Getting closer... I'm still stressed, but I think cleaning my apartment over the last few days has helped. I cleaned like a m-fer. Even the fridge got cleaned out, and I managed to throw away most of the hundreds of magazines I've accumulated over the past couple years. I got rid of clothes, bleached my bathroom, got the dust-bunnies out from under the bed, and even managed to reorganize all my bike tools and equipment so that my "bike shop" is no longer the same room as my kitchen.
Packing is going to be the main order of this afternoon. I still have some quick errands to run; need to get a laptop case, get the car washed (and possibly the oil changed), and head to the bank to make sure I've got enough cash in my accounts and in my pocket for the trip.
I'm looking forward to so many things on this trip. Seeing good friends, riding beautiful places, and documenting it all on my cameras and in my words. I'm nervous about my bike getting there when I do, but I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope that the airline folks hold up their end of the bargain when it comes to that.
Disappointingly, I found a small tear in the sidewall of my new Schwalbe Rocket Rons as I was looking over my bike last night. I know these tires don't have a terribly long lifespan, but dammit if these things went quick! I only mounted them less than a month ago, and I've only done maybe two rides with them on rocks sharp enough to o anything like this. I'm planning on leaving them mounted for when I get there, and just riding them until they can't be ridden anymore. I'm brining three other tires (a Specialized Ground Control, Purgatory, and some other Spesh tire), but they're all bigger volume tires. I guess I'm just going to have to justify the bigger tires by riding some big rocks and gnarly stuff. :)
Anyway, time to get to work and get the last of everything sorted so I can go and have a blast. Again, I'll be updating as much as I can with some short video and posts here when I can (internet connections willing), and I'll have a full writeup, article, and longer vids when I get back.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
3 Days and counting
Three more days 'till I leave and the stress hasn't gone away. I'm not quite sure, but for some reason, this trip is really stressing me out. It's not so much being there, it's more the actual travel involved.
I've done this particular journey enough that I ought to be a pro by now, the only difference being that this time I'll be connecting a flight through Paris. I've never been to France (though for some peculiar reason I'd love to live there) and I don't speak a lick of French. I can usually get by on my terribly bad Spanish, but FRENCH!? I'm royally screwed if anyone askes me anything more than my name!
The good (or bad depending on how you look at it) news is that I'll have about a 5 hour layover to get to know our French friends. Maybe we can talk about things like democracy, French fries, and threesomes (I heard they invented that!). Or, I could really experience the culture, get a baguette, glass of wine, and some brie, sit at a cafe and people watch. Of course it will be 8:30 AM their time, so maybe it's not quite appropriate to drink. Or...I could just be the "obnoxious American" they think we all are and be loud and eat a lot. Yeah, that might be the most fun!
Either way, as long as I (and my bike!) get to Spain safely I'll be happy. This is going to be a great trip and a great opportunity to spend some time with people I really like and a place that I've been in love with since the first time I was there nearly three years ago. Good times are ahead for sure!
I've done this particular journey enough that I ought to be a pro by now, the only difference being that this time I'll be connecting a flight through Paris. I've never been to France (though for some peculiar reason I'd love to live there) and I don't speak a lick of French. I can usually get by on my terribly bad Spanish, but FRENCH!? I'm royally screwed if anyone askes me anything more than my name!
The good (or bad depending on how you look at it) news is that I'll have about a 5 hour layover to get to know our French friends. Maybe we can talk about things like democracy, French fries, and threesomes (I heard they invented that!). Or, I could really experience the culture, get a baguette, glass of wine, and some brie, sit at a cafe and people watch. Of course it will be 8:30 AM their time, so maybe it's not quite appropriate to drink. Or...I could just be the "obnoxious American" they think we all are and be loud and eat a lot. Yeah, that might be the most fun!
Either way, as long as I (and my bike!) get to Spain safely I'll be happy. This is going to be a great trip and a great opportunity to spend some time with people I really like and a place that I've been in love with since the first time I was there nearly three years ago. Good times are ahead for sure!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Plane Ride
Got a little bit of a plane ride ahead of me in about five days time. Heading to Spain again and I'm pumped. Looking forward to some mountain biking, some adventure, some beautiful mountain views, and catching up with good friends.
This trip had been in the cards for a bit, but having just booked it yesterday I feel an overwhelming amount of stress over the travel. I guess I knew I was going in my mind, but now that it's been cemented, it's a little more intimidating. I've got bags to pack, a bike to get ready, and some money to get sorted before I head over.
I think the biggest worry of mine is the transfer I'll have to make in Paris before continuing on to Malaga. I'm worried about navigating an airport I've never been to, and I'm worried about the baggage handlers losing and/or trashing my bike in transit. I've been extremely lucky and never had a delayed or lost bike, so I think I'm just about due for it. I'm almost certain something will go wrong this time-especially because it's my mountain bike.
