Where did 2025 go?

​I know it’s hard to believe but I didn’t do a single blog in 2025!!

What. A. Slacker.

Next week is Rally week and I have found a lot of the excitement isn’t there anymore. It is still fun to be the medical team for Subaru USA but the rest can be a pain.  I think in anything that is race related there is some un-organization and one can always find times to say “if I was running this show I’d……..”.  But I’m not going to jump into that mess!! I am sure they do the best they can with mostly all volunteers working for them…..you get what you pay for….or don’t.  

So happy 2026!  Hope to post more this year (I think I say that every year, or every other year)

I am alive!

What? Did you think I forgot about this blog? Hmmm, you know me well young Jedi!

It’s been a heck of a few years since my last update. I am back on the fire department. I came back as Chief in April of 2001 and then in October I switched careers and became the only full timer we have at the station. It’s been challenging. Some days I feel like I got it handled and know what I am doing. The next day I wonder what the heck I am doing being Chief. To say it hasn’t challenging would be a lie.

I’m not doing water rescue anymore. Been out of that for a few years. I have moved on to fast moving cars, on narrow gravel roads. ARA, American Rally Association. And man what a blast! I can’t say how cool it is to stand next to a road, covered in snow, and have a car pass 10 foot away……at 90mph

Sno Drift was our first rally and we didn’t know what we were doing. But we did get to cover the world famous Bon Fire Alley. I wish I could explain it. Just check it out on youtube. Outdoors, cold, get there early (2-3 is best) start a camp fire and drink. 3-4000 people and probably 75% are drinking. Oh, the bon fires…..some are 10 foot tall and when a car goes buy, you throw a red solo cup full of gas on it. You gotta go. The rally is in February. We will be there, let me know if you want to go and I can give you some helpful hints. And a ride to the spectator area.

This year (Feb 24) I had one of the best days ever. Had I ever thought of it, it would have been a bucket list item. PJ (Pastor Josh) and I went up and had the privilege to be the private medical team for Subaru/VSC for a day of testing. That team treated us like old friends. Travis Pastrana was so laid back you would never know just how famous he is!

ok. It’s New Year’s Eve and people are playing card while I play introvert and blog while hiding

See you in February.

Just a thought

 Hello!

    Been a while, How are you doing?  Can't begin to tell you what all has happened since the last post.  It would most likely crash Google.  I have went from the worst to the best (so far) in a matter of 4.5 years.

     To maybe help keep this post some what short..... I have been going to Bible study for a few years now. Pastor Joshua is my Shepard and best friend. Back a year or so ago he stumbled across this book written by a Oakland Fire Fighter whom is now retired.  His name is Jason Sautel. His book is "The Rescuer" Like many of us he has seen complete darkness in his life and has now found the Light.  Jason is kind of a different dude as he was called to write a book about his journey.  No not like the phone rang and some random person said "Jason, you should write a book" it was more of a long distance phone call. Like from God. 

Jason listened.

    It had to have been a struggle. To write a book was to revisit the dark times, over and over. Yet he held strong and did it! To our luck it was published and PJ (Pastor Joshua) stumbled across it.  We talked about it one night at bible study.  We both agreed we would read it and work through it. The book actually had what I would call a "study guide".  It was more like the author, Jason, wrote down questions.  You would read a chapter and then answer the questions. It was an awesome idea, as it helped put you understand why Jason wrote the book. Making the book a great way to self reflect, and not just read a book. 

    Sorry to say when PJ ordered his book it did not come with the study guide. So PJ emailed the Author and asked where to get a copy.  Jason replied to PJs email. A seed was planted. Flash forward and you will see that Jason and PJ and pretty good friends, even though they have never met!

    When PJ and I meet we always have a chat about whats going on in life.  Back when COVID hit PJ did a lot of sermons on YouTube, he even did Podcasts.  At the same time Jason also did podcasts. Both felt like Gods message wasn't getting out there like they both wanted.  And then one day....they both got together and did a podcast together called "Hey Pastor".  

