Recently, my family and I went on a bikepacking trip. The idea for this trip actually came from a fellow Glib (I don’t recall which one) who linked to bikepacking.com. Bikepacking is as it sounds – it is backpacking, but on a bike. While bike touring is long distance biking over roadways, bikepacking is on rural or single track trails, and nights are spent in tents rather than hotels. Bikepackers rarely carry backpacks instead supplies are stored in a variety of bags around the bike. The trips vary from a short overnighter to a 2,700 mile epic ride from western Mexico to Canada. My wife and I have been very interested in trying a longer bikepacking trip. Biking Murphy to Manteo North Carolina is at the top of our bucket list as we are both love our state. This summer, we thought we would start smaller and bikepack New River State Park in Virginia with…our 3 and 1 year old children literally in tow in 2 bike trailers.
Throughout the summer we biked once or twice a week, usually up to 16 to 18 miles. The point was more for the kids to get used to 1.5-2 hours in the trailer. To facilitate their willingness to ride with us, we bribed them with a stop at a playground near the end of our route.
The New River trail is an approachable first time trail. It is a largely flat, 56 mile long, rails to trail set up. It has many bridges that were formerly train trestles, and it also has two tunnels (something we knew our train-loving son would be crazy about). There is a campsite partway through. For us, this particular trail had the added benefit of being about 40 minutes away from the home of my wife’s best friend. We decided to cheat a little, and my wife’s friend agreed to meet us for dinner at the campsite and manage bringing our food and our car. Things were set. I reserved a campsite right on the river, and the weather seemed like it would be cooler than the 90s we usually suffer through in my part of NC. The big day was approaching and we were all excited.
Then the gods gave me signs that things would not go well. First, my dog developed an allergic reaction on his paw the night before “go” time. I didn’t want to go on this trip or be midway through the ride and get a call from the boarding kennel about him. We decided to cancel, and it all went downhill from there.
Our two alternative dates did not work for my wife’s friend – which meant we would need to carry our own food and figure out how to get our car from the beginning of the trail to the end of the trail. The bike shuttles were absurdly expensive, even for just one person. Taking both our cars to shuttle ourselves would not work due to the travel time both from NC to VA, and then the back and forth along the trail. We decided to reserve a spot at the campsite, and do an out and back overnighter rather than complete the whole trail.
The big day 2.0 arrived. Things seemed to be going well. It was hot, but the weather was good enough. All of our gear fit (phew!), and there was even room for the kids!
So we sped off. Much of the trail was shaded. At times, the scenery looked like western movies with large cliffs and small rapids rushing by below (unfortunately, not pictured). Our kids loved going over the bridges and through the tunnels. Things seemed to be going well.
At 12 or 14 miles, my wife asked at what mile marker the campsite was. I had looked at so many different trails lately, that I couldn’t remember exactly where it was. I figured it was doable anyway. I told her I thought I was sometimes around the 16 mile point. 14 miles in, I was starting to feel the ride. I kept telling myself, we were almost there. But then, 16 miles came and went with no campsite. It was at this point that I really started lagging. I told myself that had to be close – it was probably at the 20 mile mark. 20 miles came and went. At this point, I was sore and exhausted. I couldn’t even afford to stop and ask any passersby where the campsite was. (I let my wife do that.) At 25.29 miles, we finally reached the campground.
By then, I just felt bad and wrong. I wasn’t sure if it was dehydration or what. I felt like STEVE SMITH HAD WAY WITH ME SEVERAL TIMES. What I did know was that there was no way I could bike 25 miles back to the car the next day. The question was could I survive the night. Did I mention that my training was just weekly rides. Apparently, I am not 22 anymore where I can just jump into some athletic event and be ok. Besides, we were both hauling close to 75lbs between our gear and children.
My wife was pretty worried at how sick I felt. We decided we should just head back home. At this point, it was 6pm and our children had spent the day cooped up in bike trailers. My wife’s friend – who would have come to get us so that we could get to our car – was out of town. We tried Uber and Lyft and there was nothing available for as remote as we were. My wife desperately called her friend to try to find someone local to get her back to the car so she could pack us up. We were finally able to find someone. So, after a three hour bike ride, followed by another hour at the campsite with two stir crazed children, we were on our two hour car ride back home.
Now that I scared you away from ever bikepacking, I would like to say the first 12 miles were fun. The kids seemed to enjoy the trip – at least the part they were awake for. They definitely loved the marshmallows at camp. Riding with two toddlers and two trailers isn’t too bad, but the gear really adds a lot of weight to the ride. I do want to try to bikepack again, but with more reasonable goals. I am thinking about riding the Jamestown end of the Capital Trail in Virginia or tackling the New River again from a shorter trail head.
Comments
289 responses to “Misadventures in Bikepacking”
Wow, maybe when I was 30, but that’s a lot of work, maybe day trips?
Damn your eyes, Yusef! I’M supposed to be first on the evening post!
I just got back from kiting, 30 mph gusts, and there it was… Fresh reading!
I saw your comment about power kites last post. That is good fun Yufus. I am a failed kiteboarder but flying the trainer is still a hoot.
