Bikes Writing and Life Taxi777

Dark Horse & Performance Anxiety & My WorryStone of Ice

Dark Horse

Her money's riding on this Dark horse...She knows he needs to run.

They met 32 years ago.

Her heart said it was the right thing to do. Together they'll love and live on. His true colors will show someday, but he has to run and she knows cause her money's riding on this dark horse.

He's a wily one, with a restless soul, but his Philly jumper keeps him from going away. He's pulled mercilessly from all points and greener pastures. This little farm is where his heart resides. Near this little river.

He's a dreamer looking for dream... She says; " I believe in you and I can't even count the ways that I do...I will hold you I will help you stand and so he stays, for he believes one day she will believe in herself.His money's riding on this Philly...He knows she needs to run.

I love my Philly jumper...

Posted by Pete aka Taxi777 at 12:11 AM 0 comments

Labels: life in general, love

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Performance Anxiety & My WorryStone of Ice

Sometimes the anticipation of an event of Epic proportions ie; Biking, music, females and anything basically...Adventure! I'm alway's shot out of a cannon before the event. Like I'm on crack!

I almost feel paralyzed from doing anything because I'm goin F' frigginteen mph in a zillion different directions.

I want to do Hamilton tomorrow, but can't get a car and the train doesn't get down there early enough to register for the start of the Low Key Hill Climb Challenge! I'm going to do it anyway just cause I need to ride my SSpeed Langster up that one more Bay Area mountain to feel complete. I know I can make it, I have no doubts, but I'm so excited about it I can't sit still!

My camera is becoming more than a camera to me...More of a "Worry Stone" Remember when you were a kid and you could buy those stupid "Mini Pet Rocks." I did like them though! I wish I had stuck with them and not gotten into the hard stuff for which I've paid dearly!

My camera gives me ...ha ha "Focus"...I love that! It's an Ice breaker and an Ice maker depending on who you're shooting... So tonight I skipped out with my camera to take some shots and came across some speaking of Ice...

Whoever did the windows in "Tiffany's" knocked it out of the park! I love these displays. I'm not really big on jewels, but Ice and Sex together really set me off! Yep! I'm weird. Cold, smooth wet blue ice and pale skin...I'll take that over fur and a cozy fireplace any day! I just wonder where that proclivity comes from?

Well, here's what turns me on besides cycling music and photography!

See some of you tomorrow...
Pete...As cold as ice tonight and lovin it.

Of course in the middle of all this I get an emergency plumbing issue that took me out of the "Zone" and put me in my place with a plunger in my hand. Fortunately it wasn't that big of a deal and the woman was super hot from pakistan...freaking beautiful...arrrggghh!

Her niece and nephew were coachng me through it all...talk about shot out of a cannon!

...Satori

A spiritual awakening sought in Zen Buddhism, often coming suddenly.

There's a lot going on behind the eyes of this face that only a mother could love.

Since I'm trying to eliminate shame along with the filters of inhibition in my life, but still not quite sure of where the boundaries of inappropriateness actually lie. (I'm constantly testing them). You are all my virtual lab rats and I thank you for that.

I decided to start something kind of cool, well at least I think so. I sort of initiated it over a year ago, but due to factors that derailed my idea I had somewhat forgotten about it.

I've decided that everytime I transport into "The Zone" that to remember the ocassion I'll take a snapshot of my face. Maybe if I live to be 80-90 years old, I'll be able to remember how I felt at that one moment in my life and I'll be happy that I lived to the fullest, or at least tried.

I have a "Zone" fetish. The Zone can be called many different things...Satori, Nirvana or Jesus in a Taco shell! It's all the same. When the mind, body and spirit converge and human emotion cannot be contained. I cry sometimes. I laugh, or talk to myself. Music is a huge trigger for this. Cycling too. Combine the two and It can get overwhelming. I reach it through being around people that are happy. I say stupid things when I'm "high" in the zone. I don't care anymore...I don't want to keep this hidden. I love it when I'll say something profoundly silly to someone I love or in groups of people that I feel comfortable with.

I think my bike friends have incubated this thought process in me. They don't care and are not that embarressed by me. Maybe cause they are older and understand, but probably are more comfortable with themselves that if something is stirred up in them that gives them shame, I become a conduit to let that thought rise to the surface and make it easy to deal with.

