RO4 pt.3

Here are the last of the good photos, except the one of Tommy's naked jump. You can't really see anything but I should probably get his permission before posting it, so you'll have to wait for that one.


Snuggle Pony was in fine form.



If the Rootbeer Schnapps are out it must be midnight in Rickreall, and almost time for Ditch Style.



What do you think this is, the Country Fair?



Mace, king of the firejump.



The Kid rocks it in flip flops.



I didn't time this one right but Mace said he liked it as it illustrated how far he had to jump.



He was in the wrong gear and barely made this one.

media blitz

I guess this means alleycats have officially jumped the shark.

Also, Dabby called to let me know he was quoted in the Oregonian. He is described as "trying to restore calm" which doesn't seem like the Dabby I know.

RO4 pt. 2

Here are some more images from the open. Maybe I'll add witty captions later. I might even work on some "results". The scorecard was lost Saturday night so they might be a little vague. I do know that Dabby won Bocce Ball, Tiah won Speed Scrabble and they tied at Wine Tasting. Mace won Fire Jumping by clearing Gideon but The Kid got bonus points for jumping in filp flops. Ditch Style was more of an exhibition this year but I recall that Mace got big air, Dabby got a little air, I got microscopic air and crashed a lot and Jaden dropped in again and again with varying results. Kelly and The Ringer tied in Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby. There were a lot of events we didn't get around to. Almost everyone rode down so they came in late and left early and didn't bring polo bikes or mallets. Jaden and Dabby both turned in good birdwatching results. Beefa did a little birdwatching as well and also scored well in the Beer Bungie.
I'll upload more photos tomorrow, including the fire jump, naked and otherwise.



















Sharky works on the tattoo gun.




Every one of these rules was violated at some point during the weekend.

Images from the Rickreall Open IV

Here are a few photos from this year's Rickreall Open, I'll put more up tomorrow.

This one's out of sequence but I had to lead with it. Drew is the man. I didn't think he'd actually do it...he almost had me talked into getting one but luckily the gun stopped working.

Mace and El Torque cleaned out the Chevron.




Maybe I shouldn't have put that flyer up in West Salem.

Rev. Phil gets the hose.


El Torque in the beer bungie event. He did well but Sharky won because the tubes snapped at the tree and whacked him right in the Pryzbillas. 20 bonus points.

Jaden lighting the barbeque.


Jaden and Velo were relentless with the sqirt guns and water balloons.

Cowboy tolerated the squirting for quite a while then snapped and threw Velo in the pool.




The Kid rigged a rope to the top of the big oak tree in the orchard.

Both teams played hard.

If I wasn't already in love with Greg Oden this fantastic interview would have pushed me over the edge. I can't wait to spot him downtown so I can be like "What's up, G. O.?"

Vino joins Team WRECK

Alexander Vinokourov, my favorite to win the tour this year, went down at 60kph and lost over a minute in the GC. His teamate Andreas Kloden rode into a ditch and fractured his coccyx. A tough day for Astana.

a few photos from Sunday polo

bike poloChakra was playing well.
Clash of the titans.
Irving, after giving up a goal to Brian.
The long arm of Tiah.
The Ringer about to fall over.
Damien and his wound.

Capsule Reviews

Trail Review : Bell's Mountain

We went back again, mostly for the great swimming at Moulton Falls. Unlike last time the trail was dry and fast. We still had to walk 80% of the first climb but the downhills were worth it. I didn't crash at all and led on several descents, which was gratifying. We only went as far as the first helicopter bridge, maybe 2 hours up and 1 hour back, but it was intense the whole way.

Timmy and the volcano.



A little brown snake.



One good thing about clearcuts is they produce views. In one of the clearcuts Drew spotted another Giant Land Beaver lodge. Timmy told us the clearcuts were actually produced by cranes, trucks and even helicopters,. That doesn't make any sense, though. I don't think any beaver could operate that kind machinery, no matter how giant. Timmy has some pretty weird ideas sometimes.


Toast Review : Cinnabon
As you well know I am a huge fan of toast. Especially cinnamon raisin toast. So when Roth's was sold out of Sunmaid Raisin bread I took a flyer on this new "Cinnabon" bread.
My first impression was good, nice thick slices, decent aroma. As I engaged my trusty Dualit I looked over the label. "Ciannmon Bursts"...I'm not a huge fan of things that burst with the exception of water balloons. The ingredients also featured lots of artificial flavors and somthing that seemed like a made up word and had a "tm" after it. Metreax? Metral? I don't know but it made me think of some genetically modified organism designed to burst with flavor. Anyway even with a liberal application of butter the toast was dry and bad. It's in the freezer now, but I'm sure it will be gleefully consumed during the Rickreall Open next weekend.

Dear Dabby

I recently instigated, edited and posted the rebirth of Dear Dabby. If you have any questions about life, love, bikes, chefing, navigation, money management or pretty much anything else he can help you out. He is an expert on everything. Like that guy on the Daily Show but not as funny. Or like Dr. and Mr. Haggis-On-Whey but not as old.
I've taken lots of interesting photos lately of mountains, snakes, my new John Deere riding mower, voracious carp and more, but I forgot my memory card reader so you'll have to wait a few days to see them.

God Bless America

I've got this year's hot dog eating contest on tivo but haven't watched it yet. I saw a replay of last year the other day at the Yamhill and it was nauseating. I don't know why I'm so interested in this, I guess it just seems like the quintessential American "sport".



"Once the contest ended, the runner-up suffered a reversal -- competitive eating-speak for barfing -- leading to a deduction from his final total. Kobayashi finished with 63 HDBs (hot dogs and buns eaten) in his best performance ever."


"The two gastric gladiators quickly distanced themselves from the rest of the 17 competitors, processing more beef than a slaughterhouse within the first few minutes. The two had each downed 60 hot dogs with 60 seconds to go when Chestnut -- the veins on his forehead extended -- put away the final franks to end Kobayashi's reign."

Quotes coutesy of the AP, who really outdid themselves on this one.

Scenes from a weekend retreat at Mud Branch Acres

My favorite magnolia tree is finally blooming.


Pitting wild cherries. Dabby made cobbler, syrup and martinis out of them. I don't know if we'll get around to an Iron Chef competition at the Rickreall Open this year but if we do expect Battle Wild Cherry or Battle Filbert.


Blood on his hands.






I told Dabby he should send this photo to the president of IHOP and ask for 60k plus benefits. These were some fine pancakes.

I had some old comics out for Jaden to look at. Here's Dabby "enjoying" Miracle Man Special #1 by Alan Moore in 3D.


The cherry cobbler was excellent. He topped it with Krusteaz, cinnamon, sugar and butter.


I finally got a haircut.

I was afraid I might lose my mystical power but if anything it's increased.