Category Archives: recreation

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She Is!!

One of the great things about the fall is a trip to State College and the Penn State University. My wife Janet is an enthusiastic alumna and her love for Penn State has no bounds. Her best friends in the world are her PSU friends, and she loves to make the trip to Happy Valley especially in the fall when the leaves are at their peak- like this past week. I go along, but I am not an alumnus, however I do enjoy State College. We spent many a weekend there back in the day going to the football games. Mike Smith and I would ride mountain bikes at Rothrock State Forest and come to the tailgates famished.

Some of the PSU crowd at our son Jack’s wedding this past summer.
The PSU girls at Jack and Marisa’s Wedding.

As is our typical fashion, Janet and I like to pack in as much as we can and check all the Penn State boxes. Stay at the Nittany Lion Inn, hike Mt. Nittany, shop downtown, eat a Tuna hoagie at Troy’s, ice cream at the Creamery, and now a new box to check- ride some rails to trails on the bicycles. We found a great rail to trail- The Bellefonte Central Rail Trail which starts right in State College. We rode it to the end in Toftrees, and continued on a beautiful gravel trail for several more miles. This part of the trail is not officially part of the Central Rail Trail, but it is easily navigated on mountain bikes for several miles. We actually had to turn around because of time, but we both said next time- we would ride that trail to the end and see where it finished. In any event, Janet likes rail to trail rides, and Happy Valley provided a great option complete with fabulous leaf peeping.

Aside from the cycling, hiking Mt. Nittany is always special. Janet remarked that it seemed harder this year going straight up with all the rocks. I laughed and said- “maybe it gets harder every year?” But she made it to the top and we had that awesome view of Happy Valley with the Bryce Jordan Center and Beaver Stadium standing at attention.

The view from the top of Mt. Nittany
A true fan!!!

We like to eat at the Cafe LeMont, which is just below Mt. Nittany. Great baked goods, coffee and lunch specials. You can sit outside and enjoy the fall weather. Nice place to eat as fuel for the hike, or a place to relax afterwards. Either way, the Cafe LeMont is a good place to visit when in Happy Valley.

We walked all around town and the campus. Janet was showing me where she took some classes and she was amazed at all the building and construction that has taken place over the years since she has graduated. It is good to stay active in State College because you can easily eat your way through the place. Lunch at the Corner Room was great and it gave Janet a lot of good memories of her times there in the past with her pals, Kathy, Judy, Valerie, Beth, Dunz and Copes. Lots of good stories were told sitting at the Corner Room and I had a good laugh at some of them- which I had not heard before. Nothing like memories of your old college days.

The Nittany Lion standing guard always.
Ice Cream at the Creamery. A must stop.

Penn State is huge, and the enrollment there has always been robust. Much different from my college days at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. The small school experience has its plusses and minuses, but there is no dispute that the time spent as a student at PSU has to be great. So much to do, a wonderful education no matter what the field of study, and the absolute beauty of State College and the surrounding central mountains of Pennsylvania make it the experience of a lifetime. I am happy Janet got to experience that and that she still values her time there. We love the fall and there is no place nicer than Happy Valley this time of year. I am “Happy” she brings me along. Thanks for reading. Please follow the blog on http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com It helps me.

“Be true to your school- just like you would to your girl now, be true to your school, and let your colors fly………..

-The Beach Boys.

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The Man and His Dog

So, I had the nice experience of riding in the beautiful Laurel Highlands this past weekend with three good friends. John Casuccio, Jeff” The Ride King” Wuerthele, and his dog Wilson. The leaves were beautiful and the conditions on the trails were dry, and it made the rock riding a little more pleasant. And Wilson is a great trail dog. He is named after the volleyball in the Tom Hanks movie and actually had a lot of the same traits. Quiet with a nice smile on his face. He is a rescue dog which Jeff has the habit of adopting. We talked about all the dogs that Jeff has had along on rides that he adopted over the years but somehow Wilson seems to be the most pleasant one so far- at least in my mind. I am not a dog guy but have ridden with all of Jeff’s dogs in the past. But the perceived smile on Wilson’s face was heartwarming to me and his behavior on the trail was exemplary……..for a dog.

The Ride King and John Casuccio- two legends of local trails.

