New Video UPPP!

Test

Just hooked up the Blackberry with Blogger; trying a test post!

YESSS...it works. Man I love this thing!! Anyway, scored some Coldplay tickets, just thought I'd share that. Nothing else going on. Heading out to Lake Tarpon in a bit to go for a nice after work ski ride with the Go Pro helmet cam- I'll post the video later!

I gave in....

I never thought I'd own a Blackberry, but after messing with Nick's (my roommate), I have to say I felt the need to join the ranks of proud Crackberry addicts everywhere. I have to say, this thing is DA BOMB. I'm still learning a lot about it, but I am getting pretty proficient with the little bastard. Not as difficult to use as I once thought.

Tattoo Redoo

I've had the tattoo on my left arm for almost 17 years now. I originally got it at Purple Panther on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, California. I got it right after I met my ex, and the dragon (then) symbolized strength and patience. Now, many years after that, it still symbolizes the same things...but for different reasons. Strength to have dealt with the divorce and patience to deal with all the issues I have endured over the past year.
I had the Japanese writing added after the dragon. There's kind of a lengthy story about what it means and why I left it there-which I'd rather keep private. It's a humorous anecdote in a way to how my life has went...almost ironic. I'll save that for another day. Right now, I'm sore and bleeding, I must tend to my wounds!

New SID Team Fork

I somehow bottomed out my original Rock Shox fork that came with the Fuel, and pretty much laid it to rest. It was still under warranty, so I took it to the local Trek bike store for repair. COme to find out, the thing was pretty much irreparable, so they sent it to Rock Shox for an exchange. After 2 weeks of waiting, I finally got the replacement- a Rock Shox SID Team fork. Now, for those of you who don't know, the SID series are one of the top of the line race forks on the market and is standard equipment on many high-end MTB's these days. Although the fork isn't really meant for being brutalized it is a lightweight and very forgiving fork for all-mountain. This is a dual air model, with rebound abjustment and a gate adjustment. So this fork is highly tunable. I have to give it a ride this weekend to see where the ideal settings are for my riding style. I can already notice a large difference in front end weight, and the front end of the bike seems much more "tossable" now.

In case you missed 'em....

Videos from my trip...

Planning another trip!!

Beginning stages of a small mountain bike road trip in September. I'm eying a ride near north Georgia and one in North Carolina...this will only be an extended weekend trip; nothing epic like my last journey. I've tentatively searched out Bull Run MTB trail in Daholenga, Ga., and the Tsali Loop trails in North Carolina near Asheville. More to come soon on this trip!

St. Augustine

I went to visit a friend of mine and his family in St. Augustine this weekend. I've known him for about 15 years, and we decided to hit the town and see some of the sights. After a good dinner at Mikato's, which is a teppanyaki restaurant in the downtown area, we visited some of the well known areas. You gotta have big balls to check out this city, and as evidenced by the below picture, I had no issues with that...

We went to the fort, which is absolutely an amazing piece of history. I always enjoy coming to this spot. This time I went around sunset, and the colors made for some prime photo ops.

We also went to the Fountain of Youth, and the picture below is where Pnce DeLeon landed when he came to America (accidentally) while searching for the Fountain that was rumored to be in Bimini. I also drank from the fountain. The water tasted pretty darn good, since it was fresh spring water. I don't feel any younger, but I didn't get ameobic dysentery either...

It made for a very relaxing weekend.

4th of July relaxation

Had a very relaxing and fun 4th this year. Spent time with my daughter and had a lot of fun with good friends. I am heading off to St. Augustine this upcoming weekend, so I shall have a nice amount of pictures to share upon my return. I try to make it out there a couple of times a year; a good friend of mine lives out there and I end up crashing at his place. It's a beautiful old town, and there are some nice beaches out there. Until then...peace!

Rain, rain and MORE rain!!

Okay, I know we need rain here in Tampa Bay, but this is insane. The bed of my truck has turned into a redneck swimming pool. I'm thinking of getting some koi and raising them in there. Three solid days of thunderstorms- I am about done. Missing out on my bike ride today, which isn't making me happy. Hopefully things will clear up by the weekend, so there can be some DRY fourth of July festivities. Jetskiing is not even a concept due to the lightning. If it was just raining, I'd be out there. But the thought of getting zapped on the water is not something I am too keen on.