So what I'm trying to say is I don't mind being the jester and taking the bullet you're afraid to take and maybe you like that? So in return you come with me into the Satori and there's nothing I like better than partying in the "Zone" with my friends!

I hope this isn't too abstract for you, but those who are my friends (the one's I love) I think you get me...So you can smile at that goofy guy in front of the lens and you know that you're there with me...

I had a nice time training on Mt. San Bruno...Picts for you...


Looking forward to the riding this weekend with everyone and I think something really special will happen...Your guess!

"xSplodie" pills & Popping Shoulders!

"xSplodie" pills & Popping Shoulders!...Or Exploding shoulders/Popping pills?

OK Kids! grab your coffee and gather round...Strange Uncle Pete's had a long weekend and he needs to "Baarf & Bello!"

I had a major breakthrough tonight and I couldn't wait to tell you all, so it's 3:50am and I couldn't get back to sleep with the excitement of it all!

Ever since a major crash about 4 years ago I wake up periodically in agony with my shoulder out of joint, usually after a tough day of standing and climbing on my bike, which I did a lot of today and I'll get to later...

Ironically this happened on a day where a tenant (and friend, un-usual combo in an apartment buildiing) showed up at my door announcing that I hadn't seen him in weeks cause his arm fell off...I'll get to that! So it got me thinking about my shoulder. I had my usual evening full of night terrors...which I think is some kind of nervous system disorder (just a hunch). Then my shoulder was falling out all night! Usually in this case I sit up to get the pressure off and it will slide back in eventually, but I discovered something tonight. I can push the bone that's broken off on top with my thumb and pull back with me fingers on the bottom portion and pull and all the chunks fall right back into place!! Eureka! "I'm alive! God almighty I'm alive"

I'll tell you more about my friend Steve in another blog; quick story-no lights on a bike, at night and a bad driver. I want to get some pictures of his shoulder...

Now on to my ride today:

My friend Chris Phipps (aka Pizza man-local hero and racer extraordinaire) asked my friend Henry (Blast Radius, CX racer) and I to be course marshal's for an annual Golden Gate Park Cross Country run.
I picked doing sweep since I was on a one speed and I'm kind of a farm dog and my nature is to herd and protect people. It started off exciting but got really boring real quick going around and around behind the last place person for 5 miles over 3 races.

The first 10 seconds was great when I was behind a bunch of leggy jumpy girls...best view in the house! The end was a relief when I finally got something to eat. In between....Runners are a weird bunch, sorry but I don't get it? I'll probably piss off some runners but that's ok the feelings mutual with cyclists I'm sure. Some people can crossover, like Chris, but I never could. They're just as geeky as us in their own way.

Chris and Henry suggested that I do the Cross race here next weekend but, since it's World Aids Day next Sunday, I should do something special Sunday. I had called a ride but, I might call it off and be by myself just to think...
Believe it or not the jury's still out about my situation. I'm still having trouble coming to terms with myself and I still have a lot of mixed emotions that I'm working on...What a fucking mess I am sometimes! Oops! goin dark here...time to switch gears...

Eight thousand, Eight hundred and six miles!
My year to date on the bike. Not sure if I'll make my goal of 10,000 miles by Jan. 1st, but we'll see.

xSpLodie pills, as in Not exploding when I do these pills...I had my dosage upped and I do notice the difference. I've had a couple of episodes of splodiness as Cathy calls it. When nervous energy meets frustration and self-hatred cuts it off at the pass which turns in to a nose dive, flames and crash&burn=SPLODINESS-Evil Elvis has left the building.
Still having trouble sleeping. I had the major Night terrors (they're back). Followed by really creative periods where ideas pop out of my head and large blocks that I try to wrestle into some form of lucidity. I think there's someone else I know who has something similiar to this issue...Won't mention any names...

This is what I don't need!

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This stuff seems to be working so far, s o I'll contiue with it as long as I need to...(forever) because I'm nut's!