Seriously though, nice effort and I’m glad it turned out okay in the end.
Brooksed, or Gilmored, or whatever.
Thanks. My wife bought a spin cycle in the summer. Now that my schedule is about to become a lot more stable. I’ll be training on that, so we can successfully tackle the New River or try some other short routes in the spring.
I see you guys when I’m driving through the mountains. I just shake my head and turn up the AC.
GET OUT OF MY YARD, LIBTARD!
Tall Cans!!
So you are now a rickshaw operator for kids?
There are several pictures of the kids asleep in the trailer, even the 3 year old napped
This is what babysitters are for, surely.
Seriously, some of my best childhood memories are road trips and camping. But my parents chose automobiles.
and don’t Call him Shirley….
Yeah, this city boy loves camping. It’s been far too long.
The kids are obsessed with s’mores. Eating smores at night and for breakfast seems to be their idea of what camping is all about ?
Yeah, I take Vinny to the woods at least twice a year. And the beach, he loves the beach. Sometimes he dives into the sand and just rolls around in it. He likes to fight the waves. I wish I could do more motorcycle touring, but I love seeing him have fun. It’s worth it to me.
Yeah, we did camping because we weren’t rich enough to do hotels. Other than having to help set up the tent, it was a lot of fun.
Is the three-year-old under all that gear?
That’s the red burley’s “trunk”.
The 16 month old is in the teal helmet and scrunched it. I tied the food next to her up, so it didn’t fall on her
Having done some half-marathon stroller training with two kids that age, I don’t know whether to worship you as a hero or be horrified by your naïveté. Good on ya for trying.
Yeah, we do 5 miles or so of cruising, with me on a 1953 Schwinn and them both on bikes and I’m tired. Vinny would prolly go a hundred miles in a trailer, but my wife wouldn’t last anywhere near that. She doesn’t have any suspension and I just have a 1950’s springer fork. 25 miles is a damn lot, especially on trails.
Thankfully my naivete only got myself in trouble not the kids.
Thanks for the link. I would really like to do the Great Allegheny Passage one spring/summer. That’s planning on ~40 miles a day though, which would be a bit tougher hauling the kids. You can either go the camping route, or there’s bed and breakfasts along the trail.
I saw the GAP when I was looking around. It looks good, but a more distant in the future option. Obviously, I am working on doing the overnighter successfully.
REI did a short film series of 4 actors bikepacking the GAP
I have a friend who did it with his dad a couple years back. They went with a service who carried your luggage for you from stop to stop. I’ve got some waterproof Panniers that I’m planning on using to carry my gear.
Once, I went motorcycle camping and we stayed in Monterey. At the campgrounds that night was a hundred bicycles, with massive amounts of gear. I assumed it was from a chase vehicle, but in the morning, I watched them pack it all and ride off. Amazing.
That sounds fun in spite of it not going well. Hats off to ya TaT for giving it a shot. I know you have rivers there, ever do any rafting? Over nighters or multi day trips are big fun and you can drink all day while floating!
My wife was big into kaykaing in college. She kayaked the Nantanhala River in the Nantahala NF a lot.
I never got into kayaking but have many friends who went that way. There is something about a river.
Joan Jett. Still would.
Yeah, but she wouldn’t.
Maybe if you bring someone along….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qkTO_PuZ_o
I’ll be in my bunk.
She’s not even bisexual. I dont know what the label would be, other that she has more testosterone than all of DemocraticUndeground combined. She’s just predatory. Prolly like Pie when his iron runs low.
My ex, the Big, Huge, Giant, Polack, was a lot like Joan when she’d pick out a woman at the bar to take home.
There’s an article.
Certainly, a Penthouse letter.
Better get Q on that. He’s the resident expert / Love Doctor.
Q is young Michael Keaton? That would be AWESOME!
My little runaway, Run,run, runaway…
+ Cherry Bomb
I know it’s Del Shannon’s song, but I always hear Bonnie Raitt’s version in my mind.
Lita Ford FTW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AFEvwbOc6Q
I meant to include this.
I was gonna link ‘Angel From Montgomery’ (which is a John Prine song but she does a great cover) but I figure it’s been overdone. Lita aged OK, but I really thought she played that lead and not just bar chords.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liXzQbTkIAc
BTW, Lita was the bad ass from the Runaways. It was strange that Joanie got the most fame.
BUT, Samantha Fish is the worlds greatest guitar chick, ever, bar none.
AND I saw Bonnie in 1979 (or 8, I don’t remember, exactly) at the Santa Barbara county bowl.
“Angel From Montgomery” is over played because it’s just that good.
Internet says it was august of ’78.
Susan Tedeschi also does a great version of Angel from Montgomery. She’s like the modern blues singer / guitarist version of Bonnie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrSK-0-MQ8s
If by guitar chick you mean a cute girl playing basic blues over some killer gams you may be right (although I’d put Susan Tedeschi circa 2000 right up there, Homer drool), if you mean a female that plays guitar very well, Rory Block beats them both.
