Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The Rock

DSCN3793It is the Holy season but The Rock I am referring to is not related to the season or the new Pope but a sporting complex. Formerly the Crystal Ridge Ski Hill, The Rock will be a four season baseball centric sporting complex. Of course it includes skiing, tubing and the such of Winter. A Winter that just doesn’t want to go away. I don’t mind Winter. I like Winter, but the other day I thought to myself; I wish I was warm.

Metro Mountain Bikers had their last meeting at The Rock. They awarded t-shirts to all the fifteen hour investors in the local trails. They decided to call them “investors” rather than volunteers. I would have chosen something more appropriate such as Patriot Path Builders, Forest Hackers or simply Trail Gods. Unfortunately no one sought my advice.

They also had the secret plans of Gravity Logic, the firm that will be transforming the ski hill into a downhill mountain biking adventure. Some squiggly lines on a map lacking any topographical detail. Downhill MTB, BMX and some pump tracks for those willing to pay. The cross country county park trails for the rest of us.

DSCN3836I picked up a jersey this Winter. The price was right and the fit sublime. They may have a few XL left. Rush Limbaugh's “Two if by Tea” fits nicely into the pocket. They are heavy duty bottles that facilitate reuse. The La Grange General Store, the advertiser for the pocket in question, sits just south of the John Muir Trails. A cross road community where you can rent a bike if need be. …Do I hear banjos?

The tax man stole my dreams of buying a trainer this Winter. I thought I was close thinking the trainer and VR update were about a 50/50 split but it is more like 70/35 split to buy them piecemeal. Then we had our taxes prepared and poof she was gone. I cleaned up the basement and pulled out the bikes to be tuned up for the spring season, whenever that decides to arrive. I did get a major task out of the way before riding weather. I installed a microwave hood above the stove. A three day job that went from this,

DSCN3796to this.

DSCN3832Four or five trips to Menard’s (when my wife would let me have the car), a major power outage that no one seemed interested in reporting on and mild exclamations of dissatisfaction along the way and the wife was made happy.

And for the faithful reading to the end, The Rock is having a job fair Thursday evening. Information is on their site.