First Weekend Of The Fall

I was working up in Rifle this past weekend and I received a call on Friday that Shadow Boy wouldn't come in. He was laying comfortably in his own backyard. I wasn't too concerned because he would often project this behavior.

He passed on eating for 8 full days back at the beginning of September. Again, I wasn't really worried that he didn't want any food on that Friday afternoon. I checked back in as I laying in my hotel room and he was still out back. It was easy for me to chalk this up as simply being lazy.

I obviously didn't sleep worth a SH*T and was up and waiting for the call of duty. Our crew departed the hotel by 5:30am and my mind was focused on the task at hand. Somewhere around sunrise my phone rang again with an update.

I was informed that my Vet wanted to see The Boy Dog and my mind raced out of control. The Dude came over to the house and he said that The Boy Dog was standing in the breeze way and he gave one quick wag of his trail when he recognized him.

The Dude called me from the Vet's and I asked him if Shadow was limp when he carried him to the car or was he kind of alert. The Dude told me that Shadow was comfortable but weak in the car. He explained that the Vet could see that The Boy Dog was dehydrated so an IV was set and Shadow received an O2 mask.

My co-work Doc and I raced back to GJ as fast as we could and to the Vet's we went. I walked into the office and the gal's face behind the deck said it all. I went to the back room where Shadow was on the table covered in a blanket. We locked eyes!! Shadow was waiting for me. That Boy Dog held on and waited for his human. Unbelievably Loyal At All Times!! Under Any Phuc-N Condition.

I immediately put my hands below his ears and my forehead to his and asked," What do you want me to do Boy?" Slowly everyone left the room and the Vet gave me my options. The Vet offered me an IV bag with antibiotics and a syringe in case he became uncomfortable. The Vet said that he would follow me and we could lay him to rest in the backyard. The Vet also said he would come over on Sunday as well if needed.

Shadow Boy & I originally thought that this would be a good idea but then The Boy Dog dropped a paw off the side table and eventually hung the full weight of his head off the table in my hands. Thats when I knew that we wouldn't be leaving together.

I made the choice and TheVet unhooked his IV from his port. I began talking to Shadow through his skull between his ears and the fluid of orange death was administered. The Boy Dog began his new journey so quickly and peacefully.

So Cheers To The Chinese Year Of The Dog!!
Old Gramps Passed Away Earlier This Year And I Let Shadow Boy Go On The First Day Of Fall.

2005 - 2018 Best Boy Ever 

Pressure Gradients In Motion In The Wrong Direction

Where has September gone?? I mean, its been great. BUT DAMN IT

When I am complaining, explaining, or retelling my headwind BOTH directions to someone, I can immediately read them as a cyclist or not. Not that I am looking for validation or anything. Its more of a conversational piece at the gym or office or something. Like JJJ so eloquently said," We all need validation every now and again."

The wind was clearly out of the south all morning. I talked myself into a road ride with the "treat" of sailing back. So I hammered all the way out to Palisade, via farm lands, payed dearly on my return trip along the river.

I cracked 300 miles for the month and that accomplishment keeps me on the 300+ every month for 2018 goal. So I got that going for me. I'm also at 25 hours and 25 personal records??? Must be from exploring new trails options. These numbers are based on 20 activities. Obviously the activities are way down without the No Excuse Loop with the Boy Dog added to the equation. We walk too slow for the Garmin to track us these days.

Then, for a real attitude ajuster, I left the office and went for a "quick" spin. No more than 5 miles into it, BAM!! Damn Near Launched Off My Bike. Mother Nature Is Pissed. Two Hours of 40+ MPH Blasts!!



Stay Strong, Keep Yourself Hydrated, & Look Sharp
Cheers

Miles & Miles Of River Trail

The Harp Twins Came To Town!! This was their first show in Colorado. Unfortunately, they played at the Mesa Theater and that place still so blows. The employees are just complete jack A$$ even with the new owners. The 12oz plastic cup of brew is $6. I just walked away from the bar in disgust. If they sold beer at $5 then I would have happily spent Ten Dollars.

Now, The Harp Twins are flipping talented and they have fantastic stage awareness. They finish each others sentences and play multiple harps. They stayed ALL night after the show to sign, take photos, and interact with their fans. They travel with their mother and all three of them smiled and giggled throughout the night. Very personable group of ladies

Here is their Youtube video of them covering METALLICA's ONE with 10 million views!!!

