I told my neighbor Sumant that I was turning 70 this week. He responded, ” Patrick- never let a number define you.” I thought about that for a minute and kind of smiled. I really don’t feel any different, but numbers don’t lie, and you know that at least chronologically, you are advancing in age. I always joke with people that I will age chronologically but will never mature. People laugh, but really- it is kind of true. I still like to have that bright eyed, youthful look on life that sometimes doesn’t match my actual position. But how should we act or how do we move on when you hit a milestone like this?
I think the best way is to just keep doing what you like to do. I ride my mountain bike for exercise all year and also I like to ski when the winter comes. Hiking is good too and the more active you are, the better your health will be especially if you eat correctly and get the proper amount of sleep. Nothing you have not heard before, but we pay more attention to it, the older we get. Sometimes, for a brief moment, I think about things when I mount my bike, but then I just go into ride mode and never think about anything but enjoying the ride and raising the heart rate. Same with skiing. At the beginning of the season at my local areas, I think- ” can I still do this?” Then I strap ’em on and push off with the poles and do what comes naturally – make a turn. From that moment on, the season begins. That brief moment of doubt is erased by the joy of the moment and the muscle memory of knowing how to ski- just like I have done for 63 years. I concentrate on making good turns, looking ahead, and making mature decisions on where to ski and how to ski. Sure, I am not making turns like I was years ago, but I am still trying to learn new things and trying new techniques. If you can stay in shape, the more successful you can be trying new things.
But perhaps the most important thing in this next decade for me will be spending time with Janet and being active with her. We enjoy each other’s company, and I have tried to share my enthusiasm for the great outdoors with her and encourage her to get out there. I laugh and tell her I am crowbarring her out but once she is out there, she enjoys it and is thankful that I give her the push. Make no mistake, Jan pushes me too. I get stuck in my ways sometimes and she moves me out of the comfort zone.
As we age, we do gain some wisdom, and we cannot make a big deal out of things that we really can’t control. We don’t stress, and strive for a more peaceful life. We try to be kind and encouraging, and the great outdoors is a great venue for those virtues. Lots of good conversations can be had on the trails and in the chairlifts. I hope I can share some gained wisdom as I move on in this decade. I hope I can be kind and encouraging not only to my wife, but to my friends and family as well. Also, to new people that I will meet along the way. There is always a new audience for my well- worn stories if I just look for the potential victims. LOL!!! But all in all, I will take Sumant’s advice. I hope you do too. Thanks for reading.
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“Life is like a bicycle- to keep your balance- you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein
Bob Dylan was right but for other reasons. This past weekend we changed the clocks over again and although I am not a big fan of the time change routine, it is what it is, and we need to face the fact that the dark days of winter are here. A lot of people change their exercise programs in the winter and go inside to gyms and workout centers. I like the outdoors and am not really into the indoor deal, so I stay outside and ride my MTB all winter. I retired my old winter bike and am getting a new one. But you need lights. I have been riding with lights for about 36 years. I can remember being chased out of North Park, back in the day, by the police because night riding was something they were not familiar with. We used to turn the lights off, and then when the police went away, we kept riding.
Technology has changed a lot over the years. We used to ride $300.00 Night Suns or Night Rider lights with water bottle cage batteries and a very dim yellow beam. Today- the lights are way more cost effective and you can get a lot of lumens, 2 hour plus, high beam, run times, for a fraction of that price. And the light quality is amazing. So many lights to choose from these days. But night riding was always an adventure.
Recently I was reading Victoria Weeks’ blog post about the “Revenge of the Rattlesnake” MTB race in Davis, West Virginia which included the famous Moon Rocks. If you get a chance, read her post and follow her blog. Very entertaining and Victoria is a very accomplished rider and writer. (The Victory Lap ) https://www.victoriaweeks.com In her post, Victoria describes the challenging riding over the Moon Rocks and I told her in a response, that I remember riding there in the middle of the night at the old 24 Hours of Canaan races in Davis back in the day. I first was introduced to the rock feature when I saw one of the marshals for the race in a long black coat and a wide brimmed hat. He looked like the Grim Reaper as I made my way past him, silently observing, and onto the rocks. My yellow beamed Night Rider was state of the art at the time, and in fact they sponsored Laird Knight’s famous race. But to see that feature, at 3:00 in the morning and try to ride it and make my way through the bog that followed was quite a challenge, especially on 26 ” wheels, cantilever brakes, steel frame and an early version Rock Shocks front suspension fork. We didn’t know any better and that was the best technology that we had at the time.
Fast forward to the 24 Hours of Canaan at Timberline Resort, I can clearly remember following my yellow beam at 4:00 in the morning, all alone because the field was pretty well stretched out at that time, and hearing things go bump in the night. A bear? A bobcat? Another nocturnal animal? I remember one poor guy that I passed asking if he could stay with me because his light went out. I said sure but eventually he tailed off and I never saw him again. Felt bad, but you have to have charged lights for those lonely, West Virginia, late night laps. As my friend Shark always says, ” it gets West Virginia real quick” and it sure did at night, over the Moon Rocks, and through the river two times each lap.