Tedeshi/Trucks is a great band. Samantha Fish is better.
Delta blues is a different animal than Chicago blues. She’s great with an acoustic and a slide, no doubt. Samantha wakes up a room way more.
/just saw her live.
Tedeshi/Trucks is a great band. Samantha Fish is better.
We’re just going to have to agree to disagree, to be fair the last time I saw Fish was three/four? years and I imagine shes improved, still going to give it to Susan, however, til I see first hand evidence.
I disagree, that we’re disagreeing. I would watch all three of them in a rotation every week, if they played that way near me. I’m enthusiastic about Samantha, because I just saw her. Tell Tedeshi to play here in L.A. and I might switch teams. Doubt it, but it’s possible. Definitely not going with Rory, though, despite liking her sound, it’s just lesser to electric blues.
I think of Dennis Farina when I hear that song.
While Susan’s guitar playing has gotten A LOT better the last 10 years, she can’t shred like Samantha. The main reason I love her is because of her singing. Not only can she sing powerfully over a 12 piece band, she can also sing the sweetest ballads.
blackjack, you seem to have the best musical tastes on the blog (most similar to my own). While I listen to lots of different types of music, my wheelhouse is bluesy jammy bands.
Right on, Pud. It’s good to know someone’s thinking straight.
By straight, I mean exactly like me, BTW.
I knew what you meant, but thanks for clarifying anyway.
Since you’re a big ZZ Top fan, thought you might like this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5O-USmEg-0
When Govt Mule was recording this, they thought it sounded like a ZZ Top song. So they called up Billy Gibbons and he came in the studio and played on this album recording.
That’s good stuff! I can hear the ZZ ish-ness of it. I saw Warren Haynes with the Alllman Brothers about 4 times. Guy brought a good time rock and roll feel to them. Still pissed they ditched Dickey Betts at the end, though. Saw them with Shooter Jennings and it was like not seeing them. As good as Warren was, he needed Dickey to achieve an Allman Bros show, even with Gregg singing.
I agree regarding Dickey Betts. I seen the Bros. many times between 1990 and 2013 with both Dickey and Derek Trucks playing with Warren. Even though I love Derek’s playing and think he’s incredibly talented, the shows just didn’t have the same vibe as with Dickey. Dickey and Warren’s guitar harmonies were magical.
I worked for Carrie Chrome’s Dad when I was about 18, Asshole….
+1 Lita
LITA!
I love you.
#FullHomo
I’ll have what she’s having.
Her mom was the desk secretary at the juvie institution I spent a year at.
I had a crush on Jett….until I read some of the stories about The Runaways. Cant stand the sound of their music now or the sight of Jett. Fucking self serving cowards the lot of them, and I don’t just mean the band. The music was Meh anyway.
More than the usual rock star hijinks?
Likely typical statutory rape stuff from the early eighties. I know (knew?) a hundred girls like that back then. No one cared that much. Girls knew how to avoid it and if they didn’t, that was on them.
Oh yeah, a lot more.
Keep in mind when you see people who have ‘made it’ that they likely sold their soul to get there. Guys like Harvey Weinstein are the rule rather than the exception in the entertainment industry and he seems to be one of the milder, nicer ones.
That’s as true as anything. When I was young (er,) I remember some conniving assed 14 y/o girls. I never had the “my Sharona” thing much, but some of those girls would weasel their way into..whatever they thought was what they wanted. I had a guy that was about 40, who made it his goal to get with every girl I dated, and that was when I was 16. He got more than a few. I seen some shit back then.
See also- Belinda Carlisle.
She was the Akon of the 80s
Nice write-up T&T. This is one of those things I’d love to do, but for various reasons, I just don’t think it’ll ever happen. But, who knows, maybe one day.
I do some fairly long rides on my road bike. That “I’m too weak, leave me behind…” feeling is one of the worst things.
So far I’ve needed to call for a pickup twice. Once on a supported ride where a downpour made it too damned dangerous to keep going (~4 miles from finishing the ride). The second was my first metric century of the season, there was a 15-20 MPH headwind on the ride back. I made it 20 miles, and called for the pickup when I had ~15 miles to get home. I’ve hated it both times.
A buddy sagged out 86 miles into the HH100 one time; he hated it like a beating.
Funny thing about north and west Texas: every time your turn a corner, the wind seems to still be in your face. It’s like riding into a hundred hair dryers some times.
Good on you for trying. I would never have done that will Escaped Jr at 3 much less with two of him: I’m just too afraid of problems and not being able to explain things to babies.
Maybe you need a two phase approach: you and the Mrs do the loop loaded to get to know the trail with dummy weight and then do the camping with niños the next time?
I discovered after the New River a 10 miler in a nearby state park that should work well. It’s not scenic or all that interesting a park, but I can’t have it all. It would be good to help practice
My friend did Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon about 25 years ago on his Schwinn World Traveller. He invited me along but I chose work. I regret not going.
There was a serious loose end in this narrative- your wife and her best friend.
We’re all waiting.
aren’t you too old for that?
More importantly aren’t they too old for him?
