A World On A String

[unclefishstick]

yup,i saw a big ol fatty rattler the other day,not a real good look but by the sound of the rattle it was a big one,then a few small ones slithering away down in the gully...desert seems extra lively this year with the extra moisture...only makes sense with the enhanced food supply for the little critters like bugs and mice...nice thing about the heat is it gets me out early while theres still a fair number of critters out...yesterday it was centipedes...seeing all sorts of stuff though...im going through a slow phase i guess,trails are too chunked out to go really fast so may as well take in the scenery...and i have some new challenges to spice up the riding,people give me strange looks when i tell them i dont ride certain trails,but now i have them to learn instead of the whole network being boring,and i saved them till i had the skill and confidence to tackle them properly...now instead of repeated failure i can expect to do well and know i have good pads on and with the flat pedals i can always just step out of it..technical trail climbing generally isnt fast,the wrecks themselves rarely hurt,its all the desert stuff that hurts...but i have done some truly inspired panic pedaling when i saw the fall was gonna be cactus-y or what have you...the sort of stuff you can only laugh about after...but when you can get yourself out of it when you do everything possible wrong when you get it right its like magic...its funny because a trail that might give me a kanipshin on a bike you would just run right up and wonder what all the fuss is about... like it takes me 3000 bux worth of bike to claw my way up something you would barely notice...i guess the payoff is when i get pointed downhill,that shit is just plain fun...

 

[Jericho Mile]

Stopped dreaming

Stopped dreaming

The last two nights...even though I have not been smoking or smoking very little (had a bowl this morning..but didn't much like it..strange)..I have not had any dreams that I remember. Been waking up at least 3X a night....restless sleep

I know it's from not running. It's weighing heavy on me. I'm getting things done..but not really...not so much that I feel like I'm my machine self. out of sorts

* The way it is. The way my head is working me:

I know I don't need a break off the trails. I know this. It's not a situation where I'm rushing an injury or anything...no..taking time off for really no good reason...in the prime training months.

It's a bad move. That's what my inner voice is saying...what my chemical addiction is saying

Every day I'm not training at this stage...I'm weakening. I'm coming off big races...I'm in my prime and climbing. I can not lose the footholds I have gained in the last few months. I will not allow myself to backslide to places I've already conquered or made peace with.

I'm not me if I'm not being honest to myself. I'm heading out today and I'm going to blast out some milage. It's so perfect now...we have some build up weather coming in...it's around 90 degrees...full sun...my god..

who am i....if i'm not out doing what i love to do? i am no one.

i will always stay game. i will always seek out glory

i am unenlightened...consumed by self and ego

this is how i live my life

 

[Jericho Mile]

The Western States 100 mile is this weekend. Huge race...brings in the cream of the crop. Super humans

 

[unclefishstick]

the race season is pretty much over here aside from some bike park stuff...i dunno if this is prime riding season aside from the long days,prime is probably late sep/oct around here....hell,its always prime once you're out there,hot,windy,dry,dusty,cold,whatever....it may suck in the moment but im always glad i got out...
right now i know i want to do the horny toad,the chupacabra,and the puzzler,and probably the tommyknocker...the horny toad i want to win my division/cat but the rest im not at all concerned about winning or placing so im thinking just going single speed for the rest since single speed riders tend to be a bit more fun oriented with racing...like you have to chug a pbr before you can get on your bike and ride at the start,or bacon and whiskey stops mid ride...or just finishing the course gets you into a lottery where you race big wheels to see who wins....

 

[Jericho Mile]

Out of the oven

Out of the oven

.....o yes. That felt way good. Ran some steep stuff for just under 11.5 miles...in just over 2hrs...long climbs. Worked my legs into jelly...then recovered them on the descent. That's good when you can bring them back on a downhill.