Brazil

I love Hi-def! I was watching a PhotoTravel show on National Geographic. Just for the hell of it I took a shot for my point and shoot...Holly crap! Picture perfect with a little nudging in Photo Shop viola! So I was inspired to change my opening graphic to a shot of Brazil. That's where I really want to ride a bike some day. I love the music the jungles and the androgyny of the peo ple. Such a sexy hot place...I could get in a LOT! of trouble there! To bad it's such a scary place with it's poverty, crime and politics.

BTW

Just a shot of this helicopter flying below 200 ft on California st moving construction items... weird to walk out and see that i n your face. Plus a telephoto view down my little neighborhood street...I like my little town!

I am off to work on some music today for a change...I'm giving my body a break! It really needs it.
Later...

The Beaker Ride

"Shit " I hear Justin scream in the next PortaPotty over ...I dropped my sunglasses" just as I'm setting my precious Samsung camera precariously on the back of the sink in the "Porta-Pottie" next door...Little did that trusty compact point & shoot know that it was about to perform it's biggest "Doodie"...above and beyond the call of doodie!

I must say. Since I'm known for delivering the poop on a consistant basis, this was right up my ally.

Yep Justin had committed a "H'anus" act!

One thing though...That was really gross! I don't think I've stooped that low for a shot...ever! Ok I'm lyin!

-Justin was a champ and shook it off. for the rest of the day He just pretended to be wearing sunglasses. -

Our next mission was to make our way down Wildcat Canyon. There was a bit of "post traumatic" vibe due to the last incident going down that venture. I just went ahead and took off full speed to kill any voodoo that might remain. I figured as these guys descended and didn't happen upon my crumpled body that they would assume that the bad luck would be gone...

Going back a bit In the day, we talked about flat tires, even with Richard knocking on wood,

George would just happen to flat right after...

We had talked about the accident last time these guys did this ride, so the Jinx needed to be broken. That is when I decided to scream down Lucifer's Avenue and spit in his face!

After we all got down to the bottom safely, we bid our "Muchos Gracias" to the El Diablo grande and decided celebrate with a good cup of Joe at Starbucks in Orinda. The gang had their tongues hanging out at all the woman and I was forced to keep em in line!

George had to bail at this point, so the rest of us headed down Camino Pablo for some Bear action. For me I unfortunately was heading down the road into a mild bonk. Lucky for me Brently hung back to cheer me on and we traded some war stories and we got to know each other a bit. I think that was one of the best parts of the the ride, getting to meet and commensurate with some new soul who is rich with personality and good viewpoints. That's what it's all about...The rest of the guys stayed out front I think Brent had probably let them know that he'd be hanging back with me. The Jinx caught us again when we arrived upon Justin falling victim to the next flat of the day...(it turned out to be a thorn and a slow leak). I welcomed that break and in the short time I waited my body recharged and I came right out of my bonk and slammed papa bear to the suprise of Justin...( He must have thought I was sand bagging him). Justin is a Wicked climber along with Chris and Richard. It blows my mind when these guys tell me how long they've been riding! Holy crap! They should be really proud of their accomplishments in such a short amount of time.

Well we made it back minus a pair of sunglasses and a couple of flats and I think I was pretty happy with the way it all turned out. I met some really, really nice guys today and I'm seriously looking forward to riding with you all again very soon. Thanks Brent for the keeping me company and grabbing my camera and phone at the Bart...that would have sucked forgeting those! It was great getting to know you and I hope you can get the problems with your bike taken care of so you'll be more comfortable with the bike. I know that piddlly crap is a real pain especially considering the cash you put out for that great machine!

Pete

Now....The beginning:

They don't know me, but I'm actually a pretty inhibited nervous anxious guy. I don't like being around new people, it's pretty scary for me. When Richard, Justin, Cliff and especially Brent who I didn't know at all showed up I was quite nervous...I think it's that's the "Border Collie" thing that Cathy has me labled with and she's right. It takes a lot for me to overcome the anxiety and feel comfortable. Once I trust you though you've got a friend for life...that's the upside!

We started out a little fast, I'm still stiff and hurting from a pretty intense training week. I started to whine a little in the beginning, but caught my self and shut up! I got dropped a little in the beginning, this was a super strong group and they made me feel my age...right away I did start to feel comfortable, and the scenery was so peacful and relaxing!

