People often ask me why I don't drink or partake of any other substance that many others often do. My usual response is some sort of flippant quip. But now, dear readers, I bring you the real reasons! That's right! It's time for my origin story! My parents were both alcoholics and junkies. My father even had a drug lab in his mother's garage at one point. He would often beat my mother. Until one day she hit him back, thus earning her the nick name 'Thumper'. They split up shortly thereafter. I was about two years old. After that neither one of them were involved in my life very much. My grandparents on my mom's side took care of me while my parents were doing who knows what. I grew up in the projects and trailer parks of the Bay Area. I saw my mother maybe once every couple of weeks. Even at a young age I knew I wanted no part of the life my parents had become involved with. I saw my second cousins become drug runners for their own mom, who ended up getting shot by a rival drug dealer.  When my mother did finally sober up for a short period it was only because she stole drugs from the wrong person and they threatened to cut off her hand. As I grew older my convictions just grew stronger. I saw any involvement with drugs and alcohol as a waste. A waste of life, time, and money. I have much better things to do and enough problems. I don't need to add anymore complications or drama to my life. And it all is so illogical. People still try to get me to go out and drink or whatever, to 'take the edge off'. Well, guess what? I DON'T NEED TO. All that stuff is just a crutch to avoid the truth. And I would rather face the truth head on.Then there's all the health reasons as well. Long term drug and alcohol usage will do horrible things to your body. I have worked too damn hard to get to the point where I am now just for so called 'fun'. Now is usually the point when people start arguing their side of how great it can be to go party. Save it, believe me, I've heard it all before and I'm not buying the hype.

     Onto a different more gleeful topic! It's been another week of Bike Month and I've taken some great rides. I at long last got up to Auburn to ride some of the trails I have been hearing so much about. The ride started by going under the Forest Hill Bridge and along the North Fork of the American River and climbing up above Lake Clementine. I rode through a small forest of madrones, around a foothill meadow, and finally descended back down toward the Middle Fork. There were some great technical features along the trail as well. Another recent ride that stands out this week was what is normally just part of my commute. I was almost home when I saw lightening and then about a minute later heard the distant sound of thunder. This continued until I was about a half mile from home and it began to rain. Just as I reached my door the thunder increased in volume, rumbling for over an hour straight with no pauses, lightening frequently lashing out. It was truly awesome.  I rode another half century this week as well, from my place to River Bend Park and around Lake Natoma. So far for the month I am at little over 430 miles!

     As my debt quest continues I am still examining my financial habits and eating away at what I owe. I am feeling a little more steady as I try to gain that precarious balance between losing my sanity by moving too quickly and being able to actually enjoy my life. I am seeing some results though from all my recent efforts. I have leveled up once more! That now makes me level five!

     As the blog post for this week winds down, I am sure everyone can guess what time it is. That magical time, once a week, when you get to see a picture of your beloved blogger basking in his own opulence! That's right! The selfie of the week! This one was taken at an overlook above Lake Clementine, which can be seen in the background, but is obviously overshadowed by my own magnificence.

Selfie #20

     Until next time my valued readers, remember to actually experience all these great moments because

     Bike month continues! To help rack up the miles I took a ride to Auburn I have been wanting to do for awhile. It just happened to be Cinco De Mayo, so I dubbed my ride Cyclo De Mayo. At the beginning of the ride a great blue heron took flight from a field very close to where I was and gracefully soared about. To some native Americans the great blue heron is a sign of a successful journey, and I took it as such as well. Continuing on, along Salmon Falls Road, I spotted a vulture atop a telephone pole with it's wings spread. This particular janitor of the animal kingdom was sunning itself, but it's resemblance to the top of a totem pole was uncanny. Riding along I crossed the confluence of the north and middle forks of the American River, where I discovered highway 49 was closed so I would be experiencing increased traffic on my ride up Forrest Hill Road. After pausing for a moment to take in the wonder of the rivers and the sight of Forrest Hill bridge, which is the bridge in the Vin Diesel movie XXX, I began my ascent. Some of the diverted logging trucks came within inches of me but on the plus side they created a temporary  wind tunnel giving me a slight boost up the hill. Just before actually entering Auburn I crossed the bridge that  I had been so far below before. I ended up riding just under 62 miles, which is about 100 kilometers for my metric speaking friends.