Whoosh...full exploited sun. Love the heat...slows me down..but I think training in the heat is important. If you can run in heat..full sun..you can run in anything. The air here...so dry..sucks up every bit of moisture if you leave your mouth hanging open. Got to breathe through the nose to conserve. I run most the time with a closed mouth. I train that way. I've probably mentioned that many times...but belly breathing through the nose..key to staying in control.

so now look it.

My chemical balance has changed....I'm cooled out and mellow as hell. I can feel the run. My body is a bit tight...and a little sore..but I feel totally different than I have for the last 4 days. I'm back in the groove....dreamy narcotic state

yeah...I looked at my log book....it's only been 4 days since my last time out. Christ..seemed a lot longer than that....but my log book tells me the reality. I last ran on the 21st.

I'm going to keep going for it. It's worked for me this far along. I really feel like if I were asked to race a 100 on Saturday...I could pull it off. My conditioning is there...and I have the temperament and mental toughness to plow through to the finish line. Not cocky...but I'm very confident in my abilities.

I don't know what it is that makes me want to do this stuff or why I find it to be so much fun...because I'll tell you

it's not always that much fun. Even today I had moments where I was getting worked over pretty good...in such a short distance. I'm telling you though...doesn't matter when the beatings come...they'll always come...so now..I've learned to just accept them and work through them. Thus far...I've been able to come out the other side every time. I put my head down and keep at it...chasing whatever it is...that manages to stay in front of me..out of reach. Keep pushing on

for whatever reason.

* currently my official motto/reason for chasing ultra "I just want to be better"....that's it. pops in my head all the time...about every time I feel the beast looking at me like I'm weak.

 

[Infinitesimal]

I saw this a couple weeks ago and made me think of you and your running.

understanding what happens to the body during strenuous exersice and the blood runs low on sugar... where most athletes hit "the wall" and have to run on total mind over matter, this dude trains his body to run off his fat intake and stores and has gotten used to the feeling of your metabolism "swithing" from carbs to fats which is where most runners and cyclists or any athlete trying hard enough will usually crash... I thought it was interesting.

The High Fat Diet of an Ultra Runner
[YOUTUBEIF]96VZFklUM_Q [/YOUTUBEIF]

 

[Jericho Mile]

I saw this a couple weeks ago and made me think of you and your running.

understanding what happens to the body during strenuous exersice and the blood runs low on sugar... where most athletes hit "the wall" and have to run on total mind over matter, this dude trains his body to run off his fat intake and stores and has gotten used to the feeling of your metabolism "swithing" from carbs to fats which is where most runners and cyclists or any athlete trying hard enough will usually crash... I thought it was interesting.

The High Fat Diet of an Ultra Runner
[YOUTUBEIF]96VZFklUM_Q [/YOUTUBEIF]

Totally agree with a lot of what he's saying. I go through a can of coconut milk every other day...and sometimes a can a day. Coconut milk, coconut water, and coconut oil...are always in my house. When I finished my run today I had 2 big mugs of hot tea blended with organic maple syrup, and canned coconut milk (just like this guy...not the light stuff..the real fat stuff).....and I'm telling you...it's like a meal in liquid form. Often I can't eat after a run..sometimes for hours afterward. Liquid food works for me.

I know where he's coming from concerning the gels and sugars. I felt like I was poisoning myself during the 100 I did. I was eating other things as well....bananas, potatoes, pickles, soup, pancakes, and even had some eggs. The only thing I turned down...that I really wanted...was bacon. I couldn't cross that line...but I was wanting to eat some. In the future I will be true to my desires...and if bacon is at an aid station..and I want to...I will eat it. Salt and fat....and it would have gone down.

I always fatten up before a race. I totally believe in doing that...especially because I don't have much body fat. Like this guy...I believe in eating good fats...and feel they play a big role in being able to keep going.

Getting food down is an effort sometimes. In the 100 I knew I needed fuel...but I didn't want to eat...or really...I wanted to eat...but some things would not go down. Presents a problem. And again...I wish I would have eaten that bacon at the mile 88 aid station...because I know in my heart....I would have gotten a major burst off it.

