The Normal................

So I guess that was as close to normal as my weekends ever get. I road Saturday with Kelly and Scott.

We killed Sherman Branch!

Then I went home and did yard work. Once that was done I hung around the house and worked on bikes and dirt bikes! I am still trying to sell that damn KTM 50 but so far I haven't had much luck.

I guess I am going to have to take it to The Corral and let them sell it! The kids want a 4-wheeler and that ain't gonna happen till we sell something! I don't really want to pay commission but I ain't having any luck, which sucks...

Then Sunday came around and the weather turned cold and rainy. We had church which came with a cookout, we then came home. After a 20 minute nap I hit the door and headed to Beatty. It drains well enough that it doesn't get to muddy. After about 4 laps, I was getting bored so I loaded up and headed home.

Dinner a little football and the day was complete. My legs are a little tired right now so I need a few days break. Since last Monday I have ridden Tue,Wed,Thurs. Followed by Saturday and Sunday!

So 5 of the last 7 days!!!

Besides this weekend we are going to Lake Norman State Park for a few days. I am gonna get some serious miles in! The weather is looking good and the trails are sweet!

That Works ........

Those were my last words when I talked to Kelly. The plan, to ride after work Thursday.

I get home and get out the door. He and Scott are already on the road. I get a text "meet us at 218 and Love Mill Rd". I just pulled out of the driveway!

That's about 10 miles, I head that way.

Next text " where the hell are you"? My computer shows I have been gone for 5 miles.

"I am on the way"

"OK we'll head your way" Damn, I haven't even made it to Love Mill yet! So now I need to kick it or they are gonna know how slow I have been going.

Next text, "It's a slow ride" I read this and laugh. Bullshit! Scott is just fast and Kelly likes to see me suffer.....

I know better!

Now I am on Love Mill, I got the wind to my back and I am rolling. Finally I pop over a hill and there they are, damn they turn around! I want to stay on my side of 218! Kelly's side sucks, to many climbs!

So I catch up,  "hey lets go the other way"

"why"  Because I always end up 15 miles from the house when you say "let's go my way" and I do!

It seems like we always end up 2 miles from his house and he will head home. Then I am stuck heading home!

15 miles from the house........

We keep going! "damn you I know how this is gonna work"

Sure enough I get stuck 15 from the house! I get home right before dark!

I guess I am gonna have to start carrying lights for road rides with Kelly..

Oh yea, it was fun, and I ended up with 34 miles on a week night and got to climb a bunch of hills......

It"s Thursday...........

What a great title! I have now made this an informative piece of fine literature! Worth the time you are spending reading this.

My favorite part of the week, the first 3 days are just time fillers. Then you have Thursday and you are thinking about the weekend, what you might do. Friday is always cool, just cause it's Friday. You get paid and it's like a weekend day.

Well at least you get paid if you get paid weekly, some people only get paid once a month. If you ask me they are getting screwed! They only get the "real Friday " feeling once a month. That's gotta suck! 

Then some people get paid weekly, very weekly! But at least they are getting paid!

How could I not write this post about getting paid, and the Friday feeling without putting the "week pay" joke in somewhere.  I swear I am a genius!!!!!

So what are you thinking about doing this weekend???

Nice Surprise !!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday I am sitting here at the office and right about lunch I start getting questions.

"What are all the bikes doing in Matthews"

My reply, "Hell if I know"!

After some investigation I came to find out it was the "Mountains to The Sea" ride. They had 1100 people doing it this year and all of them stayed in downtown Matthews last night. That's about 2 blocks from where I work!

So after work yesterday I went by the camp area and checked it out. They had food and showers set up for them and the whole works! Not to bad! So now I want to do the spring ride. That's got to be fun.

They started in Brevard and end up in Carolina Beach. 430 miles and 7 days. Got to be a good time..... Tomorrow I get Cody's bike back, ready for the White Water Center...

No Rush, Not When It Comes To Kids..........

