Just Sharing

This is a lonely picture. Dusk coming through the garage window. The beekeeping equipment I assembled, now going unused. I set up several hives on the property of a family we know and actually started pulling into the black selling honey in the comb. Unfortunately the property owner didn't understand it wasn't his apiary, to put it simply, and I haven't found anywhere else to keep honey bees since. I'd love to have my own piece of land with a hillside covered with chestnut trees, my honey bees and a few small scale fields of crops. Riding and designing, writing and Bar-B-Q-ing for family and friends. Where the sunshine is always shining. (except when it rains so everything doesn't die)

My friend from grade school and our neighborhood association leader are always looking to give me a heads up as far as jobs go. Valet, concessions, cutting grass for a property management company; nothing has come through to date. My profession is tight, but I keep trolling for another position. Set up 'adsense' to collect some coin from my blogs but found my google account, which I never use, all messed up.

Needless to say driving to the Firecracker this weekend will be near impossible time and money wise. And as the 'Shed Master' pointed out at the last WEMS race, the traffic on the way back will be terrible with the holiday. But I wont be going on his Crappy Bike Ride either, we have to work. Another excuse to drink think I. The 'Beer Man' claims all real mountain bikers drink beer. I guess that makes my mad mountain biking skills 'unreal.'

Another good group ride with the metro mountain bikers novice ride tonight (1st, 3rd and the occasional 5th Tuesday). A good time as usually and another excuse to drink afterwards for those so inclined. May race tomorrow.

Sometimes you get the feeling everyone knows something except you, and no one is talking. It is like playing poker without being dealt any cards. Pretty much sums up my life.

4 Laps

A beautiful day to race. I couldn't sleep last night and worried I'd have a bad outing. Not my best starting lap. I had some cheerleaders on my second lap which gave me a boost. Not sure exactly why they were cheering for me, but I was grateful for the support.

My third lap was tough (no cheering section) but found myself with near enough time to finish another lap in the three hour event. Didn't want to miss the chance so I charged up to the top of the ski hill and let myself go down the switchbacks. I preferred my old large knobbed tires on this slope covered with loose stone and had lost my water bottle twice in the same spot this race. But with my bottle near empty and no time to spare I gave myself to reckless abandon and let the adrenaline push me through the following single track. The legs just kept pumping. Had two crashes in 'Kevin's Heaven' but still made the last lap the best of the day.

Thanks to Metro Mountain Bikers, especially AL, for another enjoyable WEMS race. Their next event is the most beautiful course I believe they have, with patina covered cliffs and wondrous views. A lot of beauty in the world.

Racing Tomorrow

I won a tube in the drawing after the Wednesday Night Race. One of the hottest days in almost two years in these parts, I made sure I had plenty of fluids all day long in preparation. Put my tires at 42psi and was very satisfied with the results. Though I know those heavier than I, hovering around 250lbs (246 after the race), ride even lower pressures. Came in 7th for my age group, 17th overall, in the three lap race.

Today I helped prep the course for tomorrows WEMS Race, The Metro Challenge, right here in the metro Milwaukee area. Hope to help where I can tomorrow before and after I race the three hour event.

Pasta for lunch and dinner today though I don't have any of my usual energy or sports drinks.

Misao has been giving me a hard time recently about racing. She claims she never knew I had to pay to race. She was being so nice to me recently and then... Talking is over-rated.

Volunteers race for free tomorrow.

Hello Sunshine

Finally summer is here. I hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful day. Love the sunshine and nothing is going to change that.

No Wednesday Night Racing?

Could things get any worse? Could my life become any more miserable? Something I ask myself every couple months and two months later the answer is usually 'yes.' But things could be so unbelievably worse how can one complain. (knock on wood) A bit of fortitude and faith and everything comes up roses in the end if one is willing to try.

The rain has shut down tonight's race. Had a nice group ride, small group, last night on trails along the river. A lot more there than I thought. Asked if I was attending the WORS event this weekend I realized the XC race is on Saturday afternoon. I might decide at the last minute to go if I can make some money at the poker tables as I pondering pursuing a life of reckless disregard. Actually I play for free on the Internet, trying to get into the WSOP. (I actually dreamed I had a gold bracelet but when I looked again it was my watch) But we have been known to drop $20 at a casino every once in a very great while... and... I'm wondering if the Potawatomi has bike racks. I know they have really good restaurants.

