Grinding in the Dirt

Doing what it takes - kind of...

The other morning I was passing over Pine View Dam a bit before 05:00 in the morning. In my last post I mentioned going fishing when I was just a pup, here at Pine View. I can still smell the wet morning dew on the sage brush and hear the Red Winged Blackbird singing across the open fields of wild flowers. I remember as we'd come up over the dam, quite often you'd see the morning star out over the eastern sky, just above Monte Cristo. If you look closely at this picture, the morning star is just at the top of the breaking light, directly over Monte - maybe over Woodruff.

Just last night I ran across some old grade school pictures. It really hit home how many season have passed and how much life has been lived. As I looked at the face of the 5 year, 6 year old and so on, I could see so much of what I have forgotten.  Those years seemed like an eternity, and now.........they just spin by. I guess its good to take inventory from time to time, but we also have to live out the day in front of us.

A lot of dirt....

The kids decided my old dirt helmet was getting a little ridiculous. The Fathers Day gift was a new dirt helmet.  Needless to say I immediately went looking for some stickers, but could only find a few - for now (how about that tank decal). Still the little kid at heart.  

The evening climbs are getting better.  I busted the free hub on my Trek a couple weeks ago and had to do an emergency rebuild.  The past few nights have been void of any other riders, but then most people don't like the grinding to get to the top.  Tonight I didn't see another person on the trail anywhere.  It was premium time on the mountain - and right out of my driveway at that. The bike still needs a little work, but I'll get to it...sometime.  I just can't bring myself to get back on my road bike, and haven't been since that particular morning.  It'll come.

For now, here is a little something from Joni.  I believe this is her reply to Neil's "Sugar Mountain".

Click here for the Circle Game

Ride HARD!

Why?

Sometimes we make things harder than they have to be...

From time to tome, I like to "noodle" on my otherwise well worn Takamine acoustic guitar.  This habit goes back decades, from the days when I'd workout in the early evening and not be able to sleep as a result. Having broken my little finger on my left hand when first learning to play guitar, I had to adapt to working around that thing constantly getting the way.  It would be many years before I could really learn to use that finger and change my hand position.  As such, I learned to play a lot of stuff.....anyway that I could.  A lot of stuff I play today, I couldn't really pull off that many years ago.

Something like '75/'76 I bought "The White Album". Being a huge Beatles fan early on, I was intrigued by so much of what they'd do and how it worked.  Having a fairly good background in music, I knew a little about theory and how things were done - in the day.  I listened to one track incessantly, trying to figure it out. Needless to say, I was convinced it was far more complicated than I could master. Later, I caught a glimpse of some sheet music, but I couldn't make it work - jacked up finger and all.  Many years later, I realized how simple it was, aside from the method.  Still it wasn't as hard as I needed to make it.  Okay, the busted finger made things hard to manage, but eventually that worked itself out and..............I quite often find myself picking through it in the quiet of the night.

The things that shape us

June 4th, 2020 will be a ride, a day I will never forget. An early morning ride up SR 39 to Causey was absolutely awesome. (the little thing in the lower left corner is a ZipLock bag I keep my phone in while riding). Not feeling particularly frisky, I was still feeling good and thought I was on the right track.  The ride was pretty straight forward and enjoyable, something I needed and truly appreciated. As I rolled up to Liberty Park nearly home, something caught my eye that just drew me in.  As my mind processed what I was seeing, I couldn't understand what I was visualizing with my eyes.  Still, as natural as anything, I ditched my bike and dropped the helmet and found myself kneeling next to a person doing chest compressions on a small lifeless body. What happened at that initial moment will haunt me forever and is extremely personal - for lack of any further discussion.  Still, I relieved the person doing compressions briefly, and he tried a couple times to provide air. As many times as I've practiced this procedure, this was almost automatic and surreal. Aside from counting compressions (which I'm sure were way to fast) I remember nothing else other than calling out to my god for.........something, anything.  As it turns out, this other person was her father, and her younger brother was standing over his sister's lifeless body as the 911 dispatcher was counting compression pulses.  I had no idea at the time, but in our little valley we all kind of know each other - in one way or the other. After medical arrived and I was no longer needed, I stood by as I heard her father call what I believe would have been her mother and told her of the desperate situation. I hung around for a few more minutes to give my name rank and serial number to the deputy before I left.  At that moment, it hit me what was happening. Needless to say, getting on my bike and "pinning" that last four miles went by fast.