It was great to catch up with George and might I say he looked dazzleing in his colorful deathride jersey. I hadn't ridden with Cliff in a long time, I'm sorry that he wasn't feeling up to spiff today. Ride again with us soon Cliff, I didn't get to talk with you too much!

BTW Chris is scary, He's like...ummm....I got it! "BABY LURCH!" from the Addams family but can climb like "cousin it!" Let's definitely get you doing some century riding next year.

Justin both times riding with you has been a pleasure! You're as nut's as me!

We headed up Skyline and along scenic Grizzly Peak...We stopped to watch George fix a flat from afar -and discussed the "Great Fire" , "89Quake"...kind of in the disaster mode?

Well things moved along and we ended up at the end of the LowKeyHillClimb where I ran into "Team Alameda" Friggin Legion! A million of them. I want to do a combined ride with them sometime, it would be fun. At this point we moved on and I was feeling my groove and really enjoying the day! It was then that we met up with destiny at Inspiration point and "The Incident"

......and there's the poop...Adios- Taxi777 report

Picture Perfect Day

Daniel aka "LanceOldStrong

Picture Perfect Day!

To think I almost didn't make it today! I started the day really trashed. Long night dealing with my job. some how I managed to stay awake long enough to get off at the right stop. Dan got there just about the same time, John a few minutes later. Weather was great with clear skies.

Our first Coffee of the day.
Dan trying to be inappropriately sexy "El Monte y El Diablo."






Dan and I had some coffee before taking off. We took time to admire the pretty Senora behind the counter and did manage to get some flirting in even with slow sleepy brain. I wasn't really into riding, but once I got the circulation moving in my body I got more into it. The route that Can brought us on was really scenic! I'd done the upper road but not this lower route... much better! There was very low traffic and lot's of photo ops.

The property with all the sculptures was really neat and John getting attacked by "Lola the BiPolar" dog was funny!
Riding across the Bridge for my first time in Carquinez was a fantastic experience!

The three of us were a great combination for the day. Melo & middle aged youngsters with lot's in common. We were the "Blabbiators." Probably the best part of the day was stopping at the "Valona Deli"...They had the tastiess sandwiches in the world!


If I look a little distracted here...I had the camera set for automatic, but right when the shutter clicked a very hot looking lady walked by the window!
Distracted by the beauty walking by the window
I was sleepy and spacy most of the day, falling into silence and a little out there...I was hoping Dan and John were'nt getting too bored with me.
I had to end the ride early for myself, I was just too tired even though I was really enjoying myself, so I bailed out in Orinda. I kept falling asleep on the Bart...I was hopless.

Thanks you guys for the company I really enjoyed myself and I'm ready for some more "Hookey days"

ZAthlete: NorCal Gladiators/ My Big Talk With Myself

Hey everyone, by popular demand I'm going to set up a dedicated site for the "NorCal Gladiators"

on ZAthlete http://www.zathlete.com/

This will be a fun site when It's up and functioning...

So...In the meantime...

I'm going in 20 different directions lately. Starting tomorrow I'm putting the brakes on and coming in for a landing. I really want to start focusing on the reality of actually racing in 2009! I'm freaking 54 years old! I never thought when I was 20 that I would ever be able to do what I do now. If I could go back in time and race myself...I'd beat the snot out of me, but I'd give myself a few life lessons while I was at it.

Lesson 1. Leave home you f"ing idiot...Your Mother is a sick human being and you are an emotional weakling...M.O.V.E to California!

Lesson 2. Be more of an Alpha male around females...Jeeshhh Ya can't get laid walking around like Napleon Dynamite...I mean you play guitar great! +1 , but damn dude, Close the deal!!!!!! You wouldn't be in the trouble your in now if you just got laid. It does a lot for your self esteem...but, be nice and always be respectful to the fairer sex...You can't get through life without women...Believe me!

Lesson 3. You know how you love to ride your bike now? That's nothing! Wait till you're my age dude. You have no idea... it's beyond words amigo, it's gonna rock you're world.

Lesson 4. Start writing; It will change you, it will help you love people, and the girls love prose and poetry, even more than the way you play guitar.


