It’s been a pretty uneventful week. Just a hodgepodge of random stuff. In my continuing effort to minimize the amount of  redundant gear I own I got rid of two stoves, so I’m down to one. I cooked more manicotti, this time with alfredo sauce. Good, but not quite as delicious as the red sauce I previously used and plan on using again. I rode a half century, that’s fifty miles for those of you that don’t cycle, on some of the most scenic back roads in El Dorado county. The highlight of my week though was getting to catch up with the Commander. She is one of my best friends, and I don’t get to see her nearly as often as I’d like. Various hijinks are guaranteed when we’re about. If you see us together on the street, watch out son!

     Someone recently made me aware of a cartoon called Regular Show. It’s on it’s sixth season and I can’t believe I had never heard of it before. It’s about a raccoon and a bird that work at a park and the sticky situations they always seem to get themselves into. Even when I’m watching it alone (okay, let’s face it, that’s the only time I’m watching it), I frequently get a few laugh out loud moments. It's one of those Cartoon Network shows where each episode is a bite sized chunk of about eleven minutes. Just like a fun sized candy bar it's surprisingly packed with comforting goodness.

      Oh, and then there's this:

     Seriously, how can something that looks so simple be so, ummm....whatever it is!?

     That’s pretty much it for this week, a small pile of sundry mediocrity. So until next time my valued readers

     December 21 was Yule, the Winter Solstice, the much awaited first day of Winter. That day of the year when the night is the longest, meaning that every day after this one will bring a little more light. As a pagan, I contemplated the metaphor that this celestial event can be. It is a time of rebirth and renewal. It is the fact that though there are dark periods in life, if you endure, then there will be light as well. It is the promise of better things. All these thoughts and more I pondered.

   

     In celebration I ventured out to Echo Lakes to revel in the snow. I trekked to the head of Lower Echo Lake and had lunch as I basked in the sights of the nearby snow capped peaks surrounding the not yet frozen lake. The view from the vista point that overlooks Lake Tahoe and the neighboring mountains was stunning as always. The highlight of my revelry was repeatedly sledding down a short hill. As I made my way back my mind began to wander, thinking of all the things I would have to take care of when I got home, and things I would have to deal with over the next few months. I began to get a little a little stressed out, then I quieted my noisy brain and reminded myself to be here, present in this moment, that what I was experiencing would never happen again. Appropriately, I am sure this will be echoing in my mind for at least the next few days.

     I do have an entertainment recommendation this week, a podcast. It’s called Serial. It’s a true story about a young woman who was murdered in 1999 and her ex-boyfriend who was convicted for the crime. As usual, I won’t give any spoilers, but the first season just wrapped up so you can binge listen to all twelve episodes. Even if you’re not into true crime it’s fascinating enough that you’ll still like it.

     Until next time, remember, sometimes you have to make your own luck.

   

     Continuing with the theme of the homemade half, I ran around Lake Natoma and then some this week. The temperature was just right, not hot at all and not so cool that I was chilly. There weren’t too many people out and the lake itself was fairly placid as I took in the pleasant scenes of nature in an urban area. Folsom really does have an amazing network of trails, great for people such as myself who enjoy the outdoors and love local adventures. What made this run all the more sweeter  was achieving a new personal record, 13.1 miles in 2:03:23.

     As most of you know I say some pretty offensive shit, so oftentimes people will wonder, “is there anything that offends the Captain?” The answer is, YES.  This offends me:

Because vandalizing a world heritage site makes people want to use renewable energy

     This is not a photoshopped image. greenpeace vandalized the Nazca lines in Peru to ‘help save the planet.’ This 1500 year old piece of Peruvian culture is a UNESCO world heritage site where no one is allowed to set foot on, even heads of state, due to the fragile nature of the area. Somehow though greenpeace thought it was okay to desecrate this area. Honestly, I find this one of the most vile and disgusting things that I have ever seen. They issued an apology to Peru for the fact that they offended that nation, but didn’t apologize for the actual damage that was done. So next time you see them begging for money ask them why they have lost non-profit status in all but two countries they have a scam running in, ask them how much of the money they collect is used to bail out their ‘activists’ and ask them why they want the world to be ignorant when it comes to research that could stop millions from starving.