Great find, dude. He made total sense to me...and I agree with him on all points...except I don't eat animal protein at home. On race day though...I've accepted that I will eat anything now. Anything that keeps me going. Fat is an endurance athlete's friend....yes yes...and so is sugar and salt. If you can balance it correctly...good things will happen.

Racing at 100 miles is not healthy to the body. It just isn't...so if I can accept that...I can accept that I do what I have to do...to make it happen. Well...I mean..I'm not doping or anything like that...but I'll eat damn near anything is what I'm saying.

* The sport does attract a lot of ex drug addicts/ex heavy drug users. I've never been addicted to dope...but I used to do shit loads of it. Running does replace those days on end binges I used to subject myself to. Instead of going on drug binges to excite myself...now...I go on running binges...similar...but not. Sometimes I miss the craziness of dope binges..but it got old after a while...and it usually ended up being a complete waste of time. Quitting alcohol and cocaine was a wise move. Cocaine went 1st....then the booze. Those two used to go hand in hand...whiskey and coke...lethal combo....but fucking wild..and of course..when you are fired up on that shit...anything goes...whatever gets you up or down...give me my phone..I've got to make that call lol.....o I so remember in a vague sort of way

 

[Jericho Mile]

Right On!!!!!

Right On!!!!!

This June weather is awesomeness. We've been in the 90's for about a week...and now

the clouds have rolled in...keeping it muggy. The temps have dropped drastic like today. It's only 70 degrees at the moment. The nights have been in the 50's and 60's (hot for here)...thunder cell build up predicted early this week

so killer.

Give it a couple more hours to baste..I've some more indoor gardening to do...then I'm heading out into trail land for the afternoon.

* I'm growing some nice plants. There's so many different expressions between the Jaundice, Flaund, and Easy Mox Trilogy....haven't had this much variety since those days when I was dusting madness and living off seed.

It's a lot more work

I'll eventually get some pictures up...so the thread balances out a bit. I am still working it though...with plants.

 

[budman678]

We are sitting at lows 70s in Ky right now. Its beautiful. I've been out in the yard all day. Walked up to farmers market with family. But vaping and having a few Founders All DAy.

Making meatballs sammiches tonight with our own marinara.

streaming gd50 tonight at 7PST

 

[budman678]

BTW, we just moved to a new house. The front yard has an extremely active mole. I have never had to deal with a mole before. It seems like consensus is talpirid worms. I am waiting for them to arrive. You stick one in an active run and they dead woth in 2-3 days.

anyone else had any luck. Also, the grass is much more lush here and seems to stay a little more wet, we will see but ive seen foxes, deer, salamanaders, etc already. dark, away from pole lights. happy as a clam

 

[Jericho Mile]

Been Cranking

Been Cranking

The bootleg "Burn Like A Candle" 1972 Zep at the LA Forum...different night than "How The West Was Won" and no remastering but it's bad ass.

Listened to 1/2 before I went running....and the other 1/2 now. The band plays for over 3hrs. They were still young then...the excess hadn't taken hold. I was listening to one of the Landover, Md shows from the '77 tour...the other night...and yeah...you can hear the drugs and booze. Still killer in its way...if you understand what you are hearing..where they were at the time. Ozone land. Zep on a bad night was still miles above most anybody else.

Zoso shreds guitar. critics can fuck themselves.

Duane Allman, Jimmy Page, and John Frusciante in no particular order...my short list

It got over 80 degrees...but stayed mostly cloudy...and it's still muggy. Ran like a beast. I went hard the whole way.

* Skipped around another big rattlesnake. He was hidden right off the trail...but started up his rattle before I even got to him. That's what I like about them...they let you know they are there. I have no issues with rattlesnakes...none at all. I leave them alone and admire them.