Lesson 5. Your brothers...that's gonna be good man, they love you!


Lesson 6. Live for today and love for today...You might not get a chance tomorrow...Mainly though "LOve yourself" You're just not going to do that enough just yet and you'll feel pain and sorrow on a grand scale but, you'll be like the Pheonix. Things in your life are going to profoundly change you, so stay actively open minded!
Most of all...Don't whine! Just let the girls whine and be there for them...You'll get to like it after a while...I think it's kind of hot!

Later dude!...

Bonus Weekend Day: Schmonday! Icarus ascends

I got up at 4:am again...I'm having trouble sleeping and I think I'm going through some sort of "Manic" swing. I like these though, it sure beats the polar opposite "Crushing depression."

It's like the song by Jimmy Hendrix: "Manic depression" is a frustrating mess! I like to call the "North side of Manic as the "Spiritual." I feel like I'm getting somewhere even if I know it will probably be short lived and I'll go into a nose dive and plummet into the depths of Moroseness...

Like Icarus ascending, I'll get too close to the sun and I already feel the slightest bit of wax on the feathers beginning to melt. I love the almost hallucinatory emotions, as I listen to music and I'm careening down a mountainside. I actually found myself playing "Air guitar" at about 40 Mph! to Joe Satriani's "Surfing with the Alien!" I want to stay there. I love to stay up all night and write...then up at 4-5 am to work on music, taking breaks for Starbucks 50 cent refills. I have trouble focusing cause I want to experience the world, it's all right there.

I put the guitar down, shut off the recording equipment and It's off to work (the part I hate). Then the bike where I reach my ultimate cresendo! All the music, the writing, the freeing of my mind and soul; then bang! absolute exhaustion and a short bout of sleep with crazy LSD style dreams that sometimes I can't shake for hours and then I awake and start the whole cycle again. It's coming to the end though, I feel it like the "Grim Reaper of my soul." Sneaking up on me slowly...Thankfully right when I crash which will probably be tomorrow or the next day I have my shrink appointment! Perfect timing...I just hope he doesn't take my wings away...I'm peaking! Hmmm...Maybe the full moon?

So I bet that woke you right up? I just let it all hang out...

I had such an amazing weekend and today felt like an extension granted me. Even with no sleep and all the riding I did this weekend I felt really strong and fast today, so I went down to Mt. San Bruno and started my official training for next year.
My Klein is amazing... My "Ice Magenta", something truley amazing about it. I think it has the voodoo! It's excactly down to the ounce the same weight as my Langster! BTW I put my KHS on craigs today! I really want a Mission Cycles bike, but I don't have the money so I'm gonna sell stuff till I get it. My Trek made the cut...One of them had to go! The Trek proved itself this weekend. That bike is so forgiving on the butt and super quick and all around powerful. I can't wait till Thursday "Fight Club Ride"

I'll be at the Saturday "Low Key Hill Climb in Berkeley..." On the Klein!

Oh...BTW can I say...Go Cal Bears!!!! Sorry you Stanford Peeps : (

Full Moon Boogie

Full Moon Boogie

Full MoOn BoOgie map

I played it a little smarter this time...I knew Marco would go out of the gate like "Sea Biscuit" getting a buckshot pellet in the ass!

This was the first time that Chris and Marco had ridden solo bikes together. The greeting was friendly/gentlemanly, but you could see behind their eyes the primitive calculating, sizing up and guarded body language of to "two Gladiators about to face off in a pit of blood!" Ramon stood off quietly as usual with a smile that didn't reach his eyes "I will wait for their battle to be over than I will ride across their bones!" I had a shiver on the top of my head that gave me a feeling of wearing a skull cap.

Meanwhile the Wiley hornet (Henry) was buzzing around the outskirts waiting for his moment to sting. Sir Ron the Senator knew he had bitten off more than he can chew, but noblemen are like that...At times they must lower themselves down with the commoners and fighting folk to feel alive...

For me it was just another weekday "ball busting adventure" with the "Fight Bike Club", although this week the broken general was not so feeble and had been fed well by his maidens.