I'll be hopefully blogging a bit while I'm there, and in addition, I'll be writing an article and adding some video documenting my time there. It'll be mostly about mountain biking, but I'm going to be sure to include much about the food, culture, shopping, etc. that this particular part of Spain has to offer.
I'm hoping to catch some cultural events while I'm there as well. Maybe I ought to read up on some Hemingway during the flight over!
More to come and hopefully as departure Tuesday gets nearer, I'll be a little less stressed!
This trip had been in the cards for a bit, but having just booked it yesterday I feel an overwhelming amount of stress over the travel. I guess I knew I was going in my mind, but now that it's been cemented, it's a little more intimidating. I've got bags to pack, a bike to get ready, and some money to get sorted before I head over.
I think the biggest worry of mine is the transfer I'll have to make in Paris before continuing on to Malaga. I'm worried about navigating an airport I've never been to, and I'm worried about the baggage handlers losing and/or trashing my bike in transit. I've been extremely lucky and never had a delayed or lost bike, so I think I'm just about due for it. I'm almost certain something will go wrong this time-especially because it's my mountain bike.
I'll be hopefully blogging a bit while I'm there, and in addition, I'll be writing an article and adding some video documenting my time there. It'll be mostly about mountain biking, but I'm going to be sure to include much about the food, culture, shopping, etc. that this particular part of Spain has to offer.
I'm hoping to catch some cultural events while I'm there as well. Maybe I ought to read up on some Hemingway during the flight over!
More to come and hopefully as departure Tuesday gets nearer, I'll be a little less stressed!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Friends
During my ride today I had a lot of time to think. Some people like to ride to music, but I like to ride to my thoughts. Anyway, I though a lot about my best friend Danny. Danny isn't exactly what you'd think of when you'd think of best friends. We don't see each other much, and most of the memories we have come from before we were even in high school. But, every year, without fail, Danny calls or now texts me on my birthday, and every year until now, I never returned his call.
My mother would tell me several times a year that Danny had called to say hi, and that I should get in touch with him, but I never did. I always meant to, but never once did I ever actual make good on my word.
Rewind to last year. I was turning thirty, and I wanted to have my then "best friend" Stew and his wife come in for my birthday. I had spent a lot of time with Stew through high school, and we had grown close, but soon after he was married our relationship fell by the wayside. He was living in Virginia, and I in New York-not a long trip by any means but he rarely made it to see me.
I had mentioned to him in advance that I wanted him to come and celebrate with me. Excuses abounded, and eventually he never came through. As I thought about it, I realized that he had NEVER gone out of his way to see me. I was always the one to go to him.
Now back to Danny; the guy is a rock. From the time we were little, Danny has been the most loyal person I've ever known. He's had some tough turns in his young life, but he always comes through and I know that beyond the shadow of a doubt, if I ever needed anything, he'd be there for me, no questions asked. I'd even go so far as to say that if I ever decided I wanted to kill someone (not that I would!), and called Danny, the only question he'd ask is "Who's drivin'?"
Danny has taught me the real meaning of a friend. It's not someone that you see all the time-though that certainly can be the case; it's not someone that tells you what you want to hear-though that can happen too. A real friend is someone that never forgets. It's someone that has your back no matter what, and would go to the end of the Earth to help you in a jam. A real friend is a dude from my old neighborhood named Danny.
So this year, to give back just a little to a person who, whether I acknowledged it or not, has always been my best friend, I'm going to give him a bike. When he found out how much I rode, Danny was in awe. He never realized the fun that you could have on a bike, or the fitness you could gain from it. Everyone that rides knows the feeling of freedom it gives you, and transports you back to that time in your life when you couldn't drive, but could still get where you wanted with pedals and two wheels. I know Danny wants that again, and I want to make sure he gets it. No one deserves more to feel happy, fit, and like a kid again.
My mother would tell me several times a year that Danny had called to say hi, and that I should get in touch with him, but I never did. I always meant to, but never once did I ever actual make good on my word.
Rewind to last year. I was turning thirty, and I wanted to have my then "best friend" Stew and his wife come in for my birthday. I had spent a lot of time with Stew through high school, and we had grown close, but soon after he was married our relationship fell by the wayside. He was living in Virginia, and I in New York-not a long trip by any means but he rarely made it to see me.
I had mentioned to him in advance that I wanted him to come and celebrate with me. Excuses abounded, and eventually he never came through. As I thought about it, I realized that he had NEVER gone out of his way to see me. I was always the one to go to him.
Now back to Danny; the guy is a rock. From the time we were little, Danny has been the most loyal person I've ever known. He's had some tough turns in his young life, but he always comes through and I know that beyond the shadow of a doubt, if I ever needed anything, he'd be there for me, no questions asked. I'd even go so far as to say that if I ever decided I wanted to kill someone (not that I would!), and called Danny, the only question he'd ask is "Who's drivin'?"
