Rides? Maybe.

I’ve been eye-balling the calendar and talking with a few people for some possible rides this summer. A dude’s got to have a plan and something to look forward to.

In discussion is a possible return to the San Juan Hut to Hut ride. I’ve not delved deeper into this one yet. I’ll have a much better idea regarding personal scheduling stuff be the end of February – I think. At that point this can be planned or tabled.

June 16th is the 2012 version of The Big Mick. Though I didn’t do this one last year, due to trail digging, I’ve done in many times in the past. It’s a great ride and I’m tentatively putting this one on the agenda.

All mixed up in this is a possible assault on the Great Divide route. This would be broken into chunks over at least two years and likely more. This is the one I want to do most but it is also the one most affected by other “stuff.”

I hope to have the irons in the fire ironed out by the end of February. Then planning can begin in earnest. If the lack of snow continues, bike camping will occur sooner rather than later.

Ride On.

Lost And Found - Found

It’s funny how things seem to tie together unexpectedly. I was perusing the internets when I came across this:

Top Five Regrets of the Dying

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

(Click on the above link to get the complete story and how it relates.)

This is EXACTLY what I was intimating in my earlier post. This is what I meant (but couldn’t articulate as well) and am now endeavoring to do. This brings the levity and peace.

This reminds of the following:

The Paradox Of Our Age

We have bigger houses but smaller families;
more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense;
more knowledge but less judgment;
more experts, but more problems;
more medicines but less healthiness.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble in crossing the street to meet our new neighbour.
We built more computers to hold more copies than ever,
But have less real communication;
We have become long on quantity,
but short on quality.
These are times of fast foods but slow digestion;
Tall men but short characters;
Steep profits but shallow relationships.
It’s a time when there is much in the window
But nothing in the room.

— the 14th Dalai Lama.


You’ve probably read that before. I know I had. I’d not really thought on it until recently. Believe what you with regards to The Dalai Lama. I find his insight into life very enlightening. And, as I leave the lost and found theme, there’s one more Dalai Lama quote you might want to contemplate:

The Dalai Lama was asked what surprised him most, he said "Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."

Ride On.

Lost And Found

My ten days in Portland were much more than attending class. It was nice to be away (anywhere, really) and self exiled from most media sources. In the ten days I was there, the (hotel) T.V. did not get turned on and I avoided newspapers.

The combination of media refusal and intense class had me guessing at which day of the week it was. It was kind of nice. It allowed me to notice other things, reflect, and look within.

A prime example is how courteous the people of Portland are. When traffic lights turned yellow the drivers did not speed up, they started to slow down. Even at four lane roads drivers in both lanes of traffic each way would stop to let pedestrians go. The few days I had a rental bike, commuting amongst the bike commuters was surreal.

I was one of a class of twenty-nine students and two instructors. Being in the company of so many like-minded individuals was fantastic. It was a nice renewal of my love of the outdoors and outdoor activities. As I observed and interacted with my classmates it was apparent they were unafraid of tough life choices and faced them with a smile.

I have a lot of admiration for those who are choose to make major life altering decisions with no guarantee of success. I admire those who do not settle for mediocrity and are willing to take the risk in hopes the rewards payoff. Fearless.

I feel that way, too. It makes me feel better as I move forward. Over the past year to year and a half I’ve felt though part of me was lost. I found that part of me while in Portland. I have clarity, purpose, direction, and peace. The past is just that. I’m focused on today and tomorrow.

Ride On.

Cinnamon

Ride on.

Epic Fail

Is it possible there’s a collective group of individuals with a lower I.Q. than the U.S. congress? The answer – yes – and it is known as the South Dakota Legislature. In there infinite (lack of) wisdom, they’ve failed to pass a ban on texting while driving. The reason? They felt it would too hard to enforce.

A proposed dictionary entry could be, “Shit For Brains – see South Dakota Legislature.”