You discovered right away the reason I was so tired
My wife is lurking. I am getting the evil eye for this comment
Think about what it’s like for me. My wife doesn’t lurk.
Did you happen to see my question last night re: coolant and refractometers?
No, I didn’t. One more time…?
The set-up: As I tool up my shop, I am in need of a refractometer to measure coolant concentration. My tooling supplier sells them for $77 and up. I thought this seemed a bit high, so I checked Midwest Brewing Supplies and they have one for $40. It even looks identical the one for $77.
Question: Are these going to be the same refractometers? Are the scales different? If I understand correctly they are able to be calibrated. So I could buy one for beer and re-calibrate it to work with coolant…right?
Calibration is indeed the key. It might be worth springing a few extra bucks for a good industrial unit with a NIST-traceable calibration. And get a kit of calibration solutions as well.
Yeah, thirty bucks is cheap to have the good one. Pay triple, if you can and get an even better one. You work is worth it.
10-4. Thanks!
Thanks blackjack. $77 is actually the cheap, good one. Your “pay triple” is spot on; I think I’m looking at $120+ for an actual “good one”.
I’m tooling up from ground zero, so I am definitely boot strapping. The trick is to decide when to pinch pennies and when to buy quality.
Any thoughts on used? There’s not much to these things is there? As long as it isn’t filthy and doesn’t show signs of being dropped it should be OK…?
Anything that requires extreme precision, I pause before buying used. If the owner will let you test extensively and repeat results over a decent amount of time, I’d consider it. I generally only buy stupid tools used, but I’ve been known to make exceptions. I just understand it’s a risk and maybe all my money will be wasted. I’ve had to buy new to replace some bad bets before.
Oh, I completely get that. But the only thing I will be using this for is to keep my coolant concentration at 7% +/_ 1%.
I do mechanics and machining, so my experience is with torque wrenches and measuring tools. Know nothing about refractometers or that stuff. Just general tool buying experience. I’d be willing to gamble on a hundred bucks worth, but it depends on the cost of making bad batches. If the first one will wreck you, hold off for the best you can get, is all I’m saying.
Sitting next to you, flipping a rusty can lid across her knuckles?
Camping out needs chiggers, mosquitoes, deer flies and ticks.
I once camped out with the MA Nat Guard at Camp Drum. They always were well supplied with refreshments and knew how to make the evaluator happy. It was supposed to be a week’s worth but my fellow evaluator broke his leg so I got an extra week. At least I didn’t have the broken leg.
Fuck Bugs! that’s why I swelter in the AZ heat,
/76
Camp Drum
Whoa…
I’m always impressed by such trips. Sorry you got sick.
Thanks for the story. Few things are as fun as riding a bike through the countryside.
For trips like this always remember this Chesterson quote.
“Inconveniences are adventures wrongly considered. Adventures are inconveniences rightly considered.”
We should probably get that quote made into Wall Words.
Story of our lives with traveling
All the best stories come from adventures.
Seriously, keep this up. I wish we’d had the equipment to do this. Alas off road bikes and kid trailers hadn’t been invented yet..
Yes. It can be frustrating at the time, but we love our travel stories
I like that one. I would have went with: “sometimes when you hit the road, the road hits back.”
Halfway through the first quarter, the Dallas Broncos are up 14-0 over the Eagles.
Why must you slander the Broncos with the Dallas slur? Cmon man, they have enough problems.
Boise Broncos.
Dale Gordon Beat Jeff Earnhardt in the big Race today……
How’d Buddy Baker finish?
in Heaven,
The Football Gods smiled upon us and the local Fox station ran the Ravens-Seahawks.
I was not unhappy.
Green chile enchiladas tonight.
Watched it. I hate Seattle.
I had to suffer through Saints – Bears…………it was ugly.
In games I don’t get to watch news, Bills win again! Against arch-enemy Miami, no less.
Nice result. The Niners moved another game ahead with their slog win in the muck today. What a turnaround for them. Nice to see them be relevant again.
Tapping out. Ugh.
Whoa. Awesome, T&T.
I’m a Virginia based cyclist. Contact me for support and resources.
Also Consider High Bridge Trail which is another Rail-to-Trail deal in Central Virginia.
tonio 4 liberty (at) protomail (dot) com
I am really impressed with the Virginia trails I have seen. This loop is absolutely gorgeous, and is at the top of my list.
I saw the High Bridge, and would like to do it. My wife is scared of heights and that would be too big an ask for her. Maybe I could do that with just one of the kids one day.
I will definitely hit you up for your insights. Thanks so much!
Indeed. That looks the awesome and is just north of my former backpacking area.
AFA Highbridge and heights — you can start at Burkeville (the East end of the trail) and ride to the High Bridge and then back. Good camping at Twin Lakes State Park.
Excellent story!
I get really bored with the typical adventure stories. Yours sounds way closer to real life!
I’d be willing to bet by the time your kids are 20 they will be doing long bike adventures. This one wasn’t a failure – it was a launch pad!
Thanks T&T!
Hey buddy, my Adventures ARE real life,
thank God I’m done….