I feed off the spirit blood draining from the young fighter/gladiators as they scale these walls that we encounter, one after another! I bath in the starlight and sweat of my own doing. I own the pain, like a vampire awakening, the full moon beckons me and I scream like a demon with joy in my heart at the darkness I descend into...I F***ing Love my Bike!
..."What I had to go through today to be here tonight". I thought to myself...

Earlier in the day I acquired a loaner car from a friend of mine that I practice barter with...I like barter! You don't have to pay taxes!
After super-gluing my camera together for the umpteenth time, I had decided it was time!...

Off to "Best Buy". My purchase went pretty quick and (yes I did get the insurance on the camera). When we got back to the store I approached the car and the engine was running...DOH! The doors were locked and the keys were in the ignition!

Let me digress here...There is a thing we call wife (micro-manager) who is very outspoken and chatty when it comes to finding a parking place. Some people can get very cranky and loose concentration when this appendage is attached to oneself...Catch my drift?...

I ran to a body shop on tenth and Harrison hoping I could get someone on the cheap to open the car for me...long short, called towing, but they never showed! We flagged down an AAA truck so I hired him for the job. He called his office to see if we still had the AAA service from out old car...YES! I gave the guy 20 bucks and we were outta there...Phew!

Back to the Battlefield...

We left Marco's place...hmmm? Warm up? No! Max HR right from the start. At least I had the common sense this time to hold back a bit. I warned Henry and Ron this was about to happen.

Well we just commenced to kill the hills of San Mateo for the next 3 hours. Ron was a little off the back and a bit bonky, but managed to muscle through it. Marco, Chris and Ramon hit it off pretty well, better than I had imagined. I'm hoping we all are able to ride again on Saturday- My ride.

Henry was ... Well Henry is Henry, always the great guy to be around, kind of neutral, like who couldn't get along with him? Funny I would say neutral! He just got back from Switzerland! Ron the Statesman the same...always laugh my nuts off with him.
...and me, these rides are making me feel better and better. For some reason I always find some inner-peace out here...the peaceful night air under the stars with great friends quells the rabid demons that follow me closely and wait for the opportune moment to pounce, but no pouncing tonight for my "Gladiators" keep me safe!

Pete...Full Moon Boogie

Gladiators: The Wounded General

What the Hell just happened? I did my first "Night Ride" with Marco, Ramon and Ruth last night. I'll just cut to the chase... "BONK!"

I was actually a little bonky all day yesterday I had gotten up too early and not feeling all that energetic. Then by the time I got to San Mateo last night my enthusiasm had diminished some.. I stopped at Sports Basement and picked up another light, cheapy blinky and clear Tifosi glasses.

My favorite part of the evening was just hanging out with Marco, Ruth and Ramon. I hadn't hung out with my friends in awhile.

When we finally got rolling it was getting a little late. Maybe a mile or two into the ride I could here a metallic scraping noise and saw the Tandem with Marco and Ruth coming to a stop. The chain had broken. With no chain tool we were kind of adrift, so Marco took my bike and Ramon and headed back to Marco's for a chain tool.

I enjoyed (even though it was a little cold out) hanging with Ruth and we talked about marriage and their wedding plans. Also how I met Cathy and how she met Marco, again that made the evening. That's gonna be one fun wedding! I can really say, there's two people that were meant for each other!

Marco and Ramon got back and hauled the Tandem back to the launch pad. They prepared the solo bikes and we were off again at a pretty brisk pace. As soon as we hit the first hill I knew I was in trouble. My system is kind of messed up from my crash and wants to slow down and heal. My energy was "0". Ruth's knee was bugging her so she intended to drop off...I really regretted not dropping off with her.

Both Marco and Ramon have gotten ridiculous with the hills. They're climbing like "Monkeys on crack" I had trouble staying up with them. By the end of the night I felt more of a burden.
I couldn't believe how fast they were descending the hills too! It's mostly residential, so stop signs at most intersections... Slow and look, was the modes operand for the whole ride.

I think I was psyched out a little too...I thought it was going to be a moderate 30 miles or so, but nope it was a full "Gladiator" epic ride.

...I was the wounded Gladiator being rescued from the battlefront and brought back to the safety and warmth within the walled city. I hadn't enough nourishment since being wounded and my wounds were deep and painful. At first I was OK through the mountains we climbed, but soon my compromised condition made itself apparent. My Two brother gladiators were being as patient as they could but most of the time probably felt like they were herding a sickly cow!