We like to call Jeff the Ride King because, back in the day, he was always putting on rides out of his place up in the mountains. He was one of the seminal people in mountain biking around here with his work with the iconic Dirt Rag Magazine, and also being a rep in the bicycle industry for many years. He is now retired but is still quite active in maintaining trail systems in the Laurel Highlands, playing golf, and enjoying the outdoors. No grass grows under The Ride King’s feet. And none under Wilson’s either.

Beautiful fall day at Wolf’s Rocks

I have been on many mountain bike rides with dogs in the past. Chuck Greenlee had a dog once, who we termed as a great rider. She would run up the hills ahead of us and not get in the way, and when we descended, she knew enough to go to the back of the group and follow because at that point, she was slower than the rest. Wilson has similar traits and would know enough to run either ahead of us or behind us and the only time we stopped was when Jeff wanted to make sure Wilson had something to drink out of the local streams. Wilson would drink and recover and off he would go again – with that great dog smile. He always would seem to check on us when we would stop for a break, coming up to each of us and making sure we were having a good time. He seems to be a very perceptive dog, and Jeff has trained him well.

It was great to ride with John and Jeff as they are old friends with whom I have logged a lot of miles on the trails and ski slopes over the years. The cool thing about mountain biking is that, like skiing, it is a very social sport with a lot of conversation on the rides about many topics. Riding in the Zone 2 at our age allows for conversation. I like that. And to have Wilson along was an added plus. I don’t ride with dogs all that often, but I am used to that with The Ride King. He always brings us a pleasant surprise with his dogs over the years ,and it is amazing how well they………..well, ………..ride. His dogs are good riders- like Chuck Greenlee’s dogs.

One final note about mountain biking- it brings some different characters together. John and I are rather similar in our approach to things, but The Ride King is one of my more free- spirited friends. He lives in the mountains and has that free -flowing approach to life. More spontaneity and casual attitude are good traits to have and that is why I have always liked to be in the presence of The Ride King. He keeps me loose and has a great sense of humor and frankly, he is fun to be with. And now with Wilson, the fun times are doubled. John and I enjoyed our fall ride with them and the older I get, the more I like smaller rides like this with one or two friends and ………….a dog. Here Wilson!!!!! Thanks for reading.

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“Let go of bitterness. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other.” Ephesians 4:32

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Packin’ it In!

So, our one and only, Jack, was married a week ago and we were so happy for him and his new bride Marisa. Our friend Mark Sauers was the celebrant as he is studying for the ministry in the Assembly of God Church. The Apple Blossom Resort was an outstanding venue in New Buffalo, Michigan and the town itself is a real gem situated on Lake Michigan. We took advantage of seeing the town and spending some time on the beach and at the Stray Dog Cafe which had a great view from the rooftop dining area. We always make the most out of visits and Michigan was no different.

Riding at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

We drove from home and brought our mountain bikes. In typical Jan and Pat style, we tried to pack in as much as we could including some rides in and around New Buffalo. We found a nice county park right near the venue with some nice singletrack trails and found a wonderful overlook that rose high above a marsh. Wonderful way to get a little exercise between wedding duties and festivities.

From the overlook to the marsh-
New Buffalo Beach
Sunsets in Traverse City.

Heading north after the wedding, we made our way to Traverse City which, if you have not been there, make a point to visit some day. Sitting on the Great Traverse Bay, it has some wonderful restaurants for fresh, lake caught seafood. Recommending the Apache Trout Restaurant, The West End Tavern, and The Cove in a nice little beach town called Fishtown. Janet and I like fresh seafood and the walleye, whitefish, and perch were second to none.

Staying at the Tamarack Lodge which was right on the bay, we were treated to spectacular sunsets and nightly visits from our friend and her babies pictured below.

The evening visitor

I love nature and when nature comes right up to you looking for a snack, you can’t help but oblige.

The highlight of packing it in was our visit to see the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The bike path through the park was smooth and pleasant and it offered views of the bay as well as an entry to great little towns like Glen Arbor. Typical beachy town with cool little shops and cafes. We would recommend the Good Harbor Grille with an excellent squash soup and a blackened whitefish sandwich. It was cool to see the expansive dunes and also the large dune which people climb and descend. We just rode our bikes and saw the dunes from the parking lot to the Dune Climb, and also from the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.

The expansive dunes overlooking the Grand Traverse Bay and into Lake Michigan.
View from the Apache Trout Restaurant.

