so we packed up the ponies and headed west!
day one of three: blissful.
jj
11/27/09
cravings
me, my wheels, my pony, my everything: craving dirt in a most spectacular way ;-)
so we packed up the ponies and headed west!
day one of three: blissful.
jj
so we packed up the ponies and headed west!
day one of three: blissful.
jj
11/22/09
sugar and dirt
or is it dirt and sugar?
or perhaps dirt for sugar? yeaaaahhhhh...
Sunday ride-date with Ez: ride from Boulder to Ned ... (40 miles, 6,100'up, 4.5 hrs, November 22... buuurrr) ...for SCONES.
Ssssssccccooooooooooonnnneesss.... of the raspberry variety, with frosting. And a Coffee Chaser.
Will Ride For Sugar. ;-)
From here:
To here:
Via:
...here...
...here...
...here...
...and here...
(and everywhere in between)...
And home to Boulder the Sugary Way:
Couldn't possibly be happier.
2 quotes of the day:
1.) sitting with my mother, on my way home from the ride ... as we sat to chit-chat, I was messing with my curly-chaos, post-ride hair.
jeny: "maaa..... what's in my hair, is it mud? it feels like mud."
ma: "no, honey, it's some kind of FOOD."
hahahahahahahahaha
2.) Ez: "jeny... it's November. it's time to build capillaries."
jj
or perhaps dirt for sugar? yeaaaahhhhh...
Sunday ride-date with Ez: ride from Boulder to Ned ... (40 miles, 6,100'up, 4.5 hrs, November 22... buuurrr) ...for SCONES.
Ssssssccccooooooooooonnnneesss.... of the raspberry variety, with frosting. And a Coffee Chaser.
Will Ride For Sugar. ;-)
From here:
To here:
Via:
...here...
...here...
...here...
...and here...
(and everywhere in between)...And home to Boulder the Sugary Way:
Couldn't possibly be happier.
2 quotes of the day:
1.) sitting with my mother, on my way home from the ride ... as we sat to chit-chat, I was messing with my curly-chaos, post-ride hair.
jeny: "maaa..... what's in my hair, is it mud? it feels like mud."
ma: "no, honey, it's some kind of FOOD."
hahahahahahahahaha
2.) Ez: "jeny... it's November. it's time to build capillaries."
jj
11/15/09
star-light, star-bright...
... snowy stars, taking flight!
Saturday, November 14th, 2009: The Annual Hut ride (+ engagement celebration)! Mateo hosts the yearly late-fall/early-winter ride, usually in the loveliest cold and snowy weather, always to end up back in the Hut, eating and drinking and laughing our souls silly. This year lived up to our cold and snowy dreams of succulent BuffCreek singletrack.
The crew:
John, Mateo, Me, Ez, Chris, Chad, Erik and Maddie, Steevie -- and Ed, my starling, took the pic -- and all pix in this post.
This year we flew UpHigh and OverYonder and back again. However, despite flying, we somehow managed to stay out in 30 degree (and snowing) temps for almost 5 hours. How on earth did that happen? We managed that by accidentally skipping from one Magical Universe to another -- taking our darn sweet time between each. All in all, I think we managed to inhabit 9 different worlds of Enchantment.
9 Worlds of Enchantment:
1.) Pre-Game Special Trail.
9 ponies strong, all linked together, inches from tail-tire to front-tire, the pebbly, red dirt-earth crackled underneath, stones tinging the down tubes. Fog loomed heavy in the tops of the gray-green pines, I could hear our hearts all a-twitter, with the beat-beat-beat ricocheting off the rocks and trees as we meandered up and over the ridge line. We entered the magical universe of the day though this doorway.
2.) IndianSummerClimb:
A few Pony and Rider blasted up IndianSummerClimb without wait. A few lingered behind to snap-shot Ice Flowers in the red sand. Ez and I dug in and held a steady pace, trusting the nature of the terrain, following our bliss through the tall, wet, golden grass, sticking faithfully to the red ribbon of trail that unfolded beneath our tires. Steady pace, steady talk. The Summer Climb spirits gave us wings as we rose up, and up, and up to meet the line of frozen fog, awaiting us up in the trees far above.