     I made it out to Kanaka Valley this week. Since I discovered there are public trails in this area I have been wanting to explore it, hoping there would be something worth discovering. I was not disappointed. The valley is surrounded by uncanny peaks and engulfed in a surreal silence. I summited one of the peaks before finding a trail that led me to Hospital Bar on the South Fork.  I sat beside the water for awhile and had lunch and then explored the bank for a bit. I noticed a pile of some debris and spotted a rafting paddle! Being the pirate that I am, I managed to rig it onto my pack and begin the journey back. The entire trip I didn’t encounter another person. Even though I wasn’t far from any roads I felt as though I was isolated in the middle of nowhere. It was a terrific feeling. I traveled on only a portion of the trails and am eager to go back and explore this place some more.

Beautiful Kanaka Valley

Until next time my loyal readers, remember

     The colors of autumn have begun to fade and the winter weather is moving in. The temperature has started to drop and days of rain have arrived, including the biggest storm I recall in the last few years. A storm which I rode in. In the dark. The day of the storm I knew there was going to be some rain and wind but not the severity, so I decided to ride to work figuring I could handle a drizzle and a few gusts of wind. I should have known what was in store for later in the day, as the wind in the morning buffeted me and even smacked me in the side of the head with what I think was a large wet leaf. Tumble weeds blew past me going the opposite direction as the wind tried to halt my progress. I finally arrived I work, where at one point in the day I would meet a parrot named Frodo.

     I left just as the sun started setting and the worst of the storm began. The rain poured down and someone offered me a ride home, which I declined and would later question the sanity of saying no to the offer. As I walked out the door to begin my ride I loudly declared, “Valhalla, I am coming!” The streets were literally flooding and then the lightening and thunder began. Every one to two minutes a blazing flash could be seen through the sheets of water followed shortly by a roaring, clamorous rage of thunder. I rode on. After a few miles the storm began to finally subside a bit but I still had very wet streets to contend with. At one point I had to ride in the middle of the road to go through the shallowest part of a small lake that had formed, which still came up past the bottom of my panniers. As I neared home the rain was almost gone but the wind picked back up. I struggled the last few miles home, glad that I had the experience but also happy it was over. There can be only one explanation for such a tempest:

     California really does need more storms like the epic one this week. My beautiful home state has been going through a severe drought. Scheduled releases on the south fork of the American River have been reduced to Saturdays only, and after a two and a half month somewhat forced hiatus two friends and I took the Bold Venture through the Gorge. We were fortunate enough to have the water come up to a flow that was typical during this summer, 1300 CFS, and had an amazing time. We witnessed the mist slowly burning off the surface of the river, small pumpkins someone had put in random places and spectacular scenery. We saw no other rafters and only a handful of kayakers. It was an awesome experience, one that I hopefully won’t have to wait another two months for.

     Again not letting the threat of rain deter me I ran what I am calling a homemade half marathon. Over half this distance was on Deer Valley road, an area I’ve spent a bit of time in this week, and plan on spending more time in, in the future, especially since I discovered there is BLM land in nearby Kanaka Valley. Among the things I encountered during my three excursions this week were does, fawns, a sign declaring "dachshund crossing", with another sign under it warning "be afraid, be very afraid", sweeping vistas, quietly surreal landscapes, a swelling Weber Creek and more than a dozen turkey vultures sunning themselves on a large gate.

     This week, instead of a motion picture recommendation, I’m going to change it up and recommend a book instead. The Martian by Andy Weir. If you like science fiction, or survival tales, READ THIS BOOK. I can’t express enough what a great read this is. It’s also set to be a major motion picture in 2015, so get ahead of the crowd and see what you’ve been missing!