I have this tendency to try to see as much as I can whenever I travel. Janet goes along, but sometimes I wear her out trying to pack it in. But my view is that there are no guarantees once you get older, and you better take advantage of as much as you can – especially in a new place. We were quite busy for the wedding, as you can imagine, but it was nice to get out and get some exercise, see some new places and eat some delicious seafood. We even saw a badger at Sleeping Bear Dunes. He crossed the path right in front of us and I knew immediately what he was. They apparently are part of the population and are rarely seen according to AI. However, we got to see him/her although I was happy not to startle him/her for fear of their reputation as ferocious when cornered. All part of the experience and as we settled in for the last sunset at the Tamarack, we were amazed to think that our Jack is now married and that the wedding, which we had talked about for over a year, was here and gone. Marisa was a lovely bride, and Jack was a handsome groom and as they made their way to their honeymoon, Janet and I eventually made the long trek back to Pittsburgh.

Settling in at home again, we both said, experiences are the spice of life. Being with your friends and family. and seeing new and exciting places is what makes life wonderful. As we move along in this life where we are truly empty nesters, we will continue to pack it in and make the most out of life’s experiences. Hoping to share it with grandchildren someday. Thanks for reading.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

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An Aquatic Reunion

The reunion of Allegheny YMCA swimmers.

Thanks to Mary Jo Geyer Burdett, a group of folks who swam at the Allegheny YMCA swim team got together this past weekend for a fun reunion. I am not much one for reunions, but I wanted to attend this one because many of these folks I have not seen in close to 60 years. At least 57 years. One of the reasons for my enthusiasm was that I spent a lot of time as a kid with a lot of these people and their families. The swim team at the Allegheny Y on the Northside of Pittsburgh and the community swim clubs in the North Hills of Pittsburgh were actually joined at the hip. You swam in the summer for the teams in the community swim clubs, and at the YMCA and that league in the winter, and it really was the lifeblood of all of our families. Swim practices and meets were the focal point of social relationships for many families at that time, and the anchor founder of that movement was Don Geyer- Mary Jo, Claudia, Joe, Jeff, and Don Jr’s father.

Coach Don Geyer on the right back in the day.

As we all gathered around in the Allegheny Y gym this weekend, we told countless stories about our fun times at the community swim clubs and at the Y, but most of the stories were focused around what Don Geyer had done for all of us. There were great stories about how he was a famous square dance caller, a coach and teacher at Shaler High School, but most of our stories centered around his work with us as young swimmers. He encouraged us and our families to come to the Allegheny Y after the summer swim season was over at the community pools. People like Don Geyer are legendary in their status. His selfless attitude and willingness to coach and help young people is a trait that few people are willing to commit to. Don did that and more and the stories were countless among people who came from all over the country for the reunion.

The Allegheny Y was a special place to me. I went there originally when I was about 7 or 8 years old with my grandfather who was a member. Then I started to swim there on the team coached by Don Geyer, Pat Phelan and Cliff Quigley. Those days were really my first entry into organized competition and swimming the breaststroke was my contribution to the team. Johnny Kane, Dru Duffy, the Roses, and I were the duckfooted breaststrokers, and it was so much fun to reconnect with John Kane at the reunion. It was also great to reconnect with Jimmy Manning, my childhood pal at Valley Brook. We swam together and it had been 57 years at least since I had last seen him.. He and his wife Sandra came up from South Carolina. The Kane girls were all there. Joan, Karen, and Debbie,and we had great laughs and remembrances about how special Valley Brook, The Y and Don Geyer were to all of us. Bill Ford came all the way from Eugene, Oregon because he wanted to see all of this and be with his pals from long ago. Colleen Trew Geyer was there along with Ray Burdett, who is married to Mary Jo Geyer. Ray and Colleen and I skied together for many years and they are still active in different athletic pursuits. I met some people that I did not know at the reunion but by the time we finished our meal at Max’s Allegheny Tavern, we felt as though we had been friends all along.

The story circle

I must admit that when I went out to my car after the great tour of the Y, and the fellowship of my fellow swimmers after all these years, I was a little overwhelmed. I actually started to tear up a bit, because my memories came flooding back after all these years. I am not sure whether the emotion was because I was remembering a lot from my youth and now I realize that I am in the fourth quarter? Or, perhaps it was the joy of seeing all of those old friends who even after all these years, still seem close to me and a big part of my life? This was one reunion I was not going to miss, and I was so happy Mary Jo, Ray and Claudia put it all together.

