Back in the Wissahickon

Its been a couple of weeks since I have done a good ride in the Wissahickon (Valley Green). Although I have been there at night its just not the same. I started at 7am with the plan of riding for three hours. I was able to cover many of my favorite trails in the park. The steep hills and rocks were slick and made more challenging by a covering of leaves. The trails were in good shape overall considering the amount of heavy rains we have had over the past couple of months.

It gets dark to early

Night rides become the only option.

It started with a phone call...

The last shows at the Spectrum! Pearl Jam would close down this amazing arena with four shows. Charlie called and said you have to try and get tickets! He called me because he knew I would be home on the day when the tickets would go on sale earlier in the summer. I thought I would try but, how quick would these tickets go?

The day came and at 10 am I was on the computer typing in my information to buy tickets for the opening show of the four! The seats were not great but, we were in the door! To make the situation even better Andy also got tickets to the second show through the Ten Club. This meant I would go to two shows in two nights.

After a wait for a couple of months the days were finally here! Charlie, Andy, and I would leave for the parking lot at about 3:30 pm. the weather was cool with a light drizzle. Perfect for some tailgating and people watching. The first person we see when we get to the lot is this homeless guy and his plastic rat friend. We knew it was going to be a good night after seeing him.

We had to have the Blue Ribbon for the big event!

We sat and talked and took in the view of the Spectrum.

After getting our picture taken we took a walk around the Spectrum to take in the action and the sights. Nice poster!

After we had a few more Blue Ribbons the show time was growing closer and we would make our way in for show #1. As we entered thoughts of posters and seats were dancing in our heads.

The show would start and we were seeing a great performance in a great venue!

As the first show ended with Rockin in the Free World we would leave satisfied and looking forward to the next evening for show #2.

Show number two was just Andy and I and we would have Ten Club tickets. You don't know were your seats will be until you pick up the tickets the night of the concert. Where would we be? Row 20 on the floor! The view was good for floor seats. I did not have any tall people in front of me and the line of sight stayed clear most of the night. this show seemed to have a higher energy level then the first show. One reason for the high level of energy was the World Series game. The Phils score was updated by a "Vegas Showgirl" with a large sign. The crowd went nuts everytime she came out. The Phils won just to add to a good night. I did not have the camera for this show. The key was enjoyment! Overall, two great shows! Thanks to Andy and Charlie. It was unforgetable! Thanks also goes out to the Spectrum for all the memories through the years.

This is a Test

I am testing out the perfect seat for the season! The pictures are from a recent wet ride on the Wissahickon Watershead trail.

Super Heroes and a Care Bear

The Super heroes are getting ready to fight crime and collect candy!

The Care bear not looking to happy

The great pumpkin also made an appearance!

Wonder woman is ready to fly off in her invisable jet! Will the candy fit on the way home?

His muscles were not that big in the above picture!

They are off to collect their candy. Halloween 2009 was a success!

Clearing to Fall Colors

After three days of rain it was nice to see some color in the woods!

Get the firewood!

She looks good on the tractor. Meg and PawPaw were busy doing work with the tractor!

What a Weekend

Sat. started a little wet like many weekends have here lately. I really was feeling the need to mountain bike so the Rig was the order of the day. I headed for the trails of Valley Forge to change things up some. The rain was light and I had the trails to myself.

Some of the trails are cut into the side of a hill and get very tech and fun! If you go off to the right you will take a tumble to the water! The 29in. wheels really get a ton of grip in the wet conditions. The difference between 29 and 26 wheeels in the wet is HUGE!

At the top of the above picture is a railway line. On different sections you will see bits of the railroad.

I also went through this tunnel to get to the next trail.

Sunday was a trip to White Clay to do some "research" for the school trail. I am in need of some bridges at school so I took some photos of the great work the trail builders did at White Clay.

With perfect weather and trail conditions the Superfly was the order of the day. I love this bike. It FLYS!

Did I mention perfect trails! WOW!

This last picture is from one of my favorite spots at White Clay. I have taken the same picture before minus the color on the tree!

The kids got some skills!

On a recent trip to Pawpaw's pump track Luke was really lovin the table top

I love the way he is looking forward to the jump as he comes out of the turn.

Just look at the effort to get into the air!

This is to payoff of the above effort! Check out that style! Thanks again to PawPaw and Grammy for letting us build on the property!

envy

Meg Starts Pre-School

Meg has had a good start to her school this year. These pictures are from the meet the teacher day with mommy and her first day on her own. Check out the shoes!

Luke Goes to School

Luke has made me one proud dad with the way he has started kindergarden. He has handled the full day like a champ. Being a teacher you have a different perspective then some when your own chird goes to school. You have a different way of looking at the school and the teachers. An example is when the principal came on the TV to talk to the parents at back to school night. She proceeded to tell parents about PSSA scores (standardized testing) and how well the district has done on the tests. Thats great, but, just take care of my kid and teach him what he needs to become successful. Anyway, sorry for the rant! I am so proud of you Luke! Keep up the good work.

Philly

Look at him GO!

White Clay Morning

beauty

Ride Time with the Dogg

Valley Green Volume 2

Great ride with Luke in the trails. He rode uphill for about a mile to get to the trail. We then tackled two sections of trail and he wanted to go back for more. Not bad for 5!

Valley Green Times Volume 1

Went on a great hike with Meg. It was nice to spend the one on one time with her. The secret trail was our choice!

Over The Hills and Through The Woods

First let me say that I loved the times I spent with my grandparents as a young child. I have very fond memories! We watched The Price is Right( love it), played in the shed in the backyard, helped in the garden, and explored in the stream at the side of the property. These memories will stick with me forever and I would not change it for the world.

Lets fast forward to the present and talk about Luke and Meghan's Pawpaw and Grammy. The kids get to do all the "normal" grand childern stuff with them. Grammy makes the kids favorite foods and PawPaw takes the kids on tractor rides. Over the past two days they have taken a step towards the Grandparent Hall of Fame. After taking a drive to the Chambersburg pumptrack they said I think we should build our own pumptack on the property. WHAT!? You heard me right! So check out these pictures of the Wellsville Pumptrack built by Daddy, Luke, and most importantly PawPaw.

"You mean we have to build it". This is what the site looked like at the start.

Luke and I started to move some heavy rocks that would help support our berms! The Kabota is one of the tractors used in the build.

PawPaw would get to use the best toy of all! Special thanks to Mert for the use of his skidloader!

Once PawPaw got used to the loader he was moving dirt and I was shaping and tamping! Here we go!

Having a skidloader made the job go alot faster then I thought it would. This photo was taken a few hours after we started moving dirt and the lower half of the track is taking shape.

As we finished the lower portion a TEST PIOLET appeared out of no where! He was a pretty good rider! Notice he has changed out of his work clothes. He was in ride mode now.

Day one of work was in the books and we had 3/4 of the track done and all the rest of the dirt in place to finish in the morning. Pretty lucky kid in that photo!

Early on day two the track was in and the riding had begun. In the above picture Luke is going over a small table top jump/roller. Check out those turns!

Luke taking a short rest in the top section of the track! Yes, that is a burn pile in the middle! Yes, it is on fire! No, he did not ride into it!

Coming out of the biggest turn on the track Luke was practicing his jumping on the table top. Check out the face!! Charlie have you ever gotten that kind of air?

PawPaw thinking I hope he doesn't hit that tree!

Not many grandfathers are trying this! Check out that style, it just goes for miles!
The look on his face says it all! Luke was on cloud nine! Grammy and PawPaw words really cannot express how much it means to me that you would do this for the kids. Know that you have created a place were these kids will return to long after the track itself is gone. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!