We are lucky enough to have a grocery store right behind our neighborhood. There are two ways we can arrive there from our house. Get in the car an go right on Yale Ave (0.30 mile), right on Delmar (0.33 mile) , right on Midland Blvd (0.43 mile), right on Vernon Ave and into the supermarket parking lot and locate a parking space (0.42 mile). ...for a total of 1.48 miles.
OR
We can get on our bikes (or walk) and take the path right next to our house (0.07 mile) to the neighborhood behind ours, take a right down Pennsylvania Ave (0.17 mile), cross Vernon Ave and arrive at the bike rack in front of of the supermarket (0.08 mile)....for a total of 0.32 mile
On Friday morning I realized I did not have enough change for train fare so Tony volunteered to go to the grocery store to get milk and money. A half gallon of milk cost about the same as the fee the bank charges us for not getting an account here in MO so we always get cash at the grocery store. Well he grabbed the keys and started to go so I volunteered to go on my bike (hint, hint) if he wanted to take over lunch-making duties. He declined.
Owen came downstairs and wanted to know where dad was and I told on him. "HE DROVE? That's stupid" Yeah, well.....
So when Tony returned I asked him if he felt dirty. Our car wouldn't have budged in over a week if it weren't for him. He looked sheepish and mumbled something about it seeming so cold outside and being a wimp. But then he came around and said it WAS stupid and that he did, in fact, feel dirty.
Now, if only the rest of America could be cowed so easily progress could be realized. It IS shameful to get in one's car to drive less than a mile. Everyone should feel it. This global warming thing ain't a hoax people. It's not some ploy of the liberal media to dupe you republicans just for kicks. If everyone changes their habits just a little it may start to make a difference. Please.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The not so Savvy Family
This post is, in fact, tangentially related to sustainability but I will get to that in a roundabout way.
I picked up a magazine left behind by the owners of the house we are renting called Savvy Family. I wonder if there are qualifications to be allowed monthly delivery of this periodical. The word "savvy" implies, in my mind, a sophisticated shrewdness that neither I, nor any other member of my family, possess.
So it was with interest and curiosity that I perused this periodical, paying particular attention to the paid advertisements. It is a local St. Louis, family-issues oriented rag that likely attracts the upwardly mobile. Included are ads for Kindermusik, pricey private schools, baby boutiques, COCA: the Center for Creative Arts, stuff like that. You know, for the enlightened parents of today. There was a self- affirming article by a mother who no longer wears a size two ( boo-hoo) and is working to instill in her offspring positive body images, invoking the mantra "muscle weighs more than fat". Another piece was about the many challenges faced by kids and parents as they anticipate the start of another school year. Then there was the one about trading in the Wonderbread sandwich and Cheetos school lunch for more healthful choices. Thanks, wow, how novel. I truly never considered the possibility. I hope Owen doesn't freak.
They saved the best for last. It was entitled, "Growing up....Painfully". And indeed it was was painful to read. Sadly enough, the author is a very educated woman, a pediatrician who decided to stay home to raise her brood. The premise of the article is that kids these days are just growing up way too fast and we adults have no control over it. By way of example she tells us about her 8 year old daughter who is embarrassed that her legs are hairy and sneaks off with mom's razor to remedy the problem. She laments the fact that her daughter, at only 8 yrs old, already has body-image issues. She blames it on the likes of Hannah Montana, High School Musical, movies and other such delicacies offer up by the ever present media source known as television. She then posits that she is smart enough to figure this situation out on her own and does not need any outside help.
Of course she is wrong. If she wasn't I would have nothing to write about.
It amazes me how the OBVIOUS eludes. And this elusion is an equal opportunity afflicter. It matters not a parent's race, gender, education, sexual orientation...s/he just dudn't get it. So here is the solution. Listen carefully lady, I am only going to say it once and I am going to say it using an indoor voice. Throw the fucking T.V. out the second story window! Don't bother opening it first. The shattering glass will have much more of an impact ( get it, impact...pun) on your family. It will make a great family story in years to come. Think of it, your children will be sitting around at the dinner table telling their kids (2nd generation non-t.v. watchers) about the time their kooky grandma threw the t.v. ("Mom, what is a t.v.?") out the window. Lady, you invited that floozy, Hannah Montana, and her minions into your house. Now, just ask them to leave. Problem solved.