^This. Old guys who survived doing stuff when younger.
I still have a blast, there is so much to do in life, enjoy it often..
Yea, I am excited to see what interests my kids develop. Hopefully hiking and biking make the cut ?
I think that may have been me that linked that website T&T. Right on for getting out there and doing the ride, and with kids to boot, no easy task. We camp a ton with our three young boys, but I’ve yet to do a big bike trip with them. I’ve done a few bikepacking trips in the past down the Cal coast from SF to Santa Cruz a couple times and to SLO one time. The biggest trip I did was planned from Amsterdam to Istanbul, but due to massive amounts of rain we ended up buying a cheap Skoda in a campground in Dubrovnik and tossing the bikes on it for the last stretch of the journey. One day I plan to do the Great Divide trail system, from Canada to Mexico. If my body holds up till my kids get older. Here is another good site for those that are interested in this.
Derp, here is the site:
https://www.mtbproject.com/
Whoa there. You are posting links with maps centered on my backyard.
That’s the beer stop.
Unless you live next door to me, the map auto centers on your location
I think it generically links to the immediate area you’re in. I got my backyard.
Oh sure make me look stupid.
Camping in Sonoma then going wine tasting is still one of my favorite trips. I can imagine you are having some great camping.
Skoda is a small blast from the past. I lived in slovakia for a year. That Amsterdam to Instanbul is damn impressive to even consider
You guys are out of my League, time to go back to luring….
/Poor humble Old Guy….
or lurking,
You are pretty awesome, dude. Also, diorama.
Thanks T, wasn’t looking for back pats, it’s just hard core broke time, I’ll get over it, but it’s tough,
/Flat broke til Friday, got food and cigs, so I’ll survive
Broke is a state of wallet poor is a state of mind. Broke is fixable.
I have a nice job, broke is temporary, but it sucks!
At least you got ciggies. You can pass the time.
If you’re broke long enough your mind starts believing you’re poor and that is hard to get out of.
Yep, fight that!
my mind works the other way, I’ve been down, since I began to crawl, but I always come back better,
Heck, I’m where I wanted to be,and found a job in my trade, good enough for me,
thanks Mo!
Good! I’m not much for the whole power of positive thinking bit, but I know too many people who had reverses and gave up, or just decided that they were cursed and kept on doing the same crap that got them in the mess to start with. Compound interest is amazingly powerful, but it works in both directions, and unless you switch from fighting against it to using it you cannot win.
Your mind does to you what it wants. Best to drive that impulse yourself, because it’ll take far afield if left alone to decide.
Ahem! Like this?
Yeah, keep doing and writing about it. We love hearing from you.
Plus, I’ve been to a lot of the places you go. I love the second perspective.
Come visit, I’m a half mile from the river, free Motel!
and Beer!
I go to the desert in April and then a few times after that. If I do, I’ll let you know.
Good luck in Cali, I couldn’t afford it anymore, Out of my League, I can do AZ
Something always goes wrong when camping and if you’re going to add bicycles to the mix, you’ve exponentially increased the odds. Add two small kids and I can’t even calculate the odds anymore. But you gave it a shot and that is impressive. Two thumbs up.
????
^ this
Me, at start of article: no way in gel could I pull this off, normally camping with my
Son (singular) makes me nervous. damn impressive
Me at end: that makes sense
Haha you and straff are so right
Sorry it didn’t work out, maybe if the weather was cooler.
Wrong mpg ratio. Miles per gatorade.
No shame in calling to be picked up. I’ve done it twice for backpacking trips, both at the same place (Knobstone, Indiana), both with the same friend. First time was because we both had heat exhaustion after day 1 and day 2 wasn’t shaping up well when we needed to take a break after the first hill. Second time was because he decided that I was an idiot for suggesting an electrolyte tab when he got himself sick on unsalted nuts.
Both times we got Fail Frostys from the local Wendy’s.
I grew up in New Castle, IN. Where is Knobstone?
Down near Bloomington
Now, see, trshy….you could have totally gone with, “Down near Balzac”, or something along those lines.
Do you even glib, bruh??
HM would love it because the Knobstone is right around the corner from French Lick
How far from Intercourse, PA?
Just after you reach the park.
I don’t get NBC (antenna) so no more football. I am watching “Silverado” on “Grit”. Every commercial is slimy lawyer commercials because apparently any health condition one might contract is someone else’s fault.
Saul Goodman….
27-7 at the half, ‘boys.
The worst are the lawyers asking for anyone on certain “bad” psych meds, one of which even advertises their phone number as 1-800-BAD-DRUG. Though they may not contact the attorney, these ads frequently convince some individuals with serious illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder that their meds are dangerous, so they stop taking them. And that can lead to some pretty bad outcomes, we frequently see such patients in the ER.
I wish a bunch of these unfortunate souls would start a class action suit against the scummy lawyers. I’d testify on their behalf.
I think eventually that is going to happen. The ambulance chasers are getting out of hand. BTW, anyone foolish enough to call those guys is going to get it good and hard. I knew a. man dying from mesothelioma who called. He was told he did not qualify to be part of the class action, but apparently was included without his knowledge(?)…I am not solid on the explanation I was given. In the end the law firm got money, he got a headstone.