The Allegheny YMCA is 100 years old this year and it was great to see the renovations that have made the building a recreational focal point on the North Side. The staff there was so welcoming to our group and were taken back a little bit when they heard all the old stories and how much the Y had meant to us. They also were touched by all the memories of Don Geyer, who they did not know obviously, but could appreciate the dedication of a life- long coach and teacher.

I remember Don teaching me to swim as a 5 year old at Valley Brook, and then, a little later on, at my mother’s instruction, throw me in the deep end so I could pass my swimming test. This was much to the chagrin of my mom’s friends but as she said, ” that water will get deeper and deeper every year.” To this day, I am glad my mother prevailed and glad that Don threw me into the deep end – in reality and metaphorically. His coaching will always be a part of my character- 58 years later. Thanks for reading.

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“Have the courage to face weakness. God’s power is made perfect there.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

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No More on the Road

Riding with the incomparable Greg Lemond

This time of year, I am reminded of how much I miss road cycling. I remember when I first got interested in road cycling was when I decided to ride to North Park from my childhood home on Siebert Road. I borrowed my sister’s bike and made the trek to North Park. I was exhausted by the time I got there but knew that I had found something that I really liked. Car horns not withstanding. Fast forward, looking for a different pursuit than running, Larry Cohen suggested I get into road cycling. I bought a new Trek, got all the clothes, helmet, shoes and started to ride from North Park to Brush Creek Park in Beaver County. From there I started to get involved with the Allegheny Cycling Association and began to race and do time trials. I was hooked.

At the Mount Washington Hill Climb in New Hampshire back in the day with the classic ACA wool jersey and leather hairnet.

Continuing on with the Highland Park Zoo parking lot criterium series, the ACA Time Trials, and various local and out of state road races, I relentlessly pursued getting in shape and competing. We had the good fortune of having national class riders like Mac Martin, Matt Eaton, Tom and Danny Chew mentoring us along the way and the thrill of a fast moving pace line, 6 inches apart was addictive. I loved the training rides too out into the country of Western Pa with the scenic farms, quiet roads, and the long hours to enjoy and think about a lot of things while peddling to get into shape.

I also went on trips to Holland, Ireland and England with touring companies and soon discovered that road cycling was a great way to see a country. Ride all day and just be in the town where you were supposed to be by dinner. It was all great and road cycling became more than just a pastime to me. It was a way of life.

One day I was riding in North Park, and a car came up behind me and threw a chipped ham sandwich at my head, complete with mayo, and told me in no uncertain terms to get off the road. I knew that I had just as much right to ride that road as that car, but with continuing aggressiveness of drivers, I began to think about the consequences of an altercation on the road. I was just starting to get into mountain biking too, so I had another outlet in the event that road cycling was becoming dangerous- at least for me.

At Rothrock Trails at State College.

I began to appreciate the trails with mountain biking, no cars and a good network of friends. I also appreciated the tranquility of riding the trails with music from my earbuds and playlists. 6 years ago, I made the painful decision to stop road riding because I saw too many drivers distracted with their cell phones and texting where they should have kept their eyes on the road. I didn’t want to put my life in the hands of a distracted driver or an otherwise angry driver. The roads around my home were no longer safe to ride in my estimation. So, I quit and sold my road bike. A painful decision but the more I have moved on, I know I did the right thing- at least for me. Mountain biking is fine.

There are times when I see road cyclists zip by me while I am on my mountain bike on the road, and my competitive juices start up just for a second or two to try to catch them. But experience and my age, says no way and I just let them go with a sigh- missing the speed and grace of the road bike. I miss the pace lines and the pleasant routes through the country roads of Western Pa. But sometimes we have to make decisions that are good for us and in no way do I intend to influence others. Road cycling had become too dangerous for me, and I had to make that decision to end my participation. I have no regrets on the decision, but the nostalgia of the good times on the road bike stays with me. Especially on a sunny day in the summer.

Sometimes you have to move on from things that you really like. But circumstances dictate decisions and you have to consider others like your family. You make the right decisions for you and your family and then move on. No regrets. So, the next time you are faced with a decision, look at the whole picture and decide what is best for you and your family. Then become involved in something new and enjoy the ride- whatever that may be. Thanks for reading.