"So what does this have to do with sustainability?" I am so glad you asked. I have a beef with media, in most forms, but mostly t.v. advertising. Yes, television programing, in and of itself, is a mindless waste of time, degrading to women, celebrates violence, blah, blah, blah. But I believe its greatest trespass is more insidious, not nearly so obvious. Its commercials perpetuate a voracious consumer culture that brainwashes at an early age. You must own this to fit in with your peers. This tastes delicious. You are not quite thin enough to look good in this outfit; get that finger back down that throat. Always low prices. Always. ....add nauseum.
A little anecdote on one of the benefits of a television free life: One of my proudest moments this summer was when my girlfriend called from McDonalds to tell me my child was a freak. He had no idea what a happy meal was. So he ate a happy meal that afternoon. Later that summer another friend's mother took him to McDs. He declined lunch and went without food for the afternoon. No one had repeatedly told him how delicious McNugget are, so he got to decide all for himself that they were not so tasty.
The not so savvy parents, their not so savvy kids and definitely not so savvy dog.
I picked up a magazine left behind by the owners of the house we are renting called Savvy Family. I wonder if there are qualifications to be allowed monthly delivery of this periodical. The word "savvy" implies, in my mind, a sophisticated shrewdness that neither I, nor any other member of my family, possess.
So it was with interest and curiosity that I perused this periodical, paying particular attention to the paid advertisements. It is a local St. Louis, family-issues oriented rag that likely attracts the upwardly mobile. Included are ads for Kindermusik, pricey private schools, baby boutiques, COCA: the Center for Creative Arts, stuff like that. You know, for the enlightened parents of today. There was a self- affirming article by a mother who no longer wears a size two ( boo-hoo) and is working to instill in her offspring positive body images, invoking the mantra "muscle weighs more than fat". Another piece was about the many challenges faced by kids and parents as they anticipate the start of another school year. Then there was the one about trading in the Wonderbread sandwich and Cheetos school lunch for more healthful choices. Thanks, wow, how novel. I truly never considered the possibility. I hope Owen doesn't freak.
They saved the best for last. It was entitled, "Growing up....Painfully". And indeed it was was painful to read. Sadly enough, the author is a very educated woman, a pediatrician who decided to stay home to raise her brood. The premise of the article is that kids these days are just growing up way too fast and we adults have no control over it. By way of example she tells us about her 8 year old daughter who is embarrassed that her legs are hairy and sneaks off with mom's razor to remedy the problem. She laments the fact that her daughter, at only 8 yrs old, already has body-image issues. She blames it on the likes of Hannah Montana, High School Musical, movies and other such delicacies offer up by the ever present media source known as television. She then posits that she is smart enough to figure this situation out on her own and does not need any outside help.
Of course she is wrong. If she wasn't I would have nothing to write about.
It amazes me how the OBVIOUS eludes. And this elusion is an equal opportunity afflicter. It matters not a parent's race, gender, education, sexual orientation...s/he just dudn't get it. So here is the solution. Listen carefully lady, I am only going to say it once and I am going to say it using an indoor voice. Throw the fucking T.V. out the second story window! Don't bother opening it first. The shattering glass will have much more of an impact ( get it, impact...pun) on your family. It will make a great family story in years to come. Think of it, your children will be sitting around at the dinner table telling their kids (2nd generation non-t.v. watchers) about the time their kooky grandma threw the t.v. ("Mom, what is a t.v.?") out the window. Lady, you invited that floozy, Hannah Montana, and her minions into your house. Now, just ask them to leave. Problem solved.
"So what does this have to do with sustainability?" I am so glad you asked. I have a beef with media, in most forms, but mostly t.v. advertising. Yes, television programing, in and of itself, is a mindless waste of time, degrading to women, celebrates violence, blah, blah, blah. But I believe its greatest trespass is more insidious, not nearly so obvious. Its commercials perpetuate a voracious consumer culture that brainwashes at an early age. You must own this to fit in with your peers. This tastes delicious. You are not quite thin enough to look good in this outfit; get that finger back down that throat. Always low prices. Always. ....add nauseum.
