Last Thirsty Thursday Ride For 2010

I'm not closing the book on riding for this year but I think the thirsty Thursday evening rides are done for 2010. I was able to get out to Lakeshore Park around 5:30 tonight but even so, by the time the last mile was upon me, I was having flashbacks to a few years back when Mark's chain broke at Highland Rec and the trail was barely legible on our way out. Lack of light towards the end aside, it was amazing that there was still a good chunk of trees with their leaves still on with the way the winds have kicked up the last couple of days. Mother Nature is a crazy lady.

Happy Halloween to all!

Trail Head

Floating Dexter

For anyone wondering if the Huron River current is stronger towards the Ann Arbor area than Milford, it is. While a good portion was manageable, there were about four or five areas from the Dexter-Huron Metropark headed northwest towards Hudson Mills Metropark that had me paddling in place and it wasn't pretty. I was paddling upstream towards the bridge where downtown Dexter comes into play (love that bakery smell) and I literally could not move forward. After about 10 minutes of going nowhere, I moved to shore, picked up the kayak and moved it west by land. A lesson learned; bring a buddy or pack the bicycle and head down stream the entire way next time.  The trout were abundant in the view but unfortunately none were brought aboard. Paddle and lack of fish crying aside, a beautiful day and float it was today.  

Trail Head   

Color Ride

Well, we've got about 20 days before Daylight Saving Time is done for the year and all the leaves are brown (think I heard that in a song) or have left the trees. At that point, work days become a ride in dark going in and a ride in the dark coming home. How bleak! All is not lost though as we must enjoy every moment. That I did tonight at Island Lake with some cool colors throughout. The night riders were just getting ready to ride as I left the parking lot a little after seven. I have to try that very soon as I have the riding light waiting to be used. No excuses.

Hail hail to the Chilean miners. What a great story. Being underground for three months, I would have to guess they know each other's lives pretty well by now. The conversations at one point I am assuming became, "So, in the third grade..."

Trail Head

Molson Bike Tour - Season In Review

Well, tonight was banquet night on the bike tour. A chance for us to reflect on the season of riding. The season I think can be summed up in the pictures below. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to do my speech at the banquet but there really wasn't much to say without cussing at people going to pumpkin carving parties on Saturday instead of watching the MSU-UM game (it's true). I guess their man cards have expired, which is pretty sad. All venting aside, I am happy to reward the rider of the year award to Jim M. as he has had a fine year and has a man card that has no expiration date. Congrats Jimbo.

Trail Head

 

Class of '85, Unite

While it doesn't appear that the class of 1985 is going to have an official 25 year class reunion as the task of planning a reunion is a thankless job I've been told, we came pretty close to having one at the Milford (formerly known as Redskins) Maverick game last night. The home team came out on the short end of the stick on this homecoming Friday night, losing by a touchdown to Howell;  however, it was good to see some old friends. After 25 years (holy crap, 25 years!), maybe "old" is not a good word to use.

Trail Head

Lion Home Opener - Good Eats - Yep, They Still Suck

The cornbread was there for the taking as I woke up this morning with eternal optimism for the team I am hoping gets to a Super Bowl before the clutching of the chest thing happens for me where my friends are gathered to talk about my life without a Lion's world championship. Thoughts of death aside, the food was delicious at the Ochs' compound as we had a chance to compare homemade, deep fried wings versus the franchise, cookie cutter items from BW-3. Well, I must say, besides having the homemade ones coming straight from the fryer, there really wasn't much of a difference. They were both delicious (the halftime cookies were a treat as well Laura). Oh yes, there was some football today, and yeah, the Lions still blow. By the third quarter, we were already talking draft strategy for 2011 (need a stud linebacker, defensive back or left tackle) and it was only the second game of the year. That is pretty sad.  

Trail Head

Holdridge Lakes - Holly Rec Area - Gruber's Grinder

I have no idea who Gruber is but apparently he decided to make a path in woods and was on some kind of five hour energy kick and kept making the trail longer and longer. After 15 or so miles, I am guessing Gruber got tired and decided to call it a day. The mountain biking gods were so inspired that they named the trail after him. That is my theory. Did he have to make the first three miles feel like ten? I honestly was ready to utilize the shortcuts at one point. The hills just kept coming and coming. My man boobs have been sagging lately so I decided to see the whole trail. I did have a nice wipe out at about mile 13 that sucked some air out of my lungs. Besides a nice abrasion on my knee and shoulder, all was well. I was Hans Solo out there as I had the day off and my riding brethren were either rehabbing on the injured reserve list or out in the woods hunting anything that was moving. Next year might see some more Reeves' blood on the trails as my nephew Jackson has been asking to come on the tour. If my fellow riders are absent, the J-man is going to come aboard. He is more than welcome as long as he keeps his Facebook postings away from the tour. I like the whole picture posting portion of Facebook but get nauseous when people are telling the world what they are eating for breakfast, doing their homework, po'd about their job, hate the government, are mad at their boyfriend/girlfriend, etc... The people reading it could either care less about how you feel or are happy that you are having it bad. With that, keep it happy or keep it to yourself. (a little commentary today I guess)

Trail Head