Monday, December 08, 2008

Speedy's Hot Sauce


I have been through three batches this month, which is much more that usual. I had to call in reinforcements this time. Babycakes was working and Speedy's was gettin low. We had an order of 180 bottles go out last week, which is the largest single order ever. So Dalton, John and Marcy came out to give a hand. In trade I roasted a delicious jerk chicken w/ all the fixins and we didn't even get a picture we were working and grubbin so hard. Anyway we got a hundred and five new babies waiting for a home for the holidays. Peace.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

This is my impatient look


After hiking for an hour, or more in a down pour we found the waterfall that we could barely get to. Babycakes wanted a picture, but I had to get out on the edge of a slippery wet rock that happen to have a forty foot drop to the bottem of the waterfall. Which you still can't see in this picture. Hence the expression on my face.

Bush shows off his social grace, once again


Someone is not pleased with the election results. Picture stolen from G files.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

AT near the Tye River









This week there wasn't a tuesday fun ride. Carrie and I spent two hours in the DMV last week for absentee voting purposes. We knew at 6:30am on monday we would be driving up to the hills. We decided to do a little walkin on the AT again and hopefully catch some of the foliage. We weren't disappointed. Her folks and a couple of the dogs, Amos and Sammy met us for part of the hike on monday. We hiked for about an hour more after they turn back and stayed at one of the shelters. Our first time actually making use of one of the shelters. Good thing cause it rained part of monday night and almost the whole day tuesday. We were trying to make it to this waterfall on tuesday and it started to pour. We paused and started to turn back and said the hell with it. We were already wet so we pushed on and were glad of it. Got back to the car soaked and grinning. She had a surprise for me which was a stop in the Mellow Mushroom in Charlottesville. Simply the best pizza and great beer selection.

On another note; check out those leaves. This top picture is what I imagine when people speak of enlightenment. Philosophy is a walk on a slippery rock.

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Tidewater Mountain Bike Challenge Photos?

There were guys everywhere taking pictures at the race. Does anyone know where to go to view any of those photographers photos?

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Graceful Ice skating moves by Rob Tripp



Rob always has something special to share. He moves like gazelle.

Speedy's Tuesday Ride/Gatewood











Tidewater Mountain Bike Challenge '08 Still life































































































All kinds of lunacy with KISS and Team Zissou. It's the most fun I have had just dorkin around. I forgot to buy beer so I was sober. What a sham. It was a good full day of crazy talk. Can't wait til next year. I even got to ride a while with Liz Shlepper. Good job Liz.










Tidewater Mountain Bike Challenge '08 action.


This year TMBC was a blast. It rained friday and saturday, so the beginner race ended up being on sunday with everyone else's race. The weather cleared enough on saturday for some pre-ride fun. Got three laps in on sat., but this ment another day of PRS aka pre-race syndrome. PRS is just like PMS with Babycakes. I become an idiot invading her personal space. Let's just say she is less than warm a few days before racing.
Anyway, race day was great. Lots of friends and friendly people. If you have ever been to a road race you will really appreciate the differences at a mtb race. I don't know the actual count, but it sure seemed like there were more people out this year. And the weather was great. I decided to race duo enduro and the single speed for the first time. It was fun and brutal. Dan Gibson aka D-bo and I raced as Team Speedy's Hot Sauce. We busted out 13 lucky laps. He had a cleat bust on lap 6 and called it a day. I hopped back in and got another 2 laps in at the end which put me at 7laps. That was enough. I don't think I would have gone out there and done 7laps for anything, but fun. Babycakes got six place in womens beginners and was proud of her ride.

Anyway great people, great weather, great fun, great riding.





















Thursday, October 23, 2008

Cycling

Two, or more years ago I would have never thought that I would be back into mountain biking as much. Hell, five years ago I can remember having a conversation with my buddy Wes and thinking that I just don't give a shit about it anymore. Running Conte's I only had time for roadbiking. Late '04 I was feeling pretty negative about alot of things and I met Babycakes and ordered a 29er just trying to get myself out of a rut. Babycakes got me to the trail again in a manner of speaking and after I left the bike biz for the restaurant biz there was no looking back. I use to think about what I was gonna do with me according to other peoples terms more than my own. I certainly didn't pay sixty thousand dollars for college to be a bartender, but life is interesting and I never had so much free time. Most of the people that go, "Well whatta ya gonna do next? I mean, this is a stepping stone isn't it?" My answer is this, I was going to teach, but it pays about twenty thousand less a year and you work more. So, I am going to play outside and be with my woman. Work is work, money is money. Hell, this blog started over a track bike beer ride on sundays. I still enjoy that shit, but the road riding is back in its place just like my priorities, training for mountain biking. Getting away from traffic and people yelling at you to get on the "sidewalk", is what its all about. One life, one chance to have fun. Practice.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Babycakes can do it all

Babycakes was already riding everything at New Quarter and Freedom, but this past week I took her to York River for the first time. After the first lap she was riding everything even the steep rooty lame ass hill at the end. Not bad for only having a mountain bike for a year and some change. She is woman hear her roar. Meow

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

York River Park and more about me.

It's been almost two years since I have been to York River and It was Babycakes first ride in my old stompin grounds. Pretty much the same. It is still very rooty and there is some new man made rocky sections. I think the rocks are in an effort to empede errosion. It was fun and the final climb still sucks a big one.