Hobo Talk, Bookstore, Ride Update

The word of the week was 'rain', except for Saturday and Sunday. I don't really mind the rain, commuting in it is kind of nice as long as it isn't pouring too hard - its the wind that bothers me.

Saturday I rode the mountain, and had a good muddy time and today, Sunday, I rode around Fairhaven and downtown. There were people absolutely everywhere, all the parks, roads, and walkways, I think there were some festivals going on. The homeless especially, it seems like every peaceful bench in the parks had a homeless guy sleeping on it (so much for enjoying a nice read!). At one point I saw a homeless guy engage two college kids about something. I listended in on the conversation and literally each sentence the guy spoke was a non sequitor, completely disconnected from the previous sentence, I mean you couldn't make this stuff up if you tried. This led me to a deeper thought, how many of the homeless have mental impairments or diseases? I'm sure the percentage is pretty high, this guy was diagnosable for sure. How should we deal with these people? If they are unable to integrate into society because of treatable problems such as drug addiction, mental disability or physical disability do we owe them treatment as members of our collective group, or as conservatives might claim are they in their respective predicaments because they chose to 'not help themselves'. I'm not going to pretend to have any answers since this is something I really haven't thought that much about.

While I was spending some time downtown today I saw a used bookstore and decided to go in. As I walked through the doors and started looking around an older man behind the counter rather sharply called out to me, "You have to leave your bag at the desk while you look". I thought for a second, and then turned to leave only to be met by his snide remarks to a paying customer, "we love it, we love it..." As I was leaving I calmly said "Well if you won't trust your customers then..." Before I could finish he interupted, stating with arrogance "No. We don't." As I stood outside the store I debated whether or not to go back in and lay into the guy - if he won't trust me why should I trust him with my belongings? I didn't, and I regret it. Arrogance is something that always makes me mad. I don't know if that man was the owner, but if so he lost a customer and gained an advertiser, I will tell everyone that asks about my experience at "Henderson Books, 116 Grand Ave. Bellingham, 98225." Now as soon as google re-indexes my page I this blurb should be a top hit if anyone searches for the store and they can decide if they want to shop somewhere that snidely distrusts potential customers based on what they are wearing, I know I won't.

Anyways, not much for pictures this week so I'll leave you with this macro shot I took Saturday.

Commuting Thoughts, Ride Update

It was a good week. I find happiness in simplicity, so in that regard I was successful. As long as I can keep all the useless, needless, complicated crap out of my life I'll be alright. Sabrina pretty much just rolls her eyes at me now when I yell at the commercials during 'Lost' - but man! If I was to believe even a small fraction of the commercial claims on television I should be one sorry, depressed loser. I believe the essence of simplicity is Aristotelian; it is finding the middle path between virtue and vice, too much and too little. I used to think it would be safe to fall on the side of too much wealth, but as I get older I'm not so sure. Material wealth in excess is an intoxicant which clouds one's ability to perceive reality as it really is. Its far too easy to get caught up in what you have and neglect who you are - I try to continually remind myself of this.

My legs feel like jelly today. I hit the hill on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and wanted to go today but convinced myself otherwise, for the sake of my legs. So as a compromise I spent some time riding slowly around some scenic parts of town just enjoying the view. I picked up the new issue of MBUK (Mountain Bike UK) at a news-stand and sat next to a stream for a while reading in the sun- very relaxing.

Now onto some rants!

I've been seeing more people out riding lately which has been cool. But just by my observations, unscientific as they may be, it seems like the amount of cars hasn't decreased. What irony. I hear people that just moved here talking occasionally. They like Bellingham because its less populated than their old city-homes, less cars, less traffic, less rush. They want to live somewhere quieter, and by golly they think they found what they were looking for here. This is a perfect example of the human mind's ability to compartmentalize contradictory beliefs. These people seem to have no problem, or no idea that the very lifestyle they wish to escape is the same lifestyle they are bringing here with them! All these 2 SUV households with their huge, over-elaborate homes are producing a continual push to subdivide the surrounding wilderness areas, and it is happening at an alarming rate. Pavement is such a blite upon the landscape; dead, lifeless, ugly, yet it is the calling card of the car driven lifestyle. I think the next time I see one of the monstrous SUVs with an environmentalist bumper sticker on it parked at the Organic Co-Op I'm gonna climb up onto the hood and take a dump on it right then and there. If I get yelled at I'll just start screaming "ITS ALL NATURAL! ITS ALL NATURAL!" Then I'll ask for some toilet paper.