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The past is done; the future is the canvas where God will paint something new.

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Crash!

John Howard, the famous bike racer from the 80’s and first Race Across America champion always said,” there are two kinds of cyclists. Those who have crashed and those who will.” He was mainly referring to bike racers, but it generally applies to all of us who attempt to navigate on two wheels. I have a lot of memories of road bike crashes like the criterium days at Highland Park in Pittsburgh. Back when I raced, we used to glue sew up tires on our rims with 3M Fast Tack adhesive. Invariably, someone in the pack would not glue their tires on correctly or didn’t properly let them dry and when they rolled a tire off a rim in a corner, they generally took the whole pack down. Road rash galore on the legs and oftentimes road bike damage. Most of us were more concerned about the bike than we were for ourselves. Road rash heals- bike damage is expensive. But suffice to say, road riding and crashing on hard surfaces was not pretty.

One other time comes to mind when I was riding with a bunch of guys on a Saturday morning near Frick Park in Pittsburgh. We were descending a hill behind a garbage truck which was leaking water and grease on the road. As we made a high speed turn to the left on Forbes Ave. I lost control on the grease, slid for about 50 yards right through the intersection, into some hedges in front of an Exxon station. As I came to rest, all I noticed was the price of unleaded on the pump where I was resting. Fortunately, because of the grease, I slid most of the way and didn’t get too much road rash. But the impact was hard and I had a pretty good hematoma on my hip for a while. ” Those who have crashed, and those who will.”

One time I was the beneficiary of a crash in the rain at a race in Montclair, N.J. It was raining pretty hard and a couple of guys touched wheels and took a big group down. Fortunately I was right behind and saw what was coming, I jumped up on to the sidewalk and then on to some guys lawn, and re-entered right ahead of the big crash. There were only a couple of us who were not affected and we raced to the finish line. I had a better finish than expected. LOL!!

Tussey Mountain Trail- State College, Pa.

Moving ahead to mountain biking, I have always said riding on the knobby tires is an accident waiting to happen. I have had my share of crashing on the rocks and roots of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. When it rains, it even gets more sketchy, and inevitably a lot of us go down from time to time. I always laugh when our doc, Syed Hyder, rides with us. He is always working -patching up somebody on a ride. Crashing is a normal thing while riding the knobbies in our neck of the woods. One of the memories I have etched in my brain was when I went to an early season race in Coburn, Pa with some friends of mine. When we started it was cold and raining and by the time we got to the top of the summits, the trails and fire roads were still covered in ice. I clearly remember seeing guys sliding off the trails and fire roads, over the side having to scramble up to get back on the trail. I had my share of riding over the side in that race as well and was looking forward to the bottom of the descents where at least it was only muddy and raining. Another time in a Month of Mud race, it snowed 6 inches at Brady’s Run, and I went over the bars frequently. It was a real struggle to finish the race as they were real challenging conditions. Larry Lynch and I took out Matt Eaton- the National Road Race Champion another time at that same race on the Descent of Death. We felt real bad crossing bars and taking out a guy who was a national class road racer trying his hand at mountain bike racing. We apologized profusely at the end of the race and Matt was very gracious in his response- ” that’s bike racing boys. No issue.”

As I get older, I know that I want to ride for exercise only. I quit road riding because I think it is too dangerous where I live and with people distracted with I Phones, it is not worth the risk for me. I only mountain bike but again, I ride within my limits. I like the challenges of the rocks and roots but you won’t find me riding fast or recklessly over jumps, ramps, or large boulders. I ride to ride another day to avoid the big ………….CRASH. Especially seeing that I take Coumadin and need to avoid blunt force trauma. Syed always says I am his only patient who skis and rides a mountain bike on Coumadin. But he knows me and the way that I ride and is comfortable with it after 35 years on the stuff. I ski fast but within my limits so as not to CRASH in that pursuit either.

I am hoping that my memories of crashes are fading as the years roll on. I remember the doozies, and hope that my days of crashing hard are over. At my age, you really can’t afford the big hit. My friend Tom, who owns our local bike shop, Highline Bikes, is trying to get me to buy an e-bike. Looking at the way those guys ride those things is really not my style. The speed of e-bikes, riding fast over ramps and jumps is not my style of riding and I am content to be analog and ride my normal bikes. Sorry Tom. I know they are fun, but I don’t want to …………CRASH!!

