The Daily Beer and Bike Log Weekend Update Jan 19, 2015

I have used many things as Therapy in life. I made these crazy cartoon shorts and was able to complain about everything that may have bothered me at that time (of course with the Brewed series I was able to go WAY over the top with it. )
 I have run to not only lose weight, but also as much as I hate the run itself I feel so much better when I am done. I drink beer. Beer makes me happy, but not very therapeutic, and also leads to reason one to exercise, weight loss. So we come to of course Mountain Biking, my newest form of Therapy.

 Whenever I get the Bike off the bike rack and jump on in anticipation of the ride, it hits. It being a nervous, but excited feeling of what is to come. Will I rip through the path without going ass over head on the bike? 

Will I not come out with my shins bloodied and bruised? Pain is temporary people but the feeling of release last for days.  Again I am only repeating myself but, it is my personal dirt railed roller coaster.

 Now in my real life I do speak to a therapist once in a while. And I can say an hour of either comes out with the same result a bunch of shit off my chest or shoulders feeling good about myself. But no offense to my Therapist (who is a great guy, I mean who else can you either shoot the shit with , judgement free for an hour or even bitch to, letting him put it in perspective? Worth every dime.) Now back to the program,  I like the rush of the trails more than sitting in an office, even if it comes with the downside of, Blood, Mud, Sweat, bruises and some day’s tears. I have said it over and over in past posts, it makes me feel like a kid again. I have played many sports that I loved, but the adrenaline spike I get riding is like none of them.  I have had the thrill of knocking in a winning run, scoring many goals playing hockey, and even hitting that jump shot in my short basketball career. But the riding has always had a connection with my youth like nothing else ever has.

Now as I said recently after my Half Marathon I took some time off from the whole exercise thing, that few weeks turned into a couple of months as my routine got out of whack, with moving, and the holidays. And finally the cold weather. I have picked up slowly went for a couple of runs, hit the stationary bike, and finally a warm snap………….

I called up a friend of mine (one of the Dad's from my oldest daughters softball team) and went for a short ride Saturday Morning. We arrived to find the gate closed to the actual park. I figured we could still get into the area by using the Bike path down the street. I was right and we worked our way around that way. 

 Now the conditions were not exactly Ideal. 

Some areas were rather Muddy and others were covered by leaves. I would watch the trail and get focused and then have to slow up because all of a sudden I could not see which way the trail went. No biggie as the Valley Park Trail is not much past a beginner trail.

But certain uphill climbs that are normally not too bad became a little tough as you slid through the muck (especially since my Friend Tim had a bald back tire, and trust me he hung in there even with the trails condition.)

After a few laps and finally a chance to ride I was satisfied, 

the bike was a little caked with mud in areas and it looked like I crapped my pants (due to the mud splatter) but a bad day out in the woods riding is always better than the best day at work so, it worked for me) My head is straight at least for a few more days......