.jpeg)
Accomplished: July 23, 2014.
Half-credit: Aaron Joiner and Tom Eauxenby are not available to hold the doors open for you.
Extra-credit: Make it door through door in one throw.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #87
#87: After an errant first and second shot, play through Pearsons (literally) on the 10th hole of the Beloit College frisbee golf course.
Accomplished: July 23, 2014.
Half-credit: Aaron Joiner and Tom Eauxenby are not available to hold the doors open for you.
Extra-credit: Make it door through door in one throw.
Accomplished: July 23, 2014.
Half-credit: Aaron Joiner and Tom Eauxenby are not available to hold the doors open for you.
Extra-credit: Make it door through door in one throw.
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #86
#86: Purchase lemonade from a Cushing Elementary student's lemonade stand in support of autism awareness.
Accomplished: July 19, 2014.
Half-credit: Sunny D.
Extra-credit: Remember to pick up an Autism Awareness bracelet.
Accomplished: July 19, 2014.
Half-credit: Sunny D.
Extra-credit: Remember to pick up an Autism Awareness bracelet.
Team 242 Supper Clubs: Day Six
Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin to Racine, Wisconsin.
Distance pedaled: 106.19 miles.
The 127 miles from the previous day meant we arrived a bit too late to supper club. So spaghetti was cooked and devoured.
But today was much, much shorter. 106 miles. And we arrived in time for our Racine planned supper club: The Hob Nob.
Appetizer: Blue Points on the half-shell. (Oysters.)
Soup: French Onion.
Dinner: Baked Icelandic Cod.
Eauxenby's dinner included the Hob Nob's version of onion rings (more along the line of onion strings) which he gave to me, so one food item has remained constant. (Cheese curds were conspicuously missing from the menu.)
The Good: The Hob Nob sits right up against Lake Michigan so if you're close to a window, you get an expansive view of the Lake. Also, the neighbor to the Hob Nob has put up a purple martin house where actual purple martins have taken up residence (ergo the purple martin became a new trip bird). The food was pretty good, too. I'm not usually a french onion fan, but yes, good.
The Bad: They forgot the milk I ordered.
The Depressing: At the table next to us was a family (presumably) and with them was grandma (presumably). Or at least there was a lady who appeared to be in her late 80s though probably 90s. In front of her was a small plate with a dinner roll split in two. Maybe a small piece from the middle was missing. And a brandy old fashioned glass was empty of a brandy old fashioned. Again, I'm presuming grandma had a brandy old fashioned - this is Wisconsin. I hope she had something spirited in the glass because she spent most of the two hours with her head down... not asleep, just head down and stare. Other than three times (I counted, but am not counting the time when she was wheeled away at the end of the evening), she was ignored by the rest of the table. (Sidenote: It has the potential to show up as a Track 11, but tonight it did not. But the song did shuffle into my mind during the ignorings of grandma. John Prine - Hello In There. You know that old trees just grow stronger. And old rivers grow wilder every day. Old people just grow lonesome. Waiting for someone to say hello in there, hello. Note: Not an official video.)
-----------
On a lighter note, Eauxenby parked the Team 242 support vehicle (owned by Slovic) next to a similarly colored Porsche. Rather closely, too.
The Team 242 support vehicle's heat shield is loose and rattles loudly. One of the back door handles was ripped off during an attempting opening of the door (not robbing of the vehicle, just a regular opening of the door). The gas gauge stopped working for a few days earlier in the week. And the speedometer was stuck on 0 for a few days, too. So parking it next to a Porsche (convertible at that) brought a few needed laughs.
(Another note: Eauxenby claimed he parked within the yellow lines and I trusted him. But looking at the photo, did Eaux misinform?)
-----------
According to Team 242 members, the Brandy Old Fashioned was strong. And with a parking lot just a quick drop from Lake Michigan, Eaux and I wondered how the Hob Nob might handle inebriated patrons attempting to leave the parking lot safely. They went with warning signs.
-----------
And another warning sign.
Third note: Eaux and I did not sneak back out with a fork. But if either of us go back, we might just find ourselves on the forked edge.
-----------
Traveling through Milwaukee was supposed to be easy. We were going to take the Oak Leaf Trail. The trail, however, is sometimes a trail, is sometimes a road, is sometimes a sidewalk on the side of a road, and is sometimes labeled.