The old Greenlees days.
Tom on the e-bike. Not interested in this. I am a little long in the tooth. 🙂
The rocks of the Laurel Highlands. Always a challenge.

Shuttling in Marlinton, WVA is as rugged as I want it now. This place is a real challenge.

So, in conclusion, be prepared. You will crash if you choose to ride on two wheels. Hopefully, rarely if you ride within your limits and respect terrain, weather conditions, and other people. Nothing is more rewarding than a good ride. You feel so good afterwards, and your post ride beer and snacks are a great reward for a nice day in the saddle. Just be heads up. Thanks for reading.

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“Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

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Spring has Sprung

Holland Tulip Festival Holland, Michigan

Several years ago, while visiting our son Jack and his girlfriend Marisa ( now fiancee) in Grand Rapids, we attended the Holland Tulip Festival in Holland, Michigan. We enjoyed the nice spring weather and were treated to garden after garden of brightly colored tulips in full bloom at this time of year. We made a stop at the Holland Bulb Farms ( hollandbulbfarms.com) booth and I made a purchase of some bulbs to plant in the fall for the next spring. Ever since then, it has been a tradition for me to buy the bulbs in the spring from Holland Bulb Farms and eagerly await their shipment to me in the late summer. I plant them before the first frost and they are ready to go when the sun starts to warm the soil in early spring.

Tulips in bloom in my front garden

Now my interest in flowers comes naturally because my dad had a greenhouse and always grew his flowers from seed. He had copious amounts of flowers to plant in the spring and also had large, beautiful flower baskets that he lovingly cared for over the summer months. Miracle Gro was his go-to and his flowers benefitted from his feeding. He didn’t have much luck with tulips seeing that he lived on the edge of our large county park and tulips were like candy to the deer in the park. I have been more successful in spraying deer and rabbit repellant on the tulips and have had no issue. But suffice to say, dad would have loved the Holland Tulip festival.

My dad’s copious collection of flowers.

Seeing the parades and the Dutch costumes at the festival reminded me of my visit to the Netherlands years ago. I cycled through the countryside and visited towns like Edam and Markham which were famous for their cheese. I also visited Delft which had the famous tile factory. I cycled below the Zuyder- Zee which was eerie seeing that I basically was riding below sea level. I rode the roads of the Amstel Gold Race and got my taste of the Belgian block roadways that are famous for the spring cycling classics.

I also got to visit the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam with all the Rembrandt paintings and went on to the Van Gogh museum where I felt totally inadequate with my art appreciation. I got a pair of clogs in the Red Light district and although the ladies were yelling at me from the windows, I made my purchase and kept moving. LOL!! Riding through the countryside on my road bike was a lot of fun in those days and Holland has an amazing system of Fiedspadts or bike paths that can take you anywhere with no automobile traffic. Everyone rides a bike in Holland and it was a fun trip for me. Those memories all came back to me when we visited Holland, Michigan.

The memories of that trip also return when I see my tulips come up at this time of year. I can hear my dad telling me to get that spray going and I am amazed that only about a month and half ago, those bulbs had a foot and a half of snow above them. They were sleeping for the winter under the snow blanket but ready to spring when the first rays of warm sunshine hit the soil.

I don’t know just why I get so excited about the tulips blooming in the spring. It must be that I have that flower bug in my veins from my dad. I know he would be proud to see my front garden. The neighbors all comment and I am appreciative. Funny how something like blooming tulips can bring back so many memories of cycling, the Netherlands, Holland, Michigan and culture from the Dutch tradition. If you get the chance, go to the Holland Tulip Festival. It is worth the drive. You see windmills, acres of tulips and the Dutch culture on display right here in the States. And if you ever get the chance, the cycling in the Netherlands is second to none. Take a flyer and go. Thanks for reading and enjoy your spring.

