Volcanos and bicycles
I'm pining for Lassen today. Snag Lake, specifically, at the edge of the most deathlike scenery I've been near since maybe the Badlands long ago. We were there in September, just after all the bugs were gone from what we heard, when there was almost nobody out there because summer's camping season was over and skiing season hadn't nearly begun. Some of the easiest and pretties high(ish) altitude hiking I've ever done. It was a three day stroll, every night ending at a lake*, with TastyBites, tortillas, and whiskey. The last day, on the way out we stopped at an isolated, crystal clear lake and took a swim. The water was pure and cool, but not so hot you couldn't stay in once you got used to it.

At least I've got my bike.

Which I've been fucking up lately. I decided I should use it for its purpose (it is, after all, called a crosscheck - it's meant for pavement and trails). Tangentially to that, as jenscrowl and I were riding the Bay Trail in Richmond, through the Marina, I decided to try some cross dismounts, took one too fast, and fell onto my handlebars and front wheel. I managed to sheer the valve off my front tube, twist the top and bottom of the front fork, and twist my handlebars around. Plus I have a nice big bruise just below my right nipple (sexy). All in one fall. I completely failed at catlike nonchalance after the fall, mainly because I was so surprised at the whole thing. Because our local bike shop (repair annex) is so wonderful, I had my little Surly back the next day, all fixed up.

Aside from all that, though, once this storm passes through I'm starting off on the hills again. I've been riding flats all this past month or two, increasing my time in the saddle so I can hit Redwood, Cull Canyon, and other nice-smelling, unpopulated areas just outside Oakland. And yesterday I splurged on the bike shoes I've been looking at for the past six months or so (Sidi Mega). I wore them on the work commute today and rode like I was a little kid in brand new Keds.









*Okay, it was two nights, but we could've stayed at least six days camping at a new lake every night.