    With all of this happening I have become Facebook friends with Jason.  He isn't your typical Michigan guy.  He surfs and skates.  He lives in California. In Michigan if I told you we surf and skate you would think surf the internet and roller skate. Not Jason, Bro.....he skates on a skate board and surfs the water. Strangely he has no "man bun" or dread locks......

Today on his FB page he posted:

"and...the winner of 'today's best message/email' is..."

    "Email-after reading your book, I visited your Facebook page and was disappointed. I thought your life would be more interesting but from the few public posts I could see, it isn't" 

That made me think, no it didn't hurt...but thanks for asking!

    This person, maybe they are hurting.  Jason's book really speaks to Fire Fighter and Medic's as that was Jason life. Many of us can relate to every one of his calls in some way or another. Perhaps this person related to how Jason felt before he was Saved by Grace. This person, lets give him a name! How about Monte?  So Monte, lets say, is still in the dark. Monte can relate to Jason's days in the dark.  After reading Jason's book he thought maybe Jason was still in the dark.  Maybe Monte felt they were in the same area of darkness, just a different shade. This thought gave Monte a little hope, he had Jason there as help. Who hates being in the dark alone? Who feels a little better in the same dark room with someone else? When Monte went to Jason's FB page, he didn't see darkness. To Monte that was disappointing, he felt like he was alone again.

    Ok, I know you have done this.  It is a magical thing that we all do, repeatedly. You find a cool looking flash light. What is the first thing you do? You find the power switch, then you point it right into your eyes and flip it on. Milli seconds later you feel the pain. and then you say to yourself. "You idiot, you do that every time".  

    Picture yourself in a very dark place.  Your pupils are wide open, trying to find light. It is just like your spiritual soul really, if your in the dark it longs for light. Now you're in that dark place and you turn on every light in the room.  You flinch, its to bright, shut off the lights quick. But what if you could turn a little light on?  Just a little light, let your eyes adjust, then little by little turn the other lights on! Soon that room is so bright you could wear sun glasses, and no pain!

    I want you to think of something.  You're back in that scary dark room. Alone. Scared. If you were to ask for help, most people, I know Jason, PJ and I would, we would help you the best we could.  Walk toward you, stand next to you in the dark. Then turn on that dim light, let your eyes adjust. Then turn on the next light. We have seen the dark, yet also we have seen the light. Going into the dark to bring you to the light is something we are called to do, just like stopping bleeding, starting a pulse and dragging a line into a house on fire. We can stand in the dark next to you knowing what being in the light is like and we can and we will get you there. Step by step, little by little.

    So if you look at someones life as disappointing....maybe take a deep breath. Evaluate whats going in your life.  Maybe the fact is that your in the dark, you can't find the switch, to scared to ask for help. Ask for help, the Light is there and it doesn't have to hurt.

Maybe, just maybe, they are in the dark and it is YOU that can help them find the light.

We know where the light switch is....

Mathew 11:28 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

 

The little things

So here it is, summer. So happy for all of you that enjoy this. I find nothing more satisfying that walking out side in the morning, feeling good about the day. Yet before I get to the car parts of my body are already dripping with sweat. Not ever going to understand peoples love for summer, hell its so dam hot i haven't seen many skeeters around. Poor bastards are in the swamp, hiding under the shade of a fern.  So yah, you got me, one flipping good thing about heat. Still i set here, waiting for fall, and for winter.

I was out in the sugar shack tonight. Hung up a new poster, and just sat there. Thinking of the time and energy and sweat and worry and beer that have all been consumed in that little 14 x 16 garage. Then you pause and realize all the "stuff" was all well spent. No one in my family likes real maple syrup. I do it for others.

I looked at my fishing pole setting there, my one man ice shack, my 4 man shack, my propane ice drill. Above me were the sleds, all full of great gear. All of it, paid for with sweat and worry and a ton of energy. yet, only my Son and I like fish.

Guess if you have read this whole blog you may remember the one called something like "its about whats not there". All this time and energy and money and sweat and "sacrifice". Its about none of that. Anyone can spend those things, God knows many have done more. Its all about the joy that others get from it. The quick email saying "its the best maple syrup" they have ever tasted. Or the 20 mile trip out of my way to give some fresh fish to an elderly lady that cry's and says "thank you, since my husband has died I don't get much fish. We loved to fish.........." and a hour later she shuts the door.

