The Other Holiday Weekend

The one that symbolizes the end of Summer is here. If you had intended to make it a quiet weekend of rest, rather than the last opportunity to squander one’ s wealth, there are several events that might be of interest to you, that may getting you out of the house.

First and foremost, an event of indescribable import will be held in Waukesha county; the inaugural season of the Wisconsin High School Mountain Bike League/Series will begin at Minooka Park, on the latest and greatest trails the state has to offer. I don’t plan to attend, I’m no longer a teenager, which may be the events biggest draw. Metro Mountain Bikers will be providing volunteers. If something more mature is your style, and you don’t mind a beautiful Sunday drive of considerable, but hardly prohibitive, length, then the 5th La Crosse Gravel Classic may be the event for you. They’re having an outright bicycle festival in La Crosse all weekend.

The garden will be on the downward after this weekend. For some Labor Day will mark the beginning of the school year. For others, it means football is just around the corner. With the beautiful sweet tomatoes and hot banana peppers from the garden I hope we will have enough salsa to last the whole season. Over the years, removing stones little by little from our tiny garden plot, I collected at least half a dozen five gallon buckets full of gravel. I didn’t send them to La Crosse. Now, after composting the garden year after year, we are getting some great tastes, though the wet has brought blight to the cucumbers.

If you need more timely notice for planning your weekend activities, check September 27th and 28th on your calendar, and if the date is free… The 27th is the date of The Fall Color Festival in the Southern Kettles. The 28th is the Colectivo (formerly Alterra) Coffee Bean Classic. I believe the Colectivo team is looking for volunteers to prep the course. The Bike Fed sent out an e-mail for a Door County Fall Color Tour on September 28th, but the link didn’t work. But here is a sight you can check out. Our beautiful Door County is full of fall color activities and events.

We plan to spend a quiet weekend at home. I used to have a blog on My Space, but they ended all but their music related functions and all my commentary on movies and entertainment was lost. Sometimes I’d like to comment on entertainment but it has not been a serious topic for this blog. But I found a preview for “Kundo,” a Korean film that broke all box office records in its own country, on Flixster (or Fandango) on my TV via Roku. A period piece when some claim over half the population were slaves. A story similar to a Korean drama we watched; “The Slave Hunters.” The movie “Kundo” has many good reviews and it is to open in the US today, but I can’t find it being shown anywhere in Milwaukee. We would have gone to see it. But we’re not driving down to Chicago.

The $68 Question: What month and year did I arrive in Korea to live, and what month and year did I return to Milwaukee? See Charity Jackpot page in sidebar.

Morning Glories

It is hard to shift to an early morning rise after working so late into the night on weekends, but it is worth the effort. I accomplish more and stay on top of the multiple and various demands for my attentions when the day begins early. It’s up with the morning glories blooming. (though they stay open till almost noon) I should ride in the mornings also, as most race events I may enter in the future run before noon at my level.

I have been negligent in informing you, my readers of upcoming events. Yes, the Milwaukee Triathlon has passed. I am sure many of you would have participated if only I had informed you a week or two previous. When you think of triathlon, you have to think Emery’s; Milwaukee’s triathlon oriented bike shop. Very good people too.

Irish Fest is in full swing. Milwaukee’s ethnic festival that seems to have the biggest international draw. It is a bit longer than most too. Festivals and other such activities are a good walk for me and my wife. Do I count my State Fair four hour walk as exercise, bowling or walking the mall when we get the chance to go shopping? No, and this leaves my exercise journal lacking. Still my weight is dropping and I will mention something that I believe is helping in a future post.

And don’t forget about Milwaukee Indy Fest at the Milwaukee Mile.

The Polish Moon-Ride is a week from today. Yes, a Friday night ride. Information here. Looks like they want you to register in advance.

Yes, the Wednesday Night MTB Races have been on at The Rock Sports Complex. You must finish all four laps or you receive a DQ, and I’m not talking Dairy Queen. Rain threatened the season and their first race was done despite the droplets from heaven descending, just to get the season started before Summer was half over. It draws a bit of a crowd, and I am sure it will grow. The Metro members are attending and they are seeing new faces and groups participating. It could grow into quite an event. Could The Rock ever be as big and popular as Park City?