3.) Upper Rim Coaster Trail:
The Upper Rim Coaster Trail boasts beastly boulders and tall-fallen timbers ... pebbly corners and roller-bliss to the SSers heart-content. Ez and I pumped the rolly s-track and followed the magic call into the high-fog and silent trees.
4.) Upper Ewok Trail:
With tight-trees whizzing by, we galloped up the perfectly fast-pitched climb. Pine needles and pebbles, streams and icy roots kept the dance lively. Upper Ewok never fails to disappoint, and it's distinctly blissful, fast-forest trees and swoopy s-track ribbon lured Ez, Chris and I to the top on a magic carpet ride.
5.) Enchanted Ice Forest:
With frozen breath, we twisted our way around the shadowy trees and tender-needled trail, hearts giggling, we were hootin' out loud! And suddenly,we emerged, in a frozen silence of delight, from the dark forest into the Great Open Enchanted Ice Forest: flying through the White-Crystalline Golden Grass scape, the the Zen Rocks, and the Black Spear-Trees. It was a whisper of a flight ... through Heaven. A Blessing.
6.) Moon Palace:
Again in our pack, our 9 Ponies galloping across the high-moon-ice-desert, smiles on fire, our warm breath billowing. We caught the beginning of the snow storm as it covered the trail and blessed us with fresh tracks. The crackle of the pebbles gave way to the crunch of crisp snow. The Pony-train flew by (Erik, Chad, Steve, Chris) and left Ez and I to chase. Ed and Mateo shot ghostly pix of the white moon-scape and chased us all down ... meeting us up at the Cloud Castles.
7.) Cloud Castles:
The Unicorns live here. And we enjoyed the magical fog as we danced upon the rocks.
8.) And Back:
We had fresh tracks the entire 15 miles back to the start. We enjoyed each section in a new, crystal-fog light. The 9-pony-train broke into pieces, as Ed and Mateo got their Camera-Shots ON. Erik had bolted to save Maddie. Chris disappeared into the fog, leaving ghost tracks for us to follow. Ez and I wheeled and dealed and rode with hearts open wide. Somewhere on the return trip, Ed and Steevie and Chad found new lines down old trails. We could hear their laughter echo through the little valleys. We all galloped through snow and ended the Pony Play a nice 5 hours later.
9.) After Party:
The Ninth Realm of Heaven on this fine day found us up at Mateo's house and Hut, with a fine, fine spread of food and wine ... and CUPCAKES!!!!!
Saturday, November 14th, 2009: The Annual Hut ride (+ engagement celebration)! Mateo hosts the yearly late-fall/early-winter ride, usually in the loveliest cold and snowy weather, always to end up back in the Hut, eating and drinking and laughing our souls silly. This year lived up to our cold and snowy dreams of succulent BuffCreek singletrack.
The crew:
John, Mateo, Me, Ez, Chris, Chad, Erik and Maddie, Steevie -- and Ed, my starling, took the pic -- and all pix in this post.
This year we flew UpHigh and OverYonder and back again. However, despite flying, we somehow managed to stay out in 30 degree (and snowing) temps for almost 5 hours. How on earth did that happen? We managed that by accidentally skipping from one Magical Universe to another -- taking our darn sweet time between each. All in all, I think we managed to inhabit 9 different worlds of Enchantment.
9 Worlds of Enchantment:
1.) Pre-Game Special Trail.
9 ponies strong, all linked together, inches from tail-tire to front-tire, the pebbly, red dirt-earth crackled underneath, stones tinging the down tubes. Fog loomed heavy in the tops of the gray-green pines, I could hear our hearts all a-twitter, with the beat-beat-beat ricocheting off the rocks and trees as we meandered up and over the ridge line. We entered the magical universe of the day though this doorway.
2.) IndianSummerClimb:
A few Pony and Rider blasted up IndianSummerClimb without wait. A few lingered behind to snap-shot Ice Flowers in the red sand. Ez and I dug in and held a steady pace, trusting the nature of the terrain, following our bliss through the tall, wet, golden grass, sticking faithfully to the red ribbon of trail that unfolded beneath our tires. Steady pace, steady talk. The Summer Climb spirits gave us wings as we rose up, and up, and up to meet the line of frozen fog, awaiting us up in the trees far above.