A little anecdote on one of the benefits of a television free life: One of my proudest moments this summer was when my girlfriend called from McDonalds to tell me my child was a freak. He had no idea what a happy meal was. So he ate a happy meal that afternoon. Later that summer another friend's mother took him to McDs. He declined lunch and went without food for the afternoon. No one had repeatedly told him how delicious McNugget are, so he got to decide all for himself that they were not so tasty.
The not so savvy parents, their not so savvy kids and definitely not so savvy dog.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Allow me to digress.
A lot of people ask about Ben. You do remember him? My 18 yr old son. Yes, he is still alive and living in Idaho Falls while we are spending another school year in St. Louis. Funny, but he did not want to return for a second year at the all-boys, Catholic school. Go figure. The truth is, they did not want him to return either, but that is another story.When people query as to Ben's whereabouts I am fond of saying that he gave us, his family, up for an extended Lent. His life is all about his friends and his independence. The moment we stepped back into the state of Idaho it was, "Adios familia, hasta entonces!"
"Don't you worry about him?", so many ask. Most are parent of young children. They have a few years before they realize what a silly question that is.
He seems to be happy in his abject poverty. Perhaps "happy" is not the correct word. Maybe he is just relieved to not be subject to parental tyranny anymore. And I believe that is how he truly views it. I wanted him to learn from my MANY mistakes but it just does not work like that.
So he is doing his senior year on his own. He has a job still, I think. He is a very successful couch surfer, so he has yet to feel the need to fork over the cash needed for a real apartment. People feed him. I buy him gift certificates at fast food joints. Good thing he is a cutey. Research says that good looking kids get away with a lot more than their less aesthetically gifted brethren.
He will be happy to share with you all of my parental transgressions but I think he is forgiving me for being me. He seems to miss me and calls me often. His dad is not so lucky. Tony is much more the level headed authority figure, yet Ben judges him much more harshly and forgives him at a glacial pace.
Next time you are at the Mall, stop by his work (booth outside of bookstore) and say hello. If you don't live in IF then give him a call and let him know you have not forgotten he exists. He will come around someday and not view us all as aliens. I promise.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Committed, as it pertains to commuting.
Commit, according to http://www.dictionary.com/: #4. to bind or obligate, as by pledge or assurance As in, "I am a committed cycling commuter and I feel good."
or is it....
#8. to place in a mental institution or hospital by or as if by legal authority As in, "She ought to be committed, dragging her kid around like that in this downpour!"
When we came back to St Louis we decided that we would commit ourselves to weekday travel via any means other than our car; our options being mt. bike, scooter, feet, tandem, train. So far, being committed does not feel too challenging. It is only September, which feels like July in Idaho, except for the humidity and possibility of copious quantities of rain. Our daily commute to school is a minimum of 6 miles on bike per day for Owen and 20 for me. I ride home from his school and save myself the $2 train ticket. With all the other places I went, last week I managed 135 miles on my mountain bike...and we played hooky from school one day since cousin Alaina was in town.....and I picked Owen up in the car one afternoon because I was babysitting baby Lilly. This week I had to go out of town 2 days so I won't be breaking my record and will be lucky to get much over 100 miles.
The thing is, it does not feel like a big deal. In fact it greatly reduces a number of stresses in my life. I am a nut case in traffic jams and the drive to Owen's school is the worst, due to construction. I don't have to stress about not getting exercise because it is exercise; although it lacks the drudgery of exercise. It gives my day a rhythm it is sorely lacking without employment. Plus I spend a lot less money. Train tickets to school are running us about $30/wk. This is equivalent to what I would spend on gas if I ONLY drove to and from school. But when I am behind the wheel of a car I am likely to get distracted and pull into a coffee shop, Wild Oats, the bookstore or any other place that wants to separate me from my cash.
Will we continue through the winter? I say yes and Owen says no. "There is no bad weather, just bad clothing choices.", I tell him. It remains to be seen, I suppose.
Commuting to the climbing gym
or is it....
#8. to place in a mental institution or hospital by or as if by legal authority As in, "She ought to be committed, dragging her kid around like that in this downpour!"
