was excited to see what kind of picture I had gotten of the bird. Imagine my luck when I saw what dumb luck had netted.

Just goes to show you: just push the button!

More news later this week.

Jim

Hanging Around...

A photo contest entry of mine from last summer...
Hi All,

Where does time go? I have asked that question here on this blog many times. Especially, it seems, after a long absence from writing. I feel like a columnist who has been scribbling little notes for weeks, and stuffing them in his pockets. I end up with so many little articles in my mind; it’s hard to make one article out of the mishmash. So for now, let’s clear a few things up. Yes, I am still here; Yes, I am going to commit to write more often; Yes, I am going to post some interesting photographs.
Suffice to say we (Kathy and I) have had a busy month. Our lives are in complete flux as we contemplate the reality of relocating (a nice word for the adventure of moving!). Buying a new house, finding new roads to ride, ending one career, and starting another, learning about a new city, meeting new people, it is an endless list. As I wrote to a friend last week: “Other than that, just a typical quiet year for us.” There will be more detail about our move, and other salient details as the plan evolves.

Pastor Dave and I, hanging around; installing video cable at Aldersgate...
The Aldersgate Church audio/visual project is finally about done. Yesterday, I spent several hours 20 feet up a ladder hanging the new projector in the sanctuary. It’s a far more enjoyable place to work than the 5 hours I spent last Saturday in the crawl space under the church relocating the wiring and lighting controls!

You would never guess Pastor Dave is a techie...

Yes, I am still riding, too. This last week, I attempted to unscrew the cleats of my SPD pedals in order to replace them with Speedplay Frogs. You may recall that I won the Speedplays in a raffle from the Recumbent Blog last year.

Old, Old shoes...

'Nuff Said...

Ever try to unscrew cleats that have been in use for 8,000 miles? It’s pretty humorous. After my first try, I am seriously considering some new shoes!

Nice new cleats!
As retirement from air traffic control approaches, I am working on a few goals in the narrow window before career #2 starts. The Salt Lake City Century is May 16th, and I hope to be reasonably ready to attack the 6-hour mark. My last century ride was a DNF at 83 miles due to weather, mechanical issues, and well, just some darn ugly hills at the end of the ride. I would very much like to erase that memory, and have a successful ride. The Tour de Cure in June will have to wait for another time as with moving and working on the house I will not have the time ride after May.

And nice new pedals!
That’s the update for now. I promise, there WILL be a new post within 7 days. For now, stay in touch, ride lots of miles, enjoy the other blogs to the right in the tab list, and most importantly, have a joyous and happy Easter.
Jim

The Last Vestiges of Winter

The Oquirrh mountains. (A weird Utah name)

Hi all,
Not much riding this week. Early in the week we enjoyed a lovely snowstorm that dropped around a foot of snow from Ogden, northwards to Logan. This really shouldn’t have been an issue for me down in Layton, except that I was up in Brigham City during the snow! It was such a lovely day.

A welcome sight on the road...

I will give compliments to UDOT; they did an excellent job of keeping the highway cleaned off, and the drive home was not near as terrifying as it could have been.

Spring just makes one want to run and jump!
I did get a ride today, a nice climb up to Fernwood. I wanted to see if the last vestiges of snow had receded from the trailhead, and whether or not I would be mountain biking anytime soon. Alas, there is still a lot of snow, and the road to the trailhead is still full of snow. I did meet a nice young man while I stopped to take pictures. He told me he had fat tireson his mountain bike, and was going to try and ride the trail anyway! Kids. For me, I enjoyed a nice warm climb, and a frozen descent back to the house.

This gentleman had enjoyed a nice climbing run...
In other news, I was reading the paper the other day, and as is my practice, I always read the Lost and Found ads. Sometimes I find something humorous, and this time was no exception. Read the ad below. Oh, for one comma!

No further comment necessary...
Lastly, I can report that the construction project at my church, Aldersgate UMC is about finished! Tomorrow, we will enjoy working in our new sound room with new speakers, new amps, the sound board has been relocated, and except for moving some lighting controls, we are all done. It has been an exciting three months. I have learned a lot about wiring, framing, and the joy of a job completed. Next up, installing the new projector!

A nice construction still life from last Saturday...
The weather forecast is good this week; I should get some nice miles Monday and Tuesday
See you down the road.
Jim

Finding Friends, and Phones...

