Red, Red, I Want Red

I'm not sure why birds can't find their way out of a garage.  The biggest source of light is the 25 foot wide, 9 foot high door, and yet they always fly around the back, trying to find a way out of the walls.  This beautiful red Cardinal (can't tell that because I'm a crappy photographer) was having a terrible time the other night trying to get out.  I gave up helping.  Eventually, he got out.

More red on our little getaway down to St. Joe State Park.  No closures there for the bike path.  Well, there is one section that is under construction but we're mountain bikers so we found a way around and still rocked some pretty good average speeds. Very few people there, and the path is a lot of fun with switchbacks, uphills, downhills, and good scenery.

To top off the red theme, I was sporting my newly minted all-around bike.  Previously known as the Shitbike because it's frame had such humble origins, it's now built around a bad ass Rage Red Trek Procaliber carbon frame. Was this responsible for my speedy ride at St. Joe?  We all know how much fun it is to ride a new bike, so maybe so.  Or maybe because my beautiful bride kept telling me to go faster as she drafted me.  :)

Weekend Pictorial - Cute Dog and Chicken Edition

Believe it or not, there are tons of things that are going on in our lives that don't involve Rex.  During this time of the plague, Deanna and I are actually very busy at work.  We are lucky to be working but also anxious about working where we have to be in contact with the public.  Both of our jobs have some pretty strict rules in place for engagement.  It makes for some exhausting days.

Our boys have really confined themselves.  Mostly, they meet up with friends on the computer and Playstation.  Not the way I'd spend my time, but I realize this is a whole new world for them...school cancelled, unable to visit friends in person, even having to be distant from Grandma and Grandpa.  Tough and weird times.

Hanna has been in the same boat as Deanna and I.  She's been working at the Bakery and while she's been taking every precaution she can, she also says that a lot of customers don't take the threat of the plague very seriously.  I sympathize with her and it's worrisome.  But, she still finds time to work out and she still thinks she can crush me in a plank competition.  She's right.

Our mission to have the house painted by Spring has failed miserably.  Don't get me wrong, it wasn't for lack of trying.  But our house is kind of like a graffiti wall.  We will finish it sometime in 2020.

I've been getting in some off-roading lately.  I've had to go far and wide to get it, though.  Not only are parks closed, but it's also important to me to ride in places that are very unpopulated.  Deanna and I went to Lost Valley today and tore the place up a bit. It had more people than I've been used to, but we managed to stay clear of almost everyone.  We even parked at a different parking lot than usual and rode over to the trails.  I'm hoping to get out of town again on Tuesday for some mountain bike distancing adventures.

Oh, and the chicken?  It seems that the Lemp Mansion has a restaurant.  I know most people probably already knew that, but I didn't.  Anyway, they have carryout going now and MAN!!  I gotta tell you I made a pig out of myself.  We each got the chicken, mac and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, and bread.  So.  Freaking.  Good!  I recommend it! Get you some!

It's Tuesday, so things must be done

Tuesdays have been my day off for a while now.  It's nice to have a day off in the middle of the week.  Since the plague has come our way, it's been a mixed bag.  What do I need to accomplish and where do I need to go?  And of course, where to ride?  Since St. Charles has not closed it's parks (and they are much more sparsely used) I chose Lost Valley today.  Never my favorite mountain bike trail, and it's a far-ish drive out there.  I was surprised today, though.  It was in good shape, only a few wet spots, and I saw 6 people total on the trail.  The Mound parking lot, under construction by the way, was nearly empty, too.  It was a good ride and I'm really glad I went.

I've been putting off vacuuming out the Focus since...well...since I got it in 2018.  Oh, I'm sure I've vacuumed it once or twice.  Not much, though.  So today was the day.  I went deep.  Not deep enough to get all of the Rex-hairs out of the carpet.  Clean enough, however.

As hard as I tried, I could not hear my boys doing any housework.  Wait....nope.  Couldn't hear a thing....

Rex wasn't doing any housework either.  He was in his familiar spot, on Hanna's bed, looking out the window.  He was waiting on Mom to come home from work.  He's had a good couple of days.  He got all riled up this morning and raced down the steps, barking at the back door.  I let him out and he went crazy in the back yard, his panties in an obvious bunch over something.  It made me happy to see that he's still all jackass.

Staying out of Trouble - Bikes as Therapy

Local trails are closed.  That's a real bummer because I need some relief from the monsters in my brain.  I texted my work mate and told him we were going to St. James today.  Why St. James??  Because that's where a very remote, kick ass mountain bike trail exists.  The beautiful Mrs K and I visited this place last summer for a mountain bike race and I have vowed to return ever since.

Just a straight shot down highway 44 gets you this very well cared for, very remote, and incredibly well designed place.  Never mind the asphalt...it was the dirt we were concerned with.  And people?  We were social distancing to an enormous extent!!

Evan was obviously outgunned.  He brought a plastic spoon to a bazooka fight.  While his super-bright Procaliber may have outshined Blurple on the bike rack, out on the super rough Forest City trails the full-suspension bike reigns supreme!  Man, that place is tough and really interesting.  Lots of fun features, too.  20 miles later, I had my fill of delicious single track and Evan was scouring the classifieds for long-travel full-suspension bikes.....

On our way out of St. James, we spied was was without a doubt a Velociraptor attack on an unsuspecting Chevy Cobalt.  You see the darndest things out on Route 66!

Never to leave well enough alone, the beautiful Mrs K and I coaxed Eli into riding an E-bike with us on the street.  He put the screws to us.  At one point, he was pedaling up a hill with his hand on his hip, taunting me.  Live long enough to see your kids revel in your defeat and you've accomplished something, I always say.

When Bored - Everyday Things Can Seem Interesting

First completely off-the-wall yet incredibly interesting thing:  This Lightning McQueen sandwich box used to be Eli's.  He used to have a matching thermos to go with it, but that's gone.  Now, I use it in my lunch box.  Why?  Because!  I'm incredibly immature and Lightning McQueen spells danger and adventure!

Use a GPS device on your BMX bike?  I do!  Because anything worth doing is worth quantifying.  I have to put it in an odd spot on the top tube because -just no- it won't fit on the bars or stem.  Sometimes I look down to see how fast I'm going and almost run into stuff.

For years I've been using my BMX bike to ride up to the stairs.  And to do sprints with.  It's fun and it absolutely befuddles passers-by because -old guy on a little bike- is just too much for some to wrap their minds around.  Just slightly more adult, I've been painting the doors in the house.  Amazing how beat up they get, and how "BRIGHT TRIM WHITE" is really white.  And bright.

Ending on a serious note.  Our pride and joy.  He is a huge jackass. And the source of so much joy for our family.  He's got cancer.  You can see that lump in the photo, just behind his right front leg. Nothing we can really do about it.  For now, he is the most spoiled dog on the planet.  And we like it that way.