     Another high light this week was getting to spend time with two of my best friends on the same day. They are both rays of healing light that are more frequently and seriously needed of late. Until next time my treasured readers, no matter the nature of the storms the world throws at us, remember

     Turkey day has come and gone, and I had a pretty good one. A short mountain bike ride in the morning on some of the local trails, including a go through the infamous puddle known as Sloppy Jalopy. Sloppy isn't filled quite yet but does have some water in it, thanks to the much needed recent rain. In the afternoon I began to prepare the Thanksgiving meal: Stuffaronis. For those of you who have never heard of this dish, it's manicotti shells stuffed with a mix of ground beef (or in this case turkey), spinach, eggs, breadcrumbs, and onions. They're pretty good and they are my most recent foray in my exploration of cooking. While they baked I went for a 5K run. Shortly after I got back from my run the food was done. The sauce I chose, a mushroom red sauce, added to the deliciousness. One of the best things about this years Thanksgiving was that the only person in my family I had to see was my grandmother. The rest of my family I don't care for and, honestly, if I never saw them again I would be okay. Throughout the day I asked myself what I am thankful for. The top of my list continues to be my best friends, who know more about me than they probably want to, but still accept me for who I am. They have been with me on some of my best and craziest adventures.

      I have been contemplating my life at home a lot lately. Now that my grandmother has come back to my apartment I have realized that while she was gone I was a lot happier. I was more confident as well, and less stressed. Now that she is back it's almost like I can't get a break. It seems I am always responsible for helping someone. At least at I work I get paid to take care of peoples needs. At home it seems I have to do five other things first before I can do the one thing I really want to do. I do care about my grandmother a lot, but I need to have my own life. It seems she is determined though that I am the one that has to take care of her. My no good aunt and cousin have finally started to help more, and even offered to let my grandmother move in with them, but she doesn't want to. And she doesn't want to go back to a nursing home either. It seems she has apron strings that have become a noose. I keep telling myself she probably only has a few months left, but what if it's longer? And besides, haven't I done enough? Of course if I express this feeling to anyone they attempt to guilt trip me. I want to have my own life though, to actually be able to date someone and bring them back to my place and not have to explain why my grandmother is at my house, or stop the date because my grandmother is choking on food again. And she also has a difficult time getting rid of things, the house gets cluttered with shit she thinks she needs, including bills and bank statements dating back as far as twenty years ago. I've been stressed enough lately that I've had a couple Tourettes episodes. Then there's my family thinking I have money to help them out. I have determined they are either high or out of their minds.

      Running and cycling has helped to keep me sane. I've had to don the rain gear lately, but I've got to keep getting out there.

Until next time readers,

     I’ve had  a week filled with amazing bicycle rides.  With everything that’s been going on at home, I’ve really needed them. There’s nothing like some outdoor therapy to make things a bit better.  There was one short, but really scenic, ride that really stands out. It was less than nine miles but it was amazing. I saw a woodpecker actually pecking wood (please feel free to snicker), three deer grazing lazily on someone’s lawn, found my 200th geocache and startled some llamas. The experience was a reminder that I don’t have to have an epic 50+ mile ride to enjoy myself, sometimes it’s the little things that can bring the most joy.

     Of course, I still do enjoy longer rides, such as the 37 mile one I also took this week. The autumn colors are phenomenal right now, and there were patches of low fog, making for a haunting ride at times. I went through Coloma, which is currently festooned with large red ribbons along highway 49 . People explored the town, bundled up, hinting at the coming holidays. I climbed out of Coloma on Cold Springs road, topping out at a 20% incline. The back roads on the way to Placerville continued to impress in their fall foliage. Along Pleasant Valley road I spotted a goat in a tree and had a little chuckle at it’s expense. It’s moments like that that make it all worth it.

     I’ve been on the trails as well, for my cycling therapy. Actually one of these rides could qualify as group therapy, since I showed two of my friends around some of the local trails in Cameron Park. We rode some of the easier stuff, then headed up and over the fabled Most Extreme trail, then headed to ride a part of the El Dorado trail. Rain accosted us occasionally, but it just made the ride more interesting. After a quick stop at Lake Durock we made our way back through the secluded and legendary Troll Tunnel.