We'd find ourselves in the middle of a park, at a quadruple sidewalk intersection and no indications as to which branch was the continuation of the Oak Leaf Trail. And it appears as if Milwaukee decided to name some of their other trails the Oak Leaf Trail, too. Doesn't help. Slow goings.
Unfortunate: we passed a number of Biergartens along the Oak Leaf Trail, but we never stopped to consult a map over beverages.
Fourth note: Milwaukee has definitely excelled at two things. City parks and (to be named at some other time). Please note in this note: excelled does not imply positive or good. Yes, their park system is positive and good (great), but that other thing: not good.
Back to the Oak Leaf Trail, sorry - took a wrong turn somewhere. If you see this sign, you might be on the trail:
-----------
106.19 miles on the day meant I did not have enough time for a wrong turn to find myself accidentally at Kopps.
I also didn't get to make a detour to the Milwaukee Public Museum to push the snake button.
But we did have lunch by (and rode near) the Milwaukee Art Museum.
-----------
The yellow-crowned night heron that had been sighted by a few people in Veteran's Park was not spotted by any of us.
-----------
Ya ya Milwaukee.
-----------
Track 11. Badly Drawn Boy - Cause A Rockslide. Your sweetness would cause a rock slide. If only before the summertime. This could be our last goodbye. Please darling, please don't cry.
Distance pedaled: 106.19 miles.
The 127 miles from the previous day meant we arrived a bit too late to supper club. So spaghetti was cooked and devoured.
But today was much, much shorter. 106 miles. And we arrived in time for our Racine planned supper club: The Hob Nob.
Appetizer: Blue Points on the half-shell. (Oysters.)
Soup: French Onion.
Dinner: Baked Icelandic Cod.
Eauxenby's dinner included the Hob Nob's version of onion rings (more along the line of onion strings) which he gave to me, so one food item has remained constant. (Cheese curds were conspicuously missing from the menu.)
The Good: The Hob Nob sits right up against Lake Michigan so if you're close to a window, you get an expansive view of the Lake. Also, the neighbor to the Hob Nob has put up a purple martin house where actual purple martins have taken up residence (ergo the purple martin became a new trip bird). The food was pretty good, too. I'm not usually a french onion fan, but yes, good.
The Bad: They forgot the milk I ordered.
The Depressing: At the table next to us was a family (presumably) and with them was grandma (presumably). Or at least there was a lady who appeared to be in her late 80s though probably 90s. In front of her was a small plate with a dinner roll split in two. Maybe a small piece from the middle was missing. And a brandy old fashioned glass was empty of a brandy old fashioned. Again, I'm presuming grandma had a brandy old fashioned - this is Wisconsin. I hope she had something spirited in the glass because she spent most of the two hours with her head down... not asleep, just head down and stare. Other than three times (I counted, but am not counting the time when she was wheeled away at the end of the evening), she was ignored by the rest of the table. (Sidenote: It has the potential to show up as a Track 11, but tonight it did not. But the song did shuffle into my mind during the ignorings of grandma. John Prine - Hello In There. You know that old trees just grow stronger. And old rivers grow wilder every day. Old people just grow lonesome. Waiting for someone to say hello in there, hello. Note: Not an official video.)
-----------
On a lighter note, Eauxenby parked the Team 242 support vehicle (owned by Slovic) next to a similarly colored Porsche. Rather closely, too.
The Team 242 support vehicle's heat shield is loose and rattles loudly. One of the back door handles was ripped off during an attempting opening of the door (not robbing of the vehicle, just a regular opening of the door). The gas gauge stopped working for a few days earlier in the week. And the speedometer was stuck on 0 for a few days, too. So parking it next to a Porsche (convertible at that) brought a few needed laughs.
(Another note: Eauxenby claimed he parked within the yellow lines and I trusted him. But looking at the photo, did Eaux misinform?)
-----------
According to Team 242 members, the Brandy Old Fashioned was strong. And with a parking lot just a quick drop from Lake Michigan, Eaux and I wondered how the Hob Nob might handle inebriated patrons attempting to leave the parking lot safely. They went with warning signs.
-----------
And another warning sign.
Third note: Eaux and I did not sneak back out with a fork. But if either of us go back, we might just find ourselves on the forked edge.
