Finally a break in the weather

Things are melting. I was beginning to think it would never happen, but the bone numbing stupid cold of the last two weeks is finally gone. Sunday, me and two friends hit the trail on the bikes, and had a good run in the hard packed snow trails. New tires were excellent.
Connor and I have started competing our way through Starcraft. He's enjoying it, it was after all one of those classic great games that he's never played yet.
I'm gonna keep the beard for another few weeks until I know the snow and cold are gone, mostly for good. Megan and Dar are at me to get rid of it, but I have to confess it is nice not the shave.

three wheels go boom

So, here is the picture of my new bike. I was out on it just after Dar took this picture, and on my return trip, I ditched it as I spun out at the top of a snowy, icy hill. I bailed just as the bike went backwards off into a ravine.
So, before you start worrying too much. My buddies and I lifted and pushed it back up, I wrecked the left brake lever, and bent the back carrying racks a little. I drove it home. I love these little bikes, I can lift it up and move it around. I can put it on or off the back of a pick up without ramps etc.
Connor and I were cleaning off a skating area for the youth group when I did this, and are looking forward to the youth group's skating party this friday.

finally pics of the yamaha

So, I finally had a picture taken of the new bike. Then I saddled up, and Connor and I went off to clear a skating rink. On the way back, I had to drive up a steep, snowy hill with a ravine on one side. By myself, I started up, and near the top, spun out. I jumped off the bike just as it went over the side in to the ravine, (about a 25' drop onto dead trees.)
Not to worry, the bike is tough. The bike is good. I bent the rear rack, and destroyed the left brake puller thing. All repairable, the plastic is all good. I'm also OK. Lessons learned. Had some amazing friends with me thathelped to lift and push the bike back to the trail.
So, Dave, here's the picture you were looking for...

still no pictures of the ATC

I have pictures of the new bike on my phone. I lent my adapter sd card thingy to a friend. I just found my digital camera the other day, it's hard to do a self portrait on the bike by one's self.
That said, I've really been enjoying the snow this year. I thought I'd try and motivate myself to get out and enjoy winter this year, (beyond shovelling). The ATC goes through just about any amount of snow. (New tires helped with this.)
Our annual meeting went really well, and I continue to be excited about where God is leading this congregation. We have a vision. We are in harmony. These are good things.

biker chick

So, yesterday after church I thought I'd take little megan out for a run on the ATV. She's decided that it's really cool to go out on it with me. She sat up ahead of me with her mittens on the handlebars as we were freezing along a snowmobile trail and asked when she could get an ATV of her own, 'cause she could really use it to go to school.
Megan is so awesome. She is a really good little girl, and really girly, like dresses and dollies etc. Sometimes it takes me completly by surprise to hear this come from her. I love it, and her!

Fun, Food, and work

Well, we had our annual open house on Sunday. About 35 people showed up which was great! Dar was really pleased. Almost all the cheesecake and gingerbread trifle were gone, (boo for me).
It's really cold here today, like -30 wind chill cold. The dog is impressed he's allowed in.
Talked to Scott C today, hope to have him up to visit sometime this winter.
Connor played his tuba in the school band presentation of "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown", and did an excellent job. Grade 5 and he's playing in the high school brass ensemble. (no, I'm not just a proud dad, I'm a proud Dad with a reason to be proud)

The fun of three wheels

So, I recently bought a Yamaha 200e shaft drive three wheeled ATC. What a blast. Connor and I have been running the trails a couple times a week for the past 3 weeks! We have a system of trails right behind the house that we can travel straight through almost all of Albert county without driving on the roads. Hillsborough - no problem, Prosser Brook, we're there.
Growing up in the 70's and 80's we all wanted a three wheeled ATC. Honda's "big red" was the one we all drooled over. I think there was a kid in Parkindale subdivision who had one. They simply could go anywhere. Well, this one we got may be yellow, not red, but in a world of 4 wheels, 3 is a blast.