NOT my selfie of the week, just a picture of me with the Forrest Hill bridge

     Just because it's bike month though doesn't mean I have been neglecting the other things I like to do. Saturday I started out the day with a 5.1 mile run. In the early afternoon I went hiking at Cronan Ranch with one one of my favorite people in the world and her dog, whose name is Roo. It was quite entertaining to watch Roo have his first encounter with a horse, looking quizzically at it, wondering exactly what is was that he was looking at. We stopped for lunch just above the rapid known as Secret Chute. It was here we saw a deer appear from the trees just before a rider on horseback galloped by on the trail above us. I finished up the day with a nice ride along the scenic back roads close to where I live. Which brings us to this week's selfie! This one was taken at the aforementioned lunch spot, and I have a special guest this week. Roo dog!

Selfie #19

     The Bold Venture saw a lot of action Sunday when me and four of the best crew mates I've ever had the honor to paddle with hit the white water. We rafted from Chili Bar to Salmon Falls, over 21 miles. It was mother's day and, compared to the crowds normally seen on weekends, there was hardly anyone out. We were the first ones on the river and for much of the time had it all to ourselves. I must say this particular crew moved and maneuvered the boat like none other I've ever paddled with, which came in handy whenever I would abruptly change my mind about which way we should go. Near Gorilla Rock we spotted some small turtles basking in the sun atop their rocky perches. Just above Hospital Bar we saw a great blue heron in the air, another sign of how great our journey was and perhaps an indicator of what we saw next: a bald eagle! We saw this majestic bird near Surprise and witnessed it soaring, seeking it's prey. Which in this case appeared to be some baby mallards. Curiously it was a Canadian goose that sounded the alarm and kept watch as the eagle waited nearby. We finished the day off by just floating and relaxing on the boat before takeout. It was a truly amazing day.

WOOHOO!!!

     On a more serious note, I have been really thinking about recent conversations between me and the Commander. One thing that has really stuck in my head is how she pointed out that I tend to go overboard on certain things, something I have posted on this blog previously. I have really been reflecting on this and the fact I need to find balance between paying off my debt and having time to stay sane. I have found that while I have been making good progress on my debt I am going a little stir crazy. I recognize now I need to take vacations every now and then, that I don't need to call them off altogether right now, but that I do need to be careful about how many I take. And of course watch my spending habits. I also have to recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health. Right now, it seems it will be all about finding that balance.

     Until next time my dear readers I hope you are all out there having fun, getting your balance and declaring proudly to the world your own moment of

     Yes, I know. Last week I bid everyone a fond farewell. It was the end of my journey in the world of blogging. But then something happened. You, my cherished readers, told me you actually liked reading my ramblings! You really like me! So, yes, the blog is here to stay for awhile longer. If you like you can compare last week's ending to Ozzy's infamous No More Tours Tour.

Did someone say my name?

     It's now May and that means May Is Bike Month. For me, as most of you know, every month is bike month. But every May cyclist go crazy nation wide to herald in the start of 'good' cycling weather and to promote awareness of cycling to the general public. Lots of interesting events take place during this month long cyclebration including the closing of some major local roads at the beginning of the month so that only cyclist can enjoy them. There are also meet ups and prizes to be had. You can also earn various badges on the website and challenge your buddies to some friendly competition. So weather you only occasionally take to two wheels or ride frequently, check out what's going on in your area and enjoy the festivities!

     As my debt quest continues, I am on the verge of gaining my next level, perhaps even by my next post. I still have a way to go though and I have been scrutinizing my finances harder than ever. I even began to keep tabs on how much I spend on groceries each month. I know a lot of people already do this, but I generally don't splurge too much when it comes to this category so until now I never kept tabs on the amount of dough I spent on bread. (C'mon. Did anyone really think that joke wasn't going to happen?) The exception to this of course is when I go all out and spoil myself with that nectar of science known as Ovaltine. To recap, in April I spent $273.27. Not too bad. I have also been cutting back on gadgets that once upon a time I would have bought without a second thought. Before I buy things now I ask myself, 'do I really need this?', and 'how many hours would I have to work to pay for this?'. It's amazing how helpful those two questions are.