Loud music. Whether its coming from the neighbors upstairs, or some shaved-head wannabe-gangster in an ugly rice rocket driving down the street I can't stand it. And why, seriously why, is it nearly always rap music? It seems like these days people have lost their love of silence. Maybe being alone with one's thoughts is too scary, because of what they might find (or not find). I think the pervasiveness of mindless music is symptomatic of the loss of introspection in our culture.

I have a good amount of pictures this time : 4-22-07 Weekend in Pictures

Walking, Biking, Working

The past week was a good one. Work cruised by relatively well and with the longer sun-lit days I get the feeling that I'm not spending the whole day sitting in front of the computer slaving away, especially if I can get a ride in after work. I took Friday off for a few reasons: I wanted to, so I could spend some time with Sabrina, and so I could head down to the local bike shop and purchase an upgrade (see the pictures).

Sabrina and her bike went to Seattle on Wednesday to spend the day and night with a friend who is going to be moving out of state here pretty soon. Sabrina and friend spent a couple days riding a popular urban trails which winds through some scenic parts of the city. When I met her at the train station she had another huge load of Asian goodies in tow. The ride back home reminded me of a Hilo night with bright stars and bags of groceries suspended from the handlebars - good times and good memories. Night rides next to the bay here are very nice. For me its hard to beat cruising next to the calm ocean during a moon-lit night with no sounds other than the hum of the bike's tires and the waves lapping the shore rocks.

Today, Sunday, Sabrina and I spent the day riding around Bellingham under the warm sun. We ate fish and chips at a local joint, relaxed, and did a little grocery shopping. It was nice to take it easy today as my legs feel like butter from riding the mountain on Friday and Saturday.

I don't have many pictures to show but take a look anyway: 4-15-07 Weekend in Pictures

Good Ride

It was hot week. Friday actually broke recorded temperature records with the mercury pushing 78 degrees. Not only did it feel like I was back in Hilo, on my afternoon ride at the mountain on Friday I sweated like I was back in Hilo - maybe even more so. After becoming accustomed to winter temps in the 30s and 40s, 78 degrees had me sweating with an angry vengeance. I didn't bring any electrolyte replacement on my Friday ride so by about the 2 hour point I bonked pretty hard.

Saturday Sabrina and I stayed home and relaxed which was great. Sometimes doing nothing is really worth doing, but today, Sunday was a good day. I headed for the hill at noon and didn't get back till after 3pm. During that time I experienced some great progression which I feel really good about. On my new favorite trail, SST, there are two stunts I had yet to ride; a small gap with a terrible run-up and a drop. At the trailhead as I stretched and mentally prepared myself for the run. I was feeling good; I lowered my tire pressure, righted my leg armor and let it rip. I was flowing pretty good through the first part of the trail carrying good speed through the berms and first couple jumps and by the time the trail really starts to turn downward I felt full of confidence. I knew the gap was coming and I decided to hit it so I hit the off camber run up and floated over it. Smooth. Following immediately was the next stunt I'd yet to hit, the drop. I kept my speed and rolled over the edge not even feeling the landing. Immediately a big smile was plastered over my face revealing my sense of accomplishment. The rest of the trail was great; I didn't blow out any corners, no sketchy parts, just smooth flowing. Whenever I ride this trail I always hear Bruce Lee's small poignant voice in the back of my head. "Be like water, flow like water." I think Bruce was yelling today. At the bottom I felt so good I had to hike back up a parallel trail and ride it again.

I will conclude with a small treat. Sabrina went to Seattle on Friday since she had a day off and I persuaded her to write a little bit about it in her own words: Sabrina's Seattle Trip

Here it is : 4-8-2007 weekend in pictures

River Styx

With two finals complete and two more half finished, I start my final weekend before school is done for the semester. It is super windy here, so I rode the bus rather than take the chance of smashing into a car as a gust blows me off the road.

I revised my story this week to turn in as my final for my fiction class. I changed the entire perspective around because I felt that I had written about the wrong character throughout the story. So here it is in its final form, its worth another read if you read the previous version, I feel this one is much better and way less confusing.

