Climbing

Dear Climbing,

It's been a long time since we've seen each other. I've missed you and the way you make me feel-dog tired, achey, hurting hands, sore toes, anxious for more. I'm sorry that I haven't been around more and I've learned that 'sorry' shouldn't have a 'but' attached to it. I have found new things to give my attention to. Mountain biking, soccer, martial arts are all great things and they've filled a void. However, nothing can compare to the hard unforgiving rock and the movement that is needed to climb along your length. Thanks Climbing, I've missed you.

Love,

Mike

Dreams

I had two memorable dreams last night. In one I was about to get a speeding ticket. Not fun. In the other, though, I was dreaming that I was just above the Red Banks on Mt. Shasta and feeling good. I think this might be a sign that I need to check into the conditions and try to blitz the mountain. But, can one actually blitz a mountain? 

Writers and climbers talk of this in a sense of actually sneaking up a line without the mountain knowing of the climber. Is this possible? The mountain knows all, right? Right?

The end is here

Dear School,

This year has been interesting, to say the least. Like every year, it started with hope and activities and 'get to know ya' stuff. The classroom was buzzing, parents worrying, me worrying, kids crying, laughing and running. Sounds pretty standard, and it sounds good! 

My only complaint is that it went too fast (cliche?) and that I am going to be at another school next year. Pretty lame if you ask me. I'm glad to have met all the families, staff and students, though. And in retrospect, I hope that this year gives me a better perspective on education and that I will look back and be happy with all the decisions I've made over the past year. See ya later Neil Cummins :) Happy Summer. 

Well, actually I've got 2 more days. 

Mountain Biking Silliness

Marin County; where it all began. Long ago on these fabled hills, bikers had had enough with skinny tires, skinny top tubes, and skinny roads. They craved the hills, wide trails, wide tires (wide quads?). They craved a progression.

And then there was Mike T. A guy who likes to tinker on bikes, doesn't have a ton of income to burn but wants to give this mountain biking thing a try. 

And then there was the Recyclery. A really sweet bicycle rescue operation in San Rafael that happens to have HUGE sales on some bikes that look like there next stop was here. Do you see where this story is going.... A few weeks back I bought a moderate heap. It's an old GT hardtail that is basically a rigid because of the terribleness of the front fork. Regardless of the late 90's styling, I was determined to make it roll. But how, you might be asking? With as few gears as possible!!! Sounds like a dumb idea, right? Well, about 2 hours ago I agreed. That was the 10th time I had to dismount my bike and walk up a hill that would have been totally ridable with a 21 speed bike. As I cursed my way up another hill, the views of the Bay, Larkspur and endless Redwoods siphoned all of the single-speed hatred out of my veins. It was still fun, and I think if I had gears, I'd still have been going REALLY slow (it was steep), so who cares?! At the top of the climb (hoo-koo-e-koo trail and blithedae ridge) I met another nice biker who, by coincidence, lives about 4 blocks from me. He helped me navigate my way down the trail (so I didn't have to look like a doof at every intersection with my map) and the ride was stellar. With sore muscles and my brain thinking of what random part to get on the bike next, I'm going to go stretch on my new crash pad (woot woot!) and eat a lot of food. I'll put some pic's up soon, but I need to have my camera to do that.... 

don't be a tool,

Mike

Meat and Eggs. We'll only kill the mean ones.

I've been reading several books about food, what we eat, why we eat it (taste and culture) and where it comes from. I've decided that I need to start a farm. I will start with chickens and eat and sell their delicious eggs. When I've figured that out, I'll start chopping some chickens for food. All the while I'd like to have a sweet garden, not huge, just a few acres tops. I have no idea when this is all going to start, but if I get the chop after the shitty state budget comes through, perhaps I'll find an 'in' then! Until then, I'll keep reading 'Animal, Vegetable, Miracle' and just dream about chickens...