It's this way, I promise.

     Then there was today. I started at Cronan Ranch and headed for the Magic Bridge. I stopped at the vista point for Satan’s Cesspool and soaked in the view. I thought to myself that it has been about two weeks since I was last here, on a bikepacking overnighter. This is such an amazing area to live in. All this riding has not dulled my desire for a four or five day bike tour, but rather increased it. I digress though. Riding along I came nearer to the Lollipop tree, on the opposite side of the river. It’s not often I get to see it this way, so I decided to take a snapshot. There are a lot of places that deserve to be photographed along this trail, but some places, and moments should only belong in that place, and that moment. Sometimes you really need a reminder to be present where, and when, you are, to just be and not worry about the past or future. Remember, BE IN THE MOMENT!

The Lollipop tree, IN THE MOMENT!

     This week’s movie recommendation: Interstellar. If you like science fiction epics, you should definitely watch this motion picture. So many moments reminded me of Carl Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot. This movie is very thought provoking and, to me, is a great reminder of the place of humans in the universe. The imagery is incredible. As usual, I’m not going to give much away, other than that it should be seen on the big screen.

     Until next time my therapeutic readers

     I spoke to woman with stage 4 cancer this week. She is getting married very soon and doing all the things she wants with the time she has left. To me this is a reminder that we should all do more with our lives, live more how we want, not how others want us to. We all have a number on our days, and none of us know what that number is, although some, such as the woman I spoke with, have a better idea than most. Speaking with her made me think of a great deal many other things as well. Here are a few of those things:

     Sometimes I talk way too much, when I really should just listen for awhile.

     How can I live my own life more fully AND responsibly? I am a pretty responsible person and I feel I need to balance my responsibilities with my desires, so while I may indulge myself in whims of fancy I'm not going to just run out and abandon all my principles.

     I am strengthening my resolve to get out of debt. Debt is a ridiculous trap too many of us allow ourselves to get caught in. How much is your freedom worth? Look at the amount of debt you owe and there's your answer.

     I will spend more time listening and reflecting.

     The hours of daylight continue to get shorter as the time of Yule steadily creeps closer. This hasn't stopped my outdoor pursuits though. I am still commuting regularly by bicycle and still going for runs in the evening. I won't let the darkness stop me, I will overcome and continue on! Sure, it's colder outside and not having a full grasp of your surroundings can be intimidating, but fear and excuses do not lead to anything of quality and value.

  
     Until next time my intrepid readers, in this time when the light is short and things may seem bleak, remember who you are and don't forget,

     I found out this week that the rumor I had been hearing for awhile is true. My estranged father died years ago, in 2005. I am now officially an orphan, and an only child. I'm not really close with any of my family, but realizing  that both my progenitors are deceased has really made me think. I would not be the man I am today if it weren't for the lessons I learned from them. They didn't teach me these lessons directly, but rather I learned from observing them and thus discovered what not to do if I want to be a better person. I learned that drug and alcohol abuse lead to self destruction and are a waste of my time and money. I learned to think for myself and to not give into peer pressure just to impress people. My parents were by no means the best people in the world but I still have a lot to thank them for. Okay, I guess really the only thank I have to thank them for is getting it on and bringing me into the world.

Batman and I now have something in common

     I decided it was finally time to stop putting off an overnight bikepacking trip and gathered up my gear Sunday and set off from my place to go into the wild. I originally had been thinking of going to the Peninsula campground on Folsom Lake but then realized in all the years I have lived in this area I had never stayed at the Beals Point campground. I had a route planned out in my head which I mostly followed. I headed to some local back roads, crossing Weber Creek before ascending up to Lotus road and working my way to Highway 49, where I finally hit dirt trails at Greenwood Creek. Along the Gerle Loop I stopped for lunch and talked for a bit with an old timer and he regaled me with tales of his hiking throughout the area with his faithful dog. I bid him adieu and made my way to Hastings Creek, where I stopped to refill my water. From there I took the South Fork American River Trail to Salmon Falls. The day was unseasonably warm, hitting the low 80s. Down below me I could see several of the rapids in The Gorge, including Satan's Cesspool.