 

[Jericho Mile]

BTW, we just moved to a new house. The front yard has an extremely active mole. I have never had to deal with a mole before. It seems like consensus is talpirid worms. I am waiting for them to arrive. You stick one in an active run and they dead woth in 2-3 days.

anyone else had any luck. Also, the grass is much more lush here and seems to stay a little more wet, we will see but ive seen foxes, deer, salamanaders, etc already. dark, away from pole lights. happy as a clam

Two evenings ago...I dug up my grounded pepper plants in the hothouse. The reason? I have gophers that foil my traps and even climb over the caging I put my plants in. I've lost:

1 tomato

1 cucumber

4 pepper plants

All from seed. Months of work. I finally admitted defeat and pulled all the remaining pepper plants and put them in containers. The tomatoes are not in the hothouse...and I just used bricks to wall around the cages so the gophers can't climb them anymore.

I've got 4 traps and I'm actively going after the varmint cong. I can't have smart ones breeding.

have no doubts. even if you are a peaceful person...when it comes to gophers/moles/ground squirrels in your garden...you must : terminate with extreme prejudice. No mercy.

so yeah...I assessed my situation and the amount of time I'm spending trying to trap these things and the amount of gopher activity (maybe due to drought conditions) I'm experiencing..and decided that ripping everything out and coming at it from a different angle..was justified. The cucumbers I couldn't transplant....but I pulled them anyway. I'm not giving those things anymore food. I'd rather my plants go into the compost than aid the enemy.

I'm a trapper...but I also shoot (air gun), spear, and drown. Outside the garden I will poison. You can even buy an adapter for the exhaust of a car...and run hose down into their tunnels...carbon monoxide poisoning. Have not tried that yet...but I may.

YouTube videos...there's some good ones concerning varmint extermination

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

I finally placed poison bait in gopher tunnels this morning. Little monster kept burying the traps. Wanted nothing to do with them. Amazing how they can pull a plant down just like in the cartoons.

 

[Jericho Mile]

I finally placed poison bait in gopher tunnels this morning. Little monster kept burying the traps. Wanted nothing to do with them. Amazing how they can pull a plant down just like in the cartoons.

Same thing...they are burying the traps. I've never had them climb the basket cages before. I find that they tunnel under and around the cages...then open a hole right beside the cage..climb out and over...chew off the plants at their bases..then haul them away.

It's terrible to see the beautiful plants decimated. These gophers are insanely skilled....and full on aggressive.

the way I've landscaped makes it difficult to make clean trap sets. There are boulders...railroad ties...logs...multiple level/terraced beds... all the things they tunnel along and not give me a clean opportunity. Also...they are working during the night...so I can't spear or shoot them. I've not even seen one. They are like ghosts this season....

My back bed is safe. It has 1/4" galvanized hard wear screen under it. There is a colony of gophers living under it (yr round) but it takes them forever to get in (they find a weak place in the screen...where maybe a shovel went too deep or apple tree shoots come in..chew and push up the screen) and when they have in the past...it was easy to follow their tunnel to the breech in the screen...and make the repair.

eventually...they'll fuck up and pop their heads at the wrong time or get trapped. I was only using 2 traps...but I bought 2 more the other day. Their greed will be their downfall. Can't let these ones pass along their DNA....way too smart

* I've only seen a single ground squirrel on the property. I shot at it...but it was a long shot on a moving target. Shot went high....but at least I freaked it out. Those creatures can make serious problems if they get established. I have zero love for them...none. I despise them...sorry to have to say.

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

Those ground squirrels carry plague. They'll undermine concrete foundations and shed plague infested fleas under your buildings. You have to keep on top of those things. Their abandoned tunnel systems must last for generations. There's always explorers poking around ready to move in and have a new litter. You can box in rat traps between cinder blocks so that the squirrel has to approach it from the front and gets whacked on the top of the head.

