Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Goodbye September Hello October

I am still here - just not doing any day light rides that warrant carrying a camera with me.  Actually I am not doing much riding at all right now.  I believe my summer bike tour has finally caught up with me and I took some much needed time away from the bike and hard workouts in general to try and get refreshed for the upcoming winter season.

What made me ride today you ask?  Well I had a dream Monday night that I went back out on the Underground Railroad to do the tour again.  This time I was looking for my soul that I left out there.  It was a very freaky dream because it seemed so real.  I don't like those types of dreams personally but I will add this: being a Christian I believe that we hear from God in very different ways at very different times and I believe it was His way of saying "all is well if you want to ride your bike for Me!" - Like Todd and I did on the Freedom Tour.

I don't know what that means.  That is a question that gives me mind time on the bike.  So when I finally figure it out well I will let you know.

I have done some bike stable downsizing as well.  I sold the touring bike last month and just sold my fixied/SS commuter this past weekend.  Time to switch the basement to our bike repair shop for my son and I so we can learn a trade and make him some extra money!

Sorry about no pictures but I will leave you with this:

Go ride your bike and hear the leaves/branches crunching under your wheels, or run a trail and look at the changing leaves, or swim a pond because the water will be too cold sooner or later, or chop some wood, or rake some leaves with your kids.  Get the blood flowing - there is no better feeling!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Windmills

I cannot  believe I have forgotten to post these pictures from my Saturday ride.  Guess that what happens when you have a tax deadline at work and are busy wrapping up projects for clients.

Well Saturday was a beautiful day and there is a Windmill Farm about 22 miles from our house.  I have always wanted to ride to them but just never put it together until Saturday.

Over The Hill & Through The Valley
There is a flatter option which would have included more traffic flow until I got outside of East Aurora or a hillier option which is basically no traffic so that is the way I went.  I believe I rode flat ground on the way to the windmills for about 10-20 minutes max.  They were not brutal hills, but a hill is a hill is a hill.

Getting Closer
You can see the windmills from the road I live on but once you drop down off the hills the windmills disappear until you get with 5 miles.

Green Energy
When I arrived I pulled into the companies parking lot, took some photos, ate some energy, and enjoyed the scenery.  I really need a good camera instead of using my cell phone camera because there were some awesome valley views from my perch atop Windmill Alley!

Great ride back home and I have even done some commuting again this week.  Fall is definitely in the air but I love this time of year!

Have a great day and go ride your bike (or run) (or swim) (or hike) (or play with your kids)!!!!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Back In The Saddle

This post is delayed because the computer is fried at home again - so here goes from the tease on Friday!

Took a long time off the bike - 10 days.  First I traveled, then the weather went to pot, then I just decided it was not the time to return, and finally the time and desire returned.

18 Mile Creek Canyon area
So I loaded up the Felt Breed and headed out for some flat land riding.  I didn't want to pound the hills since it was 10 days ago that I last rode the bike.  I headed towards Hamburg and decided I would see what was in store out that way.

My Favorite Single Speed
I took my normal route and then decided that I would turn left on South Creek and see where that took me.  Lo and behold - it took me to some new trails I had never seen before.  I was in heaven!!

Single Track Heaven!!!
It didn't go very far but it is always fun to ride the skinnies on single track and keeping the rubber dirt side down.  Tree roots are always fun to work on balance drills also.  The best part of this trail was that I saw 1 person the whole time.  I will say up to here I had seen 6 riders and 3 of them actually had helmets on.  The other 3 are just not that smart!!!

I see Cross Country Ski Training!
I came back out of the trail, saw this awesome meadow area and snapped a couple of shots.  I will definitely be back!

Tomorrow is another catch up day - Saturday's ride to a green area of Western New York.  My teases are so tempting aren't they????

Have a great day and go outside and burn some calories!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Phoenix Hiking

Well this has been a pretty busy week and I was in Phoenix last week and did some hiking so I took some pictures with my cell phone, sent them to Facebook, copied them to my laptop, and am now bringing them to you for a close up look of Camelback Mountain in suburban Phoenix, AZ.

That is me at the very top
I arrived in town on Wednesday afternoon and headed over to my work site.  That took a couple of hours and then I headed out to explore Camelback Mountain.  I set my GPS to the main trail head, arrived to the sight of a Park Ranger Truck blocking the entrance, was told a rescue was in progress and to head over to the other trail head.


Suburban Phoenix

Off I went and up I went.  It is 1.5 miles and about 1200' of vertical gain so my legs and lungs were burning pretty quickly.  Saw a lot of people and just enjoyed the climb.

The weekly destination
On Thursday I had a little more time so I headed to the main trail head, climbed up, came down the way I went up the afternoon before (got stung by a nasty wasp on the way down also which was not fun), and ran 3.0 miles back to the car.  Man was that a brutal brick and it was stinking hot!

Stairway to Pain
Friday brought me to my departure flight but I had 1-1.5 hours to spare.  So I booked up and back down the main trail head.  This was around noon and it was about 110 or so out.  Very hot but dry!!!!

This was a great workout and some nice cross training.  I love hiking and climbing around and even took my son over to our local park for some hiking over Labor Day weekend.

I just spent 10 days off the bike but have some pictures to post from today's return ride.  That is what they call a tease folks.  Stop back this weekend when I post again :)

Thanks for stopping by and get outside this weekend!