Day 40. Merry Christmas!

Friday February 17, 2023.

Waking up with plans to go for a morning bike ride is the best isn't it!? You open your eyes and there's that little instant excitement. A tiny touch of the Christmas morning anticipation, that wow I can't wait to see what kind of trails will be given to me today! I can't wait to unwrap the trail map, tear off the packaging and start pedaling through some awesome vista's. In this part of the country each turn can be like that next present. You know how you can be so excited on Christmas morning while you unwrap a present? Then as soon as you see what it is, feel that excitement and show everybody watcha-got you kinda start looking for the next present already? OK so I can't be the only one that did that right? Huh! Maybe I was? Alright maybe I lost what the holiday was all about for a bit there. Geez I was six OK? Same with trail riding out here though... You grab onto a trail, spin it out for a mile, see an incredible view and pause. You absorb it and pedal off again looking around the next turn because you know the view is going to be just as killer as that last one. It's like a whole 'nuther present! Merry Christmas to me! Every turn, every view, just soul blasting!

I can also remember those days waking to the alarm at 6am for work and not dreading it, but I wouldn't say I was ecstatic right!? Kind of more of a Groundhog Day feel. To anyone in that grind...it does end! And in hindsight, what a blessing it was to be able to do it...to work and have the life I have. The ability to give my kids the life they've had so far...it so worth it. My hindsight advice (if you're looking for it lol : ), find the silver lining wherever you are.

Dig deeper if you don't see it.

It's there.

A lil' nugget of joy also waiting to be unwrapped.

So I'm meeting Syreeta's oldest, Nate, for a mountain bike ride today. He's on the mountain bike team and being the school is closed this week - both mom and he are itching for him to get out on a ride to keep his skills sharp. Happy to oblige!

These kind of favors are wow what most of us cyclopaths hunger for (shoutout to you Sivec2000 for that pun! Luv it!)! Anyone else I can help out with a ride!!?

I took some my road bike and some gear out of the jeep and left it at the Air BnB so I could fit Nate's ride into the back. Drove to their place and he was ready to go! So we quickly headed off to find the Acorn Trailhead on the northern end of Folsom.

I was savvy enough to have pictures of the trailhead on my phone just in case there wasn't any cell service but it all worked out pretty good anyway. I was flipping between the TrailForks and AllTrails apps to see how accurate they were and both worked great. The Strava app too.

For those not in the loop here these trail apps can both help navigate and show your location on trails so you don't end up in a fetal position pining for momma cuz you can't find your way out and you ran out of gummy bears. Other apps like Strava will track your mileage, speed, elevation gain, heart rate, what you were wearing, if it matched, and if it didn't it would notify your Strava-friends too so they could make fun of you. Great app. It can even include pics of the fashion faux pas for evidence.

Speaking of clothes, I overdressed for sure - I'm wearing enough layers to ride through Iceland. I must have some residual shivers left inside from some of those cold Texas mornings. But maybe that's the next blog trip? I'd only go there if Icelanders know what a latte is. And if they have coffee shops located in various igloos around to blog in. I'm thinkin' no Iced lattes though. I mean, you're surrounded by it right? Geez I'm also wondering if they know how to milk oats there? I'm really digging this oat milk craze. Not sure how they do that right? Is it a national secret? Did I mention this already? Are we the only ones who know how to extract milk from an oat? Or did they find an udder way? Ha!

Lots to research before that trip for sure.

All good though, I was able to peel off stuff as we rode : )

I gotta admit that starting off, Nate's legs just churned up the path and I found myself breathing a bit deeper than I had anticipated! Dang young kids! His skills combined with his no-fear-traceur attitude on the downhills would leave me literally in a cloud of dust! Couple of times I was worried he flew off into the woods or worse 'cuz I couldn't see him he was so far out front. But I have that old guy patience and 10% extra AARP lung capacity that would allow me to re-connect with him on the ascents. I have this weird luv of grueling climbs that I should probably seek help for. But it's also a strength here today!