-----------
Traveling through Milwaukee was supposed to be easy. We were going to take the Oak Leaf Trail. The trail, however, is sometimes a trail, is sometimes a road, is sometimes a sidewalk on the side of a road, and is sometimes labeled.
We'd find ourselves in the middle of a park, at a quadruple sidewalk intersection and no indications as to which branch was the continuation of the Oak Leaf Trail. And it appears as if Milwaukee decided to name some of their other trails the Oak Leaf Trail, too. Doesn't help. Slow goings.
Unfortunate: we passed a number of Biergartens along the Oak Leaf Trail, but we never stopped to consult a map over beverages.
Fourth note: Milwaukee has definitely excelled at two things. City parks and (to be named at some other time). Please note in this note: excelled does not imply positive or good. Yes, their park system is positive and good (great), but that other thing: not good.
Back to the Oak Leaf Trail, sorry - took a wrong turn somewhere. If you see this sign, you might be on the trail:
-----------
106.19 miles on the day meant I did not have enough time for a wrong turn to find myself accidentally at Kopps.
I also didn't get to make a detour to the Milwaukee Public Museum to push the snake button.
But we did have lunch by (and rode near) the Milwaukee Art Museum.
-----------
The yellow-crowned night heron that had been sighted by a few people in Veteran's Park was not spotted by any of us.
-----------
Ya ya Milwaukee.
-----------
Track 11. Badly Drawn Boy - Cause A Rockslide. Your sweetness would cause a rock slide. If only before the summertime. This could be our last goodbye. Please darling, please don't cry.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Team 242 Supper Clubs: Day Five
Wausau, Wisconsin to Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin.
Distance pedaled: 127.39 miles.
2.5 days of not riding and feeling sorry for myself, I thought it was time to get back on the bike. Body be darned.
After the 147 mile day two years ago, I was pretty much convinced that anything over 100 miles is, well, you know, just not enjoyable. And after today, well, so, uh, yeah. The weather was perfect: we started off at 48 degrees and topped out at around 70 degrees, the wind was mostly a tailwind, and the roads/trails were mostly smooth.
Thoughts:
The trails weren't always perfectly smooth. One had a section of deep sand and it led to the first crash of the trip:
Other upright pictures from the trail:
To reiterate, I love the rails to trails. I moved to the front of the group for a little while and pretended I was the engine of a train. Choo-choo. I might have made some sounds. (Sidenote: Ben Gura has joined us this evening and I hope he does his Choo-Choo (come and ride the train) dance tomorrow.)
I still like trains.
-----------
100 miles is a long (drive) ride inside of a (car) bicycle.
110 miles is a long (drive) ride inside of a (car) bicycle.
127.39 miles is too far inside of a (car) bicycle.
-----------
But 127.39 miles in perfect weather conditions wasn't the worst thing in the world. It really was enjoyable.
-----------
I ended up with three ticks today. None embedded.
Even though the trails were smooth, some were overgrown and legs kept getting whacked by brush. It reminded me of an idea I had about running with someone (nobody in particular, just a test) on an overgrown trail in Houston. If she complained about the blood and bruises on her legs post run, so be it. And if she had fun and was amazing - elope.
-----------
No Outlet signs sometimes means No Outlet.
-----------
Oodles of road killed deer today. Too many Bambi's, too.
-----------
Track 11: Camera Obscura - Country Mile.
I won't be seeing you for a long while. I hope it's not as long as these country miles. I feel lost.
Distance pedaled: 127.39 miles.
2.5 days of not riding and feeling sorry for myself, I thought it was time to get back on the bike. Body be darned.
After the 147 mile day two years ago, I was pretty much convinced that anything over 100 miles is, well, you know, just not enjoyable. And after today, well, so, uh, yeah. The weather was perfect: we started off at 48 degrees and topped out at around 70 degrees, the wind was mostly a tailwind, and the roads/trails were mostly smooth.
Thoughts:
The trails weren't always perfectly smooth. One had a section of deep sand and it led to the first crash of the trip:
Other upright pictures from the trail:
To reiterate, I love the rails to trails. I moved to the front of the group for a little while and pretended I was the engine of a train. Choo-choo. I might have made some sounds. (Sidenote: Ben Gura has joined us this evening and I hope he does his Choo-Choo (come and ride the train) dance tomorrow.)
I still like trains.