Sunset on the Causeway
Hi all,
This past Tuesday I went for a nice hill climb up Fairfield Road. It is not a major hill by any means, just a long 3.5 mile climb up to highway 193. It’s a good training hill, and from the top of the climb, I can go in several directions to make a nice loop. On this ride, I made a nice 12 mile loop over to the east, and then back down the hill for lunch and then to work.
However, this blog entry is not about base training, nor is it a techie article about spin rates, gear ratios or anything like that. This entry is about the people we meet on our bikes, and the things we find on the road. In Tuesday’s case, the two subjects intertwined.

Sunset from the back porch!
As I was riding past the post office, I waved at a cyclist riding down Fairfield. He was riding a mountain bike, wearing no fancy gear; just jeans and a shirt. (It was a gloriously warm morning) At the time, I remembered thinking that his set up wasn’t fancy by any means, but I accepted him for another cyclist enjoying the lovely day and that it was nice to see someone else out on the road.

Waitin for Wednesday's train...
As I continued to climb, the road steepens north of Antelope. I was making 8-10 mph working on achieving a nice spin rate. When I climb this slowly, I have time to notice things on the road. In this case, a cell phone. At first glance, I took it to be a toy, but then as I stopped to look at it; I realized that it was in fact a real cell phone. It was open, and the battery was lying on the ground next to it. I pulled off the road and inquisitively put the battery in and to my joy, the thing powered up! A further search found the back panel to the battery lying in the gutter. I took the phone, stuck it in my pocket and continued my climbing. I figured I would look at it and figure out how to find the owner when I got home.

12 miles later, I was sitting in the kitchen having a PBH, (peanut butter/honey) and playing with the little Kyocera phone. I figured out how to search for last calls received, and using the little lost phone, dialed the most recent number. After two rings, a woman answered saying: “Oh, you have my husband’s phone!” As it turns out, the owner lived about a mile from my house, and I arranged to drive over and deliver the phone on my way to work.
When I pulled into the cul-de-sac, and found the address, I noticed the bike sitting on the porch. It sure looked familiar! The owner (Paul) came out and I recognized him from my ride. He was the mountain bike rider I waved at on Fairfield! We had a nice time visiting. He was much relieved that his cell phone had been found and hadn’t been run over by a car. I learned that he rides a 10-mile loop regularly, and enjoys the exercise and the fresh air. It was nice to meet a fellow rider, and find out what riding means to him.
So remember, be ready for those rare opportunities extend friendship past the usual wave across the street.
See you down the road.
Jim

RAAM and Winter Riding

The island, from Bluff Rd. Nice day for riding...
Hi all,
Well, yet another busy week has passed, and I am finally enjoying a few quick hours to get in some winter riding.

It just snowed, and snowed on Tuesday!
Of course, it hasn’t been a real wintry week, or wait, maybe it was. The weather can’t seem to make up its mind what season it is. It was kind of like being on a rollercoaster! Early this week on Tuesday, 14 inches of snow fell in 24 hours. Then, the sun came out, the ground warmed up a little, and the roads cleared quickly. So much so that Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, I was on one of my bikes. Today, (Saturday) I was able to take the Barcroft Virginia GT out for 25 miles, with a starting temperature around 42 degrees and I was actually quite warm when I got back from Antelope Island.

Speaking of Antelope Island, I was out riding the causeway today, and I saw a huge flock of Canadian snow geese out on the mud/snow flats. A bird counter was perusing them, and he told me that they are very rarely seen here off the causeway, and usually they are way down south near Delta. We had a nice conversation as I took a few pictures.

Such a nice day to be out...
My education about RAAM, (See last week’s post) is ongoing. There has been a little confusion as to what my role (or roll) was going to be on TeamType2. Let me clear up a little misconception. No, I am not riding as a competitor. Are you kidding? These creaky old legs racing? Racing for 3,000 miles? Be serious, people.

The Snow Geese in the distance...
Yes, I am going on RAAM, but only as race/crew support. My initial task is to be a motor home driver for the off duty racers. There will be tons of extra tasks besides just being a driver, but I am happy to be a member of the team, and look forward to meeting out goal of 8 riders across the USA in 7 days. I will write more about the mechanics of crew support, and how our team is going function in a later post. Anyone want to teach me how to drive a 35 ft. motor home?

