Yesterday was a nice, sunny day; I spent it fixing the brakes on my mountain bike. After rebuilding the rear master cylinder and bleeding the brakes, I was stoked to discover the brakes were working(at least for the time being). Every sunny day is like last call here, pretty soon it will be gray and rainy for weeks at a time, you can’t let a nice day go by if you can help it.
Today started out overcast with a storm on the way up the Gorge. So happy the bike was rideable without spending hundreds of dollars, I was out on the trail. Even when things aren’t going your way, you have to grab the good moments when they come by. I’m not sure what the future will bring, but for right now, I am extremely fortunate to live where I do. There aren’t any shopping malls or nightclubs, we barely have TV and internet service and the best way to heat your house is with a wood burning stove, but when I walk out my door, hop on my bike and ride across the road, this is where I am:
In a few weeks, these trails may be covered in snow, for sure they will be wet and muddy. But for today, this may be the best place to ride a mountain bike in the United States.
I live on a mountain, but not at the very top so I have to ride up a little ways. Not a bad deal though.
When I get to the top of the mountain, there is always an awesome view. Today, a look out over the Gorge and over to Mt. Hood it was easy to see that summer is coming to an end. Clear blue skies are gone, replaced by black storm clouds and rain storms. The clouds and rain blocked by the Cascades in the summer are now coming over the mountains and headed our way. This is the way it will be until next June.
OK, winter is coming, but today there is one more summertime run down the mountain.
Down the singletrack that is exactly as wide as my handlebars. Gotta pay attention here.
Through the live oaks covered with moss
Down the last stretch of downhill then back up the hill and home
A quick look out the window; it is raining, the horses are in the barn wondering what happened to summer, just like me. Rain tonight, should be able to ride tomorrow. That is the plan until the ice scraper and snow shovel come out.