13 Days, 10 States, 3000 Miles

If you don't like America, then you need to leave and go on a road trip.

I am always taken aback at just how IMMENSE this country of ours truly is. Over the course of the last 13 days I left winter, drove through spring and summer, experienced a bit of fall, and was stopped dead by winter again. It baffles the mind. Travelling through the U. S. of A. never ceases to amaze me. Now I know where Eisenhower got his inspiration for the Interstate system. A good friend and myself had the pleasure of journeying to some of the finest mountain biking destinations in the country. Our route was changed at the last minute due to weather, but it worked out for the better. I might add that "finest" is quite subjective, but a day that is spent on a mountain bike is a damn fine day, no matter where you are riding. We started in Vernal, Utah, moved to Fruita/Grand Junction, Colorado, headed east to Wilson Lake, Kansas, moved north to Potter's Pasture, Nebraska, and finished in the Black Hills of South Dakota. I highly suggest that everyone quit their job, go back to college, take out some loans, and then spend your break travelling the country. I might add that it is also important to find a wife that will allow you to do this.

Red Fleet Trail Area

Short-horned lizard of Utah.

Sweet Vernal singletrack.

This is a real dinosaur footprint. And it's a lot older than 6,000 years.

Tell that to James Usher.

This is a fake dinosaur.

The fence of lost bicycles.

Colorado is a bike friendly place.

Fruita's town jester.

4 foot Kansas Gopher snake.

Rolling through "Post Rock" Country.

Kansas is not flat. At least not in Wilson.

Joe and Travis on the Switchgrass singletrack.

Welcome to Potter's Pasture.

My kind of sign.

One of the many chutes at the Pasture.

Potter's Pasture, a religious experience.

Carhenge; Alliance, Nebraska.

Old Ranger Station, Rimrock Trail, South Dakota.

Alas, we can go no further.

Winter Wildlife

Yes, it's still snowing here. A lot.

But the Elk don't seem to mind. This is a pic from

the cabin at 6:50 this morning. There's about 40

Elk in the picture and I'm betting 40 more you can't see.

I think this is one of the herds that migrates in and out

of Yellowstone Park. This subspecies is known as the

Rocky Mountain West Elk. It's also referred to as the

"Wapiti".

3 Reasons To Come Home

At 2:00 p.m. tomorrow I will have officially completed another semester at Montana State. No more physics, no more mineralogy, and no more students asking me, "so how old are you?".

To celebrate I will be traveling back to Kansas City. I miss my Boulevard Ales dearly, as well as my family and friends. In order to make the return trip more pleasant, I will be stopping to mountain bike in four spots along the way. Custer, South Dakota; Chadron & Brady Nebraska; Wilson Lake, Kansas. See everyone in about 10 days.

Man Stuff, a.k.a. I Had a Productive Weekend

I went to the cabin this past weekend while Molly was enjoying the sun in Phoenix. Some of the local gents came down as well to partake in beer swigging, bike jumping, and gun shooting. A friend of mine was kind enough to fall on a cactus, so you can also include minor invasive surgery as part of the weekend activities. I tried out my green thumb as well by planting some hop rhizomes. Hopefully by September I'll be able to have a small harvest and then brew some beer.

Rhizomes

Rhizomes in a hole.

Buried Rhizomes

Surgery

Tools. Notice Whiskey AND Peroxide

Needle

Weak Jump. Sweet Dog.

Sweet Jump. No Dog.

Gunz.

Bozeman Bike Swap

Once a year the Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club hosts a swap meet. People drop off their used bikes and gear and hope someone buys it. This is one of my favorite days of the year. Me, standing in a warehouse, surrounded by bikes.

Welcome to the old ten-speed section.


I tried to sell my downhill bike, but apparently this recession doesn't allow for purchases like this. C'mon, put a basket on that thing and you can pick up your groceries.

I did, however, buy this bike. It's Molly's anniversary present. For all you gearheads, its a 2009 Gary Fisher Marlin with avid mechanical disc brakes, Bontrager components, and a Dart front shock with a lock-out for steep climbs. Saweeeeeeeet.

This is the overpriced cruiser section. Not one of these bikes sold. I was dying for the New Belgium one on the left, but it was more then the Gary Fisher.

This one didn't sell either. Wonder why?

Does that look fun to ride? No. Do you need a ladder to get on it? Yes.

If any of you read BIKE magazine, then you know what this bike is really called.

I Know Everyone Was Worried................

..................so I went ahead and calculated the landslide hazard risk in a 250 square mile area in the Gallatin Mountains. I then compiled this into a handy map that you should carry with you at all times. We don't want anyone to get hurt due to the down-slope movement of unconsolidated surficial material. Remember, this area resides in a unique geologic setting where volcanic epiclastic deposits reside over tilted sedimentary and metamorphosed bedrock, which pretty much spells disaster.

Friday Filler