One more thing: Alan Barnard, web administrator for ECOVELO (see tab on the right) trying to shake away the winter doldrums is having a photo contest. I along with many other cyclists have entered our photos in the contest. So, while you’re drinking your coffee, slide your mouse over the right and check out the entries. There have been some excellent pieces of photography posted, and I think you might enjoy the artwork.
See you down the road.
Jim

A New Door is Opened

Our new doorway/window in the new tech. booth

An antique fuse box we found in the crawlspace under the church...
This week’s blog is about doors. Not the kind in your house, or the one to the new tech. booth at Aldersgate, but the ones that are opened to you when you least expect it. Last week while working a graveyard shift, I found the time to browse Bentrideronline.com. I usually check there on the mids as I can sometimes find my friend, Pete from Canberra. Since Pete wasn’t around (I found out later that BROL had crashed on him) I decided to browse a bit and see what was new in the world of ‘bent cycling. I read a post from my friend, Denny who was recruiting for volunteers to be crew/race support for RAAM, The Race Across America.

Now, a few folks had responded to the general post with the generic response of ”Well, I sure would like to, but I can’t!” And then something clicked in my head that said: “Well, I will be retired, I can!!” (This is a not too subtle hint to note the retirement counter to the right). So, not to inundate you with all the details, I enjoyed two phone interviews with Denny, and then Dave Eldridge, the team leader, and just like that, I am on the team! We are TeamType2; an eight-man racing team made up of cyclists from around the country who are type-two diabetics.

3025 miles, 7 days, only 50 miles on interstate...
Now that you have come this far, what is RAAM anyway? RAAM is a 3025-mile cycling race, from Oceanside, CA to Annapolis, MD. The race proceeds around the clock, and is made up of solo racers, two man, four man, and eight man teams. The teams all have support crews in the form of volunteers riding in vans and motor homes whose only goal is to shepherd the racers across the country. Did I mention we ride around the clock? It is going to be an exciting week. Yes, I said an exciting WEEK. Our goal for TeamType2 is to start on Sunday, June20th, and be in Annapolis on June27th.

Ok, how hot was it in Adelaide?
I don’t know what drove me to open the “Events” section of BROL, it isn’t a usual browsing place for me. But, there was the doorway, and I looked inside. The upshot of this new adventure in my life is that as I edge closer to retirement from 33 years of air traffic control, is that I am learning about all the new horizons in my life. I don’t know where this new adventure called “retirement” will take me;

Rest assured, I will not be spending my retirement like this fella...
I am not sure if I will take on a new job, torment high school students as a substitute, mow fairways in Arizona, ride a brevet super-series, or just finally fix everything in my house! But I do know that I will be most aware of the doorways around me, and that I will be ready at a moments notice to open a few of them and peek inside!
14 inches of snow this week, spinning in the garage until it warms up!
Jim

Contrasting Subjects...

I took this sunset waiting at an intersection near the mall. I just stuck the camera out the window and pushed the button!
Hi all,
This past month has been a month of contrasts. I have spent a lot of time working on black and white digital photography as the winter weather has brought a lot of grays, whites, and not a lot of color to my world. I have been studying books on Adobe Light Room software, and have enjoyed experimenting with some older images.

Almost reminiscent of a WW I battlefield...
One set of images comes from 2007. When I went to Bryce Canyon to hike with friends, we stopped on the way home near Cove Fort to photograph the massive damage from huge brush/forest fires that had destroyed several hundred thousand acres north of Cedar City.

Note the scorched ground...
I recall that when I took the photos, I visualized how stark the landscape would appear in black and white. Now, that I have some decent digital photo processing software, I think I have been able to depict not only what I saw, but what I felt at the time. The sheer destruction as far as the eye could see took my breath away. I hope these two images bring that to light.

Banner Peak 12, 936 ft. - 1974 (ish)
One other picture I have been working on is a scan of a black and white print that I took way back in 1974 or so. I had been on a backpacking trip with my sisters to the Minarets National Wilderness area of the Sierra Nevada, and I had risen at sunrise to go take a few pictures. As I recall, I was using a little Konica rangefinder 35 mm camera, and took some lovely landscapes of Banner Peak, and (I think) Thousand Island Lake. As far as I know, there is only one print from my dad's darkroom of Banner Peak. (My dad always told me that 8 x 10 paper was expensive!) Recently, I scanned the print, hoping someday to see what I could make of it digitally. It was an interesting experiment, given that even with Light Room, I couldn’t make many changes to the image as it was a scan of a photograph, not a pure digital image.

Not sure where the bike would go, I picked this one out for Jon!
Another contrast to the regular information on this site is that I have been researching the purchase of a new car. It’s funny how that works these days; trying to match one’s requirements, (carrying recumbent bikes) to what the manufacturers are building this year.