Those guys represent the very worst of their profession.
When I was 11 we biked from Jasper to Banff in the Canadian Rockies with a few other families. We drove up in RVs so we didn’t have to carry our stuff on our bikes. I’d love to do it again.
Thanks for the article, T&T. And this is why I spend my free time indoors playing videogames. Or at the dive down the street. It’s nice to live vicariously through you all, though.
Speaking of bicycles, my kid and I rode our bikes to her electone lesson yesterday like we do every week. We stopped at an intersection and my kid’s bike was blocking the sidewalk. A mom on her bike was trying to get by, so I motioned for my kid to GTF out of the way. As the mom rode by me she gave me the little “thank you” head nod/bow. The two year old riding in the baby seat in the back gave me another “thank you” head bow, too. Made my day.
It’s like living in a video game, isn’t it.
NPCs with manners.
Everything’s for sale. Everything.
Turning 16 was the end of bicycles for me. Then in my mid 30s I started riding again but with a 2 stroke installed.
Yeah, I have nothing of value to add to a story about bicycles. So….phrasing?
Well about to sign off. Thanks so much for reading and your kind words.
Y’all actually duped my wife into considering lurking here bc she now thinks y’all are kind and sweet people. ?
Wife is a trooper. Thanks for the write up.
Hah, fooled her!
Wait until she gets to know us. Wait until she makes the mistake of clicking an HM link. Wait until she gets a load of Crusty.
Best description of Glibs: People with a highly developed sense of ethics and morality yet understand the importance of irreverence. Most outsiders mistake the latter as a lack of the former.
Fuck off, Tulpa.
“You also forgot you have to be able to lift more than a bottle of wine.”
Zing.
.Shut his dumb ass down. Scientists.
Explain STEVE SMITH to her. That will end any desire to read the comments.
I had to explain STEVE SMITH presence in my post. That got a thats not funny response
My earworm for tonight.
Nice to see the Burley trailers still going. Longtime worker cooperative that almost went under about ten years ago until they got bought. Used to see all sort of stuff they made from bikes to clothing.
Since you all are so quiet tonight, went to Zerohedge; found this:
New Study Shows Humans Think More Efficiently When A Robot Stands Nearby And Insults Them
I got a laugh out of that. I think I’ve found a new career path.
So, kinda like a DI cyborg? I guess that could motivate you but I doubt it would be sustainable.
I’m sure that what they meant to to say was, “…When A (((Robot))) Stands Nearby And Insults Them.”
that is zerohedge’s claim to fame, right?
It sure as hell is for their comments.
That’s what I was thinking.
Bonkers! No explanation of why, but BONKERS!
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/10/tulsi-gabbard-hillary-clinton-video-feud/
Can’t wait for the SugarFree behind the scenes version of this!
Totally not bonkers.
Part of me thinks Hillary is goading Gabbard into a 3rd party run in the belief that she will hurt Trump more than she will help him.
Trying to split the anti warmonger vote is a tough job. Trump has been better than what we would’ve had in Hillary. If you’re a single issue voter and that issue is ending the forever wars, hmmm. Halfway through this comment and can’t quite figure out where I’m going. *Hits post comment anyways*
Halfway through this comment and can’t quite figure out where I’m going. *Hits post comment anyways*
This happens pretty much any time i write a comment that isn’t meant as a joke.
There may be no honor in besting a fool, but best him we must.
It looks like half of those people commenting are Trump plants.
37-10. After the last three weeks, that was a relief.
May as well have a caption contest.
“Stars announced for the upcoming Wizard of Oz remake.”
I just hear the “FIGHT!” and Mortal Kombat movie theme start up.
“I am not a ба́бушка! … What’s a ба́бушка?”
Stock up on popcorn. As a 3rd party Gabbard isn’t going to take any Trump supporters. She might take a few undecideds but she will definitely take a shit-ton away from whomever the D’s put up. In fact I would not be surprised…….wait a minute.
She looks strong enough that she could very well take the nomination. This 3rd party business came from Clinton. How does the Hildebeast know that Gabbard isn’t going to be the nominee? It is almost like the nominee has been already decided sans the voters. Why, I can almost guess who the chosen one is.
What was it that Sen. Kennedy said the other night? “These people are more crooked than a barrel of snakes”. If they pull another internal party coup surely the voters will get out their pitchforks this time.
“In fact I would not be surprised…….wait a minute.“
That’s funny. You had a mid comment revelation just like I did a few comments up. There’s no way to view this logically without taking the conspiracy angle into account.
Sometimes you have to say it out loud for the evident to become obvious. It just hit me as I was writing ‘Hillary says Gabbard wont get the nomination’ to ask how does she know? She knows because the party already picked their horse. Primary day will just be kabuki theater. Voters shmoters. Herself still hasn’t been paid what she is owed. She still hasn’t gotten her turn.
They’ve already made their pitchforks into plows. The rebel spirit that once pervaded, is just a memory of the older of us now. These people happily accept being categorized as sheep.