It's being thanked by a middle aged man "Thank you so much for leaving your familys to come here and do this. i know you did everything you could" After you stop doing CPR on his Father the one he just talked about. "My Mother has ALS and its a full time job for Dad and I." As you cover his Father with a sheet. Another loss, so few wins. This man had no Idea the demons that we live with, his Father dead, yet he thanked us. Its a little thing, yet i will never forget it. I hope His "Thank You" fades the screams

 "You did your everything you could"

 But is it ever enough? I have to say standing in a door talking to an old lady about fishing is MUCH more satisfying than hearing "TOD 11:13".

The little things, splitting a chunk of wood to feed the evaporator. Fishing one more bait to give the fish away.  Spending a few more hours doing something. Just to maybe help someone have a better day.

It's the little things folks. Stop. Take a second. Maybe two. Say Hi to some one. Open a door for a Lady. Buy a Thank You card and write a small note, sign it, give to the next US Veteran you see. (yes, i do it all the time)

The little things you do today. May be some ones big thing tomorrow. 

ah...crap

So i missed it by a few days. You know that "at least one post a year" goal. But hey tomorrow it the 15th. I will catch up then!

yearly post

So a friend on Facebook talked about a blog. So here I am updating my blog! One year to the day. Yah I know I am a slacker. Been an ok year. Compared to other years.

Haven't screw my back up . Since. ....oh about 9 months. Which is awesome. Maybe this year I will fish a NAIFC tournament after all!

The hell is nite mares aren't around as much. I won't explain how nice that is. I am sure you understand. Lots of shit going on at the fire department.  It's kinda like a room full of adult 5 year old drama queens. But I guess that's part of life. I did get my letter from the big shots at the government. Only 12 more hours of doing training classes and I can apply for my State Instructors Permit. I don't ever see teaching classes for a living but, but it was a goal I have had for a long time. Since back in the days when my brother and I would respond to the fire house with Dad. We would wash the same truck everytime. The truck that never moved. We stocked the fridge with beer. Played pool. Slid down the brass pole. Back when you could have one. God only knows that the government thinks it's OK I go into a house fully on fire, but DO NOT slide 10 foot down a pole. Nice work.

My photography has stalled. So has my bike riding. And my hunting. And my fishing. Times change I guess. But ice fishing will be hot this year. Gonna keep my back in one piece and gonna fish hard. Hopefully get the kids out more. Get some other family's out fishing. Those that aren't so lucky to be set up as well as I am.  Get the kids out and have some fun. People may find it hard to believe that some guys will grill steak on a grill in the shanty!

Maple syrup season was insane this year. It started the end of February and ran till the beginning April. I put out 10 gallons.  Which is 9 gallons over last year. Gave it all away. I enjoy making it and my reward is seeing people enjoy it. I tapped 4 trees in my yard and oh about.....10 at moms. Made for long nights. Get home and start boiling at 7th and go to bed at 2am. Then repeat. 4 or 5 nights a week. But it was great.

So I guess that's it. Jamming to the new Eminem CO and texting a friend in North Carolina. Time for me to go to bed. I would love to say I will blog more. But most of my entries are of me saying I will blog more and it is obvious I dont.

Good night.
God Bless
And use a 3 mm jig and 1 lbs test line. If you want better fishing tips call me. I will take you out. 616.262.0376 (once we have safe ice)

I am a Rock

So here it is November the 12th. So if you happen to keep an eye on this blog you will be in shock! I think this may be my 3rd update this year! and the second in a few months. No the world isn't going to end, that happens in December, so You have to wait until January for that story!

The Iceman has come and gone. The weather was...well, it is called ICE-man for a reason. Took about 3000 pictures, and even sold a bunch.

I took a ride on a ladder and did well. Took it all the way to the ground and came up kicking. Well, ok I wasn't kicking, but i was able to walk on my own. Took a day off to relax and then back to work. but I got this back thing fingured out, I got the meds, I got the stretchs and I got the rehab all figured out. I just don't have the paper work on the wall so I can get paid to show others how to do it.

