Dan Action

Getting Wrapped Up. July 13, 2007

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve gotten myself to sit down and write, but here I am; fear not. The race went super well. Just about eighty people showed up and a number more to help Mike, Brendan, and my sorry asses get everything done. The day started early for the three of us, getting the last of food supplies, Mike finishing the title bag, and finally riding the course and putting up little cues for the riders at each checkpoint. We also needed to figure out the time it was going to take folks to ride it. All this as the mercury creeped into the high 90’s. Two shirt changes and a last minute prize donation from Villin Cycleworks consisting of a track frame and fork, and we were ready to send people out. No huge crashes, no horribly botched checkpoints, and even more pleasing no bruised or soured egos throughout the whole ride. Not even when I reassured folks that the trails were indeed an integral part of the race. We had bought a bunch of bunches of bananas and water for the finish, where I was a little astounded to see that only roughly half of the entrants came through. Fuck it though, it was so hot, and I’ll face up to it, there were a couple of long rides to checkpoints in any way you chose to tackle it, and rides that pretty much felt like pedalling in an EZ bake oven. We got back to my house en masse to eat, drink, and give out prizes. Folks pretty much cleared out not too long after the keg did. It was nice since the day ran so long to have the night get a little quieter and manageable and awesome and pizzarific. Check out some photos here. Manifest Destiny. Thanks to everyone who came out, rode even a portion, helped, ate/drank, sponsored, whatever; it’ll be on again next year.

It’s a countdown for my remaining time here, and in that chronometer the time is packed with exciting times. Like a hapless and bittersweet summer fling, I find myself thrown headlong into it as if it were a race to run (ride). I am wanting to fill the days. It brings out such complex feelings. I will admit, it has been easy for me to slip into a relatively shallow depression of late. Shallow, but by no means insignificant or unimportant. Even now, when I can see the end of this stretch here, I want to leave, but I am feeling pangs of anxiety and sadness about leaving. At times feeling bad about being excited to leave. The music I play here, the routes I ride and who I ride them with, the fantastic folks I have met and will pine for, I’ll drag them with me up north. The time I have is filled; shows, rides, guests, other visitors, and concentrated time with some friends here, I probably won’t run it all through my head until I am well distanced from this place, I’m sure. Here’s to summer, rigid perimeters, and rarely being able to do enough.