Tag Archives: Nashwaak River

Dog Bite

Sunday morning Dirt Church solo ride. Early morning a small black bear jumped out and ran in front of me on the trail for about 100 metres before jumping in the bushes. I thought it was a cub, and waited for others or Mama to pass, but after I stopped, made a ridiculous amount of noise talking to them, no one else materialized, so maybe he was actually a young bachelor bear returning from a rough night and wasn’t sure which way home was. Well, we’ve all been there. It was a tough day for handlebar accessories. First my @quadlockcycle mount stripped (probably due to my OCD over tightening) then, on a particularly bumpy and rocky downhill section, the silencing arm of my Incredibell Trail Bell that was Death Star customized, seems to have flown off. I didn’t notice at first as I had the Beastie Boys’ ‘Check Your Head’ bumping in the Air Pods. After going back and searching for like 15 minutes, I couldn’t find it and gave up. It was a long downhill. So much carnage in one ride.

Ride the Sun Up

Got out for the usual weekend ride. Some beavers had felled a tree across the trail, so I followed their drag marks down to the river and sat there for a bit. Took a bunch of pictures at few minute intervals of the same ridge of trees trying to catch the sun lighting them up. Did some yoga and stretching in-between. The little white speck in the bottom left corner of the photos that looks like dirt is a reflection of the Moon in the river. Then basically followed the sun coming up down the Nashwaak River to the Saint John before meeting up with Titus for a trip out to Oromocto and back. Post-ride root beer in the Clubhouse was sublime.

Universal Truth #1,437: when you are chasing the sun coming up down the Nashwaak River to its confluence with the Saint John, it really doesn’t matter that you never get to know who wins. (Note: Your results may vary. Can be applied to other rivers, trails, alleys. Test on a piece of scrap wood to ensure desired results. Offer not valid with any other offer. Proof of purchase required. Don’t try this at home, use only in a well ventilated area and only under hip-hop supervision. -Ed.)

Preferred Seating

Got a new packable camp chair. So I headed out to test it. I tested it for over an hour at this very spot. I slipped off my Crocs and put my bare feet in the cool dirt while sitting in this chair. It felt nice – I felt, connected. The wind blew nicely in the trees as the sun went in and out of the clouds. The Nashwaak River sparkled. A whole flock of Canada Geese came in and landed down in the field and hung out for a bit. Until a person and a dog came walking along. Then there was copious honking. Then the dog went for ‘em and they all took off. Silly dogs. Two different Bald Eagles circled over head – one so close I was kinda freaked out – then they wafted to and fro on the winds and headed up river effortlessly. Yup, chair works pretty good.

Scattered

Thoughts all over the place and kept hitting roadblocks with work, so went out to spin the wheels in the oppressive heat to reset things. They’re putting a subdivision in on the ridge behind my house that overlooks the river flats. Some folks will have some very nice – albeit probably pricey – views. Kind of bums me out that the woods I’ve rolled around in for years will soon be populated. Fully aware of my hypocrisy, it bums me out see them mulching full grown trees to clear lots. Sigh. Progress.