Sunday night Cody and I really had a good time riding. I don't know if staying out late on a school night had anything to do with it or not but he really enjoyed it. So did I! We rode and talked, he likes Charles so it was cool.

Once we dropped him off we still had about 20 minutes to drive home so it was kinda neat, I let him do the driving all night so he likes that. As I told the wife as long as he is on the A,B honor roll we can play all we want! How many other kids where out till midnight riding their bikes in the woods with their dad, on a school night!

If more dad's had any sense they all would be out with their kids doing stuff totally out of the ordinary on a school night. Stuff like that will help a father and son bond!

So anyhow this morning Karen had to be at work at 6:30am, they had a case starting early so she had to be there. Because of this our usual schedule was changed up. I usually head out of the house about 6:30, I don't have to be at work till 8 but I usually get there about 7. So today I was keeping everything in line. Well we end up ready early and sitting on the couch chatting.

Chase isn't the biggest bike rider in the world but he goes sometimes. I told him he needs to go with us on the next night ride. He's thinking about it! Well Cody decides he wants to go this Thursday, White Water Center at 7:30. I like this plan, it means another midnight trip with my son. Now I am sitting around hoping the weather will get right so we can!

Life is good!!!!!!!!!!!

And That Was It ..............

The best thing about my weekend was the fact that it ended with a night ride with my son! Yes I ended up staying in town and hitting Poplar Tent as many times as possible. I ended up riding there 4 times in the last week. Tuesday Scott and I rode right after work. Thursday Scott Cody and I rode after dark.

Cody tried to ride that day but flatted so that made last night even better. Last night Cody Charles and I where the last people to ever ride Poplar Tent! We got there about 7:30 and left about 9 pm. When we left there was no one in the lot. So unless they came later than that we were the last to ride it.

As I said last week I started riding there before I even had a wife much less kids so it was really neat to share that experience with my son. I think he even understood it was kinda special, Charles enjoyed it too. I know I did!

I did go by myself Saturday and took my time so I could get as many pictures as possible. Hell I even left the house Saturday and drove for about 20 minutes before I realized I had forgotten my shoes. Usually that would kill the ride for me but not this time! I turned around and went home got them and headed right back out the door. I was determined to get my solo lap in! I did and I got pictures.

So I am gonna leave you with them. Long live Poplar Tent. I really will miss riding there.......

 

Bottom of the Gravity Cavity

sad sign!!!!!!!!

Times Closing In !!!!!!!!!!

I am supposed to go to the mountains this weekend and ride Pisgah. I want to go, I would like to go, but I might not go.... Why.. I love Pisgah and jump at every chance I get to go! Yet I am seriously thinking about skipping it!

Again why?

Because Poplar closes on Monday and I really do hate to see the place go! Now that it's time for it to close I want to get in as many rides as possible there. Last night we meet Scott there for a night ride and Cody managed to flat a mile in. I wanted to ride with him! Now I feel like we need to go back and finish the ride. Scott and I got in a good lap, but no Cody.

He went to the store and hung out in the parking lot while we rode. Yes the place was packed again and I imagine it will be all weekend. That makes it even more fun! Hell I think I am gonna hit it Sunday night, and really be like the last person to ride there! Just me and the boy.

The wife would be a little happier with me considering she has been home from work most of the week sick! I could get away with going at least 2 more times. Not counting Sunday night.

I stole this picture from by boy Muddiman. This is one sad sign!

I know I have already said this but I was riding here when it was only 3 miles long! And had no bridges or features! You waded or plowed thru the creeks! I swear I hope the local trail building club took a lot of notes from this place. It is old school riding at it's best.

If the Andrew boys had been contracted to build Sherman Branch we would have a 30 mile trail there instead of 11 short miles. It would have been a more fun trail and less of a speedway. Sherman is nice don't get me wrong but it could have been a lot more!

So anyway last night was fun, Scott and I blasted around in the dark for an hour and had a good time.