Retire?

 

 

I'm saving for it.  I have vague plans on what I want to do if and when I finally get to do it.  It's not something I am longing for, at least not at the present time.

Of course there's more than one retirement in our futures.  No?  Think about it just a minute.

I've already retired from motorcycle racing (maybe).  Big Jim has asked me a couple of times about retiring from the Havana Volunteer Fire Department.  "I bet there's not too many 57 year old firefighters out there" said Jim.  Statements like that make me feel so good.  There's retiring from bicycle racing, hopefully a long ways off, but you never know.  Then of course there's my job.

Timing

Why would you quit something you enjoy?  Just because "people" might think I'm too old to do some of this stuff?  Afraid I might look foolish?  I have plenty of experience looking foolish.  I guess when my participation becomes a burden on others it might be time to hang it up.  I hope I realize that moment when it comes.  Some would say it's already passed.

I attended a retirement party for a gentleman, who works in my industry, this past week.  He's my age and due to circumstances beyond his control he thought it would be a good time to get out.  As I looked around the room I realized I was one of the "old dudes".  Funny, it seems like just last week I didn't fit in because I was new.

My dentist, who is my age, was looking a little pudgy when I saw him for my 6 month check up.  He used to be a big runner and always kept in shape.  I commented on his now plus size figure (after the check up, didn't want to piss him off while he was poking around in my mouth with those sharp instruments).  He replied that he was "done" with that, that he'd "given up" and how "peaceful" he felt.  I told him he may feel peaceful, but he looked fat.  I bet I'll need a root canal on my next visit.

I had one of my few subscribers comment to me that "all you write about is being old".  Sorry, but it's the one thing I know a little about.  If you're older than me you're probably thinking "he's got a lot to learn", which is true.  And no, I don't really think I'm old.  I just look it.

CX

Anyhoo, back to cycling related matters.  Last Saturday was a hard effort of 45 minutes on Gators.  I had hoped for an improvement in my average lap speed but was disappointed.  I was not disappointed with the beer and pizza at Momos later that day.

Sunday was the Giant demo day at Tom Brown.  Lots of people, lots of laps, and a couple of hard crashes.  Not me, it was Wrecking Ball down first, with a loud splat.  Then The Kid rolled up with blood on his arm.  Neither was seriously hurt.

Wednesday nights' Gator session was 3-15 minute intervals, and for some reason, they were the same average speed as Saturdays 45 minute session.  I just can't seem to push myself into the red zone, even for shorter intervals.  I do enjoy having a few more people there though, it gives me some carrots to chase.

Plans are for another Saturday effort at Gators.  10:00 am. 

Hopefully followed by an interval at Momos.  Now that's something I hope I never have to retire from.

Spinning My Wheels

 

 

The CX track at the power lines close to Higher Ground has been mowed.  We call this Gator's for some unknown reason.  I was allowed to participate in this years layout.   Granted the cat 1,2's had already decided where it would go but they at least they allowed me to have the illusion I had some input.  I love laying out trail.

That was last weekend and I didn't get the opportunity to ride it on my CX bike, so I was pumped all day Wednesday; looking forward to doing some efforts on the new design. 

Wednesday

So, as I was about to leave the office on that cold and windy day, the fire pager on my belt went off.  I almost turned it off before hearing what the call was, I really wanted to ride.  Before I could react they toned again and called for a shed fire, located right across the road from my office.  I just couldn't not go.

Well the shed fire evolved into a brush fire.  Which caught another trash pile on fire, which burned onto a dock by a lake.  Which required us to lay 200' of hose, which we then had to roll up when the fire was out.  As soon as everything was under control I headed for the house to pick up the bike.

"I can still get in an hour before the sun goes down" I thought as I rolled onto I-10.  That's when I saw brake lights start to go on in front of me.  I was headed east bound and there was a wreck in the west bound lane.  Highway patrol and EMS were already there so it had been a while since it had happened. 

Please allow me to request a favor.  If the wreck is not blocking your lane, and in fact will not impede your travel, just slow down and keep moving.  DON'T STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE WITH YOUR FACE GLUED TO THE WINDOW AND TALK ON THE CELL PHONE!  All 3 east bound lanes came to a stand still.  I could hear tires screeching behind me as other drivers topped the hill only to find a parking lot.  Trust me folks, you don't want to see what's under the sheet.

When we finally started moving again, the lady to my left, with her face still pressed up against the drivers' side window, her cell phone in her right ear, her mouth running, and without looking, began to move to her right.  Which was the space I currently occupied.  I laid on the horn, she looked at me like I had done something wrong, jerked the wheel back to the left, but never stopped talking.

Anyhoo, a normally 25 minute drive had taken 40 minutes.  It was already getting dark, the wind was still blowing, and it may have been 50 degrees, when I finally got to the track.  I was in such a hurry I didn't put on enough gear and ended up freezing for the whole 40 minutes I got to ride.

As I headed home the interstate was still blocked and by this time my truck was low on gas.  I tried Meridian Rd. which was backed up almost to Timberlane so I turned around, got some gas, and started up to McClay Rd.  It was then I noticed traffic had started to move on I-10 so I went around the block and back on I-10.

Another 40 minute drive that should have only taken 25 and I was finally home.  I am constantly amazed what I will go through just to ride my bike.

