Chain Ring Cowboy

My two rides in El Paso last week sitting here in a huddle. the little two wheeler did get some miles in. A very nice machine. The Impala provided for group rides and gave Marcy's car a break from shuttling the family all around town. I just realized that my bike and car are about the same color My great grandson Seth letting me hold him. Marcy and Seth playing. Sister and brother-in-law having an important meeting. Dear Mom and Dad, Thanks for hosting such a nice Thanksgiving celebration. The family, the food, the day was a wonderful time. Let's do it again next year.

Today marks a milestone of sorts for me. Over the weekend I put together my Burly "Fox Hollow" bike that has the compact drive. That hand welded steel frame is a beautiful machine. This morning I road the 375 loop in El Paso. In the cool morning air and higher elevation than I am used to, 30 miles was a pretty good workout for me. Half way through the first leg, I saw a shiny red pepper just laying there on the side of the shoulder. It looked like art work. I hope it's there tomorrow. I hope I ride the loop again tomorrow. I'me still thinking about the wedding day/night. Marcy, Me, Dad, and Bux

No riding again today. I've got the car packed and ready to make the drive to El Paso so I can spend the week with Marcy, the kids, parents, siblings, and other visitors. A lot of us are coming in from other parts of the country. I hope to get by Burly Fox Hollow bike put together so I can get some riding in during the week. The higher altitude will be a fun challenge. I have been waiting patiently to attack Trans Mountain Pass, maybe next week that will happen. See my fingers crossed? When I lose my balance, can I have a tricycle? Jon P sent me some links yesterday that just opened up more of this terrific bicycle blogging world, because one great site leads to another and then another etc. Jon said these are some of the sites his dad reads up in Chicago or someplace up there where those folks understand what cold weather really is. I've linked a couple of these site on the right hand sidebar but want to mention them here as well. I don't know anything about mechanic-ing ...

Today I did not ride my bike, I rode my wheel chair. Here at work,we are having our Thanksgiving lunch, and I brought Gussie's Tamales in a large CrockPot, plus I have my second job tonight. There is a strong wind out of the north so I am missing that. Someone said a car is just another wheel chair. I thought about that on my way in this morning. I had plenty of time to think about it because the traffic was moving about 2 mph but the signs said 65. I pray that I don't atrophy. On the West Mall The University of Texas West Mall is a buzz of activity at high noon on most days. Two riders saw each other and immediately took up a lively conversation. I thought that was cool and if that would have happened back when people road horses, the horses would have probably touch noses or had some sort of greeting. I kept waiting for the bikes to do that. Put The Stone Back Some 30 years ago I went deer hunting with some friends right on the Texas/New Mexico line. The area is what I call ...

PALS A nice sunshiny day in downtown El Paso, two pals cruising. When Riding Felt Free. Or, My Dad Got Tied UP There was time long ago, or was it not that long ago when life had more freedom. When locking the front door was not a necessity. When little children could ride the bus downtown in a group to watch a movie at the theater without a chaperon. Just a group of kids. There was never a thought that anything bad would happen, and you know what? Nothing bad happened. Seat belts weren't even in cars back then and I could ride next to my dad. When I was small enough, I could stand next to him, lean on his right shoulder and feel his arm as it shifted through three gears on the steering column stick shifter. One Saturday morning when I was about 8 years old, we went to town to visit my grandfather at his full service Standard Oil gas station. Grandpa Jim would always give me a nickle from the cash register and let me get a bottle of coca cola from the chest style coke box, the kind ...

In the last few posts, I've reported on my rides in to work. They have been very pleasant. It gets boring talking about how nice it is to ride, because I keep saying the same thing over and over. But riding in is so enjoyable and riding back at the end of the work day is equally enjoyable. Even when I have a negative experience. Maybe everyone has enjoyable commutes, regardless the form of transportation, but they just don't feel the need to talk about it. It is taken for granted. Actually, there is noting special about riding a bike to work, you don't see people with car commuting blogs, do you? Bicycle riding will, hopefully play a big part of the rest of my days. Life for all of us brings kaleidoscopic changes, with some periods being faster than others. This period of my life the kaleidoscope is moving and changing very fast with brilliant and exciting colors. I will be moving back to my home town to live with my family. I am so ready to settle down and be with my wife ...

The ride in was nice but the light rain surprised me half way through the commute. The temps being in the upper middle 60's wasn't a concern but not making things like my phone, camera and wallet was. But all is well, it was a light rain and nothing got too wet. Quite refreshing actually. Don't Leave Home Without A Camera Another wonderful and fast weekend has gone by. Marcy, Matthew and I went to watch April at the higher level volleyball tryouts. It was a blast, April is a good volleyball player. What an exciting sport. You Go Girl. The weekend had a special bonus by getting to see Monica, Christy, Kayla, David, Seth and Abraham when we went over to visit my parents for a bit Sunday afternoon. (A picture belings here) Of all times for me not to have the camera, that was not a good one. From Wrath To Hiding Friday on my way back to the apartment, I encountered this lady coming out of one of the side streets onto Congress Avenue, a road that I travel virtually its entire ...