-----------
100 miles is a long (drive) ride inside of a (car) bicycle.
110 miles is a long (drive) ride inside of a (car) bicycle.
127.39 miles is too far inside of a (car) bicycle.
-----------
But 127.39 miles in perfect weather conditions wasn't the worst thing in the world. It really was enjoyable.
-----------
I ended up with three ticks today. None embedded.
Even though the trails were smooth, some were overgrown and legs kept getting whacked by brush. It reminded me of an idea I had about running with someone (nobody in particular, just a test) on an overgrown trail in Houston. If she complained about the blood and bruises on her legs post run, so be it. And if she had fun and was amazing - elope.
-----------
No Outlet signs sometimes means No Outlet.
-----------
Oodles of road killed deer today. Too many Bambi's, too.
-----------
Track 11: Camera Obscura - Country Mile.
I won't be seeing you for a long while. I hope it's not as long as these country miles. I feel lost.
Team 242 Supper Clubs: Day Four
Wausau, Wisconsin to Wausau, Wisconsin. Rest Day.
For the rest day some of the riders went shopping (see through spandex needed to be replaced). Others went to a coffee shop. Another went to the art museum. And I decided to go birding on Rib Mountain.
Nothing. Well almost nothing. But a lot of time spent walking in the woods was walking in silence. The place was almost completely devoid of birds.
5.5 hours of birding and only 21 species and 97 individuals.
In contrast, Becky picked me up and we stopped at a small park on the side of the road and in 15 minutes we found 11 species and 100+ individuals.
Oh well.
We ate at The Pinewood Supper Club. I forgot to bring my camera - no pictures. But the food was good. Really really good.
Appetizers: Onion Rings. Cheese Curds. Fried Cauliflower.
Dinner: Chicken Oscar.
Dessert: None, but I did have a root beer float at an ice cream shop later in the evening. I'll look up their name because they claim to be the home of an ice cream cone with 1 pound of ice cream.
We've only had two supper clubs so far, but The Pinewood is the unanimous winner so far.
-----------
Track 11. Chin Up Chin Up - Collide The Tide.
Girl there's a fault line between us and it's all that keeps us stationary. So let's go.
For the rest day some of the riders went shopping (see through spandex needed to be replaced). Others went to a coffee shop. Another went to the art museum. And I decided to go birding on Rib Mountain.
Nothing. Well almost nothing. But a lot of time spent walking in the woods was walking in silence. The place was almost completely devoid of birds.
5.5 hours of birding and only 21 species and 97 individuals.
In contrast, Becky picked me up and we stopped at a small park on the side of the road and in 15 minutes we found 11 species and 100+ individuals.
Oh well.
We ate at The Pinewood Supper Club. I forgot to bring my camera - no pictures. But the food was good. Really really good.
Appetizers: Onion Rings. Cheese Curds. Fried Cauliflower.
Dinner: Chicken Oscar.
Dessert: None, but I did have a root beer float at an ice cream shop later in the evening. I'll look up their name because they claim to be the home of an ice cream cone with 1 pound of ice cream.
We've only had two supper clubs so far, but The Pinewood is the unanimous winner so far.
-----------
Track 11. Chin Up Chin Up - Collide The Tide.
Girl there's a fault line between us and it's all that keeps us stationary. So let's go.
Team 242 Supper Clubs: Day Three
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin to Wausau, Wisconsin.
Distance pedaled: 0.00 miles.
Top Speed which was also Bottom Speed: 0.00 mph.
A whole bunch of zeros. I decided to give my body and mind another break.
No bicycle riding. Car driving.
I was able to help out with our support drivers, but I was still hit with a large sense of failure. I don't feel good. Not one bit.
But in ride news: The riders got hit with rain today. Sunny one moment and then rain. But you know what they say about the weather in Wisconsin...
We also ran across some other riders:
-----------
Track 11. Mates Of State - Uber Legitimate.
What if the sun is right? You can't change that source in a day.
Distance pedaled: 0.00 miles.
Top Speed which was also Bottom Speed: 0.00 mph.
A whole bunch of zeros. I decided to give my body and mind another break.
No bicycle riding. Car driving.
I was able to help out with our support drivers, but I was still hit with a large sense of failure. I don't feel good. Not one bit.
