in Monument Valley

On May 4, 2010July 28, 2010 By Rick McIn cycling, hiking, travel3 Comments

Gorgeous.

I’d been to Monument Valley before. But the Valley itself was closed for the (very cool) Red Bull Air Race: Photo by Timothy K. Hamilton

This time I did the only independent hike allowed in the Park, the Wildcat Trail (3.2mi). I had low expectations, but it turned out to be superb. I felt like a Mormon trailblazer.

At dusk I tried finding a mountain bike trail just outside the Park. That was a FAIL.

It’s amazing how all this flat desert is mostly impassable.

… moseying off in the general direction of the Grand Canyon.

from St. George, Utah

On April 30, 2010April 30, 2010 By Rick McIn cycling, travel1 Comment

I’m here pretending to be a competitor at their first annual IRONMAN race. (Of the 2,500 people on the 2.4mi swim, I’d be the only one to drown.)

Will run/bike some of the course today, just for fun.

And camp up near Snow Canyon. And, what the heck, try the Snow Canyon trail too, while I’m here.

DOH – bumbling through Nevada

On April 17, 2010April 16, 2010 By Rick McIn cycling, hiking, travel2 Comments

I rushed out of the fantasy world of Vegas to search out the best hikes in Southern Nevada for my hiking site.

Of the first 4 I tried to hike this weekend, something went wrong on ALL.

1) snowed in …
2) access road now “NO trespassing”
3) needed an odometer to find the unmarked parking lot. (My Honda has a broken odometer.)
4) part way down the remote 30mi washboard access road I realized I had left behind my oil cap. Merde!

Still, I’m loving driving around the sunny S.W. equipped with a mountain bike!

Here I’m being challenged by a desert tortoise.

I carefully, slowly lifted him well off the highway in the direction I thought he was trying to go. … Unfortunately he seemed to be walking the yellow line when I found him.

south to Baja …

On March 2, 2010March 2, 2010 By Rick McIn cycling, travel, travel Mexico1 Comment

My parents and I depart today for Baja California. A month long driving adventure taking the ferry over to Mazatlan from the Peninsula.

This is not the first time we’ve driven to Mexico. New … I’m taking my mountain bike.

Adios.

Clara Hughes ROCKS

On February 25, 2010February 25, 2010 By Rick McIn cycling, sport - amateur1 Comment

Clara Hughes has won the most Olympic medals of any Canadian woman, all time, tied with skating team mate Cindy Klassen.

But Clara won them in both Summer and Winter Olympics. In fact, she’s the only woman from any nation who has won more than one medal in both Summer and Winter. Amazing!

What’s next?

Clara plans future Ocean kayak adventures with her husband Peter Guzman.

shopping for a Bike Hitch Carrier

On February 11, 2010 By Rick McIn cycling, product endorsements2 Comments

Something like this. Inexpensive is a good thing.

Canadian Tire

I have no trailer hitch. Likely I would bolt one on, rather than weld.

Advice?

Canada Olympic Park – biking

On October 14, 2009July 4, 2017 By Rick McIn cyclingLeave a comment

While home for a couple of weeks I enjoyed trail running and biking at C.O.P.

Not Whistler, B.C., the 2010 Olympic Park.

But Calgary, Alberta, the 1988 Winter Olympic Park.

Not the terrain park, rather the undeveloped land east of C.O.P called Paskapoo Slopes,.

Start biking just at the sign that says: Private Property. Keep Out.

The trails are very popular. And quite well used.

Waldorf School hosts their annual Fun Run every year on that land.

my theory of dog walking

On October 5, 2009September 30, 2009 By Rick McIn cycling2 Comments

Best method is for the human(s) to ride mountain bike(s).

The hound(s) to run on foot.

If I take Sasha to the off leash park, both she and I get a good workout. And we can stay together much more of the time than if I hoof it.

This simulates best the genetic urge of the dog to run with the pack.

hiking / biking Banded Peak, Alberta

On September 20, 2009September 25, 2009 By Rick McIn cycling, hiking, photos1 Comment

Excellent challenge this past Saturday.

It’s become a tradition with the families of some of my hiking buddies to take their sons on this adventure as something of a rite of passage to manhood.

On Sept. 19th, 2009 we took three 13-yr-olds. They had to get to the top … or die trying. …