3.) Upper Rim Coaster Trail:
The Upper Rim Coaster Trail boasts beastly boulders and tall-fallen timbers ... pebbly corners and roller-bliss to the SSers heart-content. Ez and I pumped the rolly s-track and followed the magic call into the high-fog and silent trees.
4.) Upper Ewok Trail:
With tight-trees whizzing by, we galloped up the perfectly fast-pitched climb. Pine needles and pebbles, streams and icy roots kept the dance lively. Upper Ewok never fails to disappoint, and it's distinctly blissful, fast-forest trees and swoopy s-track ribbon lured Ez, Chris and I to the top on a magic carpet ride.
5.) Enchanted Ice Forest:
With frozen breath, we twisted our way around the shadowy trees and tender-needled trail, hearts giggling, we were hootin' out loud! And suddenly,we emerged, in a frozen silence of delight, from the dark forest into the Great Open Enchanted Ice Forest: flying through the White-Crystalline Golden Grass scape, the the Zen Rocks, and the Black Spear-Trees. It was a whisper of a flight ... through Heaven. A Blessing.
6.) Moon Palace:
Again in our pack, our 9 Ponies galloping across the high-moon-ice-desert, smiles on fire, our warm breath billowing. We caught the beginning of the snow storm as it covered the trail and blessed us with fresh tracks. The crackle of the pebbles gave way to the crunch of crisp snow. The Pony-train flew by (Erik, Chad, Steve, Chris) and left Ez and I to chase. Ed and Mateo shot ghostly pix of the white moon-scape and chased us all down ... meeting us up at the Cloud Castles.
7.) Cloud Castles:
The Unicorns live here. And we enjoyed the magical fog as we danced upon the rocks.
8.) And Back:
We had fresh tracks the entire 15 miles back to the start. We enjoyed each section in a new, crystal-fog light. The 9-pony-train broke into pieces, as Ed and Mateo got their Camera-Shots ON. Erik had bolted to save Maddie. Chris disappeared into the fog, leaving ghost tracks for us to follow. Ez and I wheeled and dealed and rode with hearts open wide. Somewhere on the return trip, Ed and Steevie and Chad found new lines down old trails. We could hear their laughter echo through the little valleys. We all galloped through snow and ended the Pony Play a nice 5 hours later.
9.) After Party:
The Ninth Realm of Heaven on this fine day found us up at Mateo's house and Hut, with a fine, fine spread of food and wine ... and CUPCAKES!!!!!
(what else!!??) Ez and I ate far more than our fair share. Period.
At the Ninth Realm, we also found the magic snow circle pony pump track:
(not my pony ...)
A HUGE thanks goes out to our hosts and hostess, Mateo and Kim! Thank so much for your fun and games and love!
Jj
11/14/09
11/8/09
sublime sunday
Something is terribly wrong with my camera (see pix from the previous post). I'm about to give up on picture taking entirely --- and rely on ed's magic lens and talents to supply images for this silly excuse for a blog.
Annywaaayyyyyy...
Original ride plans for sunday fell through (all my fault -- sorry girls). However, my failures in that arena allowed for a great and unexpected opportunity to ride with ED, EZ (AGAIN!!!!!!), Chris, and Mikey! We all converged at BC to drag each other around some super-succulent-singletrack.
Photo credit: EDE
jj
Annywaaayyyyyy...
Original ride plans for sunday fell through (all my fault -- sorry girls). However, my failures in that arena allowed for a great and unexpected opportunity to ride with ED, EZ (AGAIN!!!!!!), Chris, and Mikey! We all converged at BC to drag each other around some super-succulent-singletrack.
Photo credit: EDE
- Ez re-re-re-fell in love with her rigid-SS pony. All I heard from her all day long was: "GOD I LOVE THIS BIKE!!!!" (The other thing I heard from her all day was: "Are there any Unicorn cookies left!?!?").
- Chris was in super form and somehow managed to fly over obstacles that really weren't even there?? WTF is up with creative-catching-air? I MUST learn how to do this. I think I might hit him up for a lesson.
