I think my mental ink well has run dry. I've still been riding, hiking and generally making a mess of things but for some reason I haven't felt the fire to write about it.
I wouldn't call it writer's block, its more of a writer's bleck. So until the word faucet gets turned back on, here's some pictures to tie you over.
Katie commandeered the Camelback, and the camera on a recent Trail Dog hike. She just couldn't resist taking her own picture. She's such a beautiful girl.
Allie rocking a piano recital. She was pretty spooked, but got through it fine. Such a beautiful girl.
Weird fungus thingy at Ahquabi. Nick wouldn't take a bite. What a chicken.
Betrayal - the Yeti is currently up for auction on fleabay. Currently 25+ people are "watching" it. C'mon Bike Voyeurs, don't just watch - bid!
New helmet light, super cool Dinotte.
Here's a cow that's a little lost. He looked at us like, "Do you know where I'm supposed to be?"
On Saturday I met a boy I'll call Jay (not his real name, but you get the idea). Jay is a pitcher for the Cardinals of the Des Moines Miracle League. If you're not familiar with this organization, you should be. Sponsored by Kiwanis, they arrange for physically and mentally challenged kids to play baseball complete with everything a baseball game should have; teams, uniforms, coaches, umpires, fans, scoreboards, a concession stand, etc. etc. This is the second time I've volunteered to "umpire" some games, which amounts to shuttling bats, balls and batting tees around, dishing out high fives and smiling ear to ear.
Everyone of these players has a special story and I wish I could relate them all. Since I can't share everything (come down and volunteer! and see for yourself!) I'm just going to talk about Jay. The Cardinals starting pitcher is a lefty with a strong presence on the mound and a good fast ball despite the fact that he happens to be blind. Just clap and say "put-er right here" a couple of times and Jay will get the job done. He was able to give several of the Cubs hitters (heated rivalry between those Cards and Cubs) good enough pitches to hit. It was awesome.
Of course, Jay bats as well. This time around I was on-hand for the Miracle League's debut of the Beeper Ball. This oversized ball beeps continuously to allow the sight impaired to track it in the air and swing at the right time. Jay, with a little help from his buddy, was able to swing away and hit the ball. The ball only went a few feet but it might as well have been a 400 ft homerun. He now knows what it feels like when a swinging bat contacts a thrown ball and what a crowd sounds like when its going bonkers over your big hit.
Not much else to say really, just like last time it was perfect.
Anybody that knows me, or has ever had more than 5 brews with me, knows that I sometimes like to proffer these….theories, little fundamental truths, I have come to know through keen scientific observation of the world around me.
Due to this habit I have postulated about topics ranging from tacos to “bi-sexuals” (oh yeah, ask me about that one sometime). I mention this now because the title of this post reminds me of one such universal axiom – chicks dig Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard.
And when I say “chicks” (with the utmost respect, ladies) I mean all chicks - young, old, teen, tween, city, country, good girls, bad girls (especially bad girls) any nationality, color or creed. It doesn’t matter if they’ve never heard the song before. Heck, they don’t even have to speak the language!
I’m just sayin’ - you could walk into a old folks home anywhere in the world with a boom box, kick out the Def jams, and get some geriatric toes tappin’ (hopefully it ends there, before someone brakes a hip).
If you are a chick and you’re reading this (I know, not likely) check yourself with the link above. Seriously, we’ll wait……..seeeeeeee, I told ya.
Young men reading this, take note, there is great power in this knowledge……..aaaaand you’re welcome.
Incidentally, I have found that when presenting one of these theories, phrases such as “I’m just sayin’” and “seeeee, I told ya.” are key.
Damn if I’m not loquacious, what I really meant to say was – I went on a mountain bike ride at the Sugar Bottom trails on Friday.
A last minute plan came up on Wednesday while Nick and I were riding at Ahquabi. I was battling an on-coming head cold but I figured by resting Thursday I should be good to go on Friday. Not according to plan I felt pretty snotgurgley on Thursday and not great Friday morning, but I resolved myself to juicing up on caffeine and gettin’ er done.
And that's just what I did.
Nick and I were Weather Ninjas. As it rained in Des Moines we rode at Sugar. My Garmin is on the fritz and Nick's wasn't charged so I don't have a track or elevation profile to share, sorry. We did 2 full laps, measuring around 21 miles of great flowing singletrack. The riding is wonderfully varied, just about the time you're gassed from a long, steady climb the trail turns downhill to carve through smooth hardpack laden with pine needles and scarred by embedded roots. About the time you get comfortable rolling with the tide a loose rocky climb, mini drop off or a rooty switchback appears. With nothing really crazy you can let the brakes go and roll but some sections sneak up and demand attention, skills and respect. For the Midwest, for me, its about a 9 on a 10 scale. I didn't take many pictures because I was just too busy riding and having a blast at a favorite old haunt.
Skateboarding Dog, beat that.
Nick taking the usual mode of transportation to the top of cyclocross hill, walking. The second time through we skipped Cyclo Hill and followed the green trail around. They've really spruced that bit up with some cool boardwalks and other interesting features.
All manner of roots; if there's a curve or a switchback at Sugar, rest assured - its full of roots.
See, they call this Hell Trail. Charming.
Troll Bridge isn't nearly as sketchy as the rooty downhill right before it (not pictured)
Even though my cold didn't seem to slow me down at Sugar I had a feeling I would be paying for it later - and I did. I stayed pretty tethered to the couch Saturday and Sunday and am just now getting back to about 70% speed.