My torches were not sufficient and I was reluctant to catapult myself down the hell forsaken slopes. "I am an old warrior and the young lieutenants are so patient with this elder general."

There will be a day I must give up my sword and pass my dimming light to the next brigade, but for now I must hang tough.

As we rode on I pondered? "Who could come up with such ridiculous route?" Hannibal himself with his legions would be shaking like a wounded doe at this preposterous route in which we traverse. I must remember when I get back to the city to call upon young sir Google to explain this insanity to me. We wandered way out into the darkened territories behind enemy lines, to places indescribable yet beautiful beyond imagination!

We headed South on the Canada passage. A this point I thought the climbing would be over. No such luck!

My "Hand Message Contrivance" kept on alerting me. The message from my good wife had been that she was greatly worried for me and hoped I would arrive home soon and safely.

At that point I inquired of lieutenant Marco as to how much of a journey we had left? I could recognize a tactical nature in his vocal summary of what we were about to incur. "When I hear the phrase it's not too bad." Then I know it's bad. Also lieutenant Ramon remained very quiet during Marco's dissertation-It was then I knew that I would feel the "pain of a thousand witch's scorn!"

We descended down Edgewood road so incredibly fast! The blinking red of the torches before me were beautiful and mesmerizing. I also began to feel the chill of the night air setting in. It was then we took on the toughest climb yet in the amazing hejira. I said to myself, "Please someone just sink a sword into my heart now and end this unmerciful suffering!"

I tried desperately at this point not to begin whining like a constipated donkey. I really didn't want to dish any guilt upon my comrades. This travesty was completely of my own doing. The scenic vista somewhat took the edge off of my own misery. Marco explained the area and stats as far as altitude and distance.

At one point a had flash of thought come upon me! Maybe this was a conspiracy of sort to break this old general down for some form of debased amusement! I think most people I come across admit there seems to be something going on in the mind of Ramon on some deep Gothic level Something just below the surface that can put the spirit of the mightiest of Gladiators, even Spartacus himself in a state of fearful unrest.

I have to say this was up there as far as one of my top ten bonks of all time! Even in my discomfort I truly enjoyed this adventure. Riding my bike under the starry sky in the quietness of the late evening is a pretty cool experience. It makes the soul happy and puts a lot of distance between peace in the now and tribulation of earlier in the day.

The last two hills.. I was beyond done! I did make it though without stopping and I'm proud of that fact. I really did enjoy this experience. I arrived home at just after midnight. Cathy fed her starving pig a grand banquet...I then showered and passed out, then awoke refreshed and full of exciting memories of this grand epic with my fellow "Gladiators".

Aside from my injuries of Tuesday night. I really want to do this exact ride again, but prepared this time. Sometimes not knowing what you are getting yourself into can really be detrimental to your level of performance.

"I will be back to do this next week."

As for my two Gladiator brethren...They are becoming pretty astounding in their own right! I always enjoy riding with these two legionnaires. They are just the perfect model for what I had in mind when the idea for the Gladiators/Cheetahs came to fruition.

Thanks guys and my fellow "cheetah".

BTW My cameras flash died again, so I through it around a little to no avail...Today I really whipped it good...and now the flash works!....cool!

The One (As Opra would say)

I first met her online as I was fruitlessly searching for suitor. I was looking for the one who could satisfy my needs, versatile and could capture the same feelings and beauty of the world. I wanted someone who was flashy, but well focused! We had a rocky relationship from the beginning.

I would drop her and break her but she knew how to take a lot of punishment. She was very beautiful with the violet skin and (fully functional). Being of color she had a nice "White balance" She had a wide aperture for ideas. One wink of her shutter in the LCS (local camera store) and I fell head over heels. She would push my buttons...But I always pushed hers time and time again. I had treated her badly and she was broken...I put her back together again. For awhile she lost her flash, but suddenly it was back.

Our love affair continues...How I love my Canon SD1100

I've broken this camera so many times! Finally the flash died, but I crashed Tuesday night and the flash miraculously worked again...This is the truly the one!