So this year, not counting shitty ice, my Brother getting whacked by an asshole in a car and blowing my back out twice, has been pretty good.

This is the time of year in Michigan you hear a lot of adds for the Male Strippers coming to the State. The DNR (department of natural resources) hears these adds and does all of us guys a HUGE favor and opens White Tail Deer season. I love the DNR. This time of the year I am little by little getting, how do they say it? I am "getting my poop in a group". It would suck to only plan for 30 hours and find out you had forgotten something important. Something like the latest "outdoor life" magazine, or your pop.

But his year I will be at the local hospital pacing back and forth. A great friend of mine found out that she has two Tumors. Her and her husband laughingly call them "the twins". The doctors for some reason decided to do the operation on the 15th. I guess they felt since they had to work they'd find a gal who had friends who hunt and pick her. The skinny vegetarian will have hers done and the 16th. But non the less, I will be there. Can't say I even thought twice about hunting. I need to be there, as she would be there for me. I have hunted since i was 12 or 13 (you do the math) so I have 32 years of "openers" under my belt. And I hope to have many more. So to miss one really isn't gonna hurt me. I'll miss it, sure as hell, but I will know I am right where I need to be. There in the hospital. Hoping and praying she beats the 10% odds.

I am a Rock.

That has been her saying for a year and a half. It all came about after a Medical call we both went to. A young beautiful girl ran to her Father for a ride on the mower. She slipped and fell and her Father struck her as he backed up. I do not have to give you much more details than that. I lost weeks of sleep, no need for you to loose any. But this call effected us, her and I. It sent us both into a spiral that I was sure would find us both in hell. But I made it with the help of some professional help and hers, and we got out of it. For the most part anyways. When people would ask her how she is doing she'd just answer "I am a rock". I always wanted to slap her for saying that. We both knew we were in hell, and just once I wanted to see her stop keeping it inside, to watch her explode into a screaming ball of terror and let someone have it. Would it have helped? Not the slightest, but Gad damn It would have been fun to see. Cuz I knew I wanted to. I was sick of being up all night, listening to the voices.

So this November 15th, enjoy the time you have in the woods. Send me a photo. 616.262.0376. I will be where I need to be......

I am a Rock

Hey look its September!

This is my every once in awhile blog post:

Hot summer, and I hope the winter is equally cold. I need some darn ice!

Last week my brother was whacked by some dude in a car. That story, although serious, is not something I have the time to write about right now. So I will do that tomorrow at work. As of right now I just uploaded some pictures of a race and we are off to the zoo.

See you tomorrow. 

Ice is gone!

Well, once again...i have not updated this blog in months.

My brother in law, Chase, and I signed up for a NAIFC pro fish tournament. I decided to pre-fish the lake on Feb 18th. Planned on meeting some pros from the Detroit area. But while I was getting onto the ice I had some back issues. I laid on the ice for about 20 minutes before some guys picked me up and carried me off the ice. After a long painful journey, to much to write down, i got home. Later that night the pain set in big time, had my son call 9-11. My brothers from the Fire Department showed up. Gave me great care, and a little bit of a hard time, but i end up in ER. Spend a few days at home in bed. The tournament ended up cancelled due to poor ice.

So here it is months later. I am pain free in my back. But the nerve damage is still there. It is great to be on your feet most of the day and have a part of your leg just fall asleep. But i'll take that any day!

Crap fishing is going pretty good. First trip out me took a mostly suckers and a few crap. But last weekend we spent all night on the lake. Took about 10 crap. The two biggest I shot and were both ounces from being 30 lbs, Brett shot some dandies, his biggest two were in the mids 20 pound range.

Ok, i have said it in all of my posts. I'll do better at updating. But you know I won't!

Be safe

Trained to survive, willing not too.

WOW + Ice!

Well, it appears it has been awhile since I have been here! Over a year! shame shame.

January 7th, Saturday.

Went ice fishing. It was not safe ice, but it was ice. We walked on on a lake near Newaygo Michigan. If you hit the ice twice with the ice spud it would go through. We walked out and found a safe place to set and fish. Only used one pole and we didn't dance or move. We did yell at a guy on shore for turning on his porch light. We feared the heat from it would make the ice less safe!