A few days later, I found out what had happened, and who these people are. I go back with this extended family a long way and was probably better I didn't know who was who at the time.  Still, as I read this young person's obituary a few days later, I felt even more helpless than before. She had just graduated from High School - or whatever they did this year. Undoubtedly, there is much more to the story, but I can' help but feel what desperation must have contributed to this event. Out of respect to her and the family, I will leave it at that.

It doesn't have to be this hard

I know these are some pretty crappy times, but we will prevail.  I've had a rough time over the past 10 weeks and have found myself doubting so much.  These are the things that make us who we are - for better or worse.  Accept it. It shapes us and our views on the world around us.  Like that song that took me a life time to finally figure out, it wasn't as hard as we make it on ourselves. We still have to negotiate broken fingers and other things that get in our way, but we'll get there eventually.  So...sometimes when I'm not paying attention, I'll get the bridge or chorus wrong occasionally.  Still, I just noodle and it eventually works out.  It's hard. Sometimes it's unbearable, but hang on. There is nothing sweeter than crossing that line against all odds, even if you don't finish first. It is the human spirit to overcome that I find so compelling.  For those who cannot; just hang on a little longer.  And for those who cannot - I'm sorry I couldn't do more to make a difference.

That song

Some of my earliest memories of fishing when I was maybe four or five years old, are of hearing a Red Wing Blackbird singing in the early mornings at Pine View.  Life seemed so simple at that age.....

This ones for you kiddo.

click here - Blackbird 1968

Ride HARD!

Shoving off for another year

What to expect

No need to get into all the crap that's been going on for the past few months, but aside from that, there are a lot of things on which to get caught-up.  LOTOJA is still a go for this year, but given how fast things have been known to change, anything can happen.  Huntsman has called off , or modified several events this year.   At the moment, Huntsman Heroes is still going, but at a far diminished force.  Bummer!: That's how it's going to be.

Riding Conditions

As of this writing, the road bike hasn't seen any action.  It is still hanging in the garage from last years race.  Since then, it has been all MTB.  The image above is from the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, looking back toward Allen Peak.  This is good early season riding, albeit a tad technical.  I really don't care to ride it after it gets warm, as the Rattlers tend to sun themselves across the trail.  I grew up on this mountain and know it well.  I've dispatched more than my fair share of that vermin, but I hate stumbling onto them while riding.  It's generally not good for either side.  Still, riding early in the morning tends avoid such problems.

Riding the local favorite.  You know; the one that makes me work my guts out.  The image from above is the Cole Canyon Water Fall as seen from the overlook (the top).  A week ago the trail was pretty darn dusty for this time of year.  Several small storms have made the trail ideal.  Saturday morning, the snow level dropped to about 6,000 feet - just below the look-out.  That evening the conditions were superb. 

During the warmest days of the year, I find this trail to be a great evening workout, when I don't have time to be on the road for 3+ hours. If I can catch it just after the sun drops behind Willard Peak, I can sprint (climb hard) for about an hour.  Occasionally you'll see a snake on the trail, but usually they're trying to get out of the way.  Occasionally there will be a Rattler stretched across a trail or road as well., but not often enough to worry about.  At the moment, I have to deal with the occasional horse, rider or hiker, but nothing too serious.  The fact that I can ride excellent trails right out of my garage is awesome.  I see dozens of cars and trucks dragging bikes up here to ride what is literally outside my door.  

This past winter

A lot has happened since last fall.  You'll catch more of the details as the summer progresses.  For now, there is a ton of ground to recapture.  

Brothers'...........

Last December some old friends of mine got together in town.  I had other commitments, so I couldn't make the event.  Still, they sent a few group pictures of the gang.  I'm not sure if I found the correct image, but I think it is the one shown below (they all look alike).  I talk to a couple of these guys on occasion and we compare notes.  Sometime talk about old times, but generally just get caught up on what has happened over the years.  I ran into one particular chap (he calls himself the "angry black-man"), a darn good guy.  I've known him since little league baseball.  We played football together all through school - on the line together most of the time.  We are employed (if you can call it that) by the same company.  When I ran into him the other day, he was like everyone else - a little less sure of things.  Later that day I heard a song radio that reminded me of riding the bus back from a long road game (that we won).  The radio on the bus was blaring and things had turned into a casual sing along - for lack of a better description.  As bad as things were then, we really didn't care.  We were all living in the moment.  Life was good......I mean it was great. Somewhere I have a picture of our O-line, with both tight-ends, "the angry black-man" in a leg cast and our position coach. When I think of that moment, I truly believe we all thought we could do anything.  One of these days I'll find that picture............

Maybe not all beer drinkers, but certainly hell raisers.......

