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