When we came back to St Louis we decided that we would commit ourselves to weekday travel via any means other than our car; our options being mt. bike, scooter, feet, tandem, train. So far, being committed does not feel too challenging. It is only September, which feels like July in Idaho, except for the humidity and possibility of copious quantities of rain. Our daily commute to school is a minimum of 6 miles on bike per day for Owen and 20 for me. I ride home from his school and save myself the $2 train ticket. With all the other places I went, last week I managed 135 miles on my mountain bike...and we played hooky from school one day since cousin Alaina was in town.....and I picked Owen up in the car one afternoon because I was babysitting baby Lilly. This week I had to go out of town 2 days so I won't be breaking my record and will be lucky to get much over 100 miles.
The thing is, it does not feel like a big deal. In fact it greatly reduces a number of stresses in my life. I am a nut case in traffic jams and the drive to Owen's school is the worst, due to construction. I don't have to stress about not getting exercise because it is exercise; although it lacks the drudgery of exercise. It gives my day a rhythm it is sorely lacking without employment. Plus I spend a lot less money. Train tickets to school are running us about $30/wk. This is equivalent to what I would spend on gas if I ONLY drove to and from school. But when I am behind the wheel of a car I am likely to get distracted and pull into a coffee shop, Wild Oats, the bookstore or any other place that wants to separate me from my cash.
Will we continue through the winter? I say yes and Owen says no. "There is no bad weather, just bad clothing choices.", I tell him. It remains to be seen, I suppose.
Commuting to the climbing gym
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Nellie's Maiden Voyage.
Nellie is an active member of our family and as such is invited on most of our outdoor adventures. She is very athletic and dedicated to being in the front of the pack on all group rides or runs. She prefers to be part of the break away rather than hang with the peleton. Very few, if any, mortals can drop her.Needless to say she was less than thrilled when we took up kayaking. She has no thumbs so she just can't hold onto the paddle. She goes to great lengths to sneak out of the house and into the car if she suspects we are going to go somewhere without her. She quickly learned that when Owen's yellow boat makes it into the pile of gear going to the car, she is not invited. She was determined not to be left looking out the window from on top the couch when the car drove away this day.
This day we were going to paddle a section of the Illinois River, near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. It was going to take under four hours and involve no skill, just muscle. There is quite a bit of river traffic, barges, ferries and such, but besides the wakes that these create it would be smooth sailing.
"Why can't she go?", I want to know. "There is room in the cockpit of my boat and I want her to come. She will have a blast and she loves to swim."
"I just don't think it is a good idea.", responds the curmudgeonly husband who is trying to put the kibosh on our fun. Its always just me and the boys. Sometimes its good to have another female around.
Well, I got my way.
I wish I had not.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Living a Sustainable Lifestyle: dichotomy in action
So, my best friend in Idaho went and got herself a Prius. Man is it sexy. I have wanted one for years. I am wondering if all covetous feelings register on the sin-scale or just those of a husbandly nature?
The first year the Prius came to market we could have gotten one since we were in the market for a car. The technology was pretty new and we deemed it risky. We tend to drive our cars until their last gasp and hybrids were still such a novel concept. Instead we got the orange box, a.k.a. Honda Element, a.k.a tent on wheels. The fuel efficiency for this small car is pathetic, largely due to the complete absence of any aerodynamics.
So here I am, this eco-chic, not driving an eco-car. I love the term Heather (aforementioned Prius owner) gave this state of affairs: eco-inconsistency. And in fact, we ARE all guilty. Don't EVEN try to deny it. You know it is true.
And it is pretty ironic that Heather brought up this subject of sustainability on her blog http://living-idaho.blogspot.com/ when she did because I had just that very day been dumped by a friend of 20 years for my eco-inconsistency. This friend can "no longer respect me". Her words , paraphrased. My transgression, you ask. Being seen in a Walmart parking lot? McDonald's ketchup packets in my car? No!.......My penchant for Whole Foods Market! It would be laughable if it weren't so tragic.
