Skyline Hiking

A Little Help
Originally uploaded by Dooquie

Sunday found the weather incredible, me kinda sore and Jake ready to go!
I am happy to say that my brother and I are again speaking and hanging out and he asked if we wanted to go for a hike---of course we did!

Skyline was chosen and we proceeded to spend almost 4 hours hiking the eastern side of the park and some trails I had never been on before.

David has really taken to photography and shot some incredible pics, one of which is featured above.

Suffice it to say, it was an incredibly beautiful day and made even better by sharing with family...because despite any differences (which we all have), family is important to me, and not being in contact with any part of mine is really hard... glad to be back in the mix.

Grasshopper #2: chileno valley

#2: chileno valley
Originally uploaded by kimdow

Saturday was a terrific day for so many reasons, the one I will share pertains to the ol' Grasshopper...

Pretty sweet, this was my first ride on the new Retrotec road bike Curtis made for me, the one I have only seen, never ridden until that day (being that it just returned from the handbuilt show)...

Let's see, 70-ish miles, last year was terrible headwind. This year was fortified with red-wine the night before and not as much sleep as recommended...no worries though, I was feelin' it!

Roll-out was sketchy as hell with the 200+ rider accordian sketching it's way for a few miles with fits and starts...I was bugged by my handlebars that had rotated slightly after hitting a sweet pothole-couldn't concentrate on anything else until I finally stopped to fix them.

The stop had me racing off nearly the back of the entire race to try to catch up with my friends...

First reel in was Peter and Leslie...climb was a rough one, but kicked it with Leslie along Tomales to Marshall...

Marshall was kinda solo until lo-and-behold- I somehow caught Crizzle and Michael and Heather...OUr group worked together from the next big climb-Marshall Wall until the headwinds and final area before the aptly named Burnside Road...

Who is that lone rider way up there? The one we're catching...Holy Crap! It's the one, the only Curtis! Seems he had a bit of a stomach issue and after cold-chillin' at the shooting range, was waiting for us to ride back with...

Ahhhh, Burnside...minus water, plus cramps...up, up, and up some more...The sounds from grown men sounding like cries of babies...necessary stop in Freestone for some delicious fresh baked bread a little leg stretch and then re-mount bikes to finish the damn thing...

Sure is nice to have a climb to the finish too.

Not.

Thankfully Lucie, KIm and crew were waiting to record our times and hand a tasty cold Tecate off to us...

Sitting in the sun sharing in the pain, then a trip to the Union Hotel for food sealed the deal...

The bike?
Incredible. The fact it was made by my friend, for me, infinitely incredible.

The ride?
Awesome, even with some serious cramping and a bit of wind. A perfect sunny day and another challenge completed...

The rider?
Happy as all hell at how things are working out, the ride, the trip, the company, the new...

All good.

All.

Good.

Bad. ASS!

2009 Old Caz Grasshopper Pt. 1 from Geoff Kabush on Vimeo.

Sweet, sweet video of Grasshopper last weekend, damn, if I could only go half as fast as you fellas-but somebody's gotta finish at the back!

More video here:


2009 Old Caz Grasshopper Pt. 2 from g kabush on Vimeo.

Grasshopper site here-great folks, great races!

Grasshopper Blog

Home Art Show and SR Good times

playmobile
Originally uploaded by luce goods

Friday headed to Santa Rosa to support Crizzler at his Art Opening and hang out...

let me say, if it was possible, I would move to SR right now— really like the vibe over there-lots of love for the bike (great path system and strong advocacy), things to do after 8PM, and really great people...who knows-might look further into that as time moves on...

Back to the night, met up with Kara and walked over to the show where we met Jefé and Kim and then Lucie and Crizzle. Place was jam-packed! Really good stuff to be seen, as the focus was "Home". The in the middle of it all, we all became star-struck as Tom Waits (yes, Tom waits) entered the gallery (his daughter was showing) and proceeded to say hello to Crizzle, on a first name basis! Damn-it's nice to know the Mayor of SR!

Anyway, my Tom Waits fan-dom was far surpassed by Kara and Jefé's, but it was still really cool to be right next to him...

Food was a calling and we hit a sweet Thai place where we sat on the floor sans shoes and had a great meal. Cooler too that we were joined by Lucie, Crizzle and Heather for the meal.

Next stop was the inglorious 440 Club. A few beerz and a great chat with Jefé on how to launch his fender bizness...then peeping really drunk chicks fall on themselves and hit the floor.

By 1AM it was time to hit the hay-Grasshopper was next day!

Good times!

Grasshopper-Old Caz

HPIM2294
Originally uploaded by nickgaetano

Second year in a row, very happy to be out there, despite known amount of suffering I knew was in store.

Faithful wingman Peter started race/ride with me (can see him behind me in this pic from Nick G.), but lead legs got the best of him.

As for me?

50+ miles on a cross bike with more climbing than I care to remember = A great time to reflect on all that has been going on-a lot of good I must admit...time alone in the middle of nowhere, on a bike-well, for me is the goods. Clear(er) head, better sense of purpose...

Of course, I did look forward to getting done with Willow Creek (especially once I was on it) and getting back to S.R. and hang out time...

Nice. Real nice.

Got another one this weekend.

Sunsets are always nice

Ken was waiting for the sunset to finish the race
Originally uploaded by [thispintofmilkhastolastme3.5wkskim]

Thanks Kim for great picture illustrating how late in the day I returned from County Line...
Mental note: next year maybe A LOT less drinking the night before and keep the beer stops to under 15 minutes...

Thanks for waiting for me to finish though!