But in ride news: The riders got hit with rain today. Sunny one moment and then rain. But you know what they say about the weather in Wisconsin...
-----------
Track 11. Mates Of State - Uber Legitimate.
What if the sun is right? You can't change that source in a day.
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #85
#85: Climb the observation tower on top of Rib Mountain.
Accomplished: July 16, 2014.
Extra-credit: Timm's Hill.
Half-credit: Elevator.
Accomplished: July 16, 2014.
Extra-credit: Timm's Hill.
Half-credit: Elevator.
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #84
#84: Drink water from the mouth of a lion.
Accomplished: July 15, 2014. (And also in Milwaukee many many years ago.)
Extra-credit: Bubbler.
Half-credit: Water fountain.
Accomplished: July 15, 2014. (And also in Milwaukee many many years ago.)
Extra-credit: Bubbler.
Half-credit: Water fountain.
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #83
#83: Buy a Coca-Cola out of a Pepsi machine.
Accomplished: July 15, 2014.
Extra-credit: Walk the weasel.
Half-credit: Pepsi.
Accomplished: July 15, 2014.
Extra-credit: Walk the weasel.
Half-credit: Pepsi.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Team 242 Supper Clubs: Day Two
Tomah, Wisconsin to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
98.7 miles.
Actual distance traveled by bicycle: 41.38 miles.
-----------
I know I typed yesterday that maybe it was because I've had a few years off of the bicycle, but I'm thinking, perhaps, just maybe maybe, possibly, or for any AP Stats students - probably - Kettle is still affecting me. Five weeks ago I participated in and finished a 100 mile trail run (with 6 minutes to spare). During those 29 hours and 54 minutes, I asked a lot out of my body and mind. I have not returned to normal since.
So at mile 41.38, I called it a day and maybe a ride. I'm going to give it a go in the morning, but who knows how the mind and body will respond.
At Kettle, somebody placed a sign along the course that said: "Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." I don't think I suffered during Kettle, but on today's shorter ride, I suffered and found myself unable to rid myself of it.
I'd write more because even with the drop it was a good day, but I'm going to bed. Rest will help. Yes?
-----------
A few pictures from today:
-----------
Also:
Yesterday I wrote that I like trains.
I also like bubbles.
Yes, they were in the trash, but the idea still brought happiness.
-----------
Track 11. The Sundays - A Certain Someone.
If I could have anything in the world for free, I wouldn't share it with anyone else but me. Except perhaps a certain someone.
98.7 miles.
Actual distance traveled by bicycle: 41.38 miles.
-----------
I know I typed yesterday that maybe it was because I've had a few years off of the bicycle, but I'm thinking, perhaps, just maybe maybe, possibly, or for any AP Stats students - probably - Kettle is still affecting me. Five weeks ago I participated in and finished a 100 mile trail run (with 6 minutes to spare). During those 29 hours and 54 minutes, I asked a lot out of my body and mind. I have not returned to normal since.
So at mile 41.38, I called it a day and maybe a ride. I'm going to give it a go in the morning, but who knows how the mind and body will respond.
At Kettle, somebody placed a sign along the course that said: "Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." I don't think I suffered during Kettle, but on today's shorter ride, I suffered and found myself unable to rid myself of it.
I'd write more because even with the drop it was a good day, but I'm going to bed. Rest will help. Yes?
-----------
A few pictures from today:
-----------
Also:
Yesterday I wrote that I like trains.
I also like bubbles.
Yes, they were in the trash, but the idea still brought happiness.
-----------
Track 11. The Sundays - A Certain Someone.
If I could have anything in the world for free, I wouldn't share it with anyone else but me. Except perhaps a certain someone.
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #82
#82: Eat at High Shores Supper Club in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. (as featured in the Wisconsin Supper Club movie and book!)
Accomplished: July 14, 2014.
Ordered:
Souper Starter - vegetable soup. (not pictured)
Appetizers - fried cheese curds, onion rings, and prime rib bites. (not pictured)
Main Course - broasted chicken and ribs. (pictured)
Beverage - chocolate milk. (not pictured)
Accomplished: July 14, 2014.
Ordered:
Souper Starter - vegetable soup. (not pictured)
Appetizers - fried cheese curds, onion rings, and prime rib bites. (not pictured)
Main Course - broasted chicken and ribs. (pictured)
Beverage - chocolate milk. (not pictured)
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Team 242 Supper Clubs: Day One
Middleton, WI to Tomah, WI.
