schnauzers.ws

We often ponder the what-ifs in life. What if I did this or that? What if I were a Geologist, Archeologist, or even a Geographer? Could I even move onto the next job and not be so enthralled with my surroundings. There would be so much to learn in one spot, why would I ever move on?

The desert landscape is awash in beautiful hues and it’s a struggle to keep focused on any one object as the truck speeds by them. I try hard to pick the shapes and colors that appeal to me, and deeper into the Utah landscape they come very quickly.

We travel though four States today to arrive at our of glowing desert beacon of rest.

Ah, the seedy spectacle of electrical hemorrhage that is our first stop in mountain biking nirvana. Our home for the next few days. Glass, glitz, not-so-glitz, and the decadence that no man can resist the power of,

Two dollars are lost to the abyss that evening. The high roller club was there to roll dirt, not dice.

DAY 2

You came to Vegas to ride your bike? Is that possible?

On any given day in this town of lost souls and lost wages, objects fly through the doors of pawn shops. Their former owners happy with the quick wealth they hope to parley into better fortunes only to be taken back by the same misfortune that guided them there in the first place.

Sure we all have dreams of money, cars, and girls Vegas offers that hope of to many a wanderer. To the mountain bike wanderers, it offers money in the form of dirt, cars in the form of bikes, and girls are always in the same spot around town.

We settled on the dirt and bikes, though. This isn’t a two bit whore of a ride and the rubber is on the tires. Protection is staying upright and the only lube you need here is on the chains.

So what did it feel like when she went down?

A sudden rush of adrenaline, your face gets red, your body shudders, and all that excitement becomes the moment you live for.

The canyon doesn’t give up it’s goods easily. You work for it. You keep pushing up the hill because you know there is something on the other side. Something to wash away the whiskey and beer from the night before.

Oh she’s a rose! A real beauty and if you know where to find her, the memories are all yours.

Take a snapshot of your favorite moments and paint yourself in there. But, I don’t take self portraits. I am the viewer. Always, the viewer. Viewer of landscapes. Viewer of others enjoying their moments.

Somehow the neon has left our minds. Neon has such a fake facade anyway, but his is real. It’s not automated. And while the one arm bandits used to spit out real treasure, it’s all gone now. Even that is replaced with a ploy to hook you further in. Mechanized, computerized, and randomly chosen. In a place where everyone one bets on the "sure thing", I think we actually won the prize.

But again, this is Vegas. It’s all about the dare. It’s all about that one more pull of the handle, one more card, or one more leap of faith. Sometimes you don’t always win. The odds are against you. What may look like a sure thing, spells trouble in the end. Trouble that can be painfully executed.

Down but not out. Isn’t that the standard whine along the strip? I’ll get back on my feet. Somehow, a few do. You find that lucky hand and it all comes together.

Jackpot!

DAY 3

We are legends of the wild west. The pioneers of our lifetime. We are self powered cowboys. The open space is our frontier and we coral the splendor with every spin.

The new breed of cowboy doesn’t have to worry about feeding his steed. He’s equipped with everything he needs for the round up.

The new cowboy isn’t a prospector, cattleman, or an outlaw. His transportation is intelligent by design.

We deal with a unique blend of nature that is beautiful and nasty at the same time. Such a rude play on good versus evil.

This is our cowboy trail and though we don’t ride into the sunset and tell stories around the campfire, we create our own stories as the night unfolds.

DAY 4

For the next couple of days, I’ll forego the sappy lyrical context and focus on the tangibles. Why? Because, they are easier to describe and give credit to those who deserve it. I could post pictures and make you guess, but that wouldn’t do it justice.

Today was a travel day. For the next four nights we’ll be staying in the interesting town of Cane Beds, Arizona. While not as famous as Colorado City, AZ, it is not without an alien abduction / nuclear fallout atmosphere. Let’s face it. The area was created by polygamists for polygamists. Somewhere along those lines, genes were shared. But it’s twilight zone-ish in a cool kind of way. Double wides plopped here and there, children of the corn playing on the dirt road, and half finished houses screaming out, "I’ll get to it someday". And then, PLOP! There in the middle is our fully stocked (except for the food and booze – which Mr. Lee graciously sold us while in Nevada) four bedroom vacation home. It begs to ask what the neighbors may think.

This is mesa country. You ride in the sky without really having to climb. What a concept!

Yesterday, we stopped at Over The Edge bike shop in Hurricane, UT. It’s kind of hard to miss the place if you are on your way to the mesa trails.They are a really nice bunch of people and a great asset to have in the area. Let’s face it. If it wasn’t for them, you’d be buying bike parts at Walmart.

It just so happened that they were doing a shop ride today, so why not be part of a guided tour? Yeah, and how many times do you get a guided tour of trails that have only been open for two weeks?

After a long dirt road drive in, we arrived at the Little Creek trail system. I don’t member all the trail names, but I know it was fun.

We flowed along miles of slick rock and dirt.

No little white dots around here. You look ahead. Where they go, you go. You can make it what you want. Roll along or whiz by.

It’s a playground.

But, it’s a playground with a poster background.

How fast can you go?

It didn’t matter. Quinton (from the shop) was very patient with folks new to the area.

There is something special about the feel of a tire against slickrock. Anything is possible.

We said goodbye to the shop crew, but couldn’t resist doing another loop on our own and creating our scrapbook photo.

