29

Apparently I had a birthday today. A quick check of the calendar would seem to confirm it, but right now I'm finding myself busier than I would like with other things (i.e a CPA exam on November 4), so it basically just passed like virtually every other day. It seems to be a symptom of modern life really, I might have liked to have done something for it, but apart from a quick ride this morning, time didn't allow for much else. This seems to be happening a lot lately. Maybe I'll sort something out next year.
As far as this morning's ride goes, it was quite pleasant once I got away from the humidity of the coast. Did I mention that I really don't like summer? I do, however, love riding through Tallebudgera Valley. Most of my rides here recently have been at night, and it's amazing just how different things seem on a morning ride. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was a completely different place.

Scott Monument

The last time I climbed the Scott Monument I was 7 years old, on holiday in the big city. It's 200 feet and 6 inches tall, and I remember how proud I was of the certificate I got for making it to the top. Since coming to live in Edinburgh 24 years ago I haven't repeated the feat.
The monument was completed in 1844 in commemoration of the author Sir Walter Scott. It's graceful, gothic, and it reminds me of an illustration in my 1950's copy of 'The Wonders of Science' - one of those futuristic scenes beloved of that period, of a sleek space rocket resting on slender legs on the dusty landscape of a far planet, while astronauts in goldfish bowl helmets and silver space suits explore man's new domain. I was reading this during the 1960's, I hasten to add, but things in general, especially the Wonders of Science, moved slowly in North East Scotland at that time.

Meeting Elvis

Cute little stuffed dog?

No, he's real!

My sister's family got a Bichon Frise puppy for Christmas. A white powder puff of a dog.

Vicious puppy attacks shoelaces.

My sister and her new baby.
-----
For you garden enthusiasts, that's my Mom's really nice St. Augustine grass in the background of the outdoor pics.

Manawa Trail Work

Tuesday afternoon was trail work at Lake Manawa. There was an additional trail evening Sunday, but i was just too tired from the weekend.
Most of the trails are rideable. Just, can't ride a nice loop. There's always a ditch that is mud or still filled with water. The goal of the trail work was to clean up debris from the flood and look at rerouting some problem areas.

Here, Troy and Cody check out a reroute after the log crossing along the river.
There is a reroute in Fast Track - bypasses the eternal wet area. On the same trail there is an optional trail. That has also been done in Tony's Playground. All of these have been raked. The Fast Track reroute has taken hold.
Steve pushed me to sit down for a break. He took a photo of me sitting on a log, but is out of focus.
Here's the trails we cleared (River Front Real Estate, Fast Track, and Tony's Playground.
Trail workers were Steve, Troy, Dale, and myself. Cody was busy checking out the trail and having some fun.

Musings

I have to confess that just lately I've been having some dissenting thoughts about this whole project. I suppose it comes on top of an increasing disillusionment with basically the entire Internet. Having seen the way so many people behave on the Internet if anyone dares disagree with them, I'm wondering if the $60/month I spend on a broadband connection wouldn't be better spent on something else, or if the time I spend here wouldn't be better spent doing something more constructive.
I ended up booking one of the "official" campsites at Jimna forest for Saturday, largely because Queensland seems unusually anal about anyone camping in a state forest area. National Parks I can understand, but state forests? Nobody else in the country seems to mind. There were, of course, a million and one forms to fill out just to get a campsite. For an area that doesn't even have National Park designation, I think it's a little excessive.
Still, it should be an interesting weekend, in an area I haven't yet explored. The weather forecast says hot northerly winds, but summer's only just over a week away, so I shouldn't be surprised. It might allow me to travel a little lighter than usual at least. I'll just see how it all unfolds. The picture above is a shot I took from the top of a hill over Tallebudgera Valley this morning. There's something special about that first sunlight each morning.