It is bad enough drivers are running into other drivers due to distracted driving. But for bikers, it’s likely fatal. It is a crying shame there needs to be some actual deaths before the Shit For Brains (see South Dakota Legislature) act.

Using the Shit for Brains (see South Dakota Legislature) logic, I’m fully expecting a repeal of all drunk driving laws. After all, how can you enforce this? Oh yeah, erratic driving can get someone pulled over and simple tests (breath, blood) can confirm or deny offenses. So, if someone were to be pulled over for erratic driving, or a crash, or the like, checking for drinking could be first and then checking cellular records to see if text messages, or even phone calls, were in play (NOTE – not content of either, protecting privacy, simply if they occurred) could be next.

But, I guess it take a rocket surgeon to come up with this, or something similar, basis for discussion and action.

Ride On.

Portland The Unabridged Version

I hit Portland about 9:30 PM Pacific Time on the 19th. Handy the Tri-Met train stops right at the airport terminal. For a whopping $2.40 I rode the train to within twelve blocks of my hotel. The slightly rainy walk was OK given being on the plane and train for so long. A leg stretch was just the ticket. I checked in, prepped for my morning stroll, and went to bed.

I was up at 6:00 AM needing to be at class at 8:00 AM. I found my way out the door and in search of breakfast. My GPS navigation toured me through Portland and to Tracker’s Earth – the venue for the class.

I went in, sat down, and filled out the paperwork with 28 other attendees. There were supposed to be 30 of us, but one did not show. The two instructors got right to it. The dude, Josh, said, (and I’m paraphrasing), “If you came to drink from the fountain of knowledge, you’re in the wrong place. This is going to be the fire hose of knowledge.” This proved to be spot-on correct. This class was intense both the quantity and quality.

Over the next ten days we met 8 AM to 5 PM with the exception of the two days we went from 8 AM to 10 PM and we did have one day off. We learned in the classroom. We were divided up into three groups. One group would act as people in distress. The rest of us would pair up and “rescue” them. These sessions were held outside, rain or shine, and mostly it was rain. I liked these hands-on training scenarios best.

We covered everything from every kind of trauma you can imagine to most medical issues as well. We even covered the legal aspects of what we were getting into.

We had two major outdoor rescue scenarios. The trainers were very good at using make-up and fake blood. Strapping dudes to backboards and hiking them out is much harder than you might think. Not only do you have to pad them carefully, you have to secure them perfectly. One dude is always at the head end communicating and making sure the strapped down dude was comfortable and not passed out, puking, aspirating the puke and dieing like some rock stars have.

The last day was test day. We settled in for a 100 question written exam. Then we were assigned a partner for the practical portion. We were to do a patient assessment to determine the physical and medical malady of the patient. Once we’d diagnosed the issues, then we had to treat them.

I had a very good group to be in. Everyone was very attentive and fun to work with. The farthest dude was from Ecuador. There was a dude from Lake Placid, NY, one from Memphis, and one from Detroit. Others were locals or from neighboring states. Of the 29 there were 24 dudes and 5 chicks. There was one heavily dreadlocked dude. Tattoos were a plenty. Interesting personalities were in great supply. Weird food choices were in play as well.

I learned tons, met many great people, was well educated in the topic, and made some lasting connections. I feel much relief for the times I announce I’m going to embark on some remote, somewhat dangerous adventure, and invite you along. I’d feel terrible if someone I invited along was seriously injured and I had no way of helping him/her.

Speaking of adventures, I’m feeling a strong urge to start planning and getting to them. It is getting time to start planning the San Juan Hut to Hut and / or the continental divide ride. I know Monte’s interested in the San Juan trip. Who else is in for either / both?

Ride On.

Back In Black

I got back from Portland Monday right after lunch. The short version – it rained a lot, there was sleep deprivation, but I passed my course and am now a certified Wilderness First Responder. Full report to follow.

Now, I need to dig through all the crap on my desk to see if it still has an actual surface. This may take a few days.

Ride On.