January 8th, Sunday

Drove to Lake Mitchell. It had ice, and safe ice. Fired up the new Jiffy Auger and drilled some holes. Never found fish and the water was only 6 foot deep. Depressing, but it was ice fishing.

We moved to Lake Cadillac. The ice was just as safe. Drilled 20 holes and the deepest we found was an amazing 9.5 feet. WTF? We fished and marked a few fish. But never got a hit.

Hope better ice comes soon down here in the southern part of the mitten. Cuz we got to get on the ice. We are signing up for a NAIFC Pro tournament and we have some serious pre-fishing to do.

Ok, so i am going to keep the ice fishing season posted here. Maybe that will remind me to update this blog more than bi-yearly!

If you have ice, and want fishing friends call me. I am set up for 3 people. Call me.

DC part 2

...........I stayed here for awhile. A half hour maybe. I took lots of pictures not knowing when or if I'd ever be back.

I got up and walked slowly toward the visitor center. It was then remembered about the Marine WWII memorial and headed that way, water less. It was a very long hike, seamed like 5 miles, might have been 1. I took a few turns wrong and ended up toward a Kennedy. Then I pulled out the darn map and saw a trail that would take me right to the spot I was looking for. The walk took me back toward the visitor center. I did make it there and it was awesome. Again I took a lot of pictures. And left a lot of sweat behind.

It was a few hours later and I had called it day. Grabbed the Metro Red line and headed to the hotel. Worked on loading the daily pictures and took a shower. I later loaded a few shots to Face Book and had a friend note that I had visited him a day before his birthday. So i knew the next day I was gonna go back. And I did. Goofie singing Happy Birthday to some one in Arlington, but again, I knew if I didn't I'd regret it. I was SOOOO happy no one was around to witness it, trust me I kept an eye out!

Again, back on the Red Line and off to town. I did the Korean memorial, saw the Smokey Bear station and took a little tour. All in all it was way to hot to have fun, but I had done what I came to do and was happy.

One per month quota, Met.

I see i am right on course for an award for one crappy blog post per month. I really thought about putting off until tomorrow, but wednesday morning is Goose hunting. So sorry i'm not going to stay up blogging when I can be resting for hunting. It just won't work. Trust me it won't.

So my August started off pretty cool, well it was really freakin hot. The month started off in DC. We had nothing planned for the first day. That worked out well. Since the flights were all screwed up. We arrived in the afternoon and not in the morning like planned. So we had time to do a little walking around and we had dinner. Did I mention it was hot?

Day two was a day I had somewhat planned, notice I say somewhat. My plan was going to Arlington and seeing an High School friend Jeff Davis. And off I went, my second ride on the Metro. I kinda had it figure out now. I mean I made it all the way to Arlington and didn't get lost! Well, on the Metro anyhow. I got off the Metro and walked into the Arlington Visitor Center. I was sure I could walk right to section 54. But, I didn't remember "section 54". OOPS, take note, Arlington is NOT small, you want to be damn sure you know what section you are looking for. So I went off memory, another big mistake! I remembered the section he was in was two sections from the visitor center. So off I went. It was right about now I wish would have stopped and got some water! So anyhow. I took a short cut and headed across a parking lot, and past the first section. So as I get to the second section, it was empty! So off to the third section you know the one I am sure he is the one, I notice that I am on the wrong end. I'll say I was on the East side instead of the West. Honestly I never knew north, south, east or west the whole time I was there. So I figure crap one more section. At least I was upbeat! I was close and I was on the right end. So I went to the next section, it was huge and he was not there. To the next section, nothing. I stopped and checked out the useless map again and saw I was to far and I knew I was in the wrong place, for sure. So I headed to the Tomb of the Unknowns. i got there at 10 to noon. The bell sounded and I watched as the first Guard came out, shortly later the next Guard. I felt like I was in a good spot to take pictures and I was ready to go. To say I was moved would be an understatement. It was flooring. I shot alot of shots and watched as the Guards were switched and back they went. I have to believe these Men are the most dedicated people I have ever saw. The heat was intense and these young men marching like machines. I took shelter from the heat for about 20 minutes and then took my spot. I had scouted it out and got the place I wanted for my second round. I was on a mission. A mission to document my day there, and to not pass out. I finished with the 12:30 changing and headed back toward the visitor center. The closer I got the more upset I became. I really only had one single reason to go to Washington DC, it was to see Jeff. And the more I walked the more I felt defeated. I got to a place and it was like some one slapped my stupid ass. I had my new phone, and I could get onto the internet. Jeff had been a Guard for years, and on the Old Guard web site they had a page of Guards that had passed away, they also had some information. And on that site I knew they had Jeffs info. Section and Head stone number. I felt a small amount of relief. I was off again, still no water.