95.55 miles. Top speed: 42.5 mph. Bottom speed: 0.0 mph.
95.55 miles. Top speed: 42.5 mph. Bottom speed: 0.0 mph.
My body is cranky pants.
I’ve tried rationalizing it by blaming Kettle. And my body still hurts from Kettle, but
these pains are in entirely different places.
So maybe, just maybe, it’s because this is the longest bike ride I’ve
done in 2 years. Maybe that’s it.
But I tried to avoid focus on the pain. In the beginning it was easy because there
was no pain. And I was surrounded by the
rolling Wisconsin countryside, cows, flowers, the Wisconsin River, birds
(Indigo Buntings galore), and a surprising lack of road kill (a few birds,
three cats, one opossum, but no deer).
Sidenote: one of the cyclists had a bird fly directly into his front
spokes, so we contributed one to that few birds total.
Later, I was still surrounded by a similar Wisconsin
countryside except the rolling grew (we had to cross the Baraboo Range!). And that’s when the pain became harder to
ignore.
The last part of the day was on the 400 Trail and then the
Elroy/Sparta trail. They are rails to
trails so there are no climbs and I like to pretend that I’m the engineer in
the locomotive from years back. I like
trains.
Another sidenote: Some members of the group have decided
that these trails are bad for jobs and since Wisconsin is a right to work state, they've suggested a new campaign: trails to rails. Jobs! I'm okay with that; I like trains.
Back to pain: along the 400 Trail, I got to spend some quality cycling time with Slovic. We were discussing liberal arts in practice and other assorted topics (nothing about yoga pants). I declared that when I reached mile 60 on the day (10 miles until our rest stop), I was going to shut it down and start cycling at a super slow speed. I hadn't shut it down completely, but I had given in to the pain and was doing minimal effort when at mile 62 a cyclist suddenly appeared behind us. We moved over to the right, but she said she didn't think she'd pass us because she was going the same speed. This was rather nice of her to say, because I'm almost certain she wasn't there a half mile earlier... she was cruising. And when she did pass me I recognized her from earlier. Slovic and I had seen her many miles back off to the side of the trail. She was memorable because she was riding fully loaded. And what I had thought were side bags on the back of her bike were actually plastic cat litter tubs. She was upcycling. This was someone we needed to talk to.
Her name is Megan. She's a recent graduate from the University of Delaware and she started riding from Philadelphia a while back and was eventually going to make her way to Seattle. When was she going to arrive? Some point. How far does she go each day? Depends.
Beautiful beautiful freedom.
And suddenly my pain got thrown into perspective. This was Day One of a ride where I don't have to carry any food, tent, sleeping bag... anything really. She's come from Philadelphia. She's the real deal; I'm just a tourist.
The day's enjoyment returned and I have a feeling the joy will be sticking around for the rest of the week.
-----------
Other thoughts:
Megan (and it turns out she has a riding partner) has a blog about the ride. Please check it out.
-----------
The waving returns were very limited today. Eauxenby would have been disappointed. Wave to a car on a back road - the return: empty stare.
I was passed at mile 40 (in the opposite direction) by the first motorcycle of the trip. I was immediately given the side and down low finger out wave. Beautiful. I can now forget the empty four wheelers.
In fact, every motorcycle gave the down low wave, with one exception. And he must have been a jerk because ahead of me was a motorcyclist that he also ignored. Not cool dude.
-----------
Sandhill crane noise is moving up on my list of favorite sounds.
-----------
Nobody around, but there was a goat tied to a tree on the side of the trail. What?!?
Regret: I didn't stop to take a picture.
-----------
It's not just for bowling anymore.
-----------
Foremost Farms had a few employees shooting at "nuisance" birds as I cycled past. Shooting birds is what they consider to be foremost?
Ugh.
-----------
I like trains.
-----------
Track 11: Mike Doughty - Into The Un.
Don't you waste it. Blaze your bright blaze. In the blue, blue air. Can you face you?
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #81
#81: Go through a tunnel
on the Elroy/Sparta Trail.
Accomplished: July 13, 2014.
Extra-credit: Go through all three tunnels. (Accomplished 14
years ago.)
