shhhhh

it might be time to be quiet

meanwhile:
<---- the beginning

the one thing

there are so many things i could write about. although, i feel an inadequate capacity (tonight) to get it all in one spot ... in any effective manner, anyway. so this'll have to do.

huge kudos to those finishing ... well, all those riding the KMC. Damn, Kids, that looks like it was the primo-event. Glad you all had so much fun. Dave and M: NICE JOB. We should all ride sometime, no?

off the tip of my mind, i'd like to honor the following:
all the Truly Brave
the conquering and endlessly driving, pushing, mastering

this weekend's mtbAdventures turned up:
roughly 95 miles and
+/-11,140'

not bad for going into it feeling ... yes, still deeply fatigued.

oddly, mile 30 (of 50) or so on saturday turned things around.
i have no idea why.
sundays climbing, while slow, was still on the plus side of energy.
go figure.

my current theory:
i burned whatever the hell it was OUT of my system.
we'll see if it lasts.

a few moments of miles and other intricacies:

friday nights ride was a wickedly delightful date in the sunset of a taxing week. the trail was sweet and empty; tacky and in great shape; we had a deliciously delightful time weaving the base of the mountain, following the trail of the rainbow, and generally riding giddy through the forest.

saturdays ride started 100% completely innocent. the plan was for a quick trip through this, over to that, down that one road, up to that one trail and then let's see what happens. you'd be surprised one what one can do within 57 miles on and off DIRT around Evergreen. Yup. my favorite parts: single track. that it happened at all. the picnic table. that other bunch of singletack. my favorite (and possibly the most teeny) loop at ... um, that one trail (with the dirt and the rocks and the ... flowers on it). the angel flowers. the picnic table. the climb out of the valley of the picnic table. getting lost when it was my turn to make decisions. blowing out the system and the expectaions and finding a bunch of well-fed drive hiding within.

sundays ride ......... what an amazing day. i think i was high on whatever it was that saturday did to me. as tired as i was, as tired as my legs were ... it all worked WELL. climbing was difficult, but not empty. the energy-spirit seemed to be a little on the playful and manic side. and i enjoyed every single little second of it. again in a world that inhabits the entire first 18 years of my life: we were riding in new territory, and with no one around. despite the plethora of roadies and cars and human busy-ness that bounced around in the spaces around us, in our exploration and trail finding: Z E R O. and freaking blissful.

then, spending father's day celebration 100% completely spent is always fun and adventurous in it's own right. especially the trampoline.

if i had to pick one moment to dwell on ... i'd pick the forest. the brook. the silence. and the infinitude that it held.

if i had to say one thing about this weekend: i'd like to say: Thunder. all the way around and through everything ... and i wish i would have said something about it, in that infinitude.

takes time to pick a place to go

i spent the weekend out, sneaking around on my bike.

physically, saturday felt better than sunday,
but sunday required more ... nerve.

it was well worth it. smiles both days
basking in the sunshine of that awesome
weather that exists in the space
between spring and summer.

i still sport a sunburn.
go figure.

Saturday: 8 hours out in the sunshine
on the bike
with a fair measure of climbing
and endless exploration.

legs felt good. wind was on hold. light was rich. clouds were blossoming. curiosity was expanding. i saw a gangster car and a hideout. i got to watch the humming birds dance. i got to climb a hill that did not match my power-state, and nailed it nonetheless (with pauses). (climbing is the only true measure. i like to spend time in that manner).

sunday: is a secret.
i will never tell.

felt: tired. good, but tired. not as tired as during the week, and not as many cold/chest/sinus issues. but tired. fatigued. and not quite like i know i can.

but the energy is rising!

and i'm scheming.

yes i am.

free

this is what the pony does when i'm not out on the trail, riding.

sick again, and feeling the frustration of inexplicable disorientation.

whyyyyy????

wednesday's work day was miraculously stolen away by a power outage. a free day off work? noooooo??? ohyeah.... bolted as quickly as i could (before the power came back on), and b-lined it to evergreen.

options at that point: ride or hike. chose to hike due to 'funny feeling' in my throat and chest .... that decision proved wise as i found myself with a major energy deficit, as opposed to a rich, full energy surplus. very frustrating.

the hike, however, was brilliant. yet again on a new trail in my old home town. imagine that. yes, ed was guide once again. we covered a good 11 miles total. unfortunately, we were denied a longer hike due to SNOW. yes kids, SNOW completely obliterating the trail, and all possible foray's around the trail. i'm sure ed has pix somewhere and will post them one day, on way or another.

the funny thing about this trail, and this area, is that i used to frequent the area somewhere around there as a child. and by child, i mean ages 7 to 10. we used to go there and play in the river/stream and slide down the rocks. we had the place to ourselves. i can't seem to find that place again. i know it's there, somewhere ... probably as someones back yard. lucky them.

perfect way to spend a surprise day off work!

the lack of energy, however, seems to be taking control, and i find myself not really knowing how to deal or heal or otherwise get myself healthy. i'm stymied. (i think that's a word).

the tree image is just an image that inspired something creative. watch for it in the coming months... pending time to sit with constructive tools, mediums and color. to me, it looks like it's bleeding.


********************************************
entering the forest
of memories
images bouncing forward
and behind again

following the path
both guided and lost
crossing boundaries
of someone elses land

walking with words
breathing in silence
finding the rhythm
of our cadence

being at once
inside and out
reflecting images of joy
and essence

rock. snow. pine.

found

4 days in the saddle: proving positive.

nice little solo jaunt at WR on thurs (as noted earlier):
found me feeling hungry for dirt, trails, sweat, sun ...
found me hungry to have my hands wrapped around my handlebars and grips ...
found me longing for more time with my bike ...
found me pierced with inspiration.

quickie little sprint action on Fri:
found me spiriting up the sweet-sweet hill and then banking turns and ripping back down ...
found me chasing ed and his twisted zen lines...
found me riding in the evening light saturated with springs thick, pillowy clouds ...
found me ready for more.

saturday
found me climbing, and then climbing some more ...
found me re-finding that sweet-sweet climb ...
found me wide-eyed in springs green madness ...
found me basking in motion in the sugary-yellow-light of the perfect spring day ...
found my pace feeling deliberate, and flowing ...
found me warmed up and in the zone after 18 miles ...
found me freaking feeling good after 25 ... and hungry for yet more.

sunday
found me all mtbBlissedout in the middle of New Trail No Where ...
found me smack-dab in the w i d e open range dodging thunderstorms the size of kansas...
found me giggling with the brooks of crystal-cold water ...
found me riding pristinely pined trails with no tracks over roots and rocks and tumbling with joy ...
found me following yet more of ed's zen lines through a pampered forest where one should always only whisper ...
found me grateful to be alive and feeling so well ...
found me digging deep to top the endlessly steep pitches ...
found me honoring my company and thanking my lucky stars ...
found me disoriented and with fresh eyes in an old home-land ...
found me high-thigh deep in a dark, cold river ...
found me in the kingdom of towering Aspens, humble ...
found me finally tapping the extent of my recovering physical energy ...

found me feeling the thunder, in my heart.