Chiggers

Its ending - I just know it! The light is different, the people are getting antsy, and the chiggers are attacking me. Counting down to fall, the best season of the year for Bloated Ticks! Been out 4 days in a row finished out last night on the Swtichbacks and Farmstand. Finally getting my balance back and feeling comfortable again on the bike - happily slogging thru deep sandy hairpin turns! In love once again!

What?

Are these not our friends?

Sorry, but cannot understand how someone who clearly hurts these innocent creatures is allowed not just back but back to make big money!!!

Is dog fighting not a criminal offense or maybe it should be! Dogs are the best friends man has and deserve nothing but love and kindness. Our world supports this more today than in years past.

It's important to support not bloating big industry cashing in on the most heinous acts of cruelty.

Here's to our friends...

Bow to the wow!!!!!

School of Hard Knocks

There are so many pretty colors and the landscape is all bumpy and lumpy. Fall in New England? A poppy field in Burma? An acid trip? Nope - just my body. The collection of bruises and lumps rival most car accident victims. A weak woo to the ouch. Wild and untamed trails - 1 / 15 v schleck - 0.

There are moments in life that remind you that yes, you are human. I am not a flying superhero. I shall not see a giant log as a launching pad into space. Frickin gravity. Today I feel human. I am reminded of this every time I move, sit, or blink.

There were lessons learned yesterday, still tying to replay most of them in my head. Breathe, control, go slower, take your time - don't get angry at your bike and drive over it in the driveway!

It is with great reflection and total openness that I look to the woods and ask - WWTD? (what would tick do) - I know the answer. Take some Alieve and get your ass back on that bike. That's the problem with the Bloated Tick - once you believe there is no turning back, the freedom and purest of highs tug at your heart and you know that the bruises will heal and the sweet air will be calling.

The one and only

It's Monday which means Wooo to the hooo! Pictures tell a thousand words. Can you say ouch? Gotta hand it to you, me sitting in a/c waiting to hear how it goes hoping this doesn't happen. But the night is young and the woods are wild. We'll hear

Bloated Ticks out early

Team BT left b/e this morning on a "do over" ride. Mo had a score to settle with that evil log - he got some sweet air this time. Log - 1 Mo -1 can't wait for the final score....

Saved myself for Tomorow night's ride - want to be fresh for riding with the girls so instead of riding to Montauk and then riding back on the dunes as the Ghost suggested we went for a nice 1.5 hr ride.

What a difference the clips make and the seat height - who knew. The Ghost pointed out that I'm missing gears and that I cracked off some spokes from one of the disks - huh, go figure, no wonder why the gear is slipping. Oh well. Looks like its time to go bike shopping. I wonder if I can get one that gets SUPER sweet air and has room for like 4 horns?

There is no better way to start the day than flying down a hill mildly out of control screeming woohoo - that is total freedom.

Is it to early for a beer?

The Taj

We are all here. But the metaphorical tick continues to bloat with lights, imports, screams and not a care in the world for those that are still and will always be here. And are these MT's not aware that irrigation systems bring on the water our beloved skeeters - worst in 140 years- love to breed in. Would a long, green wound up looking object hooked up to a faucet sometimes called a hose not suffice? The mere action of turning it on and off would provide the control they so desperately seek. Promise.

We are still here

.....and there were farm fields full of potatoes and corn. There was a huge dairy farm North of the highway, it used to stink - I would look for the cows wading in the pond as we drove by. There were a few houses along the ocean but no one really wanted to live over there because it was too far from town and the power would go out anytime the wind blew. You could park on main street and get a table in a restaurant without being handed a flashing beeper and a lie about a 20 minute wait. In fact, the owner of the restaurant usually greeted us at the door and would talk to us about our family because we all went to school together. On the weekend Hildi's was the place where most people would grab brunch. A lot of kids learned to wait tables there or Conca and no one really cared if they messed up the order, you were just happy to see them trying.
The Village would be full of Ferrari's on Saturday because of the Raceway. Those people all seemed nice enough. I used to fall asleep listening to the sound of their engines carrying down off the hill to the village.
Everyone cared or didn't for their property. Not many had the help of an Arborist or a complete lawn package. Most EVEN mowed their own lawn.
Now things are different. There is more money and less wealth. Most moved away and those that stayed found their niche and are quite comfortable. There are a few of us middle class folks left here and if you listen very carefully you can still hear us mowing our lawn and talking to our neighbors over the fence and even getting together for a beer or two without starting an engine.
You know who we are when we look at you funny as you fill your driveway with contractors, advisers, lawn boys, pool boys, cleaning ladies and caterers and wonder why you are all stressed out. We are still here.