Now she does have a valid viewpoint in not liking Whole Foods , don't get me wrong. Whole Foods has become a corporate giant, of the type it use to love to hate. She is herself a small scale organic farmer and Whole Foods does affect her as a small business owner and grower of that which is deliciously organic. Whole Foods is formidable competition with an unfair advantage. And this is just one of their many offenses. There are blogs and websites that devote much cyber space to the subject of hating Whole Foods. This is one of my favorite:
http://veganfreaks.org/index.php?id=159
Knowing all this and yet I still partake. Why? Well, I don't really know. I still like it. I love the variety. I love the cheeses and preserves and coffee. Things I surely can't get in Idaho. So farI have found no locally owned business that has all this in a one-stop-shop experience.
Or perhaps I am nostalgic for the years I lived in Austin and shopped at the ORIGINAL, VERY FIRST Whole Foods. It was sooooo Austin-tatious. Many of you probably thought Whole Foods is a California thing when in fact it is a Texas thing.
Fast forward two decades. Same store, yet so very different. The snob factor is way high. No freaking bike rack out front. I bet I am the ONLY patron in St Louis to fight 6 miles of horrendous traffic on my bike to shop there. I have a very non-altruistic motive for arriving on bike. You see my Burley trailer limits how much I can spend at this over-priced Walmart of "organic" supermarkets. ( I put organic in quotes because of course we really don't know if this stuff is truly organic) I have very little self control and I can't really afford to shop there to begin with, you know. I suppose step 1 is admitting I have a problem, eh?
Being a human being, especially an American human being, and living a sustainable lifestyle is a dichotomy. The more cynical of you would refer to it as an oxymoron, an impossibility, a logical fallacy. Each person born is a mega consumer of the earth's natural resources. It is with this knowledge that my sister greets the news of a friend or relative's pregnancy with a plastered smiled and a comment such as, "Oh, wow.". Those of us who know her well realize that this smile is, in fact, a grimace. Good thing my kids, all two of them, are cute or she may not allow them in her house.
So my point is, we are all hypocrites to a certain extent. How can I advocate sustainability yet bear two children, choose to live in a place like Idaho where a car-free existence in nearly impossible, drive a Honda Element AND shop at Whole Foods? Yet how can my friend (oh yeah, ex-friend) get all high, mighty and self righteous and proclaim that she can not respect me when she is the very same person who for 5 years collected every Made in China, Happy Meal toy to give to my son and would not think twice about getting in her car to drive a couple miles to a convenient store for a pack of smokes? Hello?! Smells a lot like the ultimate hypocrisy, don't ya think.
It is sad though. Sad that someone has such a narrow parameter for friendship that it can neither accommodate intellectual debate on such matters nor tolerate divergence of opinion. She can drive, smoke and visit China all she wants and I can still respect her. But alas, she has taken her toys and gone home. It is her way or the highway.
Now...... if only I owned a Prius I could smugly drive that highway off into the sunset of our friendship while maximizing fuel efficiency.
The first year the Prius came to market we could have gotten one since we were in the market for a car. The technology was pretty new and we deemed it risky. We tend to drive our cars until their last gasp and hybrids were still such a novel concept. Instead we got the orange box, a.k.a. Honda Element, a.k.a tent on wheels. The fuel efficiency for this small car is pathetic, largely due to the complete absence of any aerodynamics.
So here I am, this eco-chic, not driving an eco-car. I love the term Heather (aforementioned Prius owner) gave this state of affairs: eco-inconsistency. And in fact, we ARE all guilty. Don't EVEN try to deny it. You know it is true.
And it is pretty ironic that Heather brought up this subject of sustainability on her blog http://living-idaho.blogspot.com/ when she did because I had just that very day been dumped by a friend of 20 years for my eco-inconsistency. This friend can "no longer respect me". Her words , paraphrased. My transgression, you ask. Being seen in a Walmart parking lot? McDonald's ketchup packets in my car? No!.......My penchant for Whole Foods Market! It would be laughable if it weren't so tragic.