More practical, a Subaru Forester!
At the big car show, I tried to explain the length of the LRB to the sales associates, and I got a lot of blank stares when I explained what I wanted a car to do for me. Of course I want the car to carry all my bikes, all my family, and get 40 mpg!

The old ceiling in the tech room. Note the speckled paint!
The church construction project has been eating a lot of time as of late. I am sure learning a lot! This week, we ran conduit in preparation for relocating main power to the tech room on Saturday. It has been a huge undertaking, and in the long run, will be a great benefit to how we run the soundboard, projector, amps, and all the hardware we use to run a service.
I did manage to take the Redline out for a ride on Tuesday; I was going to ride to work yesterday, but overslept! Hate to waste a 35 degree morning!
More news down the road.
Jim

How to Speed up January

The island in black and white...amazing!

Hi all,
Well, we found a cure for the January Blahs, just ramp up the schedule so you don’t have one free second, and the month flies by! I know, it’s been over two weeks since my last blog, and a few of my viewers have mentioned the lack of writing and photography. That’s not to say I haven’t been taking pictures, and writing blog articles in my mind, but to make time to sit and ponder, edit photos, and get the writing done, well, now you see the problem.

It sure was bright! Exposure 1/2000th of a second!
So, here are a few pictures and updates. I have been lucky to make time for 60 miles on the ‘bent this month. On that positive note, I am already 60 miles ahead of last year! Of course, I have not really been tracking miles, as it’s the ride that’s more important! I know there will be more tracking as my training for summer increases, but for now, content to get a ride in when the weather and the clock permit.

My latest attempt at a vanishing point photo...
Photography; I have been enjoying exploring shooting black and white since the season has turned foggy and gray. Everyday I drive the Legacy Parkway; I have noticed a long line of high voltage power lines that stretch for miles. So, I made a point to throw the camera in the car and wait for the right fog conditions. Between the fog, and a little tweaking with Adobe Light Room, I think I made a nice piece of artwork.
The church construction project is going well, a bit behind schedule, but what do you expect with the team’s work schedule and the fact that we are dealing with a building that was built in WW II! Every time we peek behind a wall or investigate wiring, it’s an adventure!

Kathy and Anne's 5th graders...
One other adventure this week was hosting 38 5th graders to the house to enjoy the inauguration live on TV. Kathy’s school didn’t have streaming access, nor network TV in the classrooms, so we brought the classes here! The kids had a great time and managed to not spill nor knock anything over. They enjoyed the ceremony, and had a great outing.

Want some coats?
Also, you will notice a new tab in my list to the right: White House.gov. It’s the new upgraded site for the Obama government. Now, I rarely talk politics on this page, and I am not really going to start now. However, I am impressed with the level of access to media, and the transparency, which is a vast improvement to the site pre-January 20th.
One other new tab is for a cycling advocacy cartoon; Yehuda Moon and Kickstand Cycles. It’s a fun cartoon, and you can read all the archives so you can catch up on the story lines.
On that note, I am going to go try and spin before work. It’s 15 degrees, and icy!

Jim

Winter Activities

Sunset at North Fork Park

Hi all,
Another busy week is in the books. Kathy and I, for two “empty nesters” sure don’t seem to spend a lot of time layin around doing nothing!

Someday, I'll learn what all the buttons do!

This last week was no different. Between work, Kathy’s teaching, and working on the tech. booth construction project at Aldersgate United Methodist, the week flew by!

On Wednesday afternoon, I did however make time to head to North Fork Park for a cross-country ski clinic. I hadn’t been to North Fork to ski in over ten years, and I was pleasantly surprised. The Ogden branch of the Utah Nordic Alliance has developed a core group of skiers, volunteers, and grooming equipment. Wherein the past, there was very little track being set, there is now 20 km of classic and skate track being set.

Looking east at North Fork...
Of course, this didn’t mean I skied any better! Actually, with temperatures hovering around 40, it was a very challenging day. The snow was soft, and I could feel the ski settle every time I transferred my weight. Our instructor, Abby Larson, a 2006 Olympian didn’t seem to have any problem! Having excellent technique sure helps!

Fun with black and white (Big Cottonwood Canyon)
With the mild weather, (morning temps around 30-32) I pondered riding the Redline down to the train and then to work. But with all the patchy ice in the bike lanes, I decided for the better part of valor to avoid skidding into a ditch.

Storm Mountain, (Big Cottonwood Canyon)
Today, the weather is dry and chilly, and the roads are dry. With luck, I’ll get out for a ride around lunchtime.
More news next week!
Jim

A New Year's Grab Bag

The new year, like little boys, can sneak up on you!