Misao actually asked me if we were going to the casino tonight. I think she's tired of being poor and thinks I'm good. She works almost all the sales now in the retail business I had built myself many years ago. She makes more money. I suggested I take some old product we have and I work sales together with her.

She said; "Yuk!"

John Muir

I was at the '12 Hours of John Muir' this Saturday. A successful event that started dreary but ended splendidly. My first time there actually. I met some very nice people. I helped where I could and then got a chance to ride myself though I didn't race. Gave my tube and pump to a competitor who made his second flat five miles out from the trail head. I ride my tire pressure higher than most but after experiencing all the rocks on the blue trail, a tough course that I thought would cheer me up, I'll have to try 40 psi. I also rode the white trail. Hope to get to the Kettle trails more and to race this course next year.

My knee aches, among other things. But my shoulders and back are amazingly pain free. Started working the military press and incline again. Even taking it easy with some long breaks, it doesn't seem to take me long to get my strength back up. The rocks at John Muir worked my core and upper body hard. Where others would have crashed (Corey crashed) I had the strength to keep from being thrown by my bike. Lower tire pressure would save on the fatigue though.

Still no camera. One racer had a nifty helmet cam that he claimed worked great from REI. WEMS is also on Ning and they have some pictures posted there. Here are some pictures of some mountain bikers in Korea I had linked to on my group site, a group of one, I use to track my training. If you can call what I do training. Always hoping, working, for an opportunity to do better.

Heard a "Doors" triple play on one of the local radio stations this weekend and one of the three songs again at the WEMS event. I have a shiny new nickle sitting by my key board for anyone who can tell me the "Doors" song I heard twice. Made me think for a moment, of buying a turn table rather than a camera when I get some extra money. Still I think I'm going for a camera for the enjoyment of the few, or many, that visit my blog.

It's a Beautiful Day

The smell of omelets for breakfast brought me to drag myself out of bed. That and the promise to help a senior citizen learn the ins and outs of the Internet this morning. The sun is shining and the temperature near perfect. I probably should be more upbeat. A ride may cheer me up and Fridays I usually go to the gym, or maybe I'll spend the day in the basement putting on a new tire and tuning up our bikes. This old picture will have to do to brighten up the post until I get another camera.

I have to get new batteries for my watches too. I usually don't wear a watch much. The batteries generally don't last more than two months if I do and the straps often break. Need to manage my time especially if I take long rides.

Tomorrow is helping Team Cyclopath with John Muir and I've volunteered to help at the local Metro Challenge in two weeks. They promise free registration for the three hour race. The next WORS race may be the Firecracker. I haven't made any of those races in the western part of the State to date. They seem to know how to put on an event, with amenities such as good food, camping and a movie the night before.

Hit the Wednesday Night race this week. I didn't feel like racing and then the strap on my wedge wore through in the first lap. The second lap was half decent. Didn't want to keep everyone waiting for me to finish so didn't do all four laps. Some may think finishing last is a tactic to increase my chances at winning a door prize. The competitors either wait or leave as soon as they finish so it makes little difference. Only two door prizes this week; tubes. Winners, a man and his daughter.

Team

I joined Team Cyclopath and will be helping at the '12 Hours of John Muir' this Saturday. It looks like the event is full. My rides have become much longer and a bit less intense. Should get a proper saddle for my road bike and ride that more. Emery's is having another sale. Rode out to Oakhill 2 and found the work we had done Saturday under water. Gave my bike a good wash when I got back. Hopefully joining a team will inspire, push me to race more. Will hit the 'Wednesday Night Race' tonight for the first time this year. The club meeting was small last night and no one brought any babies. Someone came to a meeting with a baby last year.

There is a family event this weekend. One of the few we have actually been invited to, but it is out of town and we cannot afford to neglect our business. My family claims they never read my blogs and then strike up a conversation on something I had recently written about. Besides they are telling me one thing and everything inside is telling me something else. Can't put a name to it.