Danny has taught me the real meaning of a friend. It's not someone that you see all the time-though that certainly can be the case; it's not someone that tells you what you want to hear-though that can happen too. A real friend is someone that never forgets. It's someone that has your back no matter what, and would go to the end of the Earth to help you in a jam. A real friend is a dude from my old neighborhood named Danny.
So this year, to give back just a little to a person who, whether I acknowledged it or not, has always been my best friend, I'm going to give him a bike. When he found out how much I rode, Danny was in awe. He never realized the fun that you could have on a bike, or the fitness you could gain from it. Everyone that rides knows the feeling of freedom it gives you, and transports you back to that time in your life when you couldn't drive, but could still get where you wanted with pedals and two wheels. I know Danny wants that again, and I want to make sure he gets it. No one deserves more to feel happy, fit, and like a kid again.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Sick
Not exactly ringing in my 31st year in style as I've been sick since this past Friday. It started with a scratchy throat, followed by some nasal discharge, then a headache, and now just a general feeling of shit. Actually, it really started with that terrible migraine I had last week. I should have known things weren't all right with my body then... Oh well, it is what it is.
Decided to take the day away from the bike. Put together a solid week of about 6 rides last week, including some really fun filming. I'm looking forward to getting a new camera and working some more on the trails, both near and far, so stay tuned for some cool stuff. I knew that little film degree I got in college would come in handy one day.
Otherwise I've got some cool stuff brewing on the horizon that I'll update as they happen. Life is what you make of it and I really wanna do a lot with the "second chance" I've given myself.
Decided to take the day away from the bike. Put together a solid week of about 6 rides last week, including some really fun filming. I'm looking forward to getting a new camera and working some more on the trails, both near and far, so stay tuned for some cool stuff. I knew that little film degree I got in college would come in handy one day.
Otherwise I've got some cool stuff brewing on the horizon that I'll update as they happen. Life is what you make of it and I really wanna do a lot with the "second chance" I've given myself.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Thirty One Years
Amazing. I turn 31 today and I still feel like I'm 15 years old. Actually, wait-ok, I was fat and had the self esteem of a mud puddle when I was 15, so I guess I feel like I'm 26. I'm pretty sure that's when I started to come into my own as an adult.
It's funny to look back at the experiences the last thirty years have brought me. First and foremost I've been an athlete, but I've acted, modeled, fought, and traveled. I've had a lot of good times and a lot of bad times. I've found love a couple times, and I've lost it a couple times. I know what it means to feel positive that I'm on the 'right' track in life, and I know what it means when that comes crashing down. I've been stressed, and I've been relaxed. I've felt pain and I've felt joy. All these things have made me who I am and I wouldn't have changed any of them.
As I look out on what will be the next chapter of my life, I'm happy to know that I'm more settled in my thought, and have the wisdom of some years behind me. Though life isn't just about analytical thought, a little bit every now and then doesn't hurt. I will choose to live the next part of my life on my terms. I will choose to love when I love, hurt when I hurt, smile when I'm happy, and cry when I'm sad. I make the promise to myself to do whatever I do with my heart, my gut, and my balls. More than anything I wanna live my life with mud on my clothes, dirt under my nails, and maybe even a little bit of B.O. from a time well had.
It's funny to look back at the experiences the last thirty years have brought me. First and foremost I've been an athlete, but I've acted, modeled, fought, and traveled. I've had a lot of good times and a lot of bad times. I've found love a couple times, and I've lost it a couple times. I know what it means to feel positive that I'm on the 'right' track in life, and I know what it means when that comes crashing down. I've been stressed, and I've been relaxed. I've felt pain and I've felt joy. All these things have made me who I am and I wouldn't have changed any of them.
As I look out on what will be the next chapter of my life, I'm happy to know that I'm more settled in my thought, and have the wisdom of some years behind me. Though life isn't just about analytical thought, a little bit every now and then doesn't hurt. I will choose to live the next part of my life on my terms. I will choose to love when I love, hurt when I hurt, smile when I'm happy, and cry when I'm sad. I make the promise to myself to do whatever I do with my heart, my gut, and my balls. More than anything I wanna live my life with mud on my clothes, dirt under my nails, and maybe even a little bit of B.O. from a time well had.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Another iPod Video
Got out with the iPod again today. It's really fun to shoot with a camera that doesn't' have all the bells and whistles as some others. Not to mention shooting with only the trees and rocks as props to place your camera on. Maybe I should make some more friends to hold the camera for me. Anyway, this is the edit from today. The riding is nothing to write home about, and I couldn't quite get the angles I wanted, but I'm still relatively pleased with what it is. I'm still getting the hang of editing with iMovie as well, so as time goes on the editing will get better too! Enjoy!
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