Now she does have a valid viewpoint in not liking Whole Foods , don't get me wrong. Whole Foods has become a corporate giant, of the type it use to love to hate. She is herself a small scale organic farmer and Whole Foods does affect her as a small business owner and grower of that which is deliciously organic. Whole Foods is formidable competition with an unfair advantage. And this is just one of their many offenses. There are blogs and websites that devote much cyber space to the subject of hating Whole Foods. This is one of my favorite:
http://veganfreaks.org/index.php?id=159
Knowing all this and yet I still partake. Why? Well, I don't really know. I still like it. I love the variety. I love the cheeses and preserves and coffee. Things I surely can't get in Idaho. So farI have found no locally owned business that has all this in a one-stop-shop experience.
Or perhaps I am nostalgic for the years I lived in Austin and shopped at the ORIGINAL, VERY FIRST Whole Foods. It was sooooo Austin-tatious. Many of you probably thought Whole Foods is a California thing when in fact it is a Texas thing.
Fast forward two decades. Same store, yet so very different. The snob factor is way high. No freaking bike rack out front. I bet I am the ONLY patron in St Louis to fight 6 miles of horrendous traffic on my bike to shop there. I have a very non-altruistic motive for arriving on bike. You see my Burley trailer limits how much I can spend at this over-priced Walmart of "organic" supermarkets. ( I put organic in quotes because of course we really don't know if this stuff is truly organic) I have very little self control and I can't really afford to shop there to begin with, you know. I suppose step 1 is admitting I have a problem, eh?
Being a human being, especially an American human being, and living a sustainable lifestyle is a dichotomy. The more cynical of you would refer to it as an oxymoron, an impossibility, a logical fallacy. Each person born is a mega consumer of the earth's natural resources. It is with this knowledge that my sister greets the news of a friend or relative's pregnancy with a plastered smiled and a comment such as, "Oh, wow.". Those of us who know her well realize that this smile is, in fact, a grimace. Good thing my kids, all two of them, are cute or she may not allow them in her house.
So my point is, we are all hypocrites to a certain extent. How can I advocate sustainability yet bear two children, choose to live in a place like Idaho where a car-free existence in nearly impossible, drive a Honda Element AND shop at Whole Foods? Yet how can my friend (oh yeah, ex-friend) get all high, mighty and self righteous and proclaim that she can not respect me when she is the very same person who for 5 years collected every Made in China, Happy Meal toy to give to my son and would not think twice about getting in her car to drive a couple miles to a convenient store for a pack of smokes? Hello?! Smells a lot like the ultimate hypocrisy, don't ya think.
It is sad though. Sad that someone has such a narrow parameter for friendship that it can neither accommodate intellectual debate on such matters nor tolerate divergence of opinion. She can drive, smoke and visit China all she wants and I can still respect her. But alas, she has taken her toys and gone home. It is her way or the highway.
Now...... if only I owned a Prius I could smugly drive that highway off into the sunset of our friendship while maximizing fuel efficiency.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
St. Charles, MO
A short drive west of St Louis, the town of St Charles has the distinction of being Missouri's first state capitol. Located on the Missouri River, it was founded in the late 1700s by a French Canadian fur trader and became an important center of commerce. The famous frontiersman, Daniel Boone became one of St. Charles first settlers and was later appointed magistrate of the county. In May of 1804 Lewis and Clark stopped here to purchase the last of their supplies before continuing on their epic journey. In fact, St. Charles is the home base for the replica boats of the Discovery Expedition.
The historic downtown retains its colonial charm with its brick buildings, sidewalks and narrow streets. However some of the charm is lost with the crush of tourist traffic. This area would benefit from a designation as a car-free zone. There is a nearly empty, huge parking lot devoted to Katy Trail users where the crowds could park and become pedestrians.
St. Charles is the current eastern terminus of the Katy Trail, America's longest Rails-to-Trails path. I say current because according to my guidebook, published in 1996, it is set to continue on to Machens, Mo and from there meet up with a network of trails coming from St Louis. I can confirm that in the past 11 years no progress has been realized. Much to Owen's chagrin we discovered this while attempting to make our way to Machens without benefit of a crushed gravel path.
One meltdown (literally, as it was in the mid-90s and extremely humid) and 4 or so miles later we turned around to try our luck in the westerly direction. But not before discovering a fantastic network of trails hidden in the riparion region astride the southern banks of the Misssouri River. Subsequent to another 15 miles and a couple buckets worth of sweat we called it quits and headed to the Trails End Brewery for some cool beverages and cheesecake.