Le tour de Burringbar

How many different ways are there to climb the Burringbar range? Martin and I checked out four of them on Sunday. Granted, we descended two of them, but we've climbed those ones before. I've been able to pick out one or two others to explore later with some help from Multimap.com.

The real ride on Sunday started with the winding rainforest ride through Urliup. This is, of course, stunningly beautiful, but it was almost rather ugly from a personal perspective. I went into a left-hand corner too fast on the dirt, lost the back wheel and only just managed to get it back. The tour of Scotland flashed before my eyes for a second, but at least it kept me on my toes for the remainder of the day.

This time we opted to climb out of the Murwillumbah industrial area. Perhaps not the way to start such a beautiful ride, but it was fairly easy to get out of. Since we were here last, another gravel road has been added to link up to an old fire trail just outside the National Park. I think it was supposed to ease the gradient, but when an inclinometer reads 22%, you have to wonder. Reaching the summit (after some ups and downs and some 12-15% climbs along the way), the views were grand.



Along the way I spotted another track that could lead to an even more impressive viewpoint. Not today, but some day -- I have to leave something to discover next time. We eventually descended to Burringbar (the town), before detouring toward the coast on the old Cudgera Creek road. Actually, multimap.com mentions some potential detours here too, but they too, will have to wait for another day.


After this, the ride home was relatively simple. I made a point of absolutely nailing the climb at Round Mountain leading back toward Murwillumbah (it's only 2km long, but I nailed it anyway). We grabbed a snack at a cafe just out of town, before splitting up because I wanted a few more kilometres. I detoured back along Cane road -- proving that this road will always provide a headwind no matter which way you're pedalling -- then returned via the back climb over Terranora.
This was another great ride relatively close to home, and the steep gradients on the dirt gave me a chance to test out the new "granny" gear I've just fitted. I will need to clean some of the dirt off my bike before flying out this weekend, and the forecast of rain to come has complicated things a little. I'll just let it happen and worry about it on Thursday. For now, I'll just enjoy the afterglow of a memorable 164km.

Smooth Green

A new leaf on my 'Dwarf Namwah' banana plant.

Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Festival

Today was the main day of the mountain bike festival. There were 5k and 10k runs early in the morning (before I got to the festival grounds). The first function I attended was the Bicycle Parade (upper photo). The parade route took the riders from the festival grounds, to and through downtown Crosby before riding back to the festival grounds, Fewer riders in the parade than last year.

After the parade, it was time to prepare to shoot the crosscountry mountain bike race. Riders rode their bikes from the festival grounds to the start/finish line at Pennington Lake. This mass roll-out from the festival was to eleviate any parking problems at Pennington Lake. Large group of racers.

After the group headed out of the festival grounds, I drove over to the parking area near Boot Camp (along highway 128). Visited with a race trail guard as I waited for the racers. I found a spot in the woods along the singletrack. Caught most all of the riders as they came through. Missed some when there were too many arriving at once and the camera couple not keep up processing the files. Many of them I caught on the second lap. Ended up with about 200 shots of the race.



Back at the festival frounds, I was hungry. Picked up a burger and Fat Tire at the vendors. The first of the Twin Cities Fun Factory BMX stunt show was underway. Smaller crowd watchng the show this year than last year. Did not see the "money shot" I took last year "High Flying Bike". They were having a second show later in the afternoon.

I took some time to head to the hotel to sort some of today's photo files. Got some also posted up on the race & events web site.

Was pretty tired, but wanted to try to shoot the always popular kid's races. The lower photos was the start of the kids race for the youngest riders. After the kid's race, the moms and dads rode their kid's bike in a race.

I topped off the day with a sandwich and Fat Tire at Coach's Corner Sports Bar. Now rest time, checking the weather, and probably packing the car for the trip home.

Exploring Duck Creek Trail

As I headed to Scott County Park, there were storms brewing on the West. Breakfast was breakfast pizza and coffee. Rain was starting by the time I finished eating. Said my "good-byes", stopped at registration for fester goodies, and back to the hotel.