Riding in this morning with the breeze was a breeze. South winds from the gulf coast make traveling north easy as well as bring in warm temperatures. Ripened acorns are now gathering on the ground and pop when they get run over. Some years there are not many acorns but because of this summer's plentiful rain, they are abundant. The deer in the countryside will have plenty to eat. I like the way they sound under my tires. Today this workplace will be nice and quiet. Hopefully anyway. We are running on a "skeleton crew" basis because of Veteran's Day, which is this Sunday, but our fair commissioner allowed some of us to enjoy it today. He is a veteran himself having served in the marines in Viet Nam. He cares about other vets and is a good commissioner. I am covering for my area so my wonderful bike gets to park inside today inside my workmates cubicle. How fun is that? One of the ladies that works here feeds pigeons, dove and grackles each morning and she isn't her...

Another great ride in to the work place this morning. Today I ride back to the apartment at lunch to get the auto because of my night job. I choose not to ride home from that part of the city late at night. Typically when I get inside the garage during a normal day's routine, I sit on a three legged stool to remove my shoes. As soon as my shoes are off I sit there and look around with the garage door still up. I can see and hear the traffic outside and see my bike leaning against the wall. That bike just brought me through 10 miles of grinding city traffic, provided a great forum for thinking, and exercising. So there I just sit, thanking my bike thanking my God and just feeling so grateful for this life I've been given. I've heard over the years that when we get those endorphins flowing, we get a happy high. I suppose that is a great part of why I feel the way I do at the end of each day's commute, but who gave me those endorphins? How Bazaar At last Sunday's Chris...

The ride in this morning was another meditative 10 miler. These days it will be long sleeve weather. I never cease to appreciate my bike and the ability to move great distances on my own physical power. I heard about an accident that was stopping traffic at Slaughter Lane and the Interstate North access road. That's an artery where the majority of the suburban folks living south need to come through. It's where I need to come through also, but I don't get caught in a parking lot. I think on days like this, I actually arrive to work in less time than an automobile commuter. We're having a ball And we are looking at you Corbin took a little snooze, I was on watch. Last night Corbin and I got to hang around together watching sports on TV and talking about the latest news. The good news is that we agreed on most things and those couple that we didn't we were able to talk it out. Oh, and something to note, I changed a diaper for the first time in, say, some 20 years.

The cold from predicted for today wasn't really cold, 62°, but the wind was blowing hard toward the south. As I rode into this gusty blow, I noticed bus riders and other pedestrian type of folks wearing their big jackets and hoods. Trudging into this breeze added about 12 minutes to my commute. The leg workout was good and I only hope that the wind is still blowing (and in the same direction) when I start for the apartment at quitting time. I am looking for the payback. I would like to ride home like Pee Wee Herman with my feet propped up onto the handle bars being pushed by the wind and saying Heyhey. I Have The Wedding Pictures I finally got smart and sprung for the digital version of the wedding pictures. There are a lot of them which makes choosing favorites difficult. As time rocks on, I will be posting some of mine and Marcy's favorites. I am thinking that we are a great looking couple, how about you? Elegant Dancers, My Mom And Dad I am thinking these two make a great lo...

Faith is Bee-utiful I'd like to say that my great granddaughter looks just like me, but I know that I am not really that cute. Isn't this little person just adorable. 36 Months When the expiration date on a car battery comes it is pretty much on the money. Marcy's car won't start this morning and needs a jump. One thing we don't have that we should have is jumper cables. That will be taken care of this weekend. It bothers me that I am not there to help my wife when this sort of situation comes up. I know she is a big girl and has had to deal with these type things before I came along, but that doesn't change the way I feel.

My ride in this morning was nice and cool with a bit of a breeze in my face. When I ride to the apartment later on I hope the breeze is still in the same direction. As I write this, my sweetheart is getting ready to drop the children off at school and get herself to work. My time is an hour later so I've got a head start on her. I wonder what she's laughing at? Gorilla I ran into my son-in-law the other day at Wal*Mart while I was looking for some good glue to repair my bicycle lock with. He told me to get some Gorilla Glue. He was right, that stuff is good glue. Thanks Jeff. Happy Travelers Yesterday during my noon walk about I saw the guy and the dog, you know from day before yesterday's pic. I got the back view of them and spoke of them possibly be travelers, and having anywhere on the planet as their permanent address. Well that part was right, the traveling. Jimmie and Maggie are their names. They rode all the way from Fort Something in Colorado, thinking about going t...