Over a thousand readers on the blog this year. Almost a quarter being German speakers. Yet Alois has so few posts. He says his laptop is broken now but will be posting at his usual blistering rate soon.

Just an example of the happenstance way my house has been put together. Layers upon layers of vapor barriers and another on the other side which is why a big part of this wall wasn't there when I opened it up last year. This room will be over an inch wider when I am done. One of several projects to do, but I may spend today writing. No gym if I'm going to race tonight.

The other day I actually rode my bike through a red light. Something a never do. Didn't even realize it. When Misao and I went to the V.A. a while back we didn't wear our helmets and it felt good. Maybe I should give my life over to reckless disregard. Leaving the car parked out on the street all night or even riding the Hoyt Park trails the wrong way in prime time.

Missing Wausau

I wish I had gone to Wausau for the WORS race. Looked like a good time and the promised rain materialized only enough to add character to the course from what I see in pictures. And any course where you don't have to dismount to climb a hill is a confidence builder. The reality is I wont be buying a camera either because the money to attend just wasn't there.

Saturday, besides being the day I received another rejection letter for a job, was a trail maintenance day at Oakhill 2 or Hampton south. We worked on armoring a stream crossing. I was the designated muck master ending up, most deservedly, covered with stinky mud as we set the stones over a plastic meshing. I just can't catch a break. Sorry no pictures. Later that afternoon I crashed at home and slept till evening. I needed the rest and didn't ride Sunday either. Things are tough but can't get stuck in one spot.

I may try to grow potatoes in a bag. Some parts of the garden are taking shape nicely, while others are failing. I may remove all the soil from the vegetable plot and replace it. A lot of demolition work on the house now as I prepare to make repairs. Have to make sure what is there and what isn't and that everything is supported properly.

I'll have to put my new tire on the back and start hitting the Wednesday Night Races. Tonight is the monthly Metro Mountain Bikers meeting with their local WEMS race just around the corner. I need to let Team Cyclopath know if I'll join their team, if they still have a spot, so I can help them with their event this Saturday. The future looks bright if you want it to be. Can't be afraid to be happy.

Biking Korea

Seeking to be on topic, I asked my very good friend in Korea to send me some bicycling photos for the blog to cheer me up. Yes, I have friends here and around the world. Relationships built beyond lines of faith or culture. People who would all describe me very differently than my own family would.

He runs one of the premier mountain biking events in South Korea. He is being hurt by the economy like everyone else. But the economy is not the only reason I wont be going to 9 Mile. It looks like rain. That will make the travel more difficult, not to mention the race, and with working weekends and driving up with little sleep I'll look for fulfillment at home. Lost ten pounds since Iola. I'll have to check the scale Sunday to see if I got under 250. For those not hurt by the economy there's still time to register for the Trans Germany, if you haven't been following my 'Racing for real Men' links.

It is always good to hear from my friend in Korea. The two places in the world I love to be the most is the North Woods and Korea. Would that make North Korea my ideal place to be? ... Maybe some wish I were there. I dreamed I was back in Korea last night, but it didn't make me happy. I couldn't find what I was searching for.

Newfoundland

We have a new neighbor. A giant Newfoundland. The picture doesn't convey how big he really is. He has a calm gentle nature and stance reminiscent of Tun-Tun that seems to have brightened Ship-po up a bit.

I most likely wont make 9 Mile. I have been pushing, lifting and riding for some time without getting the long deep sleeps your body needs in such circumstance. If I sleep like a log for over eight hours in the next couple days I may reconsider. Fuel costs and the long drive are also a consideration. There is a family event but we have not been invited.

Maybe I should take the money I would have spent and put it into a new camera. Looking at the photos WORS is choosing for their photo contests... they really need my help. And all my blogs need more life. Always something new to share.

Haven't made any Wednesday night races yet but made the Tuesday ride at Hoyt Park. Hit a job fair yesterday. Prepping for the next big house project and will be taking the car in for repairs and service now. I'll do the upside down planting today. Bought a tomato and an egg plant.

And of course I have to get out and ride.

6:00 AM

I woke up at 6:00 AM this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. I wont be going to Vegas and don't know if I'll make it to 9 Mile.