Sidebar Syreeta - what a great kid! Never complained, like when his water supply ran out or stuff. Always expressively grateful and polite when offered a sip or a bite. Not even when the screw fell out of his shifter mount and it just dangled from the handlebar! I mean the shifter would still work but it wasn't mounted on anything. In true Nate-roll-with-it fashion he just joked that he would hold it like a tv remote control and ride back like that! Totally just absorbed the hurdle and made the best of it. How he did it I have no idea and I was a little worried for him in the descents I gotta admit. The way he bombed them if he couldn't hold onto the handlebar adequately enough he might veer off course - so we chatted a sec about it and he controlled every turn and shift like a pro!

There was this huge metal container or something that had fallen into the creek along the trail and for some reason we both had the urge to climb it and just chill on it for a bit. I felt like a traceur for a second too : ) Albeit an old one with a knee that only bends halfway.

Oh I'd be on the green bunny Parkeur course too. And if you were watching me on a YouTube traceur video you might be trying to find out why the video looks like it's in slo-mo. We'd have to edit the old guy grunts out too. But whatever. It felt cool OK?

We grabbed a pic at the turnaround point for proof of how far we went and to show his coach if he needed too. On the return trip we also decided that taco's would be needed to complete today's mission. The only thing louder than my derailleur shifting at this point was my stomach growling. I think my drive train has a few weeks worth of a Palo Duro red-clay combined with a heavy dose of Cali-dirt packed in there. And my internal drive train was craving some Carne Asada soft taco's with guac and chips for sure. So - Sutter Street Taqueria fueled our rapid return! I think taco's are a great motivator! Def for me and the way Nate buzzed the trails I'd say he's a taco lover too : )

Before we stopped for lunch we jumped into Mikes Bikes to see if they could hook Nate up with that screw we lost and the bike repairman was just like ours back home. Greg, Roger and Chris the patience you guys have with customers, like the one I was today, is always off the hook. You guys roll with whatever comes in and do it with genuine concern for a fellow cyclist and it's felt for sure. If you don't know it, know it now. Well this dude was the same, he poked around in back for the right size screw but couldn't find anything and suggested just heading over to the local hardware store for one that would fit. Super kind and he tried all he could to help. Our schedule was tight to grab tacos and get Nate back to mom for their weekend getaway trip so we couldn't complete that mission but at least we had the scoop on what to do.

Some chips, guac and a few tacos later we were headed back to moms. They were doing a little trip up to Reno for Kyle's birthday. Wow what a great gift!

I dropped Nate off and let them pack up while I worked my way over to Sociology Coffee shop again to chill and blog. Maybe there's a new word in there. Chlog? Blogill? Think' chlog has a better ringtone it! Syreeta stopped in with the whole fam too before they hit the road and I got to see all three of her kids then.

Wow such a beautiful family Syreeta...really! I know it can be hard to see that when you are in ‘it’ but trust me, when they get a little older and you gain more perspective, it’s incredible to see how lucky we both are. Bringing up kids at this age we're right in the middle "of the forest" and it can hard to see clear of the trees, but really, what you have is nothing short of beautiful and spectacular!

They hit the road, I chlogged and then grabbed some food and went 'home' to settle in!

Inside

Really enjoyed the ride with Nate today. I think I love being around the energy of youth.

I mean, don't get me wrong Libergenarians (the more experienced liberty riders : )

you guys are the best. If anything, what makes you guys the best is that you haven't lost the energy of youth either. The way each of you attack swims, or new rides, or picking up new skills like baking : ) is nothing short of extraordinary! If there is a fountain of youth...thats it. Not the baking, the attitude of a lil' kid just in love with life!

Going to continue to surround myself with that type of energy the rest of my time on this planet. Any takers?

Outside

Weather was perfect here in Folsom today...a tad brisk but sunny morning that warmed up as the sun rose over the trees. Just temperate enough to work up a sweat in the daytime and the evenings brisk enough for a jacket or hoodie. Kinda like this vibe.

Upside

Just stoked to ride and to do it with Nate today. Kinda wish I had done more of it with my own kids back then! Great bonding time and it melts away the world for a bit so two people can just chill and 'be'.

downside

Totally wanted to get Nate's bike hooked up so it would be ready for him when they returned from their trip. I didn't want Syreeta to have another thing on her mind hauling three kids back from a relaxing mini vaca. Hopefully it's a quick fix for them where they return.

Every Which Way But East

Leaving in the morning for the Cali coast! So excited to be on the beach.

Morro Strands Bay is the destination with a few little towns along the way that have been brought my attention by the locals. Excited!