These days- at this time of year, I make sure my lights are charged and if I need any new batteries, I get them and am ready for the evening rides. Nothing like the old days in West Virginia, but enough of a challenge to keep me interested in riding at night. Good exercise- you don’t have to go indoors, and no matter what the weather throws at you, riding is always available. My Endura MT500 jacket and pants https://us.endurasport.com can withstand the harshest of weather and together with a good pair of lights,( helmet and handlebar), you can ride all winter without issue.
So, the time change is kind of bittersweet for me . It signals the end of the summer and fall and the beginning of winter. I like winter, but if you choose to ride in it, good clothing and good lights are a necessity. Things look different at night, just like they did in the old days, but it gives you a new challenge and the “changin” times are not so bad. So, if you like to ride, take a tip from an old guy like me- keep riding. You will really appreciate it in the spring when you are trying to ramp up your fitness. Those who back away in the winter really struggle when the time changes back again. Thanks for reading.
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” To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven” – Ecclesiastes 3:1
My friend Helen Durfee, born in Pa, resided for years in Vermont, and now lives in Tahoe, always said…” fall is just as pretty in Pennsylvania as it is in Vermont. Vermont is just a little more dramatic.” Probably a fair statement seeing that the Green Mountains of Vermont are higher and are a little more dramatic landscape than the Laurel Highlands and our central mountains in the Allegheny National Forest. But again- taking nothing away from our Laurel Highlands and Allegheny National Forest, that burst with color at this time of year. I love the fall. As much as I see fall ushering in the winter ski season, I am in no hurry to rush into winter.
Years ago, I started to ride a mountain bike in the fall after the road riding season was starting to get a little cold and wet. I purchased a Scott steel framed mountain bike. Rigid fork,( shocks had not yet been developed for mountain bikes), cantilever brakes and balloon knobby tires seemed to be a fun alternative to riding in the nasty fall conditions on the road. I loved testing my mettle on the trails as it was all new to me. Many of the trails that I had hiked, or ran, now opened up to me as a new venue for cycling. Fast forward to today, I no longer race or have to keep up to the guys in front of me. I can leisurely ride and take in the fall colors.
If we have a fairly dry, cool fall, the colors seem to respond and the recipe for good fall foliage is not compromised by foul weather. This has been the case so far here in Western Pa. As I get older, I start to take in more and look around on my rides. I enjoy the moments with my pals on the trails but I also value time alone out there. Time to think, time to enjoy the views, and breathe in the cool, fall air without being in oxygen debt all the time. I have gone through my share of bikes over the years, but I always think back to those early days on the Scott (1988) and what a great time mountain biking has shown me. Friendships developed, great ride memories all over the country, and in particular great riding experiences in the fall- right here at home.
As I enter the next decade soon, I think how mountain biking has helped me stay fit for my age, and how the fall season has always been a great time to ride. Beautiful colors, cool breezes, no bugs, and waning daylight all contribute to a great experience. I hope that you can take in some of the great scenery and weather before it turns. Make an effort to get out and see the fall foliage. You don’t have to ride, you can hike or walk on nice trails all over our region. All you have to do is walk out the door. Enjoy and thanks for reading.
” God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning.”
Genesis 1-31
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The tally now is 114 different areas skied.
You know, most often when you take a trip, you have had a great time, but you are happy to come home. I can tell you that on our recent trip to Ireland, the trip went so fast that now it seems like a dream. I can remember saying to Janet,” I can honestly say that I am not ready to go home yet. ” Because in some strange way- I felt like Ireland was somehow home to me.
The last time I was in Ireland, I can remember seeing so many people who reminded me of my relatives. I swear I saw my grandmother who had passed on, looking at me around a corner and perhaps keeping tabs on me as I made my way on my road bike. This time I saw many people too who reminded me of relatives who have passed on and of people who I currently know. I saw Bob Duffy at least 10 times. Bob and I work together at Armada and he has a classic Irish mug. There is something in my blood that makes me want so badly to return to Ireland. I felt so comfortable there and the people are so warm and friendly that you think, somehow, we are all related. They say that people who visit Ireland are treated in such a manner because the people of Ireland believe that visitors are really returning distant relatives. They are coming back to their roots. Like Janet and me.
I posted about our tour guide- Brendan McCarthy, a couple of weeks ago. He and I hit it off so well that again, somehow, I felt like he was related to me. He did say in Blarney that his relative was Dermot McCarthy who built Blarney Castle back in the 1400s. So, he had a real relative but somehow, again, I felt that we were kin. Brendan regularly sends us videos on What’s App and we do the same for him. We miss him and will reconnect someday. But what is it that is so magical about being in Ireland?
Everywhere we went, we felt something that was pulling at us. The rugged coast of Ireland, the winds, the pubs, the people, the food. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that the food is not good in Ireland. We had spectacular meals and the fresh salmon, hake, and other seafood delights in the coastal towns were mouthwatering. Even the potatoes, vegetables, and morning porridge, felt like home to me. Like I was eating again at my grandmother’s on the North Side of Pittsburgh. Anyone tells you that the food is no good has either not been there in a while, or they have an odd taste for good food.