The historic downtown retains its colonial charm with its brick buildings, sidewalks and narrow streets. However some of the charm is lost with the crush of tourist traffic. This area would benefit from a designation as a car-free zone. There is a nearly empty, huge parking lot devoted to Katy Trail users where the crowds could park and become pedestrians.
St. Charles is the current eastern terminus of the Katy Trail, America's longest Rails-to-Trails path. I say current because according to my guidebook, published in 1996, it is set to continue on to Machens, Mo and from there meet up with a network of trails coming from St Louis. I can confirm that in the past 11 years no progress has been realized. Much to Owen's chagrin we discovered this while attempting to make our way to Machens without benefit of a crushed gravel path.
One meltdown (literally, as it was in the mid-90s and extremely humid) and 4 or so miles later we turned around to try our luck in the westerly direction. But not before discovering a fantastic network of trails hidden in the riparion region astride the southern banks of the Misssouri River. Subsequent to another 15 miles and a couple buckets worth of sweat we called it quits and headed to the Trails End Brewery for some cool beverages and cheesecake.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Leaving Home: St Louis, MO bound, 1,400ish miles
23 -26, August, 2007
There was a while there that I considered staying with Owen in Idaho and sending Tony on his merry way as a solo agent. But then I reconsidered. Yes I do love Idaho and out west. Yes I will miss yet another ski season and snow in general. But I also love my husband and, dang, we actually had a great time last year. Plus, there is something that feels very homey about the mid-west. Oh yeah, I am FROM the mid-west. That explains it. But I do hate the traffic and the crowds and the bugs and the heat and no mountains or snow. And I do love the ethnic food and the neighbors and the school and Whole Foods and the diversity and culture. I am NOT a city girl but all in all I love St. Louis. Besides, I have always told myself I could live anywhere for a few years....except D.C and New Jersey. I have to draw the line somewhere.
Our trip over was a good omen, lot-o-fun. We stopped to check out the Big Kahuna and Lunch Counter rapids along the Snake River, a kayaking goal for next summer.....
Checked out the trains in Laramie........
Stop at Doug's favorite brewery in Fort Collins, where he not-so-secretly wants to work upon completion of his PhD program......
We got to see the Guinness Book of World Record's Largest ball of twine and sleep under a full
moon along the shore of a beautiful lake in Kansas.........
And visited the quaint, historic town town of Rocheport, MO and breakfasted at its General Store....
Our final night marked my 30th night of camping this summer and Owen and Nellie's 28th. But now that I am back in the mid-west I imagine we will be spending more nights in our beds and less out of doors. Too bad.
So now what am I going to write about? Anywhere in the midwest the adventurous stuff tends to be a bit more tame and urbane but not all together impossible to find. It just takes a little more effort to uncover.
I guess I will concentrate on the sustainability aspect of our lives. Actually it is easier to live a sustainable lifestyle here since there is a culture that supports this way of thinking. Yeah, I have still managed to relocate to another red state but it is only red due to the large rural component. The urban areas of Missouri are decidedly blue, thank the lord. Here in University City we have mandatory recycling, two depots for the light rail system, a great bus system, a 3 day weekly farmer's market, an independent film tivoli, no big box stores and very few franchises, a thriving and vibrant historic district filled with locally-owned businesses and of course the Washington University contribution of a liberal student populous.
Not bad, but it does not make up for the lack of moose-sighting potential or elevation differential.
There was a while there that I considered staying with Owen in Idaho and sending Tony on his merry way as a solo agent. But then I reconsidered. Yes I do love Idaho and out west. Yes I will miss yet another ski season and snow in general. But I also love my husband and, dang, we actually had a great time last year. Plus, there is something that feels very homey about the mid-west. Oh yeah, I am FROM the mid-west. That explains it. But I do hate the traffic and the crowds and the bugs and the heat and no mountains or snow. And I do love the ethnic food and the neighbors and the school and Whole Foods and the diversity and culture. I am NOT a city girl but all in all I love St. Louis. Besides, I have always told myself I could live anywhere for a few years....except D.C and New Jersey. I have to draw the line somewhere.
