Chain Ring Cowboy

"Those are some very important words, you know? In sickness and in health." She said this as she held her hand gently on top of his. His hand, like his body was motionless, weak, and achy. Her hand warm, sure and beautiful. "A lot of people hear those words, but when it comes time to live up to them, they forget how meaningful they were at the time." "I know, he said." "I know you would do the same for me, wouldn't you?" "Oh, Yes, my love, I would". He knew that he meant it with all his heart, and he hoped over all hopes that she knew he did. He was already welling up with emotions for being taken care of, in this state of sickness. Generally a healthy man over the years he had not had need for being looked after. The occasion or two that he was under the weather, he had no one to care for him. Now, in this hour of being treated like a patient in a hospital, his emotions were pulling him in different directions. Some wonderful, some...

This weekend looks like it's the last one for me to get in some good training for the MS150 which happens on April 21. As nice as it is to have some spring rains fall to make the wildflowers look so happy, I hope it lets up Saturday and Sunday. This year the agency I work for has a fairly large team participating in the event. So far most of the folks have done a great job of training and the group rides have been good for us all to get to know each other. This "Herd", if you will is about 35 or forty strong with abilities ranging from race horse quality to for real beginners. Each one of us is grouped according to our average speed. There are five groups, each with a captain, of sorts, who will be responsible for keeping a head count. I am the captain of the 16+ mile per hour group, a challenging pace for me considering I haven't trained as diligently as I did for last year's event. But it will be fun and I can do it. I like this whole herd running notion, the o...

Willie Says that "still is still movin to me" in one of his songs. I can especially relate to that on days that I don't ride Odyssey to work. As I sit here waiting for the the hour to come, the time that I will fly to the west, my mind is racing. Sitting here in a stationary place on earth and sitting in a jet plane going 600 miles an hour doesn't register and difference to me, because anticipation is in full throttle. But there is plenty to do and the time will come and I will be here again when this trip is done. The only thing I don't know for sure is if I will still still be movin. You may have noticed that I must have gotten some art work pictures sent to me in the recent past. This slide show came at a good time since I haven't been carrying my camera with me lately. Reading words can become boring if there are no pictures to look at now and then, right?

I am ready to see my sweetheart. It's drizzling outside and looks like a slow soaker is here for the day. I drove today and will tomorrow. I've ridden hard for several days now and it's time to give my legs a break. It has been a week since I've driven my car, or road in one for that matter, and I have to say that it felt strange. I've gone as long before, but never felt funny about it. About half way to work, I noticed that my two hands on the wheel were hanging and I was floating over 4 wheels. Now I know this has been going on for a long time, you know, like most of my life, but today's sensation was like a little paradigm shift, like seeing one of those pictures you can see below. I've seen lots of birds and lots of trees, and lots of pretty faces; but never the two being one and the same. Well, that's kind of what it felt like going amongst thousands of cars, choreographed to the tune cooperative destination. My hands are usually over the handlebars...

One thing you can count on in Central Texas is that the South Winds will blow each day. Steady enough to make pedalling seem like it's all up hill, but not so strong that you don't want to be in it. My morning travels are down hill with a tail wind, and first phase rush hour in the dark. My afternoons take it all back with smack in the middle rush hour, testy head winds, and a steady rise in elevation. If this sounds like whining, it's not, because I am always looking for the next ride, whether it be home, work, El Paso, or you name it. I have put a good burn on my legs for the last 6 days, and they are ready for a recovery break. Beginning tomorrow, I will take 4 days away from the bike and get some really fun times in. I am ready to test the winds of the west.

When I watch my children grow up and their children grow up and my parents grow up it makes me realize that I may be growing up too. But as much as I don't want to, I guess I have to grow up. Now I don't mean to say that I want to be irresponsible because that is quite different than being a little bit, well, not so grown up. In the early years total dependence is placed upon us by those dear little offspring. Almost every day from the beginning, a child finds one or two things that help that little person do something on their own. Oh how we applaud them and marvel at their progress as they make it through life becoming a little more independent, a little more less dependent on me, the parent. No bid deal though right? That's what just about every living thing on this planet does, have offspring, raise them and let them go so they can do the same thing to keep this whole worldly system going forward. At least I think it's forward. My Marcy and I were on the phone talki...