     I have been contemplating as well why I let myself get so in debt in the first place. Yes, that's right, I LET MYSELF GET IN DEBT. Before I go further I want everyone to think about a cold hard fact. For the vast majority of people in America, being in debt is a choice, a decision that you make. WILLINGLY. People CHOOSE to live beyond their means. Why do you think that last recession happened? People over spent and couldn't pay all their bills. I digress. There are a few reasons I chose to walk into the debt trap. One of the main reasons is because of an unhealthy love/hate relationship with cars. I won't go in depth on that topic today, perhaps in a later post. There are some other psychological reasons I am still untangling in my mind, and I am sure I will be talking about those more in depth later as well. The important thing though is I finally started waking up and realizing what needs to be done so I can unshackle myself from my self imposed bonds.

     Before I leave you, don't think I've forgotten about the time honored tradition of 'The Selfie Of The Week'! Yes, it's just another casual shot taking haphazardly, but it makes more sense than a Jackson Pollock painting. And it's a hell of a lot cheaper!

Selfie #18

     Until next time my inspirational readers, celebrate bike month and

     It's been a whole year since I began this blog experiment, sharing my stories and my journeys with you, my loyal readers. there have been many ups and downs and I thank everyone who has been along with me for the ride. Just as the Doctor has his companions, so does the Captain. Everyone of you who has shared in my life's journey has a special place in my mind, if not my heart. With that being said, I feel the time has come to end, at least for now, my excursion into the world of blogging. You'll still be able to get sporadic insights into whats happening with me on my Facebook page. With that out of the way, I invite you to join me one last time for a peek as to what happened in the latest chapter in the saga of my life:

ARRRRRRRR!!!

     That's right! Another voyage on the South Fork with the Bold Venture! Two hearty crew mates and I took to the waters for another amazing journey on the thunderous white water! It had rained quite a bit the night before and the river level was the highest I have personally experienced in the last two seasons. The picture above was taken at Hospital Bar, where I normally get soaked quite a bit, but this time everyone was DRENCHED! We all went underwater for a glorious brief moment before popping back up into the open air. Overall it was an incredibly smooth run through The Gorge.  

     I finally officially hit the 35,000 mile mark on my Novara Randonee! Just shy of eight years together, and we're both still going. The time and the miles just seem to flyby. Something I've learned during all those miles is that hills, like challenges in life, just make you stronger as long as you persevere. Keep going, even if only slowly and a little at a time, and eventually you'll get to the summit and reach that place that once seemed impossible. Here's to the next 35,000 miles!

     Now that you know this is the final blog post you may say to yourself, 'But Captain! What about that amazing year long selfie a week photo project that you have so selflessly being pouring your heart and soul into?' It's a valid question and I say to you: FEAR NOT! I indeed have a plan! In addition to posting this week's selfie I will continue to post them on my Facebook page! I know how grateful everyone is for my continued sacrifice in pursuit of the arts. You can thank me later. This selfie was taken during that most bodacious and excellent rafting trip previously mentioned. I was feeling super stoked!

Selfie #17

     Just like all good things, all mediocre things too must come to an end. The thing is though, you never know what the future holds in store or when I may suddenly change my mind. But for now, my tenacious, beloved readers,

     Ladies and gentlemen, it has been a week filled with adventure! It all began Thursday when two of my friends and I set out to ride the infamous local trail known as the MET. All went well until one of my companions got a flat in his rear tire. After patching it up we all headed over to the El Dorado Trail. After some shenanigans the same friend who had the flat crashed, causing his front wheel to taco. Somehow we managed to get it straight enough to resume riding. We continued on to the fabled, and well hidden, Troll Tunnel. Then it was back up and over the MET. We ended the day with a couple runs through Sloppy Jalopy, the puddle of ill repute next to Rasmussen Lake. It was along this ride that I took this week's selfie, which I will now share because I know how much everyone loves my selfie project!

Selfie #16

     Friday was the start of a three day staycation revolving around the various manifestations of that body of water that has come to be a focal point in my life, The American River. Day one of the staycation I ran a half marathon around Lake Natoma with one of my friends who I had ridden with the day before. Saturday I ran 5K in the morning and then had yet another epic rafting trip on the South Fork with some friends who I don't get to see nearly enough. We hit all the big rapids just right for maximum soakage! That night I had to go break a twenty to be able to pay the parking fee at the trail head for a run I was doing the next morning. I knew Circle K wouldn't just give me change so I decided to buy a scratcher. Guess what? I won $9!  

