bloggages

I have to admit, that this was not completely and totally my idea.  That being said, I don't have to take complete and total responsibility if this does not work out as planned.  You know who you are, thank you for the inspiration to write more.  Right now it seems like a great idea, I might curse you later.  Follow me on the Twitter already!  That's right, you know who you are.

Anyway, I am going to try and blog about my new life as a bike shop employee.  This is a dream job for me.  Don't question it, I have always wanted to be in an outdoor sports "shop".  When I was younger I skied, so I wanted to work in a ski shop.  When I started skateboarding I wanted to work in a skate shop.  Snowboard -board shop.  Now that I've been riding bikes my sights have been set on working in a bike shop.  There you have it in 200 words or less.

If you are the slight bit curious, great.  You probably would not be reading this if you were not just a little curious.  Who am I kidding there is like, what is it now three of you who read this.  Really this is not Fight Club, you can talk about my blog, and now blogs.  That's right people plural.  Blogs.

wrench-ed is the title of my new blog.  More to come on the title, the meaning, and where I came up with the idea behind the title.  For now you can find it in the My Blog List on the right of this page. ----->
Or, if you have to have the tech-no-whiz-bang:  wrench-ed.blogspot.com

Setting Course for Moab

The four of us ended up eating at a Mexican food joint on Main, and then back to our respective rooms at the same hotel.  The next morning found us headed off to some squiggly line on a map that the snowshoe rental guy pointed us.  He put off the attitude that he was less than helpful, yet very helpful.  Even through the fog of a few pints I had "a feeling".  The Forest Service Road was clean and dry up to the point that we are rim deep in snow.  We unanimously decide to turn back, back to the safety of pavement and road signs.  FiL and wife tell us of a trail that their Realtor showed them yesterday, and we point in that direction.

We pulled up to the trail head and it was, get this, just a few hundred feet from where we XC skied the day before.  How's that for you?  We did a nice little hike down into the valley below where the river and the Durango Narrow Gage RR tracks are nestled.  It was a beautiful hike and then we had to hike climb back out.  Luckily we had not strayed too far.

Packed up and ready to make some time to the promised land of Utah.  I have not been to Utah in over ten years.  The drive back reminded me of moving.  It was a flood of emotions, old scars were suddenly new and pink. Wounds fresh from battle.  My mind raced with images, and clips from the movie of my past.  Mostly good but like they say "you take the good, you take the bad", and there were a few bad apples in the basket.  There were memories that I have not thought upon that came to the surface like it were yesterday.  I really feel that geography can also attach itself into your subconscious and once back in a region or specific place it becomes a trigger.  I'm not talking about seeing, I'm talking about being.  Fragments of yourself that are left behind to be retrieved later, or never.

I never lived in Moab, and I only traveled through when going home or for vacations, but it had the feeling of familiarity.  I felt I knew the place and like I had belonged or do belong. It was good to be here.  We drove straight through town and right to Arches.  This place is huge.  I cannot describe it any better than that.  I like the word enormity.  Giant.  One, Arches is spread out and there is some drive involved in seeing the sights; two, everything is just so big.  We tried to do the express lane drive through and it was still too much.  The sun was leaving for the day, my passenger was becoming bored, I was feeling pressure to entertain my passenger.  Needless to say we left a great deal to see for next time.  I pray there is a next time.

Dead Horse Point is___________.  I can write cliches all night and they would all be true, but never show you what it is to see.  It made my knees weak and my stomach turn.  The void was massive, a negative space that seemed to want to drag me into it, if I stared too long or stood too close.  It had gravity an attractiveness that tugged at my soul and at my flesh.  I couldn't stop.  Looking.  I was an indiscriminate landscape voyeur.  Every vantage point a different pleasure yet it all was of the same.  All of this is too much to take in.  Good thing there is a MTB trail at the visitor center.  Time for some single track.

Last Tango in Durango

XC skiing is hard work, I don't like hard work, but I do like this.  If I lived in a snow-covered geographical location I could see myself getting all into to this.  That is just what I need another gear intensive sport that requires mountains of time to get good at, like I don't already have a garage full of toys.  Jack of All, Master of None.