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“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Matthew 6: 28-30

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From the Best of Chronicles of McCloskey

Affirmation
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Dirt Church

I have the privilege of being on the Board of Directors for Adventuremen, which is a Christian men’s outdoor activities organization. If you scroll to Adventuremen.org and Adventurefest.org you will see the mission of Adventuremen and also the sign up for Adventurefest which is always the weekend before Father’s Day every year. This year it is the 12th, 13th and 14th of June and it always is a great event with mountain bike rides and camping in the Laurel Highlands. There are a lot of other outdoor activities as well as great speakers at the Boyer’s Pond Campground near Somerset, Pa. If you are not into camping, there are a lot of hotel options in the Somerset area. Suffice to say that this is a weekend you might really enjoy if you are an active guy in the Southwest Pa region.

Dirt Church ride at The Q .

One of the spinoffs of Adventurefest is what we call Dirt Church. This is usually a low key mountain bike ride at Laurel Mountain, The Q near Somerset, or the local trails near Pittsburgh. The itinerary for the rides is usually a 1-3 hour ride with the occasional stop for Pastor Greg Nass to address the group and give us something to think about on the trails as it relates to the very uplifting Christian message. Other comments are given by Mark” the Shark” Sauers, who is studying for the ministry, and John Casuccio who is a strong rider as well as a very gifted speaker. All in all, at this time of year with Good Friday approaching and Easter Sunday, the first outing happens and we are all reminded of the sacrifice Jesus made for all of us on the cross and the defeat of death at the Resurrection. Again, a very uplifting salvation message if you get to hear it. Especially nice, when it is on a trail in the wonders of creation.
Shark at his best in prayer. On the trails. Dirt Church

One of the hallmarks of the rides is when we all roll along and we see someone hiking or riding on the trails. Shark makes a point to stop and greet them and ask, nicely, whether they have any prayer requests. People say, “no thanks”, or “not today”, or “no that’s ok”, but more often than not, someone always says ….”.yes”. At that point Shark asks them to be specific and they say things like, ” how much time do you have?” or “please pray for my back”, or “I have a relative or friend who is sick”, or even things like” I am in a bad relationship.” Shark puts his hands on them and prays for them, Tears flow, gratefulness abounds, and more often than not, the person or persons walk away with a calm sense that they never thought they would have had walking or riding on the trail that day. There are no accidents and Shark always believes that you have to put yourself out there. Especially in these times when people are troubled, evil in the world is apparent, and in general, people need the help of someone who cares. We run into them on the trails and Shark always says, ” I like to give them the message like I would tell them about a great restaurant or a great pair of skis. The Christian message is uplifting, and most of all- non judgmental. This is the essence of a Dirt Church outing. I have to be careful to always stop with Shark and turn off my Garmin watch. His message to people is way more important than my exercise and metrics.

Bob Anderson – second from left

Two years ago, I convinced my pal Bob Anderson to come to Adventurefest. He was always one of the best riders and racers around and had recently turned things around in his life. Things other than training and racing had become important, and he began investigating the claims of Christianity. We had some interesting discussions on our way to West Virginia to ride and watch the World Cup MTB races at Snowshoe. He and I had a lot of conversation on the chairlifts when we skied together and in short, I was a good sounding board for Bob as he made his way through some troubling times in his life. When I asked him to Adventurefest, he enthusiastically said yes and punished us on the rides. LOL!! But when he heard guys giving their testimonies around the campfire at night, he was inspired and moved. So much so, that he stayed at the campground in his camper another week to ride and enjoy the solace of the Laurel Highlands. He contemplated what he had experienced at Adventurefest, and thought about his interaction with the guys from Adventuremen and Dirt Church.

Bob leading the pack at the Q at Adventurefest.

Tragically, Bob was killed a short time later riding his mountain bike in North Park. He rode over a downed high voltage power line that came down in a storm the night before. We were all devastated at the news, and at his funeral at his church, Northway Christian Community Church in Wexford, Pa, there were literally hundreds of mountain bikers in attendance. Some of the people were believers and some not, but they heard a very uplifting message from the pastors at Northway. The service touched a lot of people and at the memorial ride and lunch later in the year at Pittsburgh Pro Bikes in North Park, there was a packed house. After the ride, people heard testimonies from Bob’s family and friends. It was kind of surreal thinking of all the time I had spent with Bob in the past, the car rides together, and the chairlift rides together and of course the mountain bike rides that I only could share when he would slow down. Only to spread his ashes on the trails and think about the fact that Bob changed his life, appreciated what was important, and after some great Dirt Church outings and attendance at Adventurefest, he was now in Heaven in the company of the Lord.