Click here - Tres Hombres

Ride HARD!

More Perspective

Last leaves on Mules Ear a couple weeks ago - 2019

It snowed again this morning, but this time I think I may stay for a while.  Still pretty early to be shutting down the trails, but it will make some of them a mess - if nothing else.  We'll give it a couple days.

This past week, or so, was a hard dose of reality.  The mountain bike needed some serious cleaning and service, so I decided to take it apart and clean/lube everything.  The problem with full suspension bikes is they require a ton of love.  A minor setback or two and I had it back and operable the next afternoon.  But then, life took over.  Always something to keep me from getting out the door before it gets too dark.  Yesterday was no different, as the storm hit a few hours before I got home from a morning funeral.

A funeral.........  The things you simply don't see coming, on all fronts.  That call came last Saturday morning.  It kind of put other more trivial things into a different perspective.  Thinking back of my own memories was of a little kid that I hadn't seen in years.  Perhaps a little goofy, as we all were at that age, but certainly many years ago.  Fast forward to yesterday to hear the life sketches of that "little kid".  He was anything but little, or goofy.  He lived life they way that we all do.  You know, taking it as it comes.  What became a few decades and change, was a seriously interesting profile, one that I didn't expect.  To see those that came to honor and remember him spoke volumes of the life lived.  All about devotion, dedication and soul honest friendship. I'm sure that is only the surface, but I suspect it ran deep as well.  Another lesson about taking nothing at what appears to be face value.

There is a lot to this life, isn't there?  .........I need a long and hard ride.

Here's to those that knew him as "Fish".  Awesome doesn't fit.  You guys simply kick a$$!

"Sweet Baby James" '71

Ride HARD!

Riding the Route of the Hiawatha Trail - Call it a review/recommendation

Something a little different, but worth the time

I'd heard about this rail grade in Idaho, somewhere up toward Coeur d'alene, that had a bunch of tunnels and trussel.  We got looking at it late in the season last year, but couldn't quite pull it off before they closed for the season.  I should know better than to put any ideas in the head of my better half, as it will happen before I know it.  Turns out, the trail is absolutely spectacular.  It's really not much of a bike ride, as it is only 15 miles from one end to the other, but what a fantastic experience.

East Portal - St. Paul Pass tunnel, starting point of the "Route of the Hiawatha Trail"

The ride itself is pretty gentle. Where it is a former rail grade, it generally stays under 2%, with only a couple places pushing toward 4%.  Most of the road is well kept, albeit a tad rough with the small rock that make up most of the surface.  There is nothing, and I mean nothing technical about this ride.  You'll see everything from gravel bikes, to mountain bikes, to basic garage bikes.  A lot of families with either tag-alongs, or trailers for little kids.  I'd say about 75% - 80% of the people that do this ride, do it from the top to the bottom only - taking a shuttle back to the west portal at St. Paul pass..  They ride it kind of like an amusement park ride.  Doing this misses most of what there is to take in.

Right from the very beginning, the tunnel at St. Paul pass (west portal shown above), sets the tone for what will be a very cool (literally and figuratively) experience.  This tunnel is by far the longest at 1.66 miles.  It is dark - absolute darkness.  It is also wet and rather cool.  Throughout the tunnel there are many water "sources" pouring all around.  If you look closely at the stream on the right-hand side above, you'll see about half of the water that drains from the tunnel - about 1,500 gallons per minute.  Long finger gloves, light rain-gear and a very good light are a good idea.  I would suggest at least 5000 lumens.  It is something to experience by itself.

The remaining tunnels are not nearly as long at St. Paul pass, but you'll still need lights.  I would recommend a head mounted light, rather than a bike mounted device.  There are numerous artifacts to see in these tunnels, including the story board kiosk in St. Paul that will be hard to examine without a head mounted light.

Distant Trussel from Trussel above.

The trussels themselves are pretty cool.  As you pass from one, toward, or away from the others, you will see other trussels a fair distance away, illustrating how far you have to ride in the elevation relief.  Looking at the construction, given the era in which they were constructed, that by itself is amazing.

The view along along this ride is absolutely beautiful.  Simply riding straight down to the shuttle pick-up is a shame.  Once you start looking around, you'll find yourself stopping every five minutes for a picture, or simply to take in the beauty around you.

The ride in between trussels and tunnels, is beautiful as well.  All along this trail there are numerous story board kiosks that provide a lot of interesting information.  If you take the time look, you'll also notice many artifacts not included in any of the "official" stuff.  It is well worth the time to simply just take in all that surrounds you along this trail.