With the sun directly overhead and my stomach sending my brain text messages, it is time to eat.  I do the whole man thing and go ask the rental guy where to get a good pint.  And some food.  The Old Schoolhouse just up the road.  Pizzas and beer.  Tons of atmosphere.  Closed.  Now what?  We are about 20some odd miles from Durango and starving.  Guess we are headed back to Durango, I am not going to fight the crowd at Purgatory Durango Mnt Resort.  Thirteen-ish miles and I spy a tiny Restaurant sign sandwiched between Gas and Groceries.

First impressions would have most people running for the hills or back to civilization, but the smell said "Stay".  Oh, heck yeah, pizza-by-the-slice -to order nonetheless.  Well worth the stop and I highly recommend.  Fuel level says F, time to humble oneself with some more XC.  Sun was warm, no wind and it was perfect.  The boss and I did another small loop, crashed some more, got tired and hung it up.  One more notch in the belt of life, XC skiing -check.

On the drive back to Durango it was decided by majority rule that we need to check out and quality control a local brewer.  Durango Brewery a few miles up and on the left.  I made a quick scan of the cars parked in the parking lot and determined we were headed into Locals Territory.  Other than stepping out of an Oklahoma platted Rav, we were pseudo-local.  Never look at a beer menu when wanting to present yourself as a local, just ask for the IPA.  No, really I just look to make sure they have an IPA, but what kind of brewery would you be if you did not have an IPA.  Come on.

The Boss texted the FiL to come out and have a pint.  I quickly made sure to get some samples for the FiL and wife.  They are not accustomed to craft beer.  Not to fear, we were able to get them into a Golden Ale for the FiL and a Hefeweizen for FiL's wife.  There was a slight mix up in the order and we had a Golden Ale that was orphaned.  Not to fear again, for I am a beer disposal unit and I adopted and promptly drank.  After a few pints time to hit the town to rent some snowshoes for the in-laws for an outing in the morning.

So I was about 0.0005secs from wetting my pants.  Don't judge, I had a few pints and then a cup of coffee.  It was the coffee that put me over the edge.  Thank goodness for the restroom in the back office of the snowshoe rental place, otherwise I would be facing indecent exposure charges or an embarrassing pant wetting story.  So it is time to get something to eat again and we head to another Durango brewery named Steamworks.  It was loaded, packed.  It was like an hour wait or something crazy bad like that.  It was packed full of tourists.  Not my cup of tea.  Time for a walk.

Falling or Failing

Dear Adoring Fan, and Mike,

Sorry I have not updated the blog with more of the Trip out West saga.  More to come on that.  Seriously, it's coming.  Just bare with me and stay tuned. I've been sick, traveled to Texas to celebrate my Dad's 70th Birthday.  Now I'm back in town trying to get into the routine, which it to not have a routine.  Anyway I know this all sounds like excuses, well good because that is exactly what it is. Excuses.  No, really it should sound more like and apology for my extreme amount of lameness.  I will try and crank out some more of the lies story to entertain you for the two and a half mins of your day.

I did have a good time at the folks house.  Got to see some cousins and family that I have not seen in ages.  There were a few missing, and that is just a part of this life thing.  People getting older, and at this late in the game it is either birthdays or funerals.  I hope to see more birthdays than the latter.  My parents look good and are doing good.  So good to spend time with them.  Don't want to forget my sister.  She came over from the Land of Enchantment and we had a good time drinking my homebrew.  My sister is the coolest, was when we were growing up and still is to this day.  Too bad we didn't have the Def Leopard lps so we could rock out to some Pyromania.  Just like old times.

Oh memory lane, the road that would be fun to travel, but only in our minds.  You can go home, just not to the past.  Time such a funny concept, or is it a funny construct.  Sorry I'm not supposed to swim out of the shallow end, these floaties aren't rated for my weight.  As those crazy kids say "Good Times".  Well, you and Mike, I've got to get some things done around the house and run some errands for the boss so that I can continue to live my fabulous lifestyle. 

See you in the funny pages.

Glenn Duh!

In the thick of it

All cleaned up and time to hit the town.  I can already feel the vibe of the awesomeness envelop us before we even make it to Main.  FiL wants some Italian, so the search is on.  I pull up Google Maps and somehow can't spell Italian, is it I before A except after L? Google pulls up a few restaurants.  Turn left here, and it is right on our right.  Parking lot?  Was that 12th?  Oh, no not again Google!  Next.  Get back on Main and look for a left turn on 7th.  Alright, 1 for 3 ain't bad.