The 575 is treating me well. Been enjoying the single track again!! Somewhere I have a cardiovascular system but it never quite shows up while I am climbing.

My road ride the other day brought me to this moment in time. I do love trains. Big mile long coal trains, Amtrak, or working train crews, Dig Trains For Sure. And the sounds from the switch yard at night are rather comforting.

Just as a storm was a brewing, trails were prime, I skirted behind this front and rode with the wind. The temperature was ideal as Mr Sun hind behind those clouds. The wind kept the black flys at bay and the 575 rolled fast and controlled.

Dead center of this photo, a female MTB flew on down the ridge. She made that stretch look effortless as she gracefully descended towards the parking lot. Very impressive and humbling as well.

I am so stoked to see this creation finally completed!! We now have a river "trail" from THE WORLD CLASS/FAMOUS Kokopelli Trail Head to Copper Mountain and beyond. You can ride from Vail Colorado to Moab Utah if you wanted. You have the option to ride from Fruita to Palisade. You have the option to ride from Rifle to Leadville. Free Your Mind And Your Bike Will Follow

There were moms pushing strollers, a guy on a high end wheel chair was cranking out the miles, older folks causally riding along, road bikes seeking a Strava best, and kids learning the ways of trail etiquette. So Yes, its already well used and the new west end just opened on Friday of Labor Day Weekend.

You can see the concrete path in white there on the left. This road drops down to the Loma Boat Ramp. Behind me is the Kokopelli Trail System. Again, I am so damn stoked!!!

The Grand Valley is incredibly beautiful. This entire River Trail offers righteous locations for photos, wildlife viewing, and easy flat pedaling. CHOICE

The three hours is a little off because of my photo ops and listening to the canals merge with the not so Mighty Colorado River. But from downtown to Loma and back is an easy 40.5 miles or 65.178km. Added the Kilometers just for Perth and Andrew.

Boy Dog Update:
He is still slow but full of determination. He loves sleeping in the closet during the day and then at night he has been crashing out in the breeze way. I wake up every night and go outside to find him. Some nights he is curled up in a content little ball. He sleeps so soundly that I kinda freak out when it looks like he is no longer breathing.

I leave him be and I stumble back to my room. I am bringing this up because our roles have reversed. As a puppy, he used to hear me coming in and would be at the garage door pouring out enthusiasm. Then, he would greet me at the kitchen door with pure joy. Now, I find him in the closet sound asleep when I arrive. Breaks my Phuc-N heart but he always brings a smile to my face when he opens those droopy sleepy eyes when he smells me laying on the floor in front of him.

The Power of Chicken Noodle Soup

August 2018:

Bike Miles - 709.4

Run Miles  - 27.8

I Hit 50 Hours for the Month of August ( 54 hours in MAY )

77 Activities in August

16 Personal Records

And After A Summer of Heavy Drinking - 183.7 pounds of gut - oops

Year To Date:

100 Personal Records

3,957.1 Total Miles

439 Activities 

I almost instantly regretted my last post. I only wanted to document the "progression" of the Boy Dogs health. Last Saturday, we actually had rain, the Boy Dog did his best to shuffle off this mortal coil. But by the powers of Chicken Noodle Soup, He is alive today.

For the past 6 or so years I have been hiking and/or trail running with him. So my cycling was put on the back shelf. I am totally ok with that choice. I still ride the commuter bike everywhere and have NEVER driven to the office. But I haven't road cycled in ages, very limited of the 575, and my cardiovascular system wasn't up for cyclocross racing ether. Plus, I have so many excuses.

But now that Shadow sleeps about 18 hours a day, I mean crashes out, my cycling legs are coming around. Its a double edge sword because I have been throughly enjoying the 575 but I miss having the Boy Dog next to me on the single track. However, I am beyond stoked that Shadow made it through his Birthday Month!!!





GOALS:
1) Take It Day By Day
2) Pull Off The Xterra Triathlon next weekend.
3) Add Another New Client in the Ortho World
4) The 22nd is the Roan Cliff Adventure Race
5) The 29th is the Moab Gran Fondo Road Race
6) Put In A Few Hours At The OM House


Enjoy Your Labor Day Weekend, Soak Up The Sunshine, Ski Those Slopes, And Keep Yourself Hydrated

Cheers