While I was waiting for the rain to stop, I posted the last of festival photos on the web site. About noon, it was time to prepare for my ride. Plans were to ride on the Duck Creek Trail.

Parked at 35th and Welcome. Headed east on the trail. Stopped many times to take photos. Most of the trail is relatively flat - but there were a couple climbs. Had some problems shifting down to the little chain ring. That caused me to walk on hill on the way out.

Made it to "Riverdale" at the end of the trail. Today's photo is me and the road bike at the trailhead sign. Turned around and headed back to the car.

Weather was sunny and very humid. Temp was in the low 80, but it felt like 90 or more. Had to walk a couple hills on the way back. Was happy as I got less than a mile from the car.

No speed records on the ride. Fifteen and a half miles in 1:51. Twenty HDR photos. Should have one to use in a calendar.

Shower and change of clothes, I headed to Thunder Bay Grill for brew and grub. Processed the photos while eating.

Time to put my feet up, get horizontal and relax. Kenosha tomorrow.

One of the First

One of the first California poppies of the season.

Punta Olimpica

I had planned to set off from Huaraz and do an epic couple day loop. Though, some master of stunning wit and cunning repertoire decided to walk around the night before devouring street food with reckless abandon. The last few months of not getting sick made him feel impervious and immune. Yea... that was silly. On the way my stomach was doing Dance Dance Revolution and recreating 80's Jazzercise. Many times I had to dash from the bike and shotgun blast the bushes. I'll stop now, you get the idea. So the loop became an out and back. Unfortunately the road is paved now but the views were no less fantastic.

A little higher than usual. Though if that mileage was true after 10 months? I'd be moving pretty slowly.

Directions: Go up the valley, hang a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left a right then a left etc. etc. etc.

The first picture of me the timer did not take in a long time.

Cuz I made some friends on the way up. I'm the tall skinny one.

This is Howard A.K.A Trouble Maker. The most unbashful young bull I have ever met. I turned my back on him a for a minute and he ate my uncooked oatmeal, bag and all. So I hid all the food and went back to packing up. Then I notice he is chewing on something again. I said "Howard, what are you eating? Spit it out!" and as if on command, out plopped a slimy lighter.

A new angle on Red Hook and the Point

Here's a new angle on an old favorite... The town of Red Hook, and the point near the Ritz. The yellow building in the front is the High School...



That's the same point a little higher up the hill (walking hills gets so much easier the more you do em... Just ask Becky). In the background is St John, one of the "other" US Virgin isles.

Back in Iowa

It was a good trip to Little Rock. Two rides on paved trails and one in the dirt. Thanks to my friends to putting me up and putting up with me. I got home just in time to enjoy the day today (actually got home Thursday evening).
Little windy this afternoon, but with the warm weather, couple not pass up the chance of a good ride. The trail from Wabash Trailhead to the Trail Center was in pretty good shape. A couple short sections with some snow still on the trail. There is the section under Hyw 92 - that was a mess with mud. Finally, wish they would do something at the access to the crosswalk switch S 24th at Penny's.
Hope I can get in a ride tomorrow before the cold front comes through.

Spring's A Comin'

This is what I saw this morning looking out my dining room window. The apple and pear trees are in full bloom. I LOVE springtime in Georgia.
I love how the fog is in layers below the treetops. I can always count on foggy mornings when the temps get high in the day and stay cool at night. Then I get to take my favorite kind of photos in fog and mist.

New Orleans, LA

THE BIG EASY

<><>

Sneaky Moose on the Pigeon River

This morning I had the good fortune to spend about 45 minutes in the company of this very curious Moose on the Pigeon River at Grand Portage State Park. We watched each other for a while from a distance, then I decided to head back to the park visitor center. As I made my way back to the trail, she followed me cautiously from a distance. At one point I turned around to see her peeking around this corner of the river, which made for a terrific shot.