I found section 54 and in a short time stone 242. All I saw was the rear of the stone. I paused a for quite awhile. I guess I hoped when I went to the other side of the stone it would say Duffy Smith or something. But it didn't. i had found him. And after all these years it felt real. Real sad. I sat there for about an hour. Baking. I remember the times he would come over to his Aunts house, she lived right next to my Dad. We all took off behind the trailer park and would go sledding. And just plain hang out. I couldn't believe he was really gone........

more tomorrow I can't seam to see the key board anymore.

Crap

Well, busted by the Blog cops. Thought I'd be all about this blogging stuff. Come to find out I never remember to post anything. My live is kinda boring, but NOT that boring.

So a quick update. Went our Saturday morning with my brother and Son. We rode mountain bike at Cannonsberg. Man I feel old. They both kicked my butt. So to celebrate William and I headed out sunday to a trail near Rockford. Luten Park I believe was the name. He tells me that it is flatter and more "flowy" then Cannonsberg, but a little more technical. A little? BS. Flatter? BS. Both ride were about 7.5 miles long. Saturdays ride was 500'+ of climbing and on Saturday it was 450'. Both days were way to hot to ride. But dam I had a blast.

I think the best way to sum it all up was done well by my brother. He spoke of the weather: "humid enough today ya gotta chew the air before ya breath it."

So as it would be I am in a hurry to blow out of the office and go riding with the kid. Sure he'll kick my ass. But it's days like these he'll remember while changing my diaper.

I'm outta here.
RoadId

Michigan Mountain Mayhem

What a week end eh? Friday night I was so happy I had been asked to shoot pictures! Cold and rain, not very good riding weather.

Saturday morning came around to the same kind of crap weather. But, as the morning went on the weather got better and better. Roads where drying up and it also warmed up. Just about perfect weather after awhile.

I had hoped for a more riders. Yet, with the weather the way it was and this being the first year of the ride I heard 400+ riders were there! Thats cool. Next year I have to think 400+ more will show up.

I have been to many events, yet I have to say, this ride is the ride of the year in Michigan for road bikes. It's one of those rides where your setting around with your buddies and you open your mouth and brag that you rode it. Deep in their minds they are saying "Yah right" You know their jealous, and they were wishing they could pull that card out. You know, the one that says "I rode the toughest hilliest road bike ride in Michigan". The cool thing is not many buddies can brag about it. I know I can't. Heck I sat at the top of "the wall" with my brother and thought, "How the hell can ANYONE ride up that hill, and to think they all have 50+ miles on up to this point!" Go ahead, see me at the bar, set down and pull out the card. I'll listen in awe, I'll be jealous, I'll know that you were one of very few to ride the Michigan Mountain Mayhem.

See you all next year. Yah, I'll be there, on top of "the wall". Be sure to wave to me, and yell, "Your jealous and I know it."

Ride safe, wear your RoadID.

Hospitals suck.