Satan's Cesspool

     Once I reached Salmon Falls Road I took the Darrington Trail to the old Salmon Falls bridge, known to some of the locals as the Magic Bridge due to the fact it only comes out when the level of Folsom Lake is low. After stopping for a quick snack break, consisting of one of the best tasting apples I've ever had, I crossed the bridge, as well as Sweetwater creek. I rode across a plain and made my way to the Falcon Crest trail head. This was the part of my route I was unsure about. I would either continue on a trail I had never ridden before or have to hit pavement. I hadn't been making very good time on the trail and I was losing light. If I took the trail it would most likely take me at least two hours to reach camp and I would be riding the unfamiliar trail after dark with my headlamp. As much as I wanted to take the trail I instead decided to take the pavement. I reached camp about an hour later, just before sunset.

The Magic Bridge, across the plain

    I set up camp, read for a bit, ate dinner then went to look at the lake under the starlight. The chirping crickets lulled me to sleep. Sometime in the night yipping and howling coyotes awoke me. I fell back asleep listening to them. In the morning I got an early start back home and hit trails where I could. Even though it was just in my own backyard, this bike overnight did me a lot of good and has me looking forward to future bicycle tours, both on and off-road.

shameless selfie

     Surprise! I have another movie recommendation this week: Big Hero 6. I won't say much because I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say you should see it in 3D, it looks amazing! there's also a scene after the credits, one of the best Marvel Studios has done yet.

    So, my faithful readers, until next time, I have a reminder for both you and me:

     In a bittersweet plot twist, my grandmother has returned to the apartment. According to her doctor she now has only about five months to live, and she has chosen to come home to finish out her days. A brave choice, which I respect. At the same time though, it puts a burden back on me. I have helped to take care of her for years and I am more than ready to move on with my life. It may sound cold to some that I say that, but consider what I have given up. It's hard to date when you can't really bring a girl home because you know you can be interrupted at any point and there are things I haven't done because it conflicted with the care taking. I tell myself to hold on and enjoy the time I have left with her, but she can be very pessimistic despite how she clings to life. Ask her how she is doing at any given time and she just tells you how miserable she is. Then there is always the possibility the doctor is wrong and she will be alive longer than his prognosis. That is why I have to let go and just live my life. A choice not everyone will understand, but I've made it. Some of the family has finally come up to go through the things she has accumulated which will make things easier for me when she does finally pass, Old photos that were found have brought up old memories, reminding me to cherish the new ones I make everyday.

     On to brighter subjects, like the nearly nine mile hike I took at Cronan Ranch Saturday. Despite the threat of rain I headed out, prepared for a downpour. Instead I was rewarded with spectacular autumn colors and amazing views of the South Fork. I also did some geocaching while I was out and about, discovering one of the best hidden caches I have yet found, and also a pirate themed cache.

     Thanks to all my recent mountain biking adventures, I recently passed the 1000 mile mark on my mountain bike. It took a while, but I am glad I finally hit that milestone. Here's to the next 1000! Hopefully it won't take as long as the first 1000!

     Until next time, keep in mind tomorrow isn't promised today so

     Motivated by friends and a fourteen year old map I headed to Nevada on Wednesday for  a mountain bike adventure in the Sierras east of Tahoe to the Marlette Lake basin. One of my fellow outdoor cohorts went with me and we quickly discovered that nearly the first five miles was uphill. The whole way though we were greeted by aspens in the midst of changing colors, displaying an explosion of shades of yellow with some orange mixed in. As we progressed up the hill we were greeted with incredible views of a meadow surrounded by the mountain tops.