Hoity toity super expensive hostess girl asks if we have a reservation.  Otherwise it's going to be 45min.  I'm thinking I can rack up a GDP sized bar tab in this place in 45min.  Must have been my shoes, Fox Racing...not Prada.  Thanks but, No thanks.  Time to pound some pavement in search of sustenance.  FiL spies a familiar place on the corner and we proceed to our destination.  Upon opening of the door, first look says Bar and not so much Grill.  It is all of 40' across and packed with a mixture of locals and tourists, we fit somewhere right in between.  We find the table that is open right next to a tiny stage and a speaker.  People at the bar have been there for a while, or at least for a few shots.  Maybe they had been there for a long while, or a lot of shots.  I'm starving and the body is shutting down starting with it's ability to make conversation.  I'm in full on tool mode and FiL is looking at me like this is going to hurt a little.












I need carbs.  Beer me!  Now!  Stat!  Where is that 1800's clad dancing girl waitress?  Oh, great the "talent" is taking the stage.  Well at least we don't have to worry about conversation.  Pizza, and could I get another beer in this century?  So this C&W singer cranks it up.  I'm not into Country or Western music.  It's somehow a sing-a-long and I don't know the words.  Dude stops and says "sir, you are not participating"!  I gave him my best I'm not from your country and don't understand your strange customs.  "Sorry I don't listen to Country"  After my second beer and half a pizza down the hatch, I tried my hand at heckling.  I, being fluent in music and somewhat of a smart arse, I yell out Don Mclean!  C&W guy seems to be more fluent than I and busts out into American Pie.  Touche!  

And a good time was had by all.  It was a rocky take-off but a smooth landing.  Next morning up early, body still set to central time.  Time to hit the road and find Durango Nordic Skiing Club.  I'm going to try XC Skiing, for the first time in my life.  I am excited, and a little apprehensive.  I have knowledge of XC and know that it is 90% technique and 120% cardio.  I am going to hurt tomorrow, hurt in places that are new and interesting.  First I need to learn how to clip into these stupid skinny nothing of a ski.  It took me so long that the rental guy came out of the club house to help out the "challenged" kid -me.  I'm feeling so cool at this point.  Can I get a padded helmet and a safety vest?  And, can you have the short bus come by to pick me up?

Learning new things, one sometimes has to set aside ego and embrace ones inner self deprecating loser.  I love me.  The club has 20k of trails.  We dabbled in a few of the k's and I found that I can't turn when going downhill.  I did learn that gravity is most certainly real and not just a myth cooked up years ago.  The earth is flat, at least the parts that I hit with my arse are flat.  The views were some of the best of the trip. (up to this point) 

That's all for today...Coming up...More Pizza...and a trip to the Durango Brewery

Albino Polar Bear pt. 2

Traffic is slow go with us running a gantlet of single lane road girded by cars on either side.  Those are not parking spaces, just for your information -a PSA that falls on deaf ears.  Just 15mins ago we were feeling like the smartest people in the 505 area code for getting up here so early and done already.  Now it is looking like we just got caught up in the I-just-woke-up-from-my-hangover-to-take-the-kids-sledding crowd.  Crowd is not the word for it, Sea is more like it and I feel my life-vest is not rated for this mayhem. 

We continue to crawl our way down the mountain when we get just a few hundred yards away from the ski area parking lot.  Dead.  Dead standstill.  As in no moving.  Oh, four letter words.  Tire Stop Move Cars Many Time.  People are out of their cars trying to figure why we are not making forward progress down the road, well other than people out of their cars.  I stay firmly at the helm while my first mate takes an observation crew down to the surface of the planet to make contact.  Park and ignition off.  We are going to be here for a while.  Observation done, information gathered.  Police car across the road stopping traffic in both directions.  No other news.

We have not reached Freaked-Out level, but we are currently at Def-Con III.  Tensions are running moderately high.  I see that cars brake lights and reverse lights are coming on.  This means that people are starting their cars and putting them in gear.  There is movement.  We are being freed from our certain-to-come meltdown-name-calling fight.  On the move.  9 more miles and we have to find a hamburger, stat.

