We Summit Once Again

This sunny Sabbath afternoon we rode up Emigration Canyon with our biking brother Kim.  As we have done some many times before on our bikes, we summited Little Mountain together, but this time our means of conveyance was four wheeled.  There were several poignant moments.  One was Kim’s simple refutation “that’s a lie” to something the Big Man said.  Then, as we traveled towards the last bend before the summit, there was golden glint of the late afternoon sunlight reflected from Kim’s smile as he gazed upon the Salt Lake Valley--where many of his fond memories of meaningful events in his life were made.  A photo op at that top of Little Mountain that the boys planned was nearly thwarted because Hale forgot his smart phone.  It does not matter how smart the electronic device is if the operator is challenged.  But alas, Big Man, in his inimitable and gregarious way, imposed upon a young buck who just summited the mountain with his biking brothers and asked him if he would spare a moment to memorialize on his phone camera a picture of brothers who once summited that mountain together on their bikes when they were younger and stronger.  We shall never forget the respectful manner in which the young man took the picture, recognizing the dire circumstances of a veteran biker.  Without hesitation, he took the picture and sent it to us, a token of charity towards complete strangers that will forever be remembered as we gaze upon the image that he made.  On the way home Kim became anxious.  To comfort him, we told him that Vicki was waiting for him at home.  Though his memory was clouded by medication, causing his mind to wander hither and yon from time to time, with a surety in his voice that can only be forged from a lifetime of love and commitment, he declared: “I know she is”.  Not much was said during the journey, but much was felt as many tears were shed traveling to the summit and back, listening to Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Seals and Croft and John Denver.  Before returning, a stop was made at the fire station so that Wood could fetch tissue to hide evidence of a tender moment shared together.  Vicki, thank you for sharing him with us.

Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote in the summation of the longing for adventure Ulysses surely must have felt while living a sedentary life on the Isle of Ithaca, after a lifetime of perilous adventures:

         

                      It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,       

                      And see the great Achilles, whom we knew

                      Though much is taken, much abides; and though

                      We are not now that strength which in old days

                      Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;

                      One equal temper of heroic hearts,

                      Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

                      To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

May we all strive, seek and find all life has to offer and never yield to all the curves balls life throws at us.  

WE LOVE YOU KIM!    

PCRs Continue to Grow in Numbers

This week was a good week for recruiting additional riders to the PCRs. Big Man is happy to announce a new rider, Cora Sue Wood, 6 lbs 12ozs, 21". She looks forward to joining us as soon as she can.... :-)

The other BIG recruitment was Prez Hale in convincing the young ladies seen below to also join the PCRs. Way To Go Hale! Working with the Young Single Adults over the last 3 years has made you a rider we all want to follow.

YIPPY SKIPPY

Cora Sue Wood 

~Congrats Kari and Joey~

"I promise you can lead the ride at your own pace and the rest will follow closely behind"

3rd Annual - Trains & Bikes with your Buddies

Yesterday was another great ride for the PCRs. Big Man was determined to show his biking buddies what a scenic ride it is in the spring along the foothills of the Utah County snow capped mountains. The 1st success was getting to the the train station with 22 mins to spare. After last year, Big Man was NOT going to miss the train again. As always, the PCRs were quick to make new friends and invited their NBFF, Carly, to join them for breakfast.

After arriving in Orem, some of the older riders (all of us) needed a potty stop, 2nd success, and so Big Man took them to his home away from home, SimTek Fence.  The ride finally started the and the journey began. At the 1st summit, Mr. T gave the TATS (Thought At The Summit), and in the spirit of the Irish, since Prez. Hale had just visited Ireland last week, Mr. T shared the following, in an Irish accent.... TOO FUNNY!

“Nodding the head does not row the boat”.

“When you marry your mistress, you create a job vacancy.”

“The Irish don't know what they want and are prepared to fight to the death to get it.”

“A man in love is incomplete until he has married, then he is finished.”

The 3rd success was getting to Alpine as a TEAM, where Mr. T suggested he leave a little early, while little man repaired a flat. We're not sure if Mr. T intentionally let the air out to get a head start on the big climb over SunCrest, but we do know next time you leave early, take someone that knows the way. As the the remaining riders rode quickly to catch Mr. T and Prez Hale, they got to the summit and NO Mr. T/Prez Hale.  Thinking they had reached the top and keep going, they raced down the hill, not knowing that Prez Hale had once again be personally challenged with directions. Mr. T, we're glad you had access to a map to find your way home... 

The 4th success was hooking-up with the BIGGER MAN, Dave Robbins, 5 times LOTOJA. Big Man thought he was a good draft. Dave, thanks for joining the older guys.

 Before jumping on the train, don't forget your luggage

 We're ready to ROCK N ROLL

 "Young lady, are these old guys causing a problem?"

 So this is where the Big Man works

 Great Vistas

 Big Man & Bigger Man

As we all enjoy this Easter weekend, I share words from Prez Hale. 

