Creston keeps on keepin' on...

Well things at Creston are on cruise control for now and will continue to do so for the next little while. No real news right now. Just photos to enjoy. Check out this set with different cropping on the same trail. Yeah I have some creative energy to vent after sitting numbing my mind in a mini-x all day.




Here is the coffee pot/water cooler at my office. Jealous yet? Trail building is the greatest.



Finally one of my co-workers...he is the swamper...guy can move some sticks. Oh the machine is definitely that angry lady that you know just needs a little some.

Finally !

YAY!!! I got to work today. The weather was beautiful and Jenn and I cranked out a good day. Above is the set-up through a nice gateway into a switchback and below is some nice wiggle in an upper portion of the trail. These of course are just roughed in, I went back and de-bermed and back-sloped the trail after the photos were taken. A labor crew will be used later to hand finish all of the machine work.

All of the rain definately made stuff that I had built in the wet slimy today. Things are cruising along nicely now that there is good moisture in the dirt and we have nice weather. I hope to push hard the next couple of days and get the majority of Phase 1 finished.



This is my homework for tomorrow. Should be cool to weave between big cut chunks of the oak in the background. Photos up tomorrow for sure.

Rain, Rain GO AWAY...please.

Wow, what a wet start to this whole full time travel thing. So far we are staying nice and dry at camp, but trying to get any work done has been nearly impossible. Sorry Creston. Six good hours of work in three days...dammit. Oh well, just means next week we will be CRANKING. Here are a few photos from this morning before the deluge hit. Maybe tomorrow we will go to the Linville Caverns and hangout inside the outside on a stormy day.

Well we are OFFICIALLY ON THE ROAD. We headed out the door on Tuesday afternoon and set up camp down in Old Fort. I know it might not be far from our home of Asheville, but it is the perfect way to do a dry run for two weeks. We are well positioned near Creston so things should cruise along well over the next little while. It is raining and has been all day so we have a good chance to look over some of the issues inherit to living in the woods. Above is a view of the office set up and below are the kids all hanging out together..if you notice I am asleep in the hammock in the background.

Party, send-off, free-stuff giveaway...

Well the time has come. Send off party at the house in BC, don't know send an email. Time around 7pm.

Come and have fun...BYOB, BYOBBQ stuff...grill will be on and the fire will be raging.

Okay, you can breathe now

What an unbelievable week. Let's start at the beginning and try to through a few pictures in along the way to keep things interesting. To start I sinned heavily a few times this week riding in the rain. We will not say where or when, but I remember why doing so is bad. Number one it screws up the trails, number two and far more of a hit to me was it screws up the bike and makes me spend time and money fixing things, like brake pads and chains. Okay father please forgive me for my sins and allow me to repent.



Then, Tuesday the PTBA conference began here in Asheville and it was AWESOME, tiring but great. I was accepted as a member and also did two other presentations, one on the Wissa, the other on Pocket Bike Parks. As Rich put it, it was interesting seeing all those people watch me and thinking I knew what I was talking about...I have really begun enjoying the presentation portion of these things. I am a bit of a ham so it makes sense. I am also a believer in "the cause", this gives me an outlet to try and create a few converts while I am at it.




Finally yesterday was a great Green's Lick ride with the IMBA folks. It is amazing what friendships forged in the trenches can do.

PTBAhhhhhhh......

What a whirlwind couple days. Photos are all I have today. Full right up to come.

Put out the fire...

from: Teresa Bergen...ceramic cat ears?

Okay now to the meat of the day. This has been one heck of a week. I know I already said that, but today elevated things even a bit more. I have been the type to always want total control and to do everything myself. I am burned on that this week. I didn't get my VA contractors license as was planned. Why not? A number of factors. I have learned much in this week and those lessons will build me into a better business person and a more humble individual. The photo above represents my feeling about jumping through hoops. The lion holds the hoop to allow the ringmaster his glory. Enjoy your Sunday, mine will most likely be spent in front of this contraption trying to be prepared for all of the insanity that will be the Professional Trailbuilders Conference. Presentations, Beers and Bikes...I will come out of next week with a clearer sense of the future and hopefully some new acquaintances.

Holy Crap what a busy week.

Okay the photos above are of some of the rough cutting at Creston. It sounds like I will be back out there after the PTBA conference to put in a bit more trail for these great folks.

Wednesday was a trip up to Douthat...did I get to ride? Of course not, but today I did.




Today went on out to Brevard and took care of a couple things. More to come on that for sure.

For now it is study up for my VA contractors exam on Saturday and then get ready for PTBA. Next week will surely be one of the craziest in a very long time...Welcome to the JUNGLE...right?

I need a ride...in DOUTHAT

Well today will end the first phase of working at Creston. It sounds like I will be back though.

Today however, the milestone is heading up to Douthat State Park, one of my favorite pieces of land in these great states of ours. The goal is to look over a potential project and then try and get a pedal in with Ed Sutton of Trail Dynamics. The guys is great and I can't wait to catch up and see some of the work they have been putting on the ground in the park this winter.

Vacation....AH....Back to work...DOH!

Well I have been out of touch all week and it was everything I could hope it would be. The season is about to crank up and I can't wait. But, before getting too excited I took some much needed R and R down to the Sunshine State. I sat on the beach and next to rivers. I saw gators, manatees and otters. The trip was awesome. Enjoy the photos and look for the conclusion of Creston to hit this week as well as a trip to VA to look at a project. Things are gonna be pinned at least for the next two weeks so here we go. Remember, beer and feet in the air equals a mind at ease and able to work better, once it has to.