Tag: Stephens

Cut Down The Head Bangers – Trail Work

Went to Stephens today and worked 1 mile in/out of Lower Maze, and 1/2 mile in/out at the NICA Trail (Blue Rock) with loppers and a corona saw. I focused mostly on branches in 4 different spots that were low enough for a helmet to bang on. On my walk out, I did spend some time using the corona saw as a machete to cut down any face slappers and thorn bushes.  Here are some before and after photos.

There’s that jump.

We got to Stephens early and stuck around for a bit until after the snow started. Just wanted to hear the sound of snow falling on the leaves. What can I say, it just brings back good memories of winter magic. LOL.

Side note – I’ve been trying to teach a friend of mine into riding the jump at top of Trestle for months. I show him how I jump it. He watches and listens to my pointers, but he’s just not ready to take the jump for himself. I don’t push. People need to decide for themselves when they are ready. So today as we got close to it, I said, “There’s that jump”. Then he pulls ahead, says “What jump?” and just went for it! It was glorious to see him finally send it! A minor victory and I’m happy I got to witness that.

Paparazzi Follow Me

The moment I stepped out of my car at Kinney Road, we were swarmed by tens of thousands of mosquitos, gnats and other assorted flying insects. They followed me and my entourage around the lake, over the mountain, through the woods, over brooks. Every rock garden, every jump, every rock roll – they were there. They followed our every pedal stroke for the entire 13 mile journey.  I never felt so loved in my life. I don’t want to disappoint these die-hard fans. I’ll be back soon.

One of my friends said “Charlie your entire head is surrounded by a cloud of gnats.” I turned around and looked at him, and his head was also surrounded by a black cloud. So I just busted out laughing!!! We both looked like that Pig-Pen character in Charlie Brown. Then he said, “I can’t see in front of me. My eyes are blurry. I think I need glasses.” I’m like, Dude your eyes are fine. It’s the cloud of fans that’s following you around, obscuring your vision. Their love is so unyielding, they only want you to see them and nothing else. That’s why they say, Love is blind. Their love is so undying, relentless, that nothing could hold them back from their heart’s desire.

Inhaling them is inevitable. On the one hand I want to put a screen mesh over my face. On the other hand, it’s a free electrolyte snack!