- And MIKEY --- well... MikeyPoo had the best cornering-form Ed has ever captured on film. Nice way to lay-it-over, Mikey. And nice job fixing the blown-to-pieces brake with athletic tape. That's some crazy skills there ;-)
- My darling Ed, of course, got to play sprint-ahead and catch-up all day long... so he could get more interval training in... you know, because he really, really likes that kind of thing ;-)
Ed took pix of the day. The rest of us slacked off and just rode the ponies all OCD and junkie like ;-)
jj
11/7/09
sunny saturday sojurn
11/5/09
10/28/09
gettin' out....
... on a nice little solo ski date today ...
longing for significant outside time these days ... no matter the manner.
jj
longing for significant outside time these days ... no matter the manner.
jj
10/25/09
we were SO there
Yup. BeanFeSSt 2009: We were SO there... and yet, we somehow SO missed it (it being Everyone else who showed).
Ed and I got a nice, cozy late start to the bitterly cold day. Oatmeal. Coffee. Snuggles with Kitty.
By the time we piled on the woolies and loaded up the ponies, it was a whopping 30 degrees out, and visibility was next to nothing.
That's ok tho. BC likes rowdy weather, and I don't think that Paul has held a single BeanFeSSt with weather any different: usually colder (or downright frrreezing), whiter, and/or wetter than people would otherwise ride in.
We showed up an hour late, guessing that the crew would start riding about an hour late. We passed CalGone's Bat Mobile parked down low, and pulled into the BeanFeSSt Grounds up high. Sure enough, there were a number of crusaders wearing off their hangovers in their cozies around the fire. And, sure enough, CalGone had blasted through, saw the pre-ride carnage, and kept riding. And sure enough, the rest of the crew blasted off about 20 minutes before we got there. Perfect timing!
So Ed and I set out on our own 20 mile snow ride in celebration of our '4-year having MET anniversary'. Yup, that is right. We originally met at the BeanFeSSt 4 years ago!
The trails were wonderful. The dirt was amber-colored against the white snow. The sections in the trees held more snow than the wide-open spaces. The trees were holding snow, and as still as could be. We even got to ride some really fun SnowSingleTrack. That is the first of the season for me. It was lovely, and very playful.
I thought we might catch up to the crew. But, no such luck. Ed had his camera, and it was far too beautiful with the snow, the dirt, the trees, the smiles... to pass up picture taking! And, from the wild set of tracks we were following, it looked like the group had split a few times in different directions. We ended up having the entire place to ourselves and didn't run into a single soul!
Upon arriving back up at BeanFeSSt Grounds, we were a bit surprised to find that.....drum-roll..... everyone had already left! (Except for SSpike, of course... because I told him he better linger that sorry, hung-over *** of his there til we got back!! ... and Joe, and a couple others) BOOOOO!!! Apparently we really missed out on the festivities from the night before (thank god). It sounds like the Hearty Souls all rode with serious headaches ... got back to the Grounds, and immediately blasted off for home? Or, it could be that Ed and I were just slow. So be it, I guess. But I gotta say: I was really looking forward to seeing some of our FeSStyFolks!!!
Hope everyone had as spectacular a ride as Ed and I did. Did you hear us hootin' and hollerin' from across the valley? I thought you might ;-)
Alrighty then. We'll try and be a little more on time for the SSnowRide next year ;-)
jj
Ed and I got a nice, cozy late start to the bitterly cold day. Oatmeal. Coffee. Snuggles with Kitty.
By the time we piled on the woolies and loaded up the ponies, it was a whopping 30 degrees out, and visibility was next to nothing.
That's ok tho. BC likes rowdy weather, and I don't think that Paul has held a single BeanFeSSt with weather any different: usually colder (or downright frrreezing), whiter, and/or wetter than people would otherwise ride in.
We showed up an hour late, guessing that the crew would start riding about an hour late. We passed CalGone's Bat Mobile parked down low, and pulled into the BeanFeSSt Grounds up high. Sure enough, there were a number of crusaders wearing off their hangovers in their cozies around the fire. And, sure enough, CalGone had blasted through, saw the pre-ride carnage, and kept riding. And sure enough, the rest of the crew blasted off about 20 minutes before we got there. Perfect timing!
So Ed and I set out on our own 20 mile snow ride in celebration of our '4-year having MET anniversary'. Yup, that is right. We originally met at the BeanFeSSt 4 years ago!