The birds are building nests all over town and the old hippies are driving around with the top down

After getting in 50 miles with the group Saturday, I decided to take care of some business in town, so I got on Odyssey toodled into the urban scene of South By Southwest . (click on link) A lot of people go to this event held for a few days here in Austin, and a lot of people pay to attend all these different venues. But a street walker or cyclist can here good music just about all over town, all they have to do is be willing to stop here and there, to soak up the good sounds. It was hard to keep moving with all the good choices, but I was on a business mission and kept moving. The miles for Saturday exceeded 70, I feel like I am coming back after sitting out all those rainy days. Whenever I get a chance I go by the part of the Capitol Grounds where the statues of the school children are. You may have noticed in an entry I posted about this place several months ago.This Saturday the grounds were very empty, maybe because everyone was at the music festival a few blocks away. But there...

Now here's a little gem. I am waiting for this toy to show up in El Paso, So we can get started on our awesome drip irrigation project This company, Drip Irrigation Products seems to be a good company with decent prices on stuff. The owner of this company has a nice tutorial or manual as he calls it. (Click on link above to go to the site) This backflow prevention valve is the starting poing of the project, so that item was purchased first. The rest of the materials needed will follow with trips to Home Depot and other places. Some things that will be needed as we progress through this particular job: PVC pipe Valves, PVC, or Brass? Automatic valve and Clock controller Drip tubing, poruous pipe and fittings Tools and equipment Any Ideas from you? The weather permits riding my HPV to work lately I rode in today against a nice headwind, I hope it stays that way to even out the ride home

Uncle Buddy turned 85 last Saturday. He goes dancing every day, but that day because his family made him stop to eat some cake and ice cream. Matthew and Momma Marcella A Good time taking pictures Father and son Buddy, Patricia, Donny Three Guys waiting for the Cake

Day before yesterday I was on one of my lunchtime walks. Going up Guadelupe, or the drag as they say, I noticed a clean cut cowboy looking guy talking to some of the young homeless street dwellers. It is common knowledge that those youngsters that hang out on the drag and panhandle for food and money have the nick name of "Drag Rats". The western dressed man had some handcuffs in a leather pouch attached to his belt, so that told me that he probably had a badge or star somewhere else on him. He was talking to one particular drag rat and because I've watched too many movies and was raised on the border, it all looked like a confidential informant moment. And of course I forgot my camera. I think it would have made a great picture, seeing those two unlikelies chatting in the hustle and bustle of a sidewalk setting. The next day, yesterday, I walked the same route. One notable thing was that there were far fewer drag rats at that corner but those that were there were being c...

I've heard of walking the dog before, and I've seen dogs on motorcycles, but this is the first time I've seen this.

Last Saturday I went to Bastrop Texas to ride in the "Pedal Through The Pines" ride". It was a fundraiser for the Family Crisis Center. Three of us, Andrew, Larry and myself rode the 65 mile route. The other pictured below rode a 30 or something like that. It was three things, cold, windy and very hilly for the first couple of hours. Finally some of those three things changed for the better, making the last 2 and a half hours sunny, warmer, less hilly, but the wind kept a blowin. I needed the exercise for sure. Like many events, once it was over I was glad that I did it.

The other day When Marcy and I came back from Houston, we happened across this bicycle traveler. His home country, Japan, his point of beginning Las Vegas, and destination Miami. He said he brought his bike from his home country. The chain rings seemed small and the rear cassette seemed large. Great for hill work, but not good for covering a lot of territory each day. Uto is his name and a very nice guy. He was looking for the international hostel, had the phone number an address. I left my phone in the car and jogged back to get it so I could call that number in order to help him find a place to stay that night. The number in the book was wrong, but that is another story. I called my mom real quick to get her to remind me what the name of the city my sister Judy lives in. When I got back I told him about it. He knew of the place and indicated that it was way north. I hope he found the hostel. In Houston Marcy and I saw Grupo Mana, a fabulous rock band. Downtown Houston on a weekend an...