Now I share all of this only to tell you about Adventurefest, about Dirt Church, and certainly not to make anyone uncomfortable. But really, as Shark would say, the good news shared at these events is just that- good news. Nothing judgmental. We mountain bikers are basically dirt bags and in need of a good Dirt Church. Some guys would not consider darkening the door of a conventional church, but may just like to hear a good message in the great outdoors. Nothing wrong with that and if you are of that ilk, come to a Dirt Church outing or consider joining Adventuremen and going to Adventurefest. Again- Adventuremen.org and Adventurefest.org. Check out the testimonials on the website. I wrote them. Thanks for reading and blessings to all of you.

” For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

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Not Even Close

Usually when the Winter Olympics roll around, I get the usual comments from some of my friends who don’t ski. They ask….” Pat, can you ski that fast?” or “Pat- could you ski that downhill course?” I always chuckle because I think to myself,” not even close”. Sure, I can ski most slopes and trails. I have the technique to navigate most things. But people have no clue as to how fast a World Cup downhiller goes. I politely respond that I can ski most things but downhillers ski generally from 60-90 MPH on modern DH courses and that includes women. The men and women are amazingly talented, can ski solidly at high speed, and most people have no conception of just how fast that is.

I had the good fortune to see some World Cup and Can AM (now NOR AM) races, and to view them up close and personal was very enlightening. Take the Hahnenkamm in Austria. It is the Super Bowl of downhill racing. I got to witness the Crazy Canucks up close and personal. Their thighs were like tree trunks, and I said to myself that they could probably play professional football with those legs. Strong guys who took rock hard, marble like, courses at 70- 90 MPH. I saw the up and coming US and Canadian downhillers at Sugarloaf in the Can Am races and Todd Brooker was the star of the show at the time. Before winning the Hahnenkamm, he was a downhill phenom at a young age racing for Canada. He came by me so fast on the Narrow Gauge trail at Sugarloaf that I didn’t even have a chance to see much of his turn. I watched our women train at Mammoth a couple of years ago and was amazed at their strength and speed. You see, really, world class athletes are in a league of their own – thus making them….world class. Their talent is amazing and when someone asks me, especially at my age, if I can ski like that……I just chuckle.

A couple of my friends brag to me that they hit 70 MPH on skis. I laugh out loud and ask them how they know that. They said their wearable watch and I- Phone app tells them by GPS how fast they are going. I tell them that they have no idea how fast 70 MPH is on skis and neither do I, and their apps and watches are incorrect at best. Deceiving at worst. Whenever I hear that from someone I know who skis, I set them straight and tell them my stories. I educate them as to the folly of believing their apps. Because there is no way they are skiing anywhere near that speed.

Bode Miller can probably still reach World Cup speeds but then again…..he is Bode Miller

World Class talent is amazing and when you see it up close, you are amazed. I had the opportunity to ski with Phil Mahre one time and to see him dig trenches in the snow ahead of me with his strong, fast turns, I was amazed. The former World Cup Overall and Olympic champion showed me why he is ……world class.

Phil was funny too. A pleasure to take a few runs with- er ah behind him.
French skier Perrine Pelen smiles as she shows her two Olympic medals, 18 February 1984 in Sarajevo, at the Winter Olympic Games.

One time I saw the famous French slalom star Perrine Pelen race World Cup at Waterville Valley in New Hampshire. As I stood by the side of the women’s slalom course that day, I imagined how I would take a particular combination right in front of me. All of a sudden, Perrine comes down and was through the combination so fast, I didn’t really have a chance to see exactly how she did it. Again, world class talent is in another league even though I have been skiing for a long time. I really could not relate to how good she was, or Phil Mahre for that matter. In another league for sure.

The older I get, the more I respect the talent in events like the Olympics. I always joke that youth is wasted on the young, but in reality, world class athletics is a young person’s game. But it is important for people like us to keep moving and participate in sports that keep us fit and healthy. I love to watch the Olympics and other events where I see the world’s best compete. It inspires me to keep skiing and to constantly work on technique that will make me a better skier- even at my age. And when my non- skiing friends ask me again if I ski fast like the downhillers, I can chuckle and modestly say no way. But in my mind- when I am daydreaming………….maybe I think………………..YES!!!! LOL!! Thanks for reading and please follow the blog on Word Press. http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com It helps me.

“Be strong and courageous, do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua- 1:9