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Showing posts from July, 2016

A WEEK ON THE ROAD -- July 29, 2016

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In 2012, I set (and achieved) the obnoxious goal of riding 3,000+ miles on my road bike.  As cool as that was, it had a negative effect on the amount of time I spent mountain biking with friends.  I usually tend to ride my road bike alone.  I consider it my "me time"...and I personally have a hard time holding discussions with my friends as cars zip past us!  The past few years I made sure to make my cycling goals be a combination of miles ridden on both the trail and the road.   It's been a nice balance....and I haven't ditched any mountain bike rides (or friends) because I was calculating how many miles I needed to get in on the road that particular day or week.  Blossom Drive and Starview Road -- July 29, 2016 I only had one mountain bike ride planned this week which provided the opportunity to get out on my road bike each day but one.  It was a nice reminder of why I love road cycling.  My rides haven't been long ... my back can't ...

TRAIL TALK -- July 26, 2016

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It's hard to say what's going to be discussed (if anything) when a group  goes mountain biking.  This morning while riding in Michaux State Forest with Mark, Glenn, Timmy, and Matt,* I found myself in the middle of the pack which gave me access to all kinds of conversations.  Mark led the ride because...well... Mark can (as Tim says) find a trail anywhere .  Matt and Glenn brought up the rear because they had never ridden on this particular trail .  Mark and I really wanted to take Glenn up to our favorite vista overlooking the forest.  After a quick ride down the "rail trail" near Fuller and Laurel Lakes we began our nearly 3 mile climb up the the ridge.  It's not the shortest way up...but, as far as we know, it's the easiest way to ride up (yes, you can choose a shorter "hike-a-bike" trail.)   After reaching our destination at the top of the trail today we took about 15 minutes to relax, cool down, and appreciate the vastness of Michau...

MY BEST FRIEND -- July 15, 2016

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In less than a week I will be celebrating my third wedding anniversary.  Robin and I were married on July 21, 2013.  It was, up to this point, the best day of my life. She really does bring out the best in me.   Actually, she's my moral compass.  Robin's opened my world to a whole new spectrum of things:  Korean food (yeah, my favorite restaurant is Nam King in Baltimore, Maryland), movies that don't involve Rocky Balboa or Han Solo, traveling farther than Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Eminem (didn't see that one coming!)  She's taught me to explore more  things, try to see the best in everyone, and...uh...talk about my feelings.  What have brought to her world?  Well...I guess more than anything...I think I've let her know that it's okay to be silly and completely let your guard down.  Sometimes I catch myself laughing out loud as she allows me to take pictures of her being completely silly.  She never would have done that six ye...

CROSSING PATHS -- July 12, 2016

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I usually end my writing with the same sentence:  LIFE IS A JOURNEY...NOT A DESTINATION. The credit for this seven word statement goes to the band Aerosmith .  It's a brief lyric halfway through their 1993 song, AMAZING .  The phrase has always stuck in my head and I think it's appropriate because we never really know, for good or bad, what paths life has in store for us.    Tim Sindlinger, Dave Raymond, & Mark Lentz soaking in the view on our new favorite rock vista in Michaux State Forest .  The view is astonishing! Mark Lentz showing me the view from these rocks northwest of Laurel Lake -- June 13,  2016 I think it's also safe to say that none of us are on exactly the same journey and for reasons that no one understands we get pulled in different directions.  From my own experience, I know that I've chosen paths that differed from those of my friends thinking that, because of choices made, our paths would never cross again...