June Bug

Well if the original sign were to be used, I had to google, and it's a brilliant use of Tosser: noun British slang -- stupid or despicable person Which led down the fun rabbit hole of British slang and American English equivalents and incorrect adoption of British slang from Americans watching too much BBC w/out subtitles. I'm so tempted right now to investigate what it would cost to have a sign printed up...

Looking like a few tenths shy of 2 inches just fell. There is another potential wave of rain later tonight. Monday or Tuesday might be good. Hydromet shows the current creek level @ 7.65' Very likely.

The last few years we've been going to SW Colorado by way of Albuquerque, up to Bernalillo and then to Aztec, NM via the awesome Hwy 550. However, we may go through Angel Fire this time, so this would work well.

7:04 pm Friday, May 28th Well gosh darn! Frog Strangler #2 currently underway in the Walnut Creek area. This is a seriously violent thunderstorm; it's raining upside down and backwards, intense wind.

Thanks for posting this, AB. Will make a nice break on the long drive to Colorado!

Do you have a rain gauge? Curious to know how much actually came down.

Monday, May 24, 6:22 pm Good grief. After a hiatus from the rain that lasted a few hours, a major frog strangler just passed over Walnut Creek neighborhood.

An "Everesting on a bike" search returned an incredible number of results. It's a thing!

My new neighbors across the street and one over bought the house this winter or late last fall. It was surrounded by big gorgeous shade trees, easily as tall or taller than the second story. Every single one of those trees is dead, in both front and back yards. There are either four or five trees; I can't imagine the cost to have them removed and sad that they've lost their lovely summer shade. If any of you drive down Braker Lane between Parkfield and Bittern on your way to Walnut Creek, you'll see scores of dead shade trees. We're having dead fig, pomegranate, ligustrum and rambling rose removed mid June. The big punting pole bamboo (a clumping bamboo) died back as well, but it's putting up shoots like it's done the last two times we've had winters with really hard freezes.

The mental adjustment was already happening on my one short ride! There is one "princess and the pea" gear interval right in the middle, but again, it's simply an adjustment to something new after 13 years of the same drive train. Shop's currently open noon to 6 pm on weekdays: mwbicycles.info/ He has a wealth of information and has great shop rates on repairs.

Awhile back someone posted about a Box One "deal" on an 11 sp. drive train. I ordered it and the box sat unopened for many months, until the big chain ring (triple crankset) died on my commuter bike a few months ago. Lurched along on two chain rings until last Friday. Took the box o' new parts (derailleur, cassette, shifter, chain) to Monkey Wrench and they got it done. No replacement bottom brackets were available so Ulysses (mechanic) worked his magic. Bike is pedaling noticeably smoother and shifting works well. Have to remember there's only one chain ring up front, though. The set up is now 2008 (?) titanium Fly Team mountain bike from Bikes Direct, original 29er wheelset (old-school quick release skewers) with narrow commuter tires, MRP rigid carbon fork, Surly Terminal Bar handle bars, original cranks/bottom bracket and new drive train from Box One. All good. Great for commuting + rail trail/bike path/gravel road, credit card touring. Also, sad news, Monkey Wrench is closing its doors at the end of July. Another instance of a long-term viable shop being made unviable by rising rents in Austin.

The Palisade Plunge is still in the process of construction. If you are headed that way this summer or fall, check here for current status: facebook.com/PalisadePlunge/

From Facebook: HOBO Link for Reimers Ranch weather conditions.

Think we'll wait awhile for things to dry out before attempting any natural surface rides, but this is definitely on the list!

On sale at the REI Outlet for $19. Mountainsmith Buzz Lumbar Pack

Thanks for the race report, @AntonioGG and the info on road surface conditions. Mr. June Bug is retiring today, and we'll have time now to go exploring and riding during the week. This area hasn't been on my radar until now. I was curious about the Camino Real aspect of the race name, since I have a passing interest in the actual Camino Real route. I checked in with a friend who rode in the event and he confirmed that there is an historical component to the general area of the race route, so extra interesting. Milan County El Camino Real de los Tejas Sites

I'm seeing a major business opportunity for someone selling bottled water... Actually, if you spend enough time combing through the dunes, you might find some intact bottled water. One of our group had some drive train problems and we found a can of WD 40 in the dunes. It wasn't functional so we just kept looking until we found a can that was and used it to spray down the drive train. Problem solved. If one wanted to do an inventory of American material culture, the dunes on Matagorda would be one of the best places to look. I'm guessing combo of ocean currents and storms deposit a lot of flotsam.

This Mountain Biking Mecca in Mexico Offers an Isolated Escape Into Nature Rancho Cacachilas is the brainchild of billionaire Christy Walton, one of the heirs to the Walmart fortune. The ranch is about 2 hours from Los Cabos on the southerly end of the Baja Peninsula.

Years ago we took our bikes on the now discontinued Parks and Wildlife ferry from Port O'Connor over to Matagorda Island. At low tide, it was smooth riding on the beach for miles on hard packed sand. There is a road in the middle of the island paved with crushed shells that was also good for riding and we used it to return to the dock. While riding the shell road, we did spot some whooping cranes by a little pond. No fresh water on the island; you have to bring your own. There was an air base on the island during WW II, so the runways are clearly visible on googlemaps satellite view towards the north end of the island. This is where we were dropped off by the ferry and there was a road across the island to the beach. There's also a lighthouse to check out. General Info: Texas Parks and Wildlife Matagorda Island Wildlife Management Area Port O'Connor Chamber of Commerce: Matagorda Island shuttles Last year, Hammertime Fishing Guides would shuttle you to the island for $75/person with a minimum of two people. Round-trip price?

Northwest Arkansas had an intense rain event yesterday Wednesday, April 29th) with some local flooding in Bentonville. It will be interesting to see how the various trail systems fared. I suspect the excellent design of many trails will mitigate most water damage.

I can't wear a hydration pack anymore, but Revelate Mountain Feedbags (mount to handlebars) are sized to fit a liter Nalgene bottle and have lots of side pockets. That, plus a pack de derriere (REI Co-op Trail 5 Waistpack, capacity 5 liters) for tools and what not. ETA: Just got back from Walnut. Counted 3 (three!) packs de derriere in use by riders.

I'd get it for the kickstand alone.

Tre-poo-chet for the win!

All the cases were women and may possibly be related to a rare genetic variant. I'd like to point out that there are six cases THAT ARE KNOWN. The complications appear a week or two after inoculation; it's entirely possible that there are many more cases that weren't identified as being related to the J & J vax.

I have one on my commuter bike and constantly tell myself I'll put the extra on the mtn bike, so this is a good reminder to do that. The one on the commuter bike gets a fair amount of use, but walkers with ear buds are a constant problem. Sometimes they hear the bell, sometimes they don't. I really worry for women who use them while walking/running on trails or anywhere really because their situational awareness is zero.