River Styx

River Styx and Out of Alaska

I'm putting up my two stories that I was required to do for my writing fiction class. They are not completed quite yet because I have to choose one to edit and turn in for my final. I would like some insight on which one is the better story and what I can do to expand them a little more-- add a few scenes, take stuff out. They are about 5 pages each right now, and I want to get them to about 8-9 pages when I'm done so that will take some radical revision.

River Styx and Out of Alaska

April is Here

April is upon us and with it comes the promises of a new spring. Yes folks, the tilt in the earth's axis is finally favoring us in the northern part of the world resulting in longer days, more sun, and a renewal of plant life. Also worth noting, Nate has apparently slowly awakened from a deep hibernation as his section of site bears new words and photos.

The past work week was not unusual in anyway, normal even. I hesitate saying that because I don't want any of my weeks to just be normal, life is too short for boredom so I strive to eliminate it. I did steal a ride at the mountain after work Thursday which was nice. Then again Saturday I rode too and on new trails even. I've been mixing it up a bit at Galbraith riding some different parts of the mountain that I haven't frequented as much. My favorite new trail is SST, the DH trail. I've really been concentrating on my form when I ride that one since I want to develop better flow. If there is one area in the sport I would like to master it would be high speed descending. The groms can keep their dirt jumps and tricks, just give me the gnarly fast single track and I'm a happy puppy; SST is my play place for now as I attempt to refine my skills. Before Galbraith I'd never ridden any trails that had really technical downhill sections so this has been a new experience for me and I revel in the opportunity.

Today, Sunday, I went to downtown with Sabrina and we got some ice cream at a local shop. We had received coupons in the mail from the What come Smart Trips program rewarding us for not commuting by automobile so we took the opportunity to have dessert, it was nice! I had one scoop of chococalte-earl gray tea and another called 'cardamon' which had cinnamon and vanilla. Sabrina had a scoop of lemon lavender and another of banana. Very, very good.

Later this week I should be hearing back from Dirt Rag magazine, apparently they want to publish one of my articles! I heard this earlier in the week and I'm still riding the excitement high from it. I'll post more info when I get it.

For the time being, check out the weekend in pictures: 4-1-2007 weekend in pictures

Long Time Waiting

Finally, the new Nateman Update... I've been for... so, so long my friends... waiting, waiting in darkness for a reason to crawl out of my hole and update the particulars of the daily ride. My "borrowed" internet has been finicky lately, and it has been a chore to simply check my email recently. Beware, rant follows...

I believe in this day and age that it is the American right to have easy access to information available from sources cheap and easily maintainable by the local officials. Towns and cities need to invest in public access to Wi-Fi networks and other means of internet access so that us "poor" people do not have to hope that we move to an apartment that has either a) technologically inept people who unwittingly share their internet to people like me, or b) nice people who willingly share internet, with bandwidth limitations of course, to all their neighbors who can reach. Just like water, waste and power are deemed necessary commodities with which the city is responsible for bringing to people within the borders, internet has become a necessary commodity that needs to become more easily available without the high cost. There are several means by which the internet can be obtained in any household, cheaply and efficiently. Google recently won a bid to establish Wireless Internet in all areas within San Francisco... Internet for free for all people with a small card on their computers everywhere within the borders of the city. This needs to be replicated across all of the United States, to all towns and cities with the means to establish such a network. The falling cost of both materials in the industry, and the increasing number of technically certified professionals, gives reason for this radical shift in what most view as a privilege to have internet. Just like the "One laptop for every child" campaign going on in other countries to help promote and establish business and overall ease of life, free internet is the next logical step in an already advanced society in which nearly all families have at least one computer, many more having two or three.

Well I must admit, the ride has not been so daily. My spring has taken me far from my New Year's resolution to ride to school every day, no matter what the cost. We have been riding on the weekends, but recently we found that the Exeter trail is closed for the "Mud Season," as they call it.

Well the light has come, my camera is here, the reason for the delay in updates has been the lack of new pictures with which to spark your interest. Now, with a new camera, and ever more possiblilities and opportunities for spectacular mountain biking, pictures will be flowing faster than the Internet Tubes can handle. I'll post a section of pics here to show off my new camera's capabilities and functions.