Author: gfox (old content)

Switchbacks Blocked

This could have been incorporated into my last post, but I wanted to make it separate. I need to vent.

SIMBS has done it again. Another trail at the dump is drastically changed, and in my opinion, not for the better. Snakes and Ladders has been a favorite trail of mine for a very long time. It is a downhill trail full of switchbacks. There have been a couple Dh races on it, and I know that trail like the back of my hand. It is my go to trail when I want to show new people the dump, or I am just looking for a fun trail to ride.

Today I was railing the trail grinning like normal when all of a sudden the trail turned left when it should have went straight. A new trail had been cut and the old one was blocked off. The bottom half of Snakes and Ladders is gone. SIMBS was revamping a trail called Torpedo Run, and I think they rerouted Snakes and Ladders as a byproduct.

The new section links to an older trail, and makes Snakes and Ladders way shorter. Also, the new section is not nearly as fun. Finally, I am left wondering what happened to the old school trails called Shar’s choice and the Gay Terrace that lay below the blocked off section. I’m hoping they are reachable from Torpedo Run, but I fear they are no longer able to be ridden.

I know SIMBS must maintain the trails, but it angers me when something this drastic is done. I’m hoping there is a sound and scientific reason for the changes. I also know that unless I get involved in SIMBS, I probably shouldn’t complain too much, but I really felt the need to vent. One of the reasons I no longer join SIMBS is that I don’t feel they represent my interests as a mountain biker. This is just another example of that. No, I don’t want to join SIMBS and try to change them from the inside. I know it is a difficult thing to do because of their relationship with the CRD.

Snakes Muddy

Today I got out for a wonderful wintery mountain bike ride. Boy am I out of riding shape! I need to ride more.

I took my time heading up hill, and ended up walking way more than I am used to. Once I figured out where I wanted to go, I chose the route there. I should always do this before I start riding, otherwise I stop and every intersection and wonder which way I should go. I ponder about which trail comes after the intersection, and I consider several trails beyond that decision point. This makes for a very stop and go ride.

Somewhere along the way I decided to head up the switchbacks then decide on which end trail. I settled on Snakes and Ladders.

The ride was pretty typical winter ride. A little chilly at the start, but I warmed up pretty quickly. The rocks and roots were pretty treacherous, and I likely should have let more air out of my tires. Getting back in the winter riding groove is hard. Slithering down rock faces is pretty easy, but climbing up wet off camber roots when you haven’t done it in a year is tough.

Overall I had a blast. It wasn’t a terribly long ride, and I walked a fair amount, but I still worked up a good sweat, got some fresh air, and more importantly got myself and my bike muddy.

Also, my new brake pads are now bed in nicely and have dramatically changed the control I have over my bike. The read pads are likely a little low too, and I might pick up some more the next time I am near a bike shop.

Coffee Lottery

While cleaning up my work office, I found a pile of Starbucks cards hidden amongst the mess. Today I found another couple in my wallet. In all there were 8 cards, and I had no idea if any of them had anything on them.

I was at a @starbucks wanting a coffee anyway, so I asked the nice clerk to check them. Turned out one of them had over $6 and another over $4! Almost like winning the lottery.

Carnage House

Oh the carnage! I went out to do some grocery shopping. I was only gone from the house for about an hour, and this is what I came home to.

Yoshi managed to get into some recycling and shredded an orange juice container, a soup container, and a cream container. That wasn’t enough though. He also ate a gingerbread house. He left the wet sticky candies on the floor, but the whole house got eaten.

The bad part is that when I was starting to drive away I remembered that I needed the grocery bags. When I returned to the house Yoshi looked very guilty but I didn’t see anything amiss. If I had thought a bit about it, I would have just brought him with me. I could have prevented this mess.

Park Fog

We were in Nanaimo over Christmas, and we took the kids to a playground at Beban park (awesome playground by the way). Yoshi needed a spin so he and I walked through the trails at the adjacent wooded area (a participaction park).

We walked a ways, but I started to get cold so we headed back. Along the way I was struck with how the fog looked through the trees. Of course these cell camera pics don’t do it any justice, and if I had my real camera it would have looked totally awesome and spooky 🙂 Still, you get the idea.


Highway Dogs

This morning I had all the excitement that I think I can handle.

I was at Costco getting some household items. On my way back home I was just on the onramp to the highway when I could see two dogs running toward me along the side.

I blocked traffic for a moment until the two dogs got close then I jumped out to see if I could corral them. Unfortunately there were no collars on the dogs, and they slipped through. Another truck stopped behind me and the driver and I called the dogs, and flagged down traffic.

The pooches got a little scared at this point, and made a break for the other side of the highway. They ran across our 4 lanes, across the median, and across the other 2 lanes without any incident. I was very thankful for the lack of traffic.

The other guy whistled very loudly, a skill I do not have. Both dogs came to us, and he wrestled one of them into his truck while I held the other one. Down the highway another car driver was talking with a pedestrian, so me and the painter guy drove down to her to see if she recognized the dogs. Alas she didn’t, and the painter had to head to a job, and couldn’t take the dogs with him.

We then moved the dogs to the back of my car. They enjoyed Yoshi’s bed quite a bit, and liked the views out the window. Incidentally, these were very big, fat labs, one chocolate, one black. Nice, friendly dogs.

The painter took off, and I called Sox to get the phone number to the SPCA. As I was talking to Sox I looked up in time to see flashing red and blue lights. A policeman had pulled up behind me, so I explained to him what had happened.

After a few calls I learned I would have to drop them off at the pound near Elk Lake, which was very inconvenient for me. One of the CRD people met me at Thetis Lake instead.

I really wanted to re-unite the dogs with their family, but I had no idea where they came from. Standing at the side of the highway I was really worried that I was going to watch one of them get with by a car or truck. I’m glad I was able to help the dogs, but I really hope their family finds them quick. The CRD lady mentioned that I probably saved the dogs’ lives by not leaving them there.

Downstairs Intruder

This morning there was a bit of a rude awakening. Well, scary awakening actually.

Sox and I both woke up to some strange sounds downstairs right around 5:15 am. The noises were muted, but sound like a rustling noise. It honestly sounded like someone was downstairs in our house.

I also read this warning from the police so that heightened my anxiety.

My first thought was how did they get in. Second was where the hell is Yoshi.

Sox was concerned too, so I told her to put on her lamp thinking this would cause an intruder to leave. The noises continued.

While Sox grabbed the phone and got poised to dial 911, I got up and noisily put on my slippers again hoping this would cause an intruder to leave. The noises continued.

As I was going downstairs I heard a familiar noise of Yoshi’s claws hitting the hardwood. He was sleeping on the couch. The noises were him getting restless early in the morning. This happens when we don’t lock him in the kitchen at night.

Aaargh. I got locked him in the kitchen then went back to bed, but with the adrenaline flowing, there was no way I was getting back to sleep. Then Yoshi started whining around 6, and that was when I decided to just get up and take him for a walk.