Happy New Year to all my loyal readers. The last few weeks have flown by, and now the holidays are over, the visiting families have all returned to their own homes, and things are quiet once again. Don’t get me wrong, it was joyous having them all here, but now the world is back to normal, there is a list as long as my arm of things to do, pictures to edit, house fixit jobs, and just 108 days to go in my current career! So, in that line of thinking, here is a New Year’s Grab Bag of newsy items…

Icicles are fun!
Two posts ago; I posted a question as to the identification of a piece of fruit. No longer had I hit the “publish” button, than the phone rang. My daughter-in-law, Christina is the winner. Now, all of the answers were right, it is an Osage (or mock) orange! So, besides the fact that she was first, and that she is family, I have declared her the winner of the random box of peppermint bark. I will have another contest in weeks to come.

Snowing, looking out the front door...
It’s been snowing! I know that it’s a new flash to some of you, but hey, it’s news. We had a warm couple of days, then last night a front hit, and it was 15 degrees with a few inches of new snow this morning.

8 AM, today; 15 degrees...

Next up, I already have 22 miles on the Barcroft! It was windy and mild yesterday, so I snuck out for an hour and a half of riding and picture taking. Of course, to commemorate the first ride of the year, I got rained on, too! No flats this time, so all in all, a nice ride. I can never complain about getting real miles in January. Kathy gave me a gift of very warm base layers for cycling, and I intend to ride as much as time will allow, even in winter.

My first cycling picture of the year!

In Big Cottonwood Canyon...

Last week, I had the opportunity to take a lesson in cross-country skate skiing. I went with my sister Nancy to Solitude Nordic Center, and we had a fine time stumbling around on our own, and later we enjoyed a one-hour lesson from an instructor who actually competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics. Aram Hajiyan of Armenia had a great time with us, and was an immense help.

My sister, Nan, and her new friend, Aram...

Attached you will find a short video of yours truly attempting a nice V-1 type technique. Next up, Aram is going to teach me to climb!

This is "V-1" after 4 hours of skiing....

More news next week from the bike, err or the ski tracks!

Jim

Why I Never Get Anything Done!

Look! an HPV!
Well, it has been a wonderful vacation week so far. Kathy and I are enjoying all the family being here, and the daily snowfall has even been enjoyable, too.
Enclosed are a few short videos and photographs of the fun and games here at the house.

Early Presents...

Brian, hanging out at the counter...

Sledding! A quick 25 seconds...
Also, we were blessed to receive as a gift, the largest poinsettia plant in the entire world. To help you get a grasp on the immensity of the plant, I have used a normal box of Cheerios (seen below) as a point of reference.

And now, the plant and the box of Cheerios...

See what I mean?

And, of course, there's a little time for riding, too!
Enjoy.

Jim

Solstice Weekend...

The view from Legacy and 500 South....

Hi All,
Happy winter solstice to everyone. Well, ever since I mentioned the lack of winter around here, the snow has been coming and coming, and coming! Right now, at 7:30 AM on Saturday, it is 17 degrees, and snowing lightly.

No riding today!

There’s around 8-10 inches in the front yard, so a white Christmas is a lock! Of course, there will be no bike riding for a few weeks, but hey, there’s always the gym and the spin trainer.

The Christmas tree casts light everywhere...
Of course, I won’t have any time to ride anyway. Paul, Christina, and Brian, along with Amy and Jon all arrive tomorrow, so it will be a great time for family, and I will put everything else aside. Who wants to ride a bike when I can play chess with Paul, talk cameras with Jon, shop with Amy, hug Christina, laugh with Kathy and play with Brian!

Ok, folks...What is it? (About the size of a really big grapefruit)

Next up, a contest for all of my dear readers from all around the world. Kathy brought an item home from school that although looks like a fifth grader’s brain, is actually a piece of fruit. So, I will mail one of these interesting items along with some random Christmas candy to the first correct guess. Look at the photo above; what is it? Remember the first correct answer here in the comment box is the winner.

The end of the road...
And lastly, I stopped by Kathy’s school last week and noticed something in the hallway. Ten or twelve old CRT computer monitors; headed for the junkyard. If you’re not sure times have changed, look around and search for CRT computer monitors or televisions. You can’t buy em, and don’t use em anymore. They just suddenly disappeared, like the rotary phone, the Edsel, flight progress strips, and the Republican Party.
Hope all of your holiday travel is safe…

Jim