End of the trail at the shuttle pick-up

 I recommend this tail to pretty much anyone that enjoys the outdoors and can appreciate history. This is not a bike ride, but a trail tour on a bike.  Don't do it for the bike ride alone.  It's not a bike ride.  I think most people miss most of the fascinating details that adorn this trail, by just riding down to the shuttle pick-up.  I recommend riding down to the shuttle pick-up, having a little something to eat and then taking the rest of the day getting back to the beginning.  If you save all the stopping for the ride back, you'll do so often enough you won't get tired.  Although it is up hill, it is pretty gentle and hardly noticeable.  Given that you are stopping pretty much every five minutes, it will take you several hours to get back.  If you are physically incapable of riding back to the top, take all the time to get to the bottom while taking in all the details.  Be aware, the wait for the shuttle certain times of the year can be lengthy.  Add to that, the ride back to the St. Paul pass tunnel can be 45 -55 minutes on a modified school bus - albeit in absolute stunning scenery.  You'll still have to ride the 1.66 mile tunnel back to the beginning.

Front desk at the Ryan Hotel, Wallace, Idaho

The beginning of the trail is in Montana.  Although you can purchase trail tickets at several locations, the trail "HQ" is at Lookout Pass Montana - directly on the Montana/Idaho boarder.  The nearest serviceable town is Wallace, Idaho.  A pretty cool little place, but somewhat limited in accommodations.  There is a little hotel called the Ryan.  It is very rustic, but extremely clean and comfortable.  It is literally right out of the late 1930's, early 1940's.  I also recommend this location as part of the experience.  Please visit the Ryan and tell Donna the Porpoise sent you that way.  You will not be disappointed.
Click here for the Ryan Website

So..........this is a little different, but I'd invite everyone to try this little experience.  Regardless of your ability. there is a way to make it happen.  If you haven't ridden a bike for a while, take a little time to re-familiarize yourself with that experience.  Dress in light layers and know your gear.  Carry enough water, as I'm sure there are times it may get warm up there.  Carry some snacks if not a simple lunch.  They do have hot dogs at the bottom of the trail, but everything is cash only.  You can also purchase some trail snacks and drinks at the bottom.  There are a couple limited water sources along the way, but don't depend on those for your needs.  Bike rentals are kind of sketchy.  I'd make sure you know what kind of bikes you will be getting with a rental (better yet, take your own bike).  The trail marshals were pretty much non-existent during our visit (second to last day of the season).  Be prepared.  You're not in the back country - completely isolated, but don't ruin the experience by having mechanical problems.  Good head lamps are a must.  You can purchase darn good LED, high-power devices on Amazon for under $30 USD.  Good to have anyway.  Most of all; start early and take your time.  Take all day if possible.  It is very relaxed and can be a great retreat from life.  The trail opens at 08:30 and closes at 17:30.  Keep in mind, that part of Idaho is in the Pacific Time Zone, while Montana is in the Mountain Time Zone.  Trail times are all Montana, even though most of the trail is in Idaho (the entrance is in Montana).  It is a long drive to get there, unless you live in Butte, but who lives in Butte?  It is directly off of I-90, about 90 minutes west of Missoula, Montana.

Do it right, and I promise you'll be glad you took the time.

Stick around.  Plenty of dirt riding to be had.

Okay, so the 70's had it's strange moments. Click here for a little Slade - Run Runaway

Ride HARD!

Race Summary-2019

I hope ya'll enjoyed the little gift.  I decided to leave that post for a while and it appears to have had quite a few views.  What a great way to start the day.  I seriously had that in my head ALL DAY!

Generally speaking, this year was completely different.  From the loss of a principle donor, to limited rides.  All things considered, it seemed I got exactly what I needed, when needed - from start to finish.  There is stuff I need to do for next year, but I'll worry about that later.

