Thursday, October 17, 2013

Some fun stuff, and Life Plans!

I went camping and mountain biking and didn't even write about it!
I need a new front tire. Terrible traction equals several needless wipeouts!
There was lots of Hike-A-Biking. and it wasn't only because of downed trees.


I also hiked the tallest mountain in AZ last weekend. And had a snowball fight with Emma. And didn't write about that either!


And played pingpong at a bar in Flagstaff with Tracy and some of the Mennos. And didn't write about that either!

I'm also living in a great community house with four others, I have chickens and a back yard and a huge house that is a lot of work to take care of. We've got meetings and community meals.
But to top it all off I have a fixie!!! So now I guess I'm kinda writing about it:
One of my students works on car painting so I paid him to do the frame!

Then I bought some wheels off of craigslist. I think I paid too much, but I was getting anxious...

And soon I want to paint accents on these cool parts.

But actually, at this point it isn't even a fixie. Just a single speed with no brakes. Riding it to work the other day was a bit harrowing.
So now the count is up to four!
1. My trusty ol commuter, the great Windsor Dover. My first road bike. Trusty travel partner on several bike trips and now my heavy commuter.
2. The RockHopper! My college grad gift and source of many grand adventures. The bike that has been mtn biking all around Harrisonburg, at a trail park in downtown Houston TX, in Whitefish MT, all around Vancouver Canada, over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and of course on many trails here in Tucson.
3. The Fuji Newest. Its been my speedy steed. Taken me up and down Mt. Lemmon, and actually got me into cycling in a real way.
4. And now finally the newest member. The pretty bike, the barebones, fun bike. The pretty fixie. Keep your eyes peeled as it develops and gets some new accents!

But of course life isn't all about the bike. (sorry Rule #4) Its also about Brazil. For those of you who live under a rock and can't read this blog anyway, I'm determined to get to Brazil for the world cup in June! I'm not sure how its going to happen, (just kidding, I totally have a plan) but assuming I can get myself to stop buying cool things and get someone to come with me... wink wink. I'm totally going!!!

So now of course I find myself at the place in my mental monologue where I start thinking about what comes next in life. Even I, renowned traveler that I am, am not interested in traveling forever. Although I really can't say how long I might manage to putz around S America, eventually I'll need a place to settle down in again. Over the past while, of thinking and pondering and talking and more pondering, I've realized that Harrisonburg VA is where I think I will want to be next. At this point its really just a question of logistics. First and foremost, I'll need a job there. With my bike shop experience I might try to continue that line of work. Ideally I'll be able to magically time the ending of my S. America adventures with the start of a job in Harrisonburg. But I also recognize the potential difficulties. I'm afraid that means I'll have to save up even more before I leave.
But, assuming job things get worked out in someway or another, I find it pretty easy to imagine life in a pretty good light there. Assuming my friends and dear readers don't all up and move away too soon, and assuming nobody has too much faith and moves the mountains, I think I'll be able to find lots of great life giving things there again.

So thats pretty much the plan! Now I need to think about how to get back to the E. Coast for Christmas and Nicole's graduation!!!! wow. what a great thought.