Hi everyone. I am doing day two of the hospital thing. I am not the patient, just the support. My buddie Joe had some sort of weight loss surgery done yesterday. Today is recovery day. I spent the night here. I find I weird the times that folks come and attack you! Jerimia the blood elf was here at 3:30am. So answer me this......why? 3:30 in the morning? Should you not be getting up to hunt or fish at that time of the day? The surgeon came in and gave us the game plan for the day. Then the PA came in and gave us the same plan for the day. Then the nurse came in and said hi. But still, no blood ferry. What the hell, come wake us up, poke us and then not even stop back by to say "hey!" Your off my friend list pal. I can say one thing, I have internet, I hate hospitals, they drive me nuts. It's not really the building or the people in it, hell this place is awesome. Its the fact that you just can't jump up and walk outside and enjoy life. Your like velcro'd to the bed. Don't move stay there. No worry about that alarm going off, it's just the IV, we can't show you how to shut it off, but, we can't hear it from the nurses station so get use to hearing it, it'll be on all night! UGH. So now I am off, I just was so bored at 8am, that I figured I should update this here blog. Sorry it's not world changing stuff, or something that moved you. but right now I'm just happy to be here, living and breathing. No tubes, no IV's no nothing. Just a room temp Mountain Dew that I smuggled in. That might be tomorrows story. Do they have jails in hospitals???

Remember wear your RoadID, it very well could make the difference in a hospital room or a casket. If you don't wanna wear the ID, no worries, just update your will. Piece

Dusty brains

So it's been over a month since I posted anything in here. I'm a slacker.

At the beginning of March I signed up for a time Trial. The Fisk Knob Time Trail. Don't know what the hell I was thinking. But, a road race is something I have always wanted to do. I guess sometimes the hardest part is getting on line and registering. So one day I got a bug in my ass and did it. I rode the course twice before the race. I compared my 2 runs to the results of 2009. Yep, I had last place in my age group locked in. The best time I had turned was 57:00:. It was the Friday before the race, the race was on Sunday. i pushed and I paid for it. Once I got to the flats my calves locked up, solid like rocks. I stretched them when I got back into the hills and figured two days would be plenty to recover. I was wrong. While in the starting gate on Sunday I was still stretching out my calves. I didn't have much pressure really. All I had to do was finish and I'd be a happy camper. And finish I did. I did it 1:00:59. (I was about 5 minutes slower than the finisher in front of me. 5 minutes is for ever in a time trail.) Slower than I had hoped, but considering I lost my chain once and took no time to train I was mostly happy. next year I'll do better.

Then last weekend my Brother was in a race. The Barry-Roubaix. What a race, started in a park, raced through a small summer cottage village and onto the gravel roads, later turned into paved roads. I wish I woulda rode that ride! But I was happy behind the camera and took what turned out to be 393 "keeper" pictures. All of them are on the web-site. Only trouble with the shoot was the ending. I got stuck behind some riders on a gravel road. Didn't wanna be the typical prick in a car and force them to let me by. So I took my time, passed when I could. In the end it cost me "finish line" pictures of Craig. but I guess it is better than whacking a rider.

Ok, so this here blog takes me of the list of "slacker/blogger" so I will go now. I'll be back sooner, or maybe later.

Ride safe,
Oh ya, Put your dam RoadID on.

Saturday ride with the ladies.

I was finally able to make it to the training ride with the Team In Training team. Got there a little later than I had hoped. But, I was there, and nervous. I mean I had ridden just shy of 400 miles and I was doing my first indoor group ride.

Up until this point I choose my riding partners with great attention. First my brother Craig. Number one in the state in his division a few years ago in Mountain Bike Time Trial racing. Hey, if your gonna ride, pick the best! OK, so i didn't pick him because he kicks ass on a mountain bike, I picked him...well, because he'd ride with me. And I knew he'd take it easy on his younger fatter, more (by a long ways) out of shape brother. So we ride a few times a year. Then I picked Jake, he was a funny partner, we laughed so hard I thought we'd die, and we missed like 3 fire calls on one ride! Besides we rode like 30 miles in about a half a day! We were speed demons!

But now...I was with "The Team". You need to meet these people. Ladies, all of them. And they can ride. I was nervous that I'd stumble into the church with my Trek and walk out in crutches. I was shaking. I got the bike on the trainer and got ready to go. All of them looked at me like they had just planned on how to stomp me into the dirt. I thought about running, leaving the Trek behind as a peace offering. Then I thought, lets see what these ladies got. How could they be that bad? I mean if your crazy enough to raise money to fight Cancer AND pedal your butt on a bike around Lake Tahoe......They gotta have a soft spot somewhere.

