The Apple…

 

You know it’s been many weeks since I’ve had a weekend without a race.  I’m no World Cupper, but I’ve had a race every weekend in recent memory.  And so with is past weekend ‘off,’ I did what any self-respecting mountain biker would do: I kicked my own ass with some serious trail time…

 

And up at the Mountain Command Post the moose run a’plenty.  And as I headed out about 7am the other morning and turned my wheels upwards, I was blocked by Mr. and Mrs. Bull Winkle and their calf, who were having  a leasurly breakfast and had no intentions of leaving…

 

So I stopped and waited… now you’ve got to understand that moose are NOT to be trifled with. Though they may look goofy, They are e-NORMOUS animals and are EXTREMELY territorial.  So as I watched the family, I took 3 or 4 slow steps towards mom.  And she, staring me down, took 3 or 4 steps towards me.  Oooh kay… take your tiiiime….

 

Ten minutes passed and I was back on my way, climbing ever higher…

 

…and higher still, soon higher than the heights of Winter Park and the Mountain Command Post….

 

…The 2010 racing season is stampeding along and I feel like I’m just fighting to hang on to its wheel.  And as a result I’m cramming as much as I can…

At 11,400ft, looking east towards Boulder; captivated…

 

Late July and snow persists.  Another reminder of summer’s brief stay and   winter’s devisive plan to carve away at summer’s peak…

 

Catching a magic moment like this has an interesting way of releasing  anyone’s tightest noose.  And getting here on my own body’s power all the sweeter…

 

 

And so, as I bathed in the revelry of the moment, I rolled back down this mountain-side like a stream…

 

Sure is something…………

 

Next up:  CrankWorx Colorado…