The Start to Montpelier

At start time, we had nearly 60 riders in our assigned group.  Everything from some dang good riders, to the lowly Cat V's, like myself.  At the line, nobody wanted to be upfront.  There was seriously a five-foot gap between the starting line and the group.  From the start the group really never did form-up well.  The front of the pack was dangerously mixed.  About 1/3 the way back, it finally got into two lines.  This was too much like 2015 when we had the big crash 24 miles out.  We reeled in several stragglers early which was kind of weird.  At least one of our guys fell off before Preston, which again was very odd.  At the point where the Sportive riders met with us, we had a very large group.  The first two climbs just before Riverdale was a bit nerve racking.  Somehow, on the last climb prior to the fast descent, I fell way to the back of both groups and found myself trying to catch up on the downhill.  At the turn, I knew I would be in no-mans-land if I couldn't catch them, so I spent about 15 minutes trying to close the gap.  Every time I would get closer, they would gap me again.  I finally knew my limits, and realized I would be stupid to think I could afford to spend that kind of energy that early.  I let them go and settled into to what I knew would be a lonely climb to the top.  The groups I could catch were too slow.  The groups that came by, were too fast.  That's what happens in the early part of the race.  But for me, my race was over - 20+ miles sooner than I would have liked.  For the next hour, I counted as the groups behind me managed to catch and pass me, until I got to the false summit.  Coming over the top, I passed the neutral feed zone (as usual) and set my sights on the first fast group to come around me.  Right off the top, at the big curve, a string of maybe 25, mixed and very fast riders came to my left.  I simply couldn't position myself to catch a wheel - safely.  At this point, we had a real race and I was losing.  I pushed it hard trying to make the gap, but again, they were just a tad far and way fast.  I had to settle for some smaller, less aggressive groups, that still got me into Montpelier feeling healthy, but a little defeated.  In the end, several of the guys that stayed on the main group fell behind me, due to the energy they spent trying to hang on.

Montpelier to Afton

Out of Montpelier, I managed to get over Geneva summit without any problems.  My max speed came on this descent at only 52 MPH.  The hop over to salt River and KOM was not too bad either.  I did stop for a maybe a minute to get water at the water neutral, as I didn't want to hit KOM dry.  I didn't need it.  My KOM time was pretty slow, as I stopped to help a guy from our group that was locked-up.  Bad idea on my part, as my time was rolling and he was well past help.  Over the top, it was a stiff head wind all the way into Smoot, pedaling my guts out, trying to hold 45 MPH down the back side, that I've pegged at over 55 MPH without any effort in the past.  Groups forming together heading toward Afton helped make up time.  By the time we were about a mile out of Afton, another group of about 30 jumped on us making it sketchy.  I backed off with only a couple minutes to the feed zone.  A good thing, as a guy I had been trading time upfront with, crashed going into the feed zone.  Big bummer.

Afton to Alpine

Going to Alpine was terribly windy with hard hard gust out of the west.  Some groups were better than others, but one in particular dang near took me out.  A larger group merged into our group and made a real mess of things.  With heavy traffic and rumble strips on the left, it is hard to roll back off the front.  Somehow, the group pushed me into the soft shoulder on the right, but I managed to ride through - without hitting a deliniator.  From there, I gassed it and pulled well away from those idiots.  Better tired, than picking gravel out of my elbows.  Alpine was a pretty good clip and I actually felt healthy.

Heading for the gate - Alpine to Teton Village

The final push up Snake River canyon was steady.  I managed to make the top in pretty good time.  Knowing what I needed to finish, I pounded a small RedBull and pushed into Hoeback.  At the narrows, I was behind a group of women riders that were leading those of us behind into every pot-hole in Wyoming.  I'm not sure, but I think the guy behind me crashed because of this.  Suddenly, he just wasn't there.  As soon as I could, I jumped out past the group and pushed hard to the highway crossing.  For once, I had plenty in the tank.  More like, I didn't feel sick, as was the case the past three years.  At the bike trail, I was getting a little impatient, with the sun still showing on Wilson.  I hooked up with another guy that I know and pulled him within about a mile of finish.  I told him to jump off and go in hard, but he was pretty cooked.  We both finished together.

Post Race

At the trail walking back, I felt great.  My time wasn't terrible, just not good.  But I didn't feel bad at all.  I actually threw my four-year old on my shoulders and carried him out to the truck.  It was a pretty good day.

The next morning we left Driggs and headed out to Swan Valley.  What a beautiful drive.  The rain let off just long enough to stop in Randolph at the reliable City park.  Driving back over Monte, it kind of hit me......the season was over and I likely wouldn't see this road again until next year.  That's the way I wanted it to be; ending, but wanting a little more. 

Back to the Dirt.......

Time to ride the dirt............and the dirt we did ride last weekend.  Swing back in a day or so for a little update on our dirt ride this past weekend.  It was a ton of fun.

Thanks from the Porpoise

Thanks to all the supporters that made this all happen.  You are what makes the Porpoise the machine it is.

Stick around.......there is still a lot of riding to do this fall.

Click here - OH WELL......Part 1

Ride HARD!

A gift

Click here. It's okay - sing along "Mr. Blue Sky"

Pass this one along - please.  It's a good day.

........"please turn me over".