All the way through Albuquerque and no burger, and now the car needs a burger.  Bernalillo is just what was needed.  Burgers at Blake's Lotta Burger and petrol for the Rav at Connoco.  We are officially on the Albuquerque to Durango leg of this adventure.  Blake's, not the best place to go when you feel like you have miles to go and a deadline to fill.  I did however score a free burger.  Not sure if it was my fault (as in stealing) or their fault?  I was either handed the two bags or I grabbed the two bags.  Pretty sure I was only supposed to get one bag.  For my penance I had to eat the whole burger.  I was already full, but I suffered for my sins.  Yummy sins.

Uneventful drive, lots of snow everywhere except for the road.  There is always that one driver, or in the case of New Mexico, drivers that do not like to be passed.  I always find them.  I pull alongside, and then they speed off like it's a race or something.  This does not happen once, but several times.  Really? 

We pull into Durango about an hour after sunset, so no beautiful mountain sunset today, maybe tomorrow?  Turns out the Father-in-law is staying at the same hotel.  Must be genetics, booking the same hotel.  How weird/cool is that?  The wife and FiL (Father-in-law) book the same hotel without previous knowledge.  Spooky right?  Anyway FiL is only a few mins behind and we are cleaning up for dinner.

Holly expletive Yeah! We are in Durango.  Going to explore some new snow-sports activities, find an awesome brewery, and get called out by a C&W singer at dinner.  Oh geez look at the time... guess you will have to wait 'til next post.

Albino Polar Bear pt.1

Staying at a Holiday Inn did not make me feel like an expert at anything, but I did wake up with a mild case of altitude induced dehydration.  It's like a hangover with chapped lips, but not all of the preceding fun.  I'm like a normal sized human, I said human not American, and being normal sized you would think that I would be able to walk into a bathroom and close the door without having to be a contortionist.  I felt like I was sneaking into the bathroom, you know to scare the toilet.  I cannot fathom how someone of, let's just say of greater proportion could manage to get into the bathroom and shut the door.  That was my only gripe, and the coffee was bad.  Drinkable, but not good.  

Day after Christmas and the city is sleeping one off, the streets are dead, business closed.  We headed for the hills.  Today would be my foray into snowshoeing without snowboarding.  This was going to feel like peanut butter without chocolate, rock without roll. 

Sandia peak received 18" of snow in the last snowfall just a few days before.  We drove to the top of the Crest Trail and the road was less than clean and dry.  The parking lot was empty, the snow was deep, and the trees were loaded.  Temps were in the 20's, but the sun was out and had no competition from clouds.  Postcard views in every direction.  Sandia is a 10,000' ridge with a drop-off on the Albuquerque side (west) and a gentle slope to the east.  We hiked snowshoed the ridge, with this ginormous drop just a few meters away, but it eventually gave way to some tree covered trail all the way to the tram house.  The wind was whipping, but in the trees we were pretty sheltered. 

We made it to the tram house and decided to have a drink at the High Finance bar, highest establishment of it's kind.  Drank a beer at two miles high.  I tried in vein to find out if there was a two-mile high club.  Guess I should have asked the ladies?  After we finished our beverages we headed back out into the wilderness with a little liquid warmth and a since of head-home-ed-ness.  We backtracked half way back to the car and then decided to take some other trails.  The locals were starting to come out of the wood-work, and I asked some Nordic skiers where we were headed and they said to a different trail-head than what we wanted, so we trudged on and then decided to turn back to the car.

We made it back to the car and didn't have to resort to cannibalism al la Donner, this time.  We were still staring down a 4-5hr drive to Durango.  Time to pack up, leave and get some much needed fuel.  At the car we were engulfed with populace, the city was awake and headed for the high country.  This place had become a mad house in just a few hours.  It is most definitely time to leave.  The drive down was crazy.  Cars everywhere headed to nowhere, really there was no place for all of these cars to go.  The parking lots were at capacity.  We were starting to get a little nervous and tense with all the traffic, cars parked on the side of the road reducing it to one lane.  Oh the humanity...



Oh, no...what is going to happen?  Looks like the Duke boys got themselves into a beehive with no smoke...

To be continued...

Look for pt. 2 coming soon to magic screens near you

I captured a Snow Ninja