Half-credit: No meowing.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Team 242 Supper Clubs: Day Zero
After an off year of bicycling with Team 242 (I was going to Iceland), I am back for the full ride. This year the ride will stay in Wisconsin and we'll be stopping at supper clubs along the way. *(asterisk)
Four years ago I contemplated dumping Facebook. And then, soon after, I dumped it. Happier days.
For the last few weeks I've contemplated dumping iMessage from my iPod (and besides, the iPod was only supposed to store some music and more importantly exist as my electronic bird book with bird calls). So I've decided to shut it off for the rest of the summer. Here's why (at least in part):
It reduces people (frustratingly complex in their humanness) to exactly what I'm doing right now: type. No context of true sentiment. No facial expressions to go along with it (I feel emoticons, other than a steaming smiling one of poop, are without merit). Or slaps on the back. Or hugs. Or bubbles. Or quality time spent. iMessages are not sent to the people who are around me. They are not sent to this present moment. They are sent to people elsewhere in their own moments. And if wavelengths aren't the same, and back slaps, hugs, bubbles (trains?), quality time... well heck, lost in translation. The people around me are real; the people on my iPod are real, but they're elsewhere. Not with.
[And if you have any idea of how I operate, you most certainly know that I'm full in on the whole Buddhist, live in the moment, transcendental sh*t. All we have is: now. Siddhartha and the river. Why look downstream? Or upstream? Just be. Anyway, enough of that sarcasm and dirty laundry, back to current feelings.]
I just sent a group email to Team 242 regarding tomorrow night's supper club *(asterisk). I received an automated reply informing me that Ann Davies is out of the office and won't be able to reply to my email until July 21 (or later). I had a moment of aw shucks because my email was timely and will lose importance and meaning by July 21. (Yes, everything has to be immediate.) And then I realized, Ann is staying in the room just there (I am pointing to a bedroom that is up and behind me as I type). Ann is riding the whole week (yeehaw!). I don't need to send an email or feel disappointed that she's not going to receive my email, I can just pedal alongside her and, gasp, talk.
I have been blessed (or if you will: I have fallen into good luck) with amazing who reminds me: Look at all of the beauty in your life and all that surrounds you.
So let me look:
Tonight I fell into good luck at the Team 242 send off cook out as I spent five hours with friends (including three current Beloiter friends) reminiscing on our time at Beloit and hearing stories of their now.
And in all of this good, I was also reminded of how I disliked Beloit (greatly) during my first year there. I was focused on the moments so many others were having (mostly drunken moments that I did not understand). Not moments of my own. DBrowne helped change that. He actually (and literally) helped me discover what was hidden behind (or under) everything that surrounded us. Steam tunnels. Breaker boxes. Telephone connections. Storage closets used exclusively for not used toilet paper. And even some things that were in plain sight the whole time. Frisbee golf. Flags. Friends. Happiness.
And that happiness didn't start until I was able to throw away the moments that weren't mine.
I require real.
So yes, goodbye iMessage.
Tomorrow we ride.
-----------
*(asterisk)
We were informed today that our very first supper club on our Supper Club Ride, the Tee Pee Supper Club in Tomah, Wisconsin, is defunct. Shut down earlier this week. Taxes, sewer bills, etc. were not paid and a recent $70 liquor license renewal check bounced.
I hope we can find a suitable replacement.
(Wisconsin is not a Whataburger state. Lucky us.)
-----------
Track 11: The Mountain Goats - Have To Explode. The stage is set. Someone's going to do something someone else will regret. I speak in smoke signals and you answer in code. The fuse will have to run out sometime. Something here will eventually have to explode.
Four years ago I contemplated dumping Facebook. And then, soon after, I dumped it. Happier days.
For the last few weeks I've contemplated dumping iMessage from my iPod (and besides, the iPod was only supposed to store some music and more importantly exist as my electronic bird book with bird calls). So I've decided to shut it off for the rest of the summer. Here's why (at least in part):
It reduces people (frustratingly complex in their humanness) to exactly what I'm doing right now: type. No context of true sentiment. No facial expressions to go along with it (I feel emoticons, other than a steaming smiling one of poop, are without merit). Or slaps on the back. Or hugs. Or bubbles. Or quality time spent. iMessages are not sent to the people who are around me. They are not sent to this present moment. They are sent to people elsewhere in their own moments. And if wavelengths aren't the same, and back slaps, hugs, bubbles (trains?), quality time... well heck, lost in translation. The people around me are real; the people on my iPod are real, but they're elsewhere. Not with.
