The power of The Oak, the shovel, some willing hands, and Al Gores internet.
For now the rain has stopped, and for now, the Poison Oak has started.
Generally if we here in this region are blessed with winters consisting of sporadic lovely hot days mixed in with the wet and rainy ones, that means the Oak is gonna bloom with a fury.
By the looks of things on Monday morning, that is indeed the case.
For those of you who are luckily unfamiliar with the virtues of Poison Oak, thank your lucky stars.
One point many years ago I broke down and opted for the Cortizone shot. Doctors tend to shy away from this form of treatment due to some unpleasant side effects unless youre unfortunate enough to get in on your genitals, or in my case, have such a violent eruption that the admitting nurse asked if Id been burned in a fire..
It looks like it just might be another summer of riding through the woods with my arms in board, and my legs safely knock kneed.
Anyhow, while were on the subject of trails, Cary wrote in;
"Hey Stevil,
While some community’s are making it difficult to keep and maintain multi use trails, Richmond Va. has recognized the benefit of building sustainable trails thru its downtown park system. The city of Richmond has purchased Ditch Witch earth moving equipment, a power “muck truck” 4 wheel drive wheel barrow and designated a Backhoe along with 100’s of tons of clay, rocks and boulders. This along with dozens of enthusiastic volunteers each year brings MORE miles of sweet riding and hiking to our city by the river.
Check out this vid from Saturdays trail work."
Thats some good stuff.
You know, this past weekend found me at a book store, pouring through the magazine section, and eventually reading an article about New York Citys High Bridge Park which got me thinking about the power of organization, and just generally what an amazing community we have within the mountain bike world.
Then I drifted off to memories of riding in Arizona, Colorado, Vermont, Canada and a myriad of other breath takingly beautiful locals which over the years Ive been fortunate enough to have found my tires turning, but really just how badly Id like to ride there. Theres something about the idea of single track within the confines of the concrete jungle that mystifies me.
Im planning to make a trip to the big city this fall, so if any of you who are reading this and live in New York City have a spare bike and would like to share a date with me in the dirt, give me a shout and lets make a plan.
Lets move on to other topics now, shall we?
DPow! turned me on to some delightful blogness in the form of Butch Dingo, and George laid one on us as well that goes by the name of Rain From The Sky.
Stop by on the regular.
Im sure I will.
Man, the internet is a wonderful place sometimes, isnt it?
And speaking of which- I spoke with a cat on the phone on Monday from Patagonia concerning some specifics of a Del Norte order that hed placed, and while we were conversing, a co-worker of his slipped him a note that said
'I (heart) the Swobo blog.'
As the walls were closing in on me, and I was scrambling around our shipping software in a virtual panicked daze, that seemingly insignificant gesture wedged its way into my psyche, and made everything alright.
Then this email arrives;
"Stevil,
I, like yourself, attempt to avoid the bummer life wherever possible, sometimes though, try as one might, it finds me.
I like yourself, and others, like the dirtbombs, karate kicks and riding bikes. I just happen to like all those things where the water runs the other way down the sink
Love from New Zealand
Matt"
Like I said. It just makes everything alright.
Ive never been much of a computer sort. I went well out of my way to avoid the internet, email, websites.. everything. Until I was asked to do The Bummer Life. I choked down a nervous lump in my throat, and reluctantly agreed, assuming it would mean an immediate death for my affinity for postcards, writing letters, and just generally making things with my hands, but surprisingly it had quite the opposite effect.
Through this Ive actually made some friends that I might have never crossed paths with, as well as opened some doors to me that never would have even existed otherwise.
Hell, for that matter, it might even allow me to one day ride a mountain bike on some of that sweet, sweet New York City single track.
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Comments
word up Stevil,
if you come to the NYC, get in touch. you can have your choice of whips: Spot Brand Ti single (Michael and Jessica version 1.0) or an Indy Fab Single Cross bike...you pick...i take the leftovers and we ride trails in the big city. Russell
Posted by: RKelly | March 21, 2008 07:32 PM
black sunshine clown face
knock me off the bike he fixed
Locutus of Borg
Posted by: Newskull | March 21, 2008 01:57 AM
when you kids are done splitting hairs can we get back to how sometimes avoiding the bummer life leads to a short term bummer life experience?
Like waiting in line to watch the Return of The Jedi at the Arlington in Santa Barbara opening day with an infection >the linked photo suffering because it was super hot. yet stoked on the ride that yielded said outbreak.
Little did I know how rad it was to be to watch Lando getting up in the guts of DS2 in the 'Falcon, yet those little grassroots vegan carebears kinda ruined it for me. The poison oak infection didn't last nearly as long as my bum out on that suck fest.
