Into the erie night

Arrived to the Line St trailhead ahead of time for mine and Paul's night ride, got out to get the bike out of the trunk and could not help but feel spooked. It's strange how the night spooks me so easily, but with the company of another that spook is non existent. Anyway we met up at 5:45 and got rolling before 6:00 for a ride. The air was warm and extremely pleasant to have this time of year, I know nights like these are numbered so it was a really nice night to get out to the trails. I had missed a sunday ride due to my knee injury but by mid day I was feeling 90% better so I knew if monday worked I was getting out. The lights lit up the trails as clear as day with all the leaves down and little to distract the view in this distance. The trails were covered in sheets of leaves which made things a little tricky in spots. The challenge was welcomed and kept me on my toes. Making up a route as we go we ended up coming across some small debris which was easily removed and then it was clear for awhile and then as we headed up the hillside things got down right ugly. The fire road looked like a war zone. Despite the down trees we continued and got some relief after 50 yards of downs. It was clear for awhile until we hit the hillside and lost trail 4-5 times. Frustrated but still having a good time we went around the reservoir and opted out of tinti since the carnage got the best of me and I was happy with what we already rode. Made the way back to the car and had that smile that could not be unwashed from my face, feels funny to be having such a good time just out riding my bike and how truly happy it makes me feel sometimes, I hope all mountain bikers can enjoy the thrill and rewards that are made on the trail. Even if that is that cadence, or lap time, or slick tight team outfit it all comes down to the rewards we reap on the trails. By the way Paul is the man and he will be a sorely missed riding friend next month. He nailed this log in the dark and I finally got one of his on film!

Into de night case

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Hurd state park 1st

Got out Saturday for a ride with some friends and ended up by the time we got pedaling we were 15 peoples deep. I was really surprised how many were riding but none the less we had a great time. I have never been to Hurd State Park which was awesome to get somewhere completely new to me. After some pedaling we came upon feature after feature which were moderate sized drops and jumps that were really fun and didn't require spotting landings. There were some good rippers in the group which made it quite fun following. I was on the Dawg and was very glad with the suspension and all. I accomplished every drop we came across I believe and almost made it all the way down the last log ride but had to bail the last few feet into a rotted out tree. I rose unscathed and tried 10 or so times to accomplish the feat but was left withe hesitation and nervousness and while I was still pushing to get it done I had gave up.

Hurd state park

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Throwback Tuesday

It's official, Monday is a struggle to put the throwback together, so I will now make it Tuesday as the throwback day.

The Pipeline Trail- Salt Lake City Foothills-May 2007
I have had countless good rides up in Millcreek Canyon, such great fond memories have been made in this Canyon including my first ride with my wife and it's even where I married my beautiful wife! I have always lived 10 minutes from the canyon my entire time in Utah despite three moves. This particular trail borders an old water pipeline that use to run down to the city. It has the most amazing views and it lacks technical and steep descents but it makes up for it with it's incredible views and full on experience from starting in the mountains and cutting a line out to the view point where things go from alpine to high desert. This Particular trip was with a friend from work named Josh, I believe this was my very first time on this trail and little did I know how many more time I would ride this trail and love it! I am getting very homesick thinking about Utah right now as I type this and can;t wait to get back and visit my in laws and get a good old taste of the good life in Utah. The dog is my friends a Catahoula Leopard dog, which is quite the trail doggy.

Hale on a good night

Posted up on Bikerag and got a few takers for a 6:00 night ride. Paul has had some fork problems so I offered him to try out the Kona so that put me back on the Raleigh. I was a little nervous with the BB since I washed it, I got too much water apparently in it and it was not pleased with me. But sure enough shortly into the ride it loosened up and while it is not as smooth as it once was it is functioning. It felt a little foreign as I pedaled onto the trail since it has been weeks since I have ridden it since I was enjoying full suspension for awhile. Man did it make me quite a bit faster, I found myself pretty energized as well which didn't hurt. With Bentley at my side and a nice dry cool night of riding and some good riding companions I was really loving life! The ride went all well and we ended up making the normal loop out and then some different stuff back to the homestead. I was left wanting more but my body was saying I had enough. Very good ride and looking forward to Wednesday when i think the next one will be.

Goody hale

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Hale Of A Lot Of Fun

Made another video, still working out editing and all that so this was thrown together in 30 minutes and it came out pretty good. I am absolutely loving my go pro it is a great device

Good ride mellow with trickery

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The Bigger Picture

This is where the family now huddles around in the evening and it provides us with comfort and a glow in the room that bring us cheer in these days without power. A Kersone heater or lantern is really all it is.

The power is out, has been for four days, it is quite an inconvenience compared to living with power in our daily lives but that doesn't mean we survive on just electricity alone. As you may know I live in what's called the sticks, not the boondocks but a wooded area so I know I will be among the last to get power and I am ok with that because I know the hospitals, fire stations, elderly and police need it far more than us. One day at a time is the name of the game and it's a learning progress which we already had a crash course in when the hurricane hit us 2 months ago. In a way it's a good thing because our day to day lives need to be put into perspective every once in awhile from the fuel we put in our tank to the toilets we flush. So so much goes on everyday with the luxury's and comforts of living in safe clean environment everyday of our lives. It makes me think of a visit I had in Ethiopia 2 years ago where I was put into perspective how some of us get to live. Why are some given so much and some so little. I imagine the answer will never be revealed, but really I could only imagine it's a lottery. When I was in Ethiopia, a small town in Dhera, the living conditions was that of only simplicity, a roof over their heads, worn and I mean WORN pair of sandals, some tattered clothing and a smile on their face. We were with my Wife's Dental team and we had just arrived to the small village where we were greeted with tremendous smiles despite the painful work that was ahead of the team. I then got to see first hand what life was outside of the capital city. The people were so amazingly friendly, I would walk around the grounds and have groups of locals following my every move and watching me like I was from outer space. The red hair and freckles hairy arms and tattoos were not helping me blend in too well either. But it blew me away how up beat and friendly and positive they were. We were there helping them as much as we could and in return I was left with a beautiful memory of their smiles and warm feelings the local people left with me. I forget all too much in the hustle and bustle of day to day life and with the power zapped out I more than ever think back to how little we need to survive and how MUCH we are offered! So when you flush that toilet, warm that left over food, take that hot shower, remember how truly fortunate you may be. So in conclusion I leave the smiles of Africa in memoir

Forgot Throwback Mondays again

When I first moved to Utah in the fall I got my season pass at Park City Ski Resort for a sum of $350 which is an absolute steal compared to what they charge for the junky small operations in VT and so forth. It was a pretty good season that year and probably one of the best since I had just moved and was enjoying myself to the fullest. Well when the snow melted my pass was good for mountain bike chair rides. The high speed chair only covered some 1,000ish feet of getting up the mountain which left still a lot to be covered. No great downhill trails were really near the lift so it wasn't worth it to do laps, which meant going up. For my East Coast Legs this was a tricky feat that I had to get used to with mountain biking in UT. Because anything in the Salt Lake area consists of 1,000+ up and 1,000 down..... there is no up and downs in between usually, just up and down. SO anyway this day was my first trip up to the backside of the Wasatch and found a moose on the way up to the lake.