Jan wanted to stop at Curran’s Pub in Dingle to see if there were any indications of relations there seeing that her mom’s maiden name was Curran. We met the owner and he was a bit standoffish at first but gradually warmed up to us and brought out all his genealogy books to show us the bloodlines. He told us that another Curran cousin just walked out the door. He was from Australia. Jan was thrilled. Sitting in his pub, I felt like I was in my grandma’s house. It felt like the bar was in her living room. It even smelled like her house on the North Side.
Brendan took us to the bridge that was used in the film “The Quiet Man”- one of my favorite movies starring John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Ward Bond, Victor McLaughlin and Barry Fitzgerald. I was so taken by the scene that I kissed Janet on the bridge like I was John Wayne. And I recited his famous line to Maureen O’Hara when he said” There will be no locked doors between us Mary Kate Danaher.” Everyone laughed but I loved being on that bridge. If you have not seen it, take some time to watch…….” The Quiet Man.”
From the first Guiness draughts in Dublin, to the great food in Kinsale, to the rugged coast of The Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula, we were taken by the beauty. Jan and I both say the next time we would try to get some hiking in because the scenery is so spectacular. But there is this feeling that I have that is hard to put a finger on. What is it? I will be thinking a lot about that because I don’t quite know the answer. But I can tell you we can’t wait to go back. I know I am waiting for ski season to start but I would go back to Ireland at any time.
So, if you ride or ski with me soon, chances are the topic of Ireland will come up. Maybe it will be my Irish sweater that I bought at the Blarney Woolen Mills? Maybe I will talk on the ride or the chairlift about the “craic” or the “goings on ” in the pubs. Maybe I will talk about somehow, I feel like I belong there? I can’t wait to go back, and I will be talking about it for a while until I get there again. Thanks for reading. Slainte’
Don’t forget- an amazing, professional tour company – Irish Tours for You. http://www.irishtoursforyou.com Ask for Fionnuala O’ Loughlin
Albert Camus once said, ” The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart.” ” One must imagine Sisyphus happy.” He was referring to the Greek myth where Sisyphus was condemned by the gods to roll a rock to the top of a mountain for eternity only to see it roll back down again. The only way Sisyphus was able to overcome the sentence was to take a new perspective and relish the process of rolling the rock up the mountain. Who cared what happened after that? The process made him happy because it was simple, and he was able to find joy in doing it. Over and over again.
We have all heard stories of people like the ones who climb 6-8000 meter peaks in the Himalaya only to be turned back by sickness, weather, or other struggles which prevent them from summitting. When you hear their stories, the more philosophical ones talk about the journey being the most important thing rather than the focus of the summit. They take some pleasure in the process of climbing and how that process or journey fills their souls. A great perspective on something that could be seen as a disappointment.
I have been thinking a lot about process as I have been getting older. I used to focus on goals, times, wins, losses, in my years as a weekend warrior. Running and cycling races filled my attention and my perceived value at the time was how well I did or how poorly I did and what it would look like. Skiing was the same way. My self- value sometimes was seen in how well I skied and if I was able to compete in a way with other skiers. I wanted to be one of the best locally. The funny thing about cycling, skiing, or running, is that there is always someone out there who will make you humble. As soon as you think you are there, someone comes along and shows you the next level. Big difference in being a big fish in a small pond rather than the opposite. I have been handed my share of humble pie many times in my quest to achieve.
But lately, I have been more focused on the process and the joy that ski turns, or miles on the mountain bike bring me. I don’t have to be competitive anymore because those days are long gone. My goals now are to stay healthy, so that I can keep doing the things I always liked to do. I am not the skier that I was when I was 30. But I still try to ski the good stuff albeit more methodically. I have already realized that I can’t ride as well as I did back then, but my focus lately is the process or the struggle. Some days are harder than others with daily push -ups, and stretches and solo rides, or rides with my friends. As they say, some days you are the windshield, some days you are the bug.
I want to enjoy my surroundings. I notice more things from the chairlift when I am skiing. I look more at the mountains. I notice the wildflowers on the trails that I ride and the changes of the seasons that paint different pictures as the seasons move on. The focus has to be on the process, and struggles that can be overcome with perseverance, and the appreciation for the journey. It is not getting to the finish as quickly as I can anymore. It is enjoying the way there. If I have to struggle some days, it definitely fills my heart. Strange to say that but when you appreciate the process instead of always the end goal, you can feel that way. Maybe old Camus was right?
And finally, life deals you some tough things sometimes. Like Sisyphus. Times when you feel you are at a dead end, or life perhaps has not been fair. Perspective is what counts. We need to rely on faith to get us through the tougher times, and the realization that the end game is in reach if we believe. So maybe grasp the struggles and see if you can get through them and enjoy the process. It will make you stronger. Thanks for reading.
“In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
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