Something Lucy something football.
Late to the party on this one
https://screenrant.com/toho-godzilla-cinematic-universe-shin-godzilla-2-canceled/
Geezus, no.
I sure wish Hollywood had less new ideas. Remakes and sequels should be the rule and new stuff the exception, right?
Ricardo Cortez is the ultimate Sam Spade.
Didn’t this just happen on the US side? I watched it not 2 weeks ago…
There’s a separate franchise agreement for Monsterverse which apparently expires next year
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MonsterVerse
Isn’t it essentially the same, though (Toho vs. Legendary)? What am I missing, as far as the differences?
Real deal vs Chinese knockoff? I dunno really but the Hollywood ones seem too much CGI and flash and not enough kaiju.
Yeah…the US does tend to eschew the “rubber suit” stuff. Either that, or we love us some pixels.
It took a Spanish director to even get (modern) kaiju on US screens, and, even then…
“We don’t have any new ideas, either.”
The only thing I know about Japanese people is that I don’t know if ideas they have will turn out terrible or terrific
This American I was talking to the other night was bitching about how the Japanese rugby team was filled with “non Japanese” players. Guy is a die hard Yankee fan. “You realize not all the Yankees are from NY? How about naming 5 current players that are.”
I remember having that feeling of wanting Japanese teams to lose. Can’t figure out exactly why I felt that way, but it was the same feeling I had about the Broncos when I lived in Denver.
You’ll not be a sports fan of any city/nation that’ll have you as a
membercitizen?That would fit. Even when I had those feelings, I knew it was me being a dickhead.
Elway without an offence, can’t blame you…
Rhywun hardest hit
https://screenrant.com/star-trek-discovery-deep-space-nine-aliens-trills/
Streaming == it doesn’t exist. No skin off my back.
When I was 21, I was living in Summit Valley, down the hill from Keystone, and working nights at a bar in Breckinridge. I would bike over Swan Mountain, then 7 miles uphill to Breckinridge. Going home, I’d stop and get a tall boy, and drink it on that 7 mile down hill stretch. Then I’d bike up Swan Mountain. I’d be sober at the bottom, only 22 oz., but I’d be drunk by the time I got to the top. If I tried it today, I’d be dead.
Breckinridge. Used to be the place where you’d ski down almost vertical runs and then have to slide across a three football fields of flat ice to get to the lift. Keystone (while not having the spectacular nature of Breckinridge) was much better. Back bowls at Vail being the best. But that may have changed since the 90’s.
Shit. I’m confusing Keystone with Copper mountain.
You wouldn’t believe the change. It’s grown as much as the cities on the Front Range.
By “it” I mean Summit and Eagle Counties.
Dude, if I couldn’t live in the past, I’d have to face my present and future.
I used to do a ski vacation there at least every other year (off years going somewhere different each year). With a group of 6-8 guys we could fly in from Wisconsin and ski six days for around $1,200 up until about 6-8 years ago.
Now the same trip would cost close to $2,000 to ski 4 days. It just got too damn expensive to justify anymore so we stopped going around 5-6 years ago and haven’t been back since. Bummer, cause I love to ski.
Well, Wisconsin has Alpine Valley *snickers* no Alpine Valley is great, saw Bob Seeger there for Silver Bullet Tour, so… 1986? Maybe? But the vertical for skiing is hundreds of feet… so, move to Colorado like everybody else on Earth seems to be doing.
(BTW, predictive text seems to be getting better, on my phone at least)
8/13/86 Google helps me remember. Tickets were a birthday gift, my birthday being 8/2/69, so what, 17th birthday. Oh just figuring that age unlocked memories… wow, to be 17 again…
I grew up about 45 minutes from Alpine Valley, so I’ve seen many shows there. First one was Dio on Sacred Heart Tour in 1985 right after my 15th birthday. I went there to see Phish this summer and brought back lots of fond memories.
Now I live in La Crosse along the Mississippi River. We don’t have mountains, just 400-500 foot bluffs along the river. I love the area, just wish there was some mountains a little closer. I have relatives in Longmont, but no urge to move there myself.
Good morning glibs. Today i am going to the doctor to get an verdict on my mri. Based on what i can understand from the report it is the same as last year, minor lesion of the supraspinous ligament of 4 mm and inflamation of the acromioclavicular joint
Anything to be done besides rest it?
I assume surgery. I will ask. I have been resting it more than a month and it anit getting much better. I will ask all the pros and cons of surgery and i think there are like corticosteroid injections in the inflamated area as an option
In case you’re up late and still checking around here, my free advice is to be careful about surgery. Shoulder surgery is one of those things where a “successful” outcome might be that you get full mobility and no pain or it might be that you have no pain but less mobility, or even that you can’t really do shoulder lifts any more. Anecdotally, I’ve heard mixed reviews about elective shoulder surgery. I think Mojeaux has actually had it, so she’s obviously the better source.