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

BTW, we just moved to a new house. The front yard has an extremely active mole. I have never had to deal with a mole before. It seems like consensus is talpirid worms. I am waiting for them to arrive. You stick one in an active run and they dead woth in 2-3 days.

anyone else had any luck. Also, the grass is much more lush here and seems to stay a little more wet, we will see but ive seen foxes, deer, salamanaders, etc already. dark, away from pole lights. happy as a clam

I don't have any grief with moles. They're after earthworms and pretty much leave the plants alone. I'm happy to share my space with them.

 

[Jericho Mile]

Those ground squirrels carry plague. They'll undermine concrete foundations and shed plague infested fleas under your buildings. You have to keep on top of those things. Their abandoned tunnel systems must last for generations. There's always explorers poking around ready to move in and have a new litter. You can box in rat traps between cinder blocks so that the squirrel has to approach it from the front and gets whacked on the top of the head.

If there was a punishment for executing ground squirrels...I'd be in deep shit. I have a Have-A-Hart trap....but no heart. No catch and release.

In 2011 I had a great crop of pumpkins. One morning I went to move one around (still on the vine) and found it full of dirt. Ground squirrels had tunneled under it...gutted the pumpkin and back filled it with dirt. They did that to every pumpkin...a total..complete...loss. Months of cultivation down the tube...into the compost pile. Fuck ground squirrels.

I've shot so many squirrels...don't even care if I get in a kill shot...as even if I don't...their fellow squirrels will kill and eat them. I've seen squirrels attacking wounded squirrels. Cannibals. I'll take shots that aren't clean....that's how bad I despise them.

Sadly..I've even voiced in a loud and clear voice "Fuck me? No...fuck you" after delivering a lead pellet into them. That's what I've been reduced to.

I could go on and on...obviously...I'm shell shocked by varmint cong

* one of the 1st things I do in the morning..during the summer gardening season: check for damage

 

[unclefishstick]

i hate ground squirrels with a passion....not for any gardening reason...one summer living in my tent in alaska i got sick,pretty badly too for someone living in a tent...i had woken up after sleeping for 20 hours,to weak to even stand to take a pee,and had managed to drag myself halfway back into the tent and pass out,when i woke back up a few minutes later,theres a little chittering frickin ground squirrel,inches away from my face happily munching a bagel...wouldnt go away despite my feeble efforts to get it out...finally got the tent zipped back up and then a worried friend came out and found me later that day and took me home to get better,probably saved my life since i was almost out of water at the tent and could barely move...but i never forgot that fuckin squirrel....

 

[budman678]

we dont have ground squierrles. we have regular old tree suqierels. I like to pick em off with my .22 air rifle. its running like 2500 ft/sec

fast as shit

 

[Jericho Mile]

i hate ground squirrels with a passion....not for any gardening reason...one summer living in my tent in alaska i got sick,pretty badly too for someone living in a tent...i had woken up after sleeping for 20 hours,to weak to even stand to take a pee,and had managed to drag myself halfway back into the tent and pass out,when i woke back up a few minutes later,theres a little chittering frickin ground squirrel,inches away from my face happily munching a bagel...wouldnt go away despite my feeble efforts to get it out...finally got the tent zipped back up and then a worried friend came out and found me later that day and took me home to get better,probably saved my life since i was almost out of water at the tent and could barely move...but i never forgot that fuckin squirrel....

Ground Squirrels are evil. I'm not kidding. They'd eat you in a second. I've seen them eat each other. I was in a sniper position above an open space. I shot a squirrel...dropped it..and it never moved. I stayed in my position and let everything calm down again. About 20 minutes later the squirrel I'd shot started flopping around.

As soon as it did..

Two other squirrels rushed out to it (like medics in combat) and started attacking it and pulling it to the closet hole. It made like a screaming noise and started resisting...making obvious that it was getting mauled. They were taking it to the hole to eat it. I've seen them do it...chewing on their own road kill.

Anyways....I killed one of the attacking squirrels while the other managed to escape with the wounded squirrel. It was some pretty exciting shooting...and two less varmints.

They are vile beasts. Necessary for the eco system...but still...no less vile. fuck those things