Dirty Spaghetti

It was fun, we sang songs, we pedaled, we ate spaghetti.  I did notice a drop in the after ride celebration.  I forgot my beer (I usually do this so I can mooch Jim's) so consumption of cold protein units was limited.  Lil Ball wasn't there this year and he can usually be counted on tilt back a few, maybe that was  it.  Maybe this crew is starting to show it's age.

Wrecking Ball and the Dirt Hippie.  I have no idea what's going on here.

 

 

Then again, maybe not.

Another Saw Such Ride

The Sausage Ride, I keep coming back to this little 66 miles of torture.  I'm never prepared, I always think it will be easy, and I'm usually wrong.  It was supposed to be a recovery week for me, low hours, nothing real hard.  I had even thought about going to the XC race on Sunday in Gainesville. 

That was until Silk called a MTB ride out of Tom Brown for Saturday morning.  I just couldn't resist, so against my better judgment, I loaded up and headed out into a beautiful morning.  3.5 hours later I was back in my truck, having abandoned all racing plans.  I figured I'd take The Kid to the Sausage Ride the next day.  "We'll roll easy and short" I promised while talking him into going.  I figured there'd be somebody wanting to go easy since we'd just done a big day.  Wrong.

Sunday Morning Coming Down

The Kid hasn't done much cycling lately due to school obligations and such so I didn't really want to drag him all over south Georgia.  It had been a while since we'd ridden together and I was looking forward to him going.  I swear I knew where we should cut across to shorten the route.  And the folks that would want to go easy?  They stayed at home.

Anyhoo, at about 1:45, into what I had promised would be a 2 hour ride, we still hadn't made the turn to go back.  The Kid had figured out I had messed up.  The ride had started out harder than usual so it was just the two of us left to navigate the country side.  We did manage to run into the pack after they made the turn in Boston but they soon dropped us again.  We picked up an older (than me, can you believe it?) gentleman who was tired of riding alone and I pulled the three of us back to Bradley's.  4:30 after we had started that morning.

The Kid had only had one slight meltdown when he thought I was lost (again).  He had only packed food for the advertised 2 hour ride and was starving when we got back.  Other than that he was in a pretty good mood, considering. 

Most of the ride had already packed up and left when we got back.  Silk, Paul, and Dirt Hippie were there waiting for us.  It felt like Deja Vue all over again.  We crowded into the little country store and raided the shelves for junk food.  I had the obligatory sausage dog, chips, and a huge Dr. Pepper while The Kid loaded up on cookies, chips, and a Nehi.

Sitting on the picnic bench outside while the cool wind blew the moss in the live oaks the long ride started to feel better.  The Kid even smiled, and somehow, in that brief reaction, the day was all worth it.

Now I Know Why Tigers Eat Their Young

Black and orange display at Higher Ground, just for Halloween

Halloween is a big deal at my house.  So even though we got stood up by all our friends and The Kid had a late basketball practice, the Lovely Wife and I still set up our little deal.




It looks better after dark

 



 

I'll admit we felt a twinge of sadness, two mature adults dressing up without having the usual kids around.  Oh well, we might as well get used to it.

I had rigged ghouls hanging from fishing line in the tree above us, a smoke machine under the table with the candy on it, plus strobe lights in the grave yard.  I could drop the ghouls near unsuspecting trick or treaters with a fishing reel which was hidden at the back of the pop up.  And for the coup de resistance I was wearing the mask shown below.

This is The Kid from last year's deal

The Lovely Wife was dressed in her usual witch costume.  We don't scare the little kids.  I didn't put on the mask until it got dark and the bigger kids started coming by, and  I only dropped the ghoul on the adults as they stood at the end of the driveway and took pictures.

After Dark

We start getting the regulars, the kids that come by every year.  They look forward seeing what we're doing and approach us slowly, looking for the trick.  I put the mask on, drape a black sheet around me, and sit at the back of the pop up.  I only stand up if they start talking brave, and then only move if they laugh.  One of the adults looked at me and said "now that's scary".  As he turned to go I followed him back to his car and stood by the window while he talked on his phone.  He noticed me out of the corner of his eye, slowly turned his head, and said into the phone "oh shit".  He laughed and drove away.

Some groups would yell "chase us" then scatter as I came out.  I never touch them and they have never touched me.  Until last night.

The Mean Little Buggers

They looked like all the other kids we'd had that evening.  Nothing about them gave me a clue as to how evil they would be.  They came in a large pack, complete with parents.  I couldn't tell how many there were, the mask doesn't have good visibility.  After they got their candy they started talking smack, taunting me, so I stood up.  Usually that's enough to get them to run, not this group.  Then the first sword poked my side.  I turned, suddenly something poked me in the face.  I growled and took a step.  More sword poking, then I catch a glimpse of an object flying through the air, smack, something hits me in the head.  Suddenly they're all around me, I try to move but the sheet is wrapped around my legs.  I holler "ok, that's enough" and pull off the mask.  I figured they'd stop once they saw it was an adult, or at least the momas would say something.  No, they just kept at it.  It was all I could do not to smack the living s&%# out of them.

Finally moma says "ok, lets go" and the pack of evil little dwarfs moved away. 

I was soooo pissed.  The Lovely Wife had to keep telling me to be quiet.  What is it with parents today?  If my kid had done something like that I'd have been horrified.  The kids showed no fear, nor any respect for an adult.  I suspect they need something to really terrify them.  Something to keep them guessing.  Make them a little less sure of themselves.

What they really needed, above all else, was just a good old fashioned ass whooping.

And I've got a whole year to get ready.