The trails were wonderful. The dirt was amber-colored against the white snow. The sections in the trees held more snow than the wide-open spaces. The trees were holding snow, and as still as could be. We even got to ride some really fun SnowSingleTrack. That is the first of the season for me. It was lovely, and very playful.
I thought we might catch up to the crew. But, no such luck. Ed had his camera, and it was far too beautiful with the snow, the dirt, the trees, the smiles... to pass up picture taking! And, from the wild set of tracks we were following, it looked like the group had split a few times in different directions. We ended up having the entire place to ourselves and didn't run into a single soul!
Upon arriving back up at BeanFeSSt Grounds, we were a bit surprised to find that.....drum-roll..... everyone had already left! (Except for SSpike, of course... because I told him he better linger that sorry, hung-over *** of his there til we got back!! ... and Joe, and a couple others) BOOOOO!!! Apparently we really missed out on the festivities from the night before (thank god). It sounds like the Hearty Souls all rode with serious headaches ... got back to the Grounds, and immediately blasted off for home? Or, it could be that Ed and I were just slow. So be it, I guess. But I gotta say: I was really looking forward to seeing some of our FeSStyFolks!!!
Hope everyone had as spectacular a ride as Ed and I did. Did you hear us hootin' and hollerin' from across the valley? I thought you might ;-)
Alrighty then. We'll try and be a little more on time for the SSnowRide next year ;-)
jj
10/18/09
SSday!
Striped Socks day!!! (and a few single speeders)...
TRace had a moment with her Pony, and the Angel within her Pony (can you see the angel!!) She was taking a vow to obey the Pony, and to love the Pony.
I didn't really realize how many girls showed up until I saw all the Ponies lining up! Quite the crew!
I just really liked this pic of Meg... it captured her sense and spirit for the day:
MMMM....... this is what i want... endlessly: ST!
Get it while you can!
jj
TRace had a moment with her Pony, and the Angel within her Pony (can you see the angel!!) She was taking a vow to obey the Pony, and to love the Pony.
I didn't really realize how many girls showed up until I saw all the Ponies lining up! Quite the crew!
I just really liked this pic of Meg... it captured her sense and spirit for the day:
MMMM....... this is what i want... endlessly: ST!
Get it while you can!
jj
10/13/09
thank goodness...
... for such awesome people ...
And this kind of man (well, specifically, THIS MAN):0)
Hope everyone is enjoying the ridiculously short-fast fall we're having!! Get out and get that dirt while you still can!
jj
Is it odd that I had the time of my life crewing for Lynda and Dave this weekend while they raced in circles and literally beat the pp out of everyone!??! I love my 2 little crack heads!
Unfortunately, I really didn't have the time for pix ... or videos! I thought I would, but I was wrong ;-)
All the big news, which I'm sure everyone reading this has already heard:
- HUGE congratulations to Lynda for absolutely dominating and winning the 24 Hour SS Solo National Championship title!!!!!!
- HUGE congratulations to her man and partner in crime, Dave, for also destroying the field and winning the 24 hour SS Solo National Championship title!
- And ESZTER!!!! HUGE congratulations to you -- for absolutely following your bliss straight into the 24 Hour Solo National Championship title! Soak that one up!
You all kick such serious ass it's really not even describable ;0) You all blow my mind, and fill my heart, and I'm so honored to have been your pit angel (Lynda and Dave)! Or, as some of my friends have said: pit bitch ;0) Your huge success has just filled me up with so much energy, and so much inspiration. I hardly have the words. (So I'll just continue to scream and yell at you from here on out ;0) No one has complained yet!).
As for getting on with Life After Moab: I went on a little Pony Pedal tonight, and had a date with my man on the singletrack.
I like this kind of environment:
And this kind of man (well, specifically, THIS MAN):0)
Hope everyone is enjoying the ridiculously short-fast fall we're having!! Get out and get that dirt while you still can!
jj
10/9/09
round and round ...
... round and round ....What comes around goes around .... I'll tell you why ...
This one is going to be going round and round and round in circles:
Check out that super steep hill we found in moab. yeah ... really.
This one is going to be going round and round and round in circles, too:
Wait. Haven't I see this picture before? I see a trend starting here. A pattern. Get your Checks while you can! They're the hot new thing! They're the new PINK!
