Day: May 15, 2011

The Hunt for The Lost Toys

/ chollaball / 2 Comments

I was tossing my empties from a dog ride in the dumpster at Westworld, when I found it filled with the better part of someone’s backyard.   Some people in Scottsdale have never heard of the  Goodwill store.

I did not go out with the intention of dumpster-diving, but I can’t resist something free and in good shape. Ok, not good shape, but good-enough shape to have an adventure. So I stashed some toys, and formulated a plan.

This is about the 6th time Kila and I have picked the girls up from school this way. Our new ritual. We’ve heretofore gone home via the Hill Park and the Library, giving the kids a chance to raise hell before settling in for the night.

They love it, immediately look for snacks, and wonder what adventure is in store

I showed them the map, and said we’d start at the fountain where Kila gets water. G knew what I meant, and almost new how to get there from school. Alana played along.

1.5 mile approach

consulting the map at the Westworld TH.

across the parking lot, down between the hills, under a tree…

someone else out playing with their kids

The Fishbowl

/ chollaball / 1 Comment

A cool guy named Fish built a pump track in his backyard. Thursdays are party nights. I finally visited when shopping for the Malice, to try some other bikes and a different track. The crowd is mostly from Cactus Bikes near Somo, since Fish is a mechanic there and lives in the neighborhood. Cactus is a premiere shop, but somewhere i’ve never shopped, with Rage just down the street.   I knew a bunch of the regulars from here and there, more of a DH\FR crowd that I rarely ride with, but I showed up with a 6 pack and fit right in. I’m good like that.

The Fishbowl is very different from the big moves at Rage. Its all about rhythm and speed, so everything is smaller except for one bowl at the end, which is setup to allow 2 options and passing.

Fish is a great guy, with a 4-yr old boy, and if you get there early before the party turns much more adult, its a kid-fest, with a track that is kid friendly and a yard full of kid toys!

The first time I brought G, I brought Fish a bottle of Bacardi Anejo. Welcoming   a new friend into the party is one thing, letting me bring my monster is an entirely different level of hosting.

She did at least 50 laps, undismayed by a couple hard falls, blowing everyone’s minds with her energy and her stoke. Hi I’m chollaball, and this is Hurricane G. When she wasn’t knocking out laps on a track suited to tinyRiders, she was playing with new children and new toys. I had to drag her away. She kept asking for a week when we could return. I couldn’t wait either. Everyone there had kids, and kept eyes out for all the others, and yielded to all riders smaller than 4 feet. At moments I’d jump on and maybe get 3 good laps before some child or another would break all rules of traffic safety, but there was so much happiness and laughter no one minded.

By her second visit she was a pro, stayed out of the big bowl, and barely fell. There was a birthday party being held, and G sang and had cake and rode with a new friend. I got some tips for getting over the front wheel and looking at the exit as soon as i enter a turn. Excellent times.