The coach had to get some help getting the video to play. We should have had a small child there, it would have been much quicker! But in the end the video was playing. A little bit more and we got the audio going. We were up and running, I mean up and riding. The Coach had an awesome video. It wasn't one of those one where the guy just tells you this and that. This video was of a guy out riding his bike. It was great! We rode hard and had a blast. In the end we rode just over 17 miles in about 45 minutes. It rocked. So now I look forward to riding with these ladies again, soon.

So if your into the bike riding thing and sick of the normal training video watch these..

http://www.coachtroy.com/products/item132.cfm

Oh ya, and like Coach says, once in while, if your good like us, you might have to wait for "Coach Troy" cuz he may have his own videos.....but the don't hold nothing on the "Team in Training" bikers. I have to go now, I'm ordering my training videos next. Be safe, GO TEAM

Happy Birthday MOM

Well, today is/was Moms birthday. My brother and the family took her out last week end, so she got to hang out around the house. Sounds to me like she needs to get a full time job so she can slow down!

Not much happened today in the Team in Training camp for me. Had a brain fart and remember to new names that needed to be hit with an Envelope. So those are off in the mail. Laura and I did out taxes tonight, so no riding for me. Kind of a bummer. I am needing to get rocking. Wish I could stand to ride the trainer for longer indoors. Gets SOOO boring and seam to be harder than riding double the miles outside. I am thinking because the bike is so solid. On the road it will at least give a little with the rubber tires and the wheels give a small amount. Also watching TV is not a "normal" thing to do while riding! But the good news is we don't have to pay the creeps in DC or Lansing any more than they already took us for!

So tomorrow I ride. I need to hang in for about 20 miles. We'll see how it goes!

Have a great night. I am outta here!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/mi/ambbr10/rhayso

Step one.

Well, today I finally got the envelopes done and delivered to the Team in Training office. I sure hope that the 77 in turned in raise some mu-lah. I am really starting to doubt my ability to raise enough to go on my dream ride. But I guess I should be looking at it like I am only 1.5 weeks into it and the only way I have put out the word is on Face Book.

I did get the paper work filled out to be sent in to get the raffle numbers. So can't wait to get those number so i can start selling the tickets. Thanks to Reese Rickards and B-93 I have two AWESOME tickets to the Martina McBride and Trace Adkins. Price will be $10.00 a ticket. As soon as I get all the details set in stone and the permit I'll be shouting it out to start selling them.

Alright I gotta get for now. Maybe tonight i'll get some sleep!

Riding screaches to a halt.

Howdy, So this blog is all about this dude with a new bike and a killer camera. Then last week it turns to a dude with a camera and a bike fighting the cancer cause.

Right now, as far as i know the bike could set for a few more days. Now folks I will be known again as DustyWheels. See, I signed up with Team In Training and right now I have to get my poop together. Right now bike riding is no where near my high priority. I am hitting places for money, trying to get ideas on making money. Sending e-mails, getting address' to hand write letters. Right now my goal is to raise $5,000.00, and the slower it goes the more I think I might raise the bar to $6,000.00! Ask my Mother, I was one of two kids in the family, and I was never the bright one!!!

I have a cool idea in my head and sent out an email. Hate to let to much out but I am hoping the best morning show in Country Music in Michigan can help out. If that works out I will be looking into finding a bike shop in the Grand Rapids area, maybe Holland, to ride in. Then if the cards all fall together I'll release the details. I just hate to post a bunch tonight and get a "Are you shitting me"? response tomorrow.

I started this venture on Saturday with a small bag, like one of those "tree hugger" bags you reuse at the grocery store. It held everything I needed. HA, Well, now my laptop "for photography only" is my "Team in Training" office. I have moved into a brief case. And i find myself staying up at night coming up with fund raising ideas! I have a new note pad my side of the bed.

OK so now I have been working at the table for 3 hours and I need to go to bed.

Nite
GO TEAM
http://pages.teamintraining.org/mi/ambbr10/rhayso