Posted by: 39 | March 20, 2008 01:02 AM
sweet NYC singletrack also has sweet copious amounts of poison ivy, and the occasional crack head
Posted by: schaughvn | March 19, 2008 11:44 PM
Check this out: If you think you made contact with the Poison of the oak or ivy variety, when you get home, take a bath or shower and sponge off with some vinegar (apple cider preferably, doesn't smell as bad). It cuts through and removes the oil that causes the rash. My friend Jake told me this, and it really works!!
Posted by: Russell | March 19, 2008 10:18 PM
Wait, don't you pack the Tecnu in your pocket/rucksack like you're supposed to when riding around there?
Posted by: Punkass CG | March 19, 2008 09:43 PM
Add me to the list of people who don't seem to get poison oak. I've been on rides where the oak was slapping my legs and arms and I rode through it and nary and itch.
But I also hear that people like me had suddenly break out very violently after years of no outbreaks. So I avoid it.
Posted by: King George | March 19, 2008 12:25 PM
Hell yeah... Props to you for using a Corb Lund song in your video!
Posted by: Darcy | March 19, 2008 12:01 PM
the oak is awful.
one time camping, i got it on both ass cheeks and both boobs.
for the life of me i couldn't figure out how.
after much thought, i realized that my boyfriend had carried wood with the oak on it and then later in the tent proceeded to try and cuddle with me.
Posted by: lauren | March 19, 2008 11:26 AM
It really brings a smile to my face to read about these people who are so certain they're right. That they'd go so far as to "prove" their rightness in such a manner, well...I bet they're really fun to be around always.
And it is poison oak.
Posted by: reverend dick | March 19, 2008 08:38 AM
Well we're all a bunch of boy scouts here aren't we. Leaves of three, let it be.
Posted by: cary | March 19, 2008 05:26 AM
Lucky for me Poison Oak doesn't affect me. Poison Ivy used to but these days it never seems to be more than a minor nusance.
Mositos don't bike me either... guess I am one on of the lucky ones.
While you are out and about Stevil you need to swing through K.C. and give our single track a taste. The miles of trails out at Landahl Park are quite tasty.
Posted by: One Eyed z | March 19, 2008 02:58 AM
uggg...I've been on steroids twice for poison oak/ivy and nothing I had looked that nasty.
A good way to help prevent it is to "goop" (waterless hand cleaner) after a ride. Way cheaper then Tecnu and other ivy specific stuff, works great and there is even a "orange" (ie biodegradable) version now. It does sort of stink though, at least the original.
Posted by: LJ | March 19, 2008 02:43 AM
Leaves in groups of three on a woody stem, your picture correctly identifies poison oak.
I am fortunate that it has never affected me and I have hiked through chest high poison oak in shorts on numerous occasions, never even an itch.
I guess I am just lucky, mosquito bites don't bother me either.
Though I took 2 of my brother in-laws mountain biking along a riverbed in SoCal a few years back and they both broke out in blisters a couple of days later, they definitely weren't avoiding the bummer life for about a week.
they don't ride with me any more.
Posted by: FunkyLaneo | March 19, 2008 02:40 AM
It looks like Stevil has things covered - a quick google search confirms. peep it...
http://walking.about.com/od/medfirstaid/ig/Poison-Oak-Photos/Shiny-Poison-Oak-Leaves.htm
Abide.
Posted by: fomenter | March 19, 2008 02:37 AM
A friend of mine was so adamant the leaves in his hands were *not* poison oak that he chose to prove it to all in attendance by rubbing said leaves on his face, neck, chest, legs, and, yes, genitals.
He got his comeuppance, and then some. Though not quite as violently as Stevil.
Posted by: david | March 19, 2008 02:08 AM
My brother wiped his ass once with poison oak. Got it real clean too by the howls he was making for the next few weeks...
hahahahahemmoroid
Posted by: fritzaholic | March 19, 2008 01:40 AM
Touch it and rub and find out.
Posted by: Matt | March 19, 2008 12:44 AM
Who cares?!? The shit ITCHES!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | March 19, 2008 12:39 AM
OK, a botanist you're not, but your sentimental and romantic side make up for it.
Posted by: JP | March 19, 2008 12:37 AM
You have delivered unto me a new fear. The fear of magical itching leaves. I fear the leaves.
Posted by: Seth | March 19, 2008 12:10 AM
nope, Stevil's got it correct...that's OAK...more precisely - WESTERN POISON OAK...
å
Posted by: aaron | March 19, 2008 12:07 AM
Yeah...I think your photo is of poison IVY, but it's hard to tell if the leaves have the right shape.
Posted by: 331miles | March 18, 2008 11:18 PM
sorry buddy, but thats not poison oak. poison oak leaves look like regular oak leaves but are smaller and shiny.
Posted by: pmdub | March 18, 2008 10:40 PM