The Venue:
The Rock Star:
More venue:
Happy SpaceCowgirls:
I'm so honored to get to support such loveable and awesome people! I cannot wait to start screaming at them! I mean, rootn' and holler'n FOR THEM!!!
heeeheee!
GIDDY UP!!!!
jj
This one is going to be going round and round and round in circles:
Check out that super steep hill we found in moab. yeah ... really.
This one is going to be going round and round and round in circles, too:
Wait. Haven't I see this picture before? I see a trend starting here. A pattern. Get your Checks while you can! They're the hot new thing! They're the new PINK!
The Venue:
The Rock Star:
More venue:
Happy SpaceCowgirls:
I'm so honored to get to support such loveable and awesome people! I cannot wait to start screaming at them! I mean, rootn' and holler'n FOR THEM!!!
heeeheee!
GIDDY UP!!!!
jj
10/4/09
this ONE little thing
I don't know. What do you think of this little conundrum?
Can you pick out the line you'd take -- the line you'd want to take -- the line you could take?
The entrance includes a corner, a water bar, and some oddly placed and poorly timed rocks. So the entrance isn't particularly conducive to keeping momentum or direction. The set up is a part of the challenge.
As always --- remember, this has more pitch that the pic portrays (the vid shows a couple of attempts where I jump off the back... that kinda gives a better idea of the pitch) ... but do you think you can get a good idea of this puzzle?
Yeah. This one's been in the back of my mind for quite a while. FINALLY.
YYyeeeffin'HAWWW! That made me happy!
only 13 tries ;-)
I'm sort of diggin' that my Standard Loop also happens to be a Something Special Loop. And by that I mean, I've really been enjoying my 30-ish mile, 4K' loop from home, and all the spectacular single track that allows me to bliss out on.
Ed and I rolled out late-ish this morning, temps in the super sweet 50s. The skies were dynamic, and the breeze carried with it a deep, deep chill.
Perfect. Perfect. Perfect.
We took our time and explored our way over to the start of the singletrack. We rocked the singletrack. And then we took our time exploring news ways back home. It doesn't get any more pleasant that that, really.
Except for that one little thing. It's on the back side of 3-sisters. I really, really needed and wanted to clear that one little puzzle of a corner + root + rock conundrum. I've not spent much time working it, looking at it or really giving it much thought beyond: "man, I would REALLY love to clean that!"
So today, since it was so lovely out, and since Ed let me seduce him into working with the camera, I thought I'd stop 3/4's of our way through our nice loop and have myself a little session time.... You know, just because we can ;0)
Thanks hon... for the fantastic ride, and for watching me get all OCD on that one little thing!
jj
Can you pick out the line you'd take -- the line you'd want to take -- the line you could take?
The entrance includes a corner, a water bar, and some oddly placed and poorly timed rocks. So the entrance isn't particularly conducive to keeping momentum or direction. The set up is a part of the challenge.
As always --- remember, this has more pitch that the pic portrays (the vid shows a couple of attempts where I jump off the back... that kinda gives a better idea of the pitch) ... but do you think you can get a good idea of this puzzle?
Yeah. This one's been in the back of my mind for quite a while. FINALLY.
YYyeeeffin'HAWWW! That made me happy!
only 13 tries ;-)
I'm sort of diggin' that my Standard Loop also happens to be a Something Special Loop. And by that I mean, I've really been enjoying my 30-ish mile, 4K' loop from home, and all the spectacular single track that allows me to bliss out on.
Ed and I rolled out late-ish this morning, temps in the super sweet 50s. The skies were dynamic, and the breeze carried with it a deep, deep chill.
Perfect. Perfect. Perfect.
We took our time and explored our way over to the start of the singletrack. We rocked the singletrack. And then we took our time exploring news ways back home. It doesn't get any more pleasant that that, really.
Except for that one little thing. It's on the back side of 3-sisters. I really, really needed and wanted to clear that one little puzzle of a corner + root + rock conundrum. I've not spent much time working it, looking at it or really giving it much thought beyond: "man, I would REALLY love to clean that!"
So today, since it was so lovely out, and since Ed let me seduce him into working with the camera, I thought I'd stop 3/4's of our way through our nice loop and have myself a little session time.... You know, just because we can ;0)
Thanks hon... for the fantastic ride, and for watching me get all OCD on that one little thing!
jj
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