[And if you have any idea of how I operate, you most certainly know that I'm full in on the whole Buddhist, live in the moment, transcendental sh*t. All we have is: now. Siddhartha and the river. Why look downstream? Or upstream? Just be. Anyway, enough of that sarcasm and dirty laundry, back to current feelings.]
I just sent a group email to Team 242 regarding tomorrow night's supper club *(asterisk). I received an automated reply informing me that Ann Davies is out of the office and won't be able to reply to my email until July 21 (or later). I had a moment of aw shucks because my email was timely and will lose importance and meaning by July 21. (Yes, everything has to be immediate.) And then I realized, Ann is staying in the room just there (I am pointing to a bedroom that is up and behind me as I type). Ann is riding the whole week (yeehaw!). I don't need to send an email or feel disappointed that she's not going to receive my email, I can just pedal alongside her and, gasp, talk.
I have been blessed (or if you will: I have fallen into good luck) with amazing who reminds me: Look at all of the beauty in your life and all that surrounds you.
So let me look:
Tonight I fell into good luck at the Team 242 send off cook out as I spent five hours with friends (including three current Beloiter friends) reminiscing on our time at Beloit and hearing stories of their now.
And in all of this good, I was also reminded of how I disliked Beloit (greatly) during my first year there. I was focused on the moments so many others were having (mostly drunken moments that I did not understand). Not moments of my own. DBrowne helped change that. He actually (and literally) helped me discover what was hidden behind (or under) everything that surrounded us. Steam tunnels. Breaker boxes. Telephone connections. Storage closets used exclusively for not used toilet paper. And even some things that were in plain sight the whole time. Frisbee golf. Flags. Friends. Happiness.
And that happiness didn't start until I was able to throw away the moments that weren't mine.
I require real.
So yes, goodbye iMessage.
Tomorrow we ride.
-----------
*(asterisk)
We were informed today that our very first supper club on our Supper Club Ride, the Tee Pee Supper Club in Tomah, Wisconsin, is defunct. Shut down earlier this week. Taxes, sewer bills, etc. were not paid and a recent $70 liquor license renewal check bounced.
I hope we can find a suitable replacement.
(Wisconsin is not a Whataburger state. Lucky us.)
-----------
Track 11: The Mountain Goats - Have To Explode. The stage is set. Someone's going to do something someone else will regret. I speak in smoke signals and you answer in code. The fuse will have to run out sometime. Something here will eventually have to explode.
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #80
#80: Water the DBrowne tree on the Beloit College campus.
Accomplished: Today (and many other days).
Extra-credit: With Icelandic water.
Super Extra-credit: Walk to the tree every day during a summer drought with gallons of water to keep the tree the only green thing on campus - thank you (!) Joe Cardillo.
Half-credit: Because you lost your keys.
Accomplished: Today (and many other days).
Extra-credit: With Icelandic water.
Super Extra-credit: Walk to the tree every day during a summer drought with gallons of water to keep the tree the only green thing on campus - thank you (!) Joe Cardillo.
Half-credit: Because you lost your keys.
1000 Things To Do Before You Die: #79
It was a toss up between this and having the space beneath your bed clean (completely).
#79: Sail on Lake Michigan.
Accomplished: July 11, 2014.
Extra-credit: Captain Karen Baumann.
Half-credit: No Nico.
#79: Sail on Lake Michigan.
Accomplished: July 11, 2014.
Extra-credit: Captain Karen Baumann.
Half-credit: No Nico.
 |
| Nico - post sailing. |
No One's Coming Up For Air
It's time to type again.
How long will it last this time?
I hope a week. Maybe two. Not three. But four?
However long, this might be true: I know nothing's gonna change my clothes ever anymore.
-----
It should be noted that I lost my card with all of my Iceland photos on it so I stopped writing. But I did continue riding in Iceland well beyond one day. Beautiful. Amazing. Do it. Go. I will be back. Next summer.
-----
It should be noted that I lost my card with all of my Iceland photos on it so I stopped writing. But I did continue riding in Iceland well beyond one day. Beautiful. Amazing. Do it. Go. I will be back. Next summer.
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