Much of the typical run for the Wednesday Night Race (the alpha trail) has been too wet to use, forcing the use of the trails on The Rock property. The Pleasant Valley trails in Ozaukee County are suffering similar difficulties. But Devil’s Head has some mountain bike trails one can ride, as does Alpine Valley. At the latest club meeting Alpine Valley was well-spoken of.

Of course Minooka is where all the up and comers are riding these days. The trails are spoken of highly. At the end of the month they will be hosting the first of four NICA Races. No team affiliation required to participate. This is the high school MTB series that WORS was instrumental in getting moving here in Wisconsin.

Alois has drawn me into one of his international conspiracy theories. What a birthday gift; a whole kit of information and promotional materials for 9/11 Truth. Of course the three buildings were brought down by controlled explosion. I saw them come down. The evidence is hard to deny, the motives are clear, though those put forth by many are the work of nut jobs, and …why do you think the families of the victims received such extraordinary amounts of compensation? Why is the issue being covered up? The Clintons. This system would have had to have been planned and put into effect under  the Clinton administration.

Thanks Alois.

Now the $67 question: In “Chuck Hammer and the Invisible Squadron; A Vendetta’s Wage” I am making a weapons change in the final chapter; name the weapon that is being changed and what it being changed to.

Okay, that is more of a demand than a question, but it’s worth just as much money. The edit will be uploaded to the e-book before the end of the weekend. See the Charity Jackpot Page in the sidebar for details.

State Fair

Ike says, “Go to State Fair!” We went on Thursday, opening day, for our four hour walk around the grounds. Ike is shaking with excitement over some treats we bought for him at the Fair from Annie’s Pooch Pops. Not a name forgiving of typos but Ike can’t read. At least that is what he claims.

We got our roasted corn, baked potato, our lamb brat with mint jelly and a simple chocolate Sunday. Good deals in the Wisconsin (Agricultural) Products Building. Best priced food at the Fair for someone on a budget. Not sure if $55 per gallon for maple syrup is a good price but it may be. We found it not too busy and the lines, such as for the cream puffs (we had one each), were short and fast moving.

We also enjoy the Natural Resources Center which has been greatly enhanced. Then we had to go down ever row of vendor’s, hawker’s and peddler’s booths. Great deal on teeth whitening if you want to sit for a half hour. A huge display of massage chairs filled in where the hot tubes have scaled back. Not as many infrared saunas either. Not that we could afford any such decadences. Good Earth Soap was back in the Wisconsin Products Building. People work hard and invest a lot on a vision or dream to come up with something unique and desired by the public. Overall, looking at the faces of the sales people, it doesn’t look like any kind of financial recovery to me.

Ike loves your pooch poops Annie. …See what I mean.

We came up behind the back of a small stage in the sheep barn. The schedule listed the sheep shearing demonstration for 5:00 and I took out my phone and it was 5:01. “Let’s see the sheep shearing demonstration.” I said to my wife. We walked the five feet around the back of the tiny stage and the sheep was done sheared. “Wow!” I said, “He sheared that sheep in less than two minutes.” We listened in as people asked many an interesting question.

I like going through the cow barns. I like the smell. It reminds me of going around Wisconsin to visit relatives every summer when I was a child. Those that stayed in Wisconsin were mostly farmers. That’s what my dad called a vacation.

If we actually had the money for a sit down meal, listening to a live band, at one of Milwaukee’s fine Restaurateur’s and/or Caterer’s annual establishments we would. Instead we did our rounds, headed back to our car free parked many blocks away and went home to Ike. Our tickets were free.

If you enjoy walking, hiking, trekking or just getting around by foot a pilgrimage may be in the future for you. My brother the Priest goes on a Wisconsin pilgrimage twice a year. Many people are starting to join in. He gave me this t-shirt. Of course you can always do anything you’re doing, not just a pilgrimage, with prayer and offering devotions to God. Not a State Fair thing but still a Wisconsin thing.

The $66 question in recognition of the Catholic Church: What location named above did I often visit when I was young? See Charity Jackpot page for further details.