On the way to Marlette Lake

Marlette Lake

     After we finished the climb we arrived at Marlette Lake, a bit low but beautiful none the less. From there we headed around the west side of the lake to the Marlette Flume trail. Dangerous to be sure, though not for the reasons you may think. It did have a sheer drop off of several hundred feet, but the real danger lay in the stunning and spectacular views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierras to the west that could so easily be distracting. I had to stop several times just to take it all in. The trail wound along the mountainside eventually taking us to a junction.

One of the many grand views along the Marlette Flume trail

     We decided to take the Red House Flume trail back to Marlette Lake. More hill climbing following a sandy descent taking us close to the nearby Hobart Creek reservoir ensued. We eventually came to a small dam that we carried our bikes across and began to ascend once more. The uphill was steeper than the first climb, so steep my companion’s tires began to spin in the loose dirt as he rode. After reaching the summit we cruised back down to the lake to enjoy a brief rest and enjoy the company of some fellow mountain bikers we met. We finished the day by enjoying the descent back to the trailhead and then headed back to Folsom to enjoy free sandwiches from Firehouse subs. After I got home I watched the sunset and wondered at this amazing world we live in.

Me, amazed

     The day after I decided to continue my mountain biking hijinks and rode over to Doton’s Point on Folsom Lake. More technical than the previous days ride, though not by much, it was also a fantastic ride. The ride was a  mix of fire roads and single track with scenery special in it’s own way. I recommend checking it out for local adventures, Especially since it had me declaring this more than once:

     I’m slipping in another movie recommendation this week: Fury. Yup, that movie about tanks in World War II. The cast was great, even that kid from the Transformer movies I don’t really care for. It does have a lot of gore, but what do you expect? War isn’t pretty. I won’t say anything else other than if you have to go to the bathroom during the movie, DON’T. Every scene has something you don’t want to miss.

     Until next time dear readers, get up, get out and

     My foray into the cooking world continues. The most recent dish I devised was large shell pasta mixed with alfredo sauce, topped with sweet cheddar. For the side dish I made two buttered pieces of toast, also topped with the same cheese. Once again, damn tasty, and has absolutely nothing to do with my next topic.

     This last week I actually got sick. I believe it was a combination of not taking enough rest days and eating too much the night before. So I was forced to take a rest day. I HATE REST DAYS. It feels like such a waste. I know there are a lot of people that say they are necessary, but that doesn't make me detest them any less. Especially when I know others are out there living it up!

     It’s time once more for a movie recommendation. The choice this time around is Blended, starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Yes, it does have the typical ending of a romcom, but I found myself laughing out loud on multiple occasions. Something I don’t normally do when I’m watching a movie at home. It does have cameos of Sandler’s usual crew but the story and setting are different than what I was expecting and made for hilarious surprises. So do yourself a favor and watch it already!

     I’ve begun to geocache again, something I've done off and on over the years. My plan is to do it on a more consistent basis. For those of you not familiar with geogaching, it’s basically using a GPS device to look for things other people have hidden. The hidden objects range in size from things smaller than a dime to 55 gallon drums. Some of them are very cleverly disguised. I once found a cache that looked like a pile of horse manure. It’s a lot of fun, especially if you find what you ‘re looking for. What better activity for a pirate than to look for hidden treasure? Although stealth is usually required in public places so people don’t think you’re up to no good.

     Something I learned from riding Northstar: there is life before and after riding there. Since the Northstar experience my skill level is definitely up. I’m riding stuff on the local trails that have intimidated me for years. I am more confident in myself, allowing me to ride more assertively. Thinking on it, I realized I could transfer this experience into my everyday life. I looked back on moments in my life that were hectic and challenging and gave me a better foundation for obstacles in my future. Because of those times I am better prepared to face whatever lays before me, and to get past those things that once seemed impossible.

     Until next time dear readers, there's something to remember, that I will be keeping in mind everyday, to strengthen my resolve when I feel weak, and I hope you take it to heart as I will,