DAY 5

Diamonds, rubies, and emeralds! Flashes of sparkly light that catches your attention and draws you in, I can see that. I can see an awe inspiring cliff that shimmers, but ah how things change when spelled out.Just eight miles up to pure bliss. I like that better, Just Eight Miles.

.

No, it’s not that either.You are not there yet. It’s just the beginning of a less pretentious start. It’s your warm up and you better get used to it.

Cobblestones of an ancient city or perhaps an alien landing zone? Why am I so distracted by a rock pattern. It’s too perfect. Nature is never symmetrical. Yes, this explains the flashing lights in the windows of our Cane Beds abode.

I see it! It leads right to the gems. I see the triangular cuts shimmering in the sun. It is true! And it moves or it give you the feeling of movement.I don’t even have to work for it. It’s fast too. It must have been created by aliens. A conveyor belt to the jewels.

DAY 6

Old man Winter was trying one last futile effort to thwart our plans to find the elusive Gooseberry. The challenge was to great and the early morning start gave us the edge. Unique formations around the mesa, but no Gooseberry plants.

Exploring every nook and cranny. Maybe they grow under the rocks.

On top of the rocks?

Or over the edge.

We are chasing the clouds now. No more time to find the Gooseberries. We need to hustle out.

DAY 7

If I had a brush I could recreate what I see out the back door this morning as we pack up to head on to our next folly.

Advancements in communication provide us with the ultimate storm tracking vehicle. Anyone can become a storm chaser, but we use it to be a storm avoider. A little mapping and the clouds have parted over Moab, UT.

Yet more trails fit for a king and so apply named, too.

A sovereignty of formations and foliage unto it’s own.

Tempting turns, drops, and hops fit for a glutinous royalty.

The earth is on fire.

Controversy starts to cause a rift in this group who have now been together for six days of dares, bets, and sure you can. Was it a drop or a roll?

DAY 8

A 2000 mile journey that takes one through time zones, From prehistoric to present, arid to semi-arid, browns to greens, and tech to flow. A road with a number that ends with ribbons of single track swooping along the contours of the land.

Chutes that drag you up a ladder or on to a line of trail surrounded by vertigo.

This was our swan song to Winter. Zippity do da. Zippity ay. My oh my, what a wonderful day.

 That’s a 45 pound Amberjack I caught in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  I was at a business meeting and this was our afternoon activity.  I didn’t even want to go fishing.  Pretty cool, though.

I went for a ride today.  I figured I would try and see what was happening in Buffalo Creek.  It went from bad to worse.

But, it was great to get outside for a change,

What was Homer Simpson’s motto?  Trying is the first step to failure.  Yup.  Reached this point and that was all she wrote.

Rockin down Keyhole. The bike handled exactly as I thought it would but, it surprised me on climbs. It’s amazing what tweaking angles and reach can do. It’s a mountain goat!

Today was a long xc ride, so we didn’t stay in the technical area.

It was probably a little too dry and loose. A little tackyness would have been nice.

I’m always facinated by this structure.

A placid lake as opposed to Lake Placid. No wind today at all.

What a great way to spend a January afternoon!

I picked up the Clear Creek Trail path and headed East. It is about then that I realized I would have an ifatuation with bridges today.

Once you get passed Wadsworth, it’s pretty much the point of no return (at least it is in my mind).

I got a flat sometime around here and had to patch it up. I didn’t want to use my spare tube, just in case. The patch geld the whole ride. Yeah, Park patches!

I must be crazy. Every bridge on these paths look exactly the same, yet I must take a picture.

It was after this point that my mind drew a blank. Where I should have turned left, I went right. So, after ending up on 92nd Ave, I figured maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to shorted the trip. So I made my way down Sheridan to 38th Ave and again pushed on to the city. Just before the highway I turned onto Klamath and wow was I glad I did. A Church was just letting out and there were food stands set up all around it. It was all different Mexican foods. I opted for some kind of fried bread covered in powdered sugar (kind of like a Zepolli). HEAVEN!

With the sugar high now in place, I had Coors field in my sites and croossed (you guessed it) another, albeit bigger bridge to pick up the South Platte Trail.

There was a guy fishing in the river. I don’t think I would even want to stand in that water (it smells funny). Oh, and there is a picture of a bridge in the background.

Then it’s a stop at my favorite store. Especially this one. It is the nicest REI I have ever been in. The old Trolley house is a perfect cool looking building. I spent $19 an assorted trinkets. That’s probably the lowest amount I have ever spent there, by a longshot.

Rolling on, I came upon Invesco Field. I knew the Broncos had a game later, but I had no idea people would start tailgating that early. Crazy. Well, mabe not. As I was riding my the parking lots I got up some nerve to ask one of the bigger setups if I could buy a hot dog. He asked if I was a Broncos fan. I said, sure I am a Broncos fan (I am a Giants fan – but I don’t pass up opportunities). He gave me a hot dog and a beer, gratis. Thanks Mr. Broncos fan..

Now fully nourinshed with nitrates and alcohol, I continued my journey.

I guess the beer called nature.

I turned onto the Bear Creek Path for the ride into Lakewood. Some people may see a waterfall, I see a bridge!

Bear Creek.

Ta da!

Climbing over the damn in BCLP. By this point I was feeling a little wasted.

I was pretty glad to see the C470 bike path.

It meant that soon enough, I’d be going down Rooney Road and the Taj would be shining in the sun.

A quick trip down Golden path, through downtown via the School of mines, and back up the Tucker Gulch trail back to home. 55 miles!