    Sunday I headed to the confluence of the north and middle forks to do a 10K trail run sponsored by REI. The route was an out and back that followed The Middle Fork American. My run buddy and I finished in just under an hour. The fun didn't stop after the run though! I went to see Insurgent with another one of my best friends. If you are a fan of the book, definitely see it! I finished up four days of awesome adventures with a short mountain bike ride. 

My run number for the 10K, double deuce!

     All of these adventures, everyone, reminds me to constantly look for the positive, the good things in life, to say to myself, "it's okay to set aside the negative, the challenges, for a little while, and actually enjoy yourself". After all, if you don't have some fun every once in awhile, what's the point of anything? And to enjoy the great things with the company of great friends, well, that's the BEST thing...

     Until next time my dear readers, remember to get out there and

     After about a three month hiatus I got back out on the South Fork Saturday. It was the first run of spring for me and the second trip of the year. I went with a couple guys I know, it was their first time going, and they paddled like seasoned pros! The commercial rafters were out so we had some company but the waterways were by no means crowded yet. The day was incredible and we hit every rapid just right. As always Hospital Bar was a blast, as you can see in the photo below.

Life in Hospital Bar

     

     This most recent trip through The Gorge brings us to the latest installment of THE SELFIE PROJECT. What better way to express the wonders of nature and the intensity of raging whitewater than to show everyone a close-up of my face? 

Selfie #15

     Switching gears, I've been getting into a show I know most of you are probably familiar with: Entourage. I am halfway through the third season now and still have lots to watch. I'm trying not to watch it all too quickly since I am really enjoying the series and want to savor it. When I first began watching it though I realized something. It was within the first few episodes. You know those quizzes that ask you things to determine which character you would be on a show? Well, if there were one for Entourage I am fairly certain I would be Johnny Drama. For those who know me well you'll see the similarities.

Yup. That's me.

     That's it for this week. I've been busy thinking of ways to keep up my momentum in the debt quest. Thanks everyone for dropping by for a quickie! Until next time here's a little something I've been telling myself a lot lately:

     The saga of my truck continues! After getting another new motor installed, under warranty and at no charge, I picked up the pick up. I brought it back a few days later for a check up, and guess what? The shop informed me the new motor, with only about 100 miles on it, is already leaking! There will be some follow up visits to see exactly WTF is going on. As much as I like my Ford it’s embarrassing to have it live up to the ‘Fixed Or Repaired Daily’ reputation that Chevy owners bestow upon the moniker of their arch-nemesis.

     At least with my bicycles, if something needs to be replaced or fixed, things are relatively inexpensive. For instance, I recently had to replace the rear gear cluster and chain on my mountain bike. Both components, which are half the drive train, cost me about $50. I also need to get new pedals soon for the same bike. I am going to get pretty decent ones, and they will cost about $60. That’s a total of $110. Compare that to the $5500 it cost for a new motor (half the drive train) in my truck. That means to fix my mountain bike cost me only 2% of what I spent on a motor. And my bicycle can take me places my truck can’t!  Which leads to my next topic: a recent foray on the El Dorado Trail. While I have eschewed almost all plans for overnight trips in my quest to drop the one ring of debt into the fires of Mount Doom I am still making sure to occasionally take day long trips to nearby locales. And after spending money to keep my mountain bike in good shape I am making damn sure to put it to use. A friend and I started at the Missouri Flat Road trail head in Placerville and rode the 25.2 miles to the Folsom terminus. Along the way we saw many wildflowers, turkeys, and even a couple of deer. The trail itself was in better shape than the previous time I rode it. I'm looking forward to doing it again.

     ...Which segues into everyone's favorite part of my blog...SELFIE OF THE WEEK!!! This one is goofy, irreverent, and shows me really not caring how damn stupid I can look. It was taken on the aforementioned ride along the EDT. Enjoy it for what it is, a piece of function-less art that really serves no purpose, or some such thing that sounds like I know what I am talking about.

Selfie #14

     The highlight of my week though has to be getting to touch base with The Commander who, as you may recall, has recently took on the de facto role of sponsor in my pseudo twelve step debt recovery. It's amazing to have the support and encouragement I need to be successful in my journey to becoming debt free. She never hesitates to give me the hard truths, which is one of many reasons why she is my best friend. It would be a much more difficult undertaking without her. Thank you for all that you do Commander!

It's funny because it's true

     Until next time my dear readers, I hope everyone of you is able to figure out all the problems in your life so the only thing you will ever have to ask yourself is