TG '06 -Convict Lake, Ca

So here I am finally sitting in my bed rethinking about all the times
at TG this year, I might as well start at the beginning:
Bishop, Markley and I get packed up and out of town 11pm Wends nite,
only an hour after planned, and get into convict lake right at
sunrise, only one hour lost in Yosemite. Not to much to tell about the
drive except Bishop is one of the greatest copilots except when I need
his eyes cause mine still have bad nite vision from lazer surgery, and
the fact the the Melvins rock! Well we roll in and I frantically set up
the DJ console and test everything, eat some yogurt, and frantically
get ready for the mostest epicus fixie bike ride of my life!

Yes folks, it was really that good, fueled by no sleep, Tecate, good
green, and yogurt, we ride first around convict lake to catch the last
of the direct sunlight on the lake (where does the days go in the
mountains?). It's a perfect little ride in itself, rolly with a big
speed banked turn on the way back, then we head down the big grade to
395, thinking all the way "oh shit we're in trouble trying to make it
back up this bitch 'and personally I was planning on walking if need
be, it being my first ride in a while'". Descending a good grade on a
fixie is work enough, you must go slow or you will die once gravity
and momentum overcomes the strength of your legs. We get to 395 and
chase the sun north, fighting the wind the whole time making it seem
like a small uphill grade even though its rolling. We decide to turn
around at Mammoth lakes and come back with the wind on our backs, open
it up as fast as we dare, really fuckin cool for like miles...oh the
scenery is pretty cool too if ya didn't notice. [fixie side note:
without gears, brakes, and a freewheel, a fixie bike is completely
silent with a direct connection between you and the road] Then we
return to our dreaded convict lake grade and pull over to piss, and
mentally prepare. The grade starts gradual, but slowly steepens, in a
short amount of time it was about each pedal stroke; a complete fight
mentally and physically for each and every stoke, I screamed, I
huffed, I growled, anything to stop thinking about how hard it was
with one damned gear and this big ass hill. Then we're at the top, at
first I thought it was just leveling before the real kicker, but no,
we could see the cabins, and the small down grade that leads to the
lake. off we go completely stoked we made it and ride around the lake
again to catch the last alpine glow off of it and back up the hill to
watch the sunset on the mountains. I've never had such a
natural high, completely beautiful, set and setting, man machine and
nature at it's finest!!

Back at the ranch, I find the master bath in Bodie unattended and pore
the nicest hottub ever (and thought I was just gonna get a bath:),
after an shave and the bath the only thing left to do is chop lots of
veggies for my salad and kick back with the finest friends and finest
food for the best thanksgiving ever. Goddamn right I was thankful,
Nirvana and bliss we're erupting from my pores!

Fri, the next day Heather, Gene, and I head out for Iris Slab, right
off Rock Creek Rd. A beautiful piece of granite it is, and we set our
top ropes and have some very nice crack climbing. Then it got cold as
it does in the mountains so we headed to Wild Willies Hot springs for
some soakin time! I was sure glad to see all my fellow loadies show up
after the deathmarch so I could finally light that spliff. Then the
stars came out, not JLo or Britney, but the real deal, my eyes were
seeing them for the first time from a hotsprings because I used to
wear glasses! No more glasses and my eyes were starting to get better,
perhaps better than with glasses and the stars hypnotized me, god damn
are they beautiful out there! Basically another
perfect day.

Sat, it 's time to get up and out early (11am!) and Gene, Heather,
Sin, and I head out to Owens river Gorge for more climbing. We descend
a precariously steep goatlike trail down to the floor of the gorge and
find our rock. Now the trick here is there are access to the top of
the climbs to nicely set your rope. You must lead climb up...a amazing
first for both Heather and I, but we make it intact and in stride.
Again completely classic rock. Now its cold and we start the hike up.
All is good until about halfway when we realised we're off trail,
this mean bouldering our way to the top while not trying to brain
anyone below with loose rocks which someone put precariously under each
step, damn them! Now it was cold and time to head back to the hot
springs for Lambic and a spliff.
We'll another perfect day and now it's time to eat then party at the
ranch. Well partying goes alright till about 4am, my virgin cherry
ass got it's first real smuggle!

Then hell breaks loose! I get the SICKNESS!!!!! Yup all night laying
next to the crapper pukking till the light of day, shivering in my
nekkedness my only blessing is the heater in the floor an my poof
jacket that was next to my bed.

Had to stay the extra day, nice and mellow with bad movies and sleep
without puke.

All in all quite a trip, I'll always remember the blissful times
which were most, and slowly putting the bad times behind me.

Thanks you all, your quite the friends!!! I love all of you!


-Brad