On the other hand, my sister-in-law broke her spine falling off a horse about twelve years ago, and that’s the kind of injury where even with full recovery you’re dealing with pain for the rest of your life. She gets cortisone shots once a year and has good results. She’s very active, does yoga, hikes, all that stuff. But, maybe three months out of the year her back is in bad shape until she gets the shots again.
On topic i am to old to sleep in tents. Tent sleeping period is under 25
Jim Gaffigan agrees.
Pie’s here! Must be bed time. G’night all.
I may have had the weirdest dream ever last night.
Was the clown dressed, or, naked?
Clowns do not even scratch the surface of weird
Thank you! However, considering the audience here, I had to go with something “common”…
So what did the fish have to say this time?
“Homer loves…Mindy“? “Andy”? Could go either way, really.
You can’t just say you had the weirdest dream and then leave us hanging, brah 😉
Speaking of dreams, I learned that my girlfriend talks in her sleep a lot when she drinks. On Saturday night, she brought over a pie, I cooked us some dinner, then we spent the rest of the evening watching movies and drinking wine. Later, we’re upstairs in bed and she’s asleep; I’m just sitting up and reading (I work second and she works first, so I’m usually up a few hours later than her). She starts having a full conversation with some person in her dream. All of a sudden, she blurts out, “NO, I’m not going to tell him to fuck the pie!” I began laughing so hard that I was shaking the bed and woke her up. She asked what was so funny, and I managed to choke out that she said something really funny in her sleep, but I couldn’t even begin to speak the actual line. After about 10 minutes of hysterical, doubled over, falling-on-the-floor laughter, I just gave up and texted it to her, after which she had a laughing fit of the same duration and intensity.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood or The Joker? Taking the wife out tonight. Tomorrow is a holiday.
Joker was quite good. Especially given the idiocy being spouted about it. I don’t want to give any spoilers but let me just say if you can watch that movie and see any possible link between the Joker and the alt right you are beyond deluded.
You live in a strange timeline.
Which would you rather
role-playsee? I would think Once Upon, as a “couples” movie.Joker.
My man!
/You, that is
//And, the Joker….
Here?
Well, I did think about going with “Sir Maurice” early on. But, it just didn’t have that “oomph”, ya know?
For that ta-da!, go with Abracadabra?
Of course, I can’t knock a Sir Maurice handle when rocking an avatar of the late great Maurice Colbourne.
Hmm….that is an interesting idea.
Of course, I just changed the avatar, which is enough change for the time being,
Are movies dubbed in japan or do they use subtitles?
Both, but we don’t go to dubbed movies. We aren’t illiterate.
I hate to be “that guy” but dubbing really is awful.
The voices they choose are unbelievably bad. The ones they choose for black actors are unmistakably racist and I’m no Vox writer.
Possible money maker? “Nippon Woke Dubbing Consortium”. Get quality voice actors to do the dubbing…
/this is why I’m not rich
I dub everything into English in my own head. Feel like I’m schizophrenic most of the time.
Racism in Japan?
it really is
To make it clear – they will show the same movie on two different screens, one in the original language with Japanese subtitles, and the other screen dubbed into Japanese to ensure that most of the cultural nuances get washed out of the performance.
Hey, man. Choose a date 11月下旬 for when you wanna have drinks and send me a message.
Sounds very good. I’ll figure some dates and let you know.
I’m admittedly curious about Knives Out, and I go to the movies only once a year tops.
But, will you watch it dubbed??
/inquiring minds, and all…
Zombieland: Double Tap is pretty good if you liked the original. It isn’t high art, but I thought it was fun.
Fuck Fall tornadoes and thunderstorms.
That is all.
I heard of chasing tornadoes fuckin is new… sounds dangerous tbh
That’s what Big Tornado wants you to think. If you’re intimidated by that violent, fast-moving funnel of atmosphere and debris, you won’t give them the high hard one they so rightly deserve.
When you’re fucking a tornado, does the rotation act like a vibrator?
I would presume it’s more like a Dirt Devil. That tingle you feel is probably more shrapnel than shimmy.
Don’t know if you’re still around, Diggy, but spring tornadoes are no fun either. I’m still driving by major damage every day. Anything serious come through your parts overnight?
Jeebus, that looks bad. I know one death is still one too many, but I would have expected many more. Is that where you are?
Yup. The biggest of the 19 (I think) that came through the Miami (River) Valley passed NW to SE just west and then south of us. One gigantic evergreen came down on our street but landed (miraculously) on grass – right where an arborist would’ve put it on purpose. After the coast was clear at our place, we walked around the block and saw nothing. I had no clue how bad it had been until I left for work the following morning and the state highway I use to commute was closed a few blocks from our house.
Glad you’re okay. The thought of trees flying around makes me queasy.
Thanks! The extent of the damage started to hit me as I crawled along the detour and started seeing all the downed trees, then noticed the top corner missing from a two-story office building. The one immediate fatality was an older gentleman in a town a couple of counties to the north – he’d probably already gone to bed when the warnings started. One older lady in the suburb just west of us may have passed some time later as a result of injuries – I don’t know if they’re counting that as a fatality.
I guess you did.
?
Yikes.