Our trip over was a good omen, lot-o-fun. We stopped to check out the Big Kahuna and Lunch Counter rapids along the Snake River, a kayaking goal for next summer.....
Checked out the trains in Laramie........
Stop at Doug's favorite brewery in Fort Collins, where he not-so-secretly wants to work upon completion of his PhD program......
We got to see the Guinness Book of World Record's Largest ball of twine and sleep under a full
moon along the shore of a beautiful lake in Kansas.........
And visited the quaint, historic town town of Rocheport, MO and breakfasted at its General Store....
Our final night marked my 30th night of camping this summer and Owen and Nellie's 28th. But now that I am back in the mid-west I imagine we will be spending more nights in our beds and less out of doors. Too bad.
So now what am I going to write about? Anywhere in the midwest the adventurous stuff tends to be a bit more tame and urbane but not all together impossible to find. It just takes a little more effort to uncover.
I guess I will concentrate on the sustainability aspect of our lives. Actually it is easier to live a sustainable lifestyle here since there is a culture that supports this way of thinking. Yeah, I have still managed to relocate to another red state but it is only red due to the large rural component. The urban areas of Missouri are decidedly blue, thank the lord. Here in University City we have mandatory recycling, two depots for the light rail system, a great bus system, a 3 day weekly farmer's market, an independent film tivoli, no big box stores and very few franchises, a thriving and vibrant historic district filled with locally-owned businesses and of course the Washington University contribution of a liberal student populous.
Not bad, but it does not make up for the lack of moose-sighting potential or elevation differential.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Last But Not Least: Hut to Hut: part II
August 18 and 19, 2007This was our final trip of the summer so we were amped to have a good time. With two dogs and an Owen in tow be headed to Sun Valley to check out things on the west end of the proposed hut to hut route.
I had originally thought I would have part of the route and a hut located in the Sawtooths, but that will mean more bureaucratic red tape since this area is under the jurisdiction of a different forest service entity than the rest of the route. One good idea posed by none other than my husband is to offer an additional option of an epic day of single track in the Sawtooths to those intrepid few who want even more gratuitous torture. Perhaps I can cut a deal with a local inn or B&B in Sun Valley whereby for a set additional price, clients could stay and ride from there one day without having to carry any gear and have their meals catered. It would not be for the faint of heart mind you, since I could put together some 25-40 mile options that would blow the mind and the quads. There is even the possibility of a naked hot springs stop. Now, how much more is THAT worth?
S0 we started our mileage check in downtown Sun Valley. The climb out of the valley to the north is a great warm up for what is in store for the remainder of the trip. It is a nine mile climb but is not too difficult if you are in climbing shape and are use to the altitude. When we got to the top of the pass I discovered I had managed to shred a rear tire, not just get a flat, in my vehicle. The delay in realization was due to the roughness of the road, which was not quite as rough as I had supposed. Later the next day we would come across a group of kids further down this road who had done the exact same thing. After changing the tire, we headed straight to camp at the trail head of a section we wanted to hike to see if it would be a viable option on bike. And it was. Rideable but more difficult than the forest service roads. It follows little Falls Creek for a few miles to a steep climb over a ridge before hooking up with another trail off a tributary creek of the North Fork of the Big Lost River. Plenty of bathing options on hot summer days.
After finishing the route this is what I have: 205 miles starting and ending in Sun Valley, 4 major passes to climb, approximately 30 miles in between each cabin, single track options for additional mileage every day. Once Owen is back in school I will get the formal proposal written up and submitted to the Forest Service. From there, who knows how long it will take to shake out. Best case scenario would be summer 2009, I imagine. Next summer my dad and a friend from NH are coming out to ride it with me. Maybe my sister and Clay will come out as well, since they have both done hut to huts before and there feedback would be useful.
This was a great last night of camping in Idaho before heading to the BIG CITY, clear skies, shooting stars, great views of the constellations. Tony and I stayed up late taking it all in and regretting the end of summer. It would be fantastic to just spend a week based right there is riding and running trails in every direction....... Can't wait for 2008.
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