Happy Easter!  Easter is on one of my favorite Christian “feast days”—those days on which we give joyous celebration of historical events that occurred in Jesus’ life.  In commemoration of the day of his resurrection this morning I read the 19^th and 20^th chapters of St. John in which is recounted the death and resurrection of Jesus.  John’s statement in the 31^st verse of the 20^th Chapter struck me.  He wrote: “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”   What better proof could be offered to a skeptical mind than an eyewitness account of someone who saw Jesus crucified, the soldier stab Jesus with a spear, and then saw Him alive on the third day.  Jesus’ resurrection is tangible evidence of the divinity of his mission.  Often times the significance of that fact is overlooked.

It's great to know that when we fall, which Mr. T and Big Man can tell you how it hurts even when coming to a stop, WE WILL ALL RIDE AGAIN!

YIPPY SKIPPY 

Two of our favorite PCRs had to miss the ride as they continue to train "new missionaries". 

How to Ditch a Slower Rider

Today's ride taught us some very important lessons:

- Make sure the OLDER riders know where the correct park is, "NO, we are riding to Affleck Park, NOT George Washington Park."
- If the Big Man wants to chat with everyone on the road, it is probable best for him to get a 30 minute head start or ditch him on the way down the hill after you reach the summit
- If you're the slowest rider and like to talk a lot, make sure there is a NEW PCR that hasn't heard your stories yet and is willing to stay with you just to hear the stories you have told the other riders many times. (Dan Kaelberer, you da the man)

YIPPY SKIPPY

 You older riders, and you know who you are.... This is the sign at Affleck Park and like it says, even the pioneers didn't like to meet here. Really, Affleck Park vs George Washington Park????

 Dr. Richards, you must have worked on these guys teeth...... GREAT SMILES!

Here is the view you missed, you OLDER GUYS!

7 To Heaven & Oola

Yesterday's ride was a test to see how much we have lost since last season, and for some, A LOT. We did our favorite, 7 To Heaven, which is 7 major hills before you get to heaven, (Little Mtn)  Wood felt inspired, as he often does, to share the 7 Fs of Oola, the "state of awesomeness".  When your life is balanced and growing in the 7 key areas of life, you have Oola. So Wood told the gang to keep summiting the 7 hills to learn how to live in Oola, The only bad thing was, he forgot one of the 7 Fs, and you should have heard all the different suggestions..... (Fitness, Finance, Family, Field, Faith, Friends and Fun)

One of the rides was heard to say, "if you don't remember all 7 Fs, why in the world do we have to ride all 7 hills, let's just do 6." Wood reminded the group that Fitness and Faith are KEY, so quit complaining and keep riding....

Has anyone seen Wood, we are waiting to hear what the final and 7th F of Oola is.....

YIPPY SKIPPY

PCRs Head South for the Weekend

The “Big Man” has been given a new handle, not as a replacement, but to be used, on an “AS NEEDED” basis.  All of us must share condolences with Jodi Ann Wood.  Fortunately for the PCR Team member who might consider sharing a room in the future with the “Big Man” aka “Bunkie”, you may wish to reconsider after you listen to the attached recorded message. (Unable to post)  Thanks go to Mr. Bruner for recording “Bunkie” at 2:30 AM on Friday the 20^th of February, in his and Bunkie’s SHARED hotel room.

As for the ride, the list of flat tires is long.

1 - Hale    

1 - Bruner

1 - Romney (note clean hands)

3 - Bunkie  (see the video)

Gents & Ladies, keep the rubber side down and we look forward to the next ride.

(Hale had some comments to make and I guess we will have to wait a while to read his prologue. I'm afraid, as most attorneys are, his is going to be a little long and I'm not sure you can believe everything he will tell us. Ok, better late then ever. I'll let you be the judge if my above statement is true or not)

The PCR’s trip to St. George this year was one of several firsts.  It was the first time any of us saw the Big Man embarrassed.  He bunked with Craig Bruner (bad judgment Bruner).  At 2 a.m. the first night, after a Public Service announcement was broadcast of gale-force winds emanating from room 107 of the Claridge Inn, Bruner discovered it was really Wood snoring.  Bruner, exercising great restraint by not murdering the bag of hot air, vigorously shook Woody, and in the morning Bruner gave him an ultimatum: “Scott it is you or me, but I am not going to stay in the same room with you for two nights.  Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice shame on me.”

Word of the disaster spread quickly among the PCRs long before Wood could beg another fellow rider to bunk up with him.  He was banished from the St. George area the next night and had to spend the next evening at Doc. Richards home.  We hope that his insurance premiums were paid up.  Jodi, do you have any secrets for coping with the noise (both while he is sleeping and when he is not)?

At breakfast the first day Big Man was confronted with his snoring problem.  All he could do was blush with embarrassment.  But not shame.  He immediately went to work asking others to bunk up with him, but mysteriously everyone only had one bed.

The second first, was a record number of flat tires a single member of the PCRs had in one day.  And the winner is: the Big Man.  Three flats in one day.  The saintly Tony Romney stuck by Woody until the third flat, which happened within two hours into the ride.  At that point Tony was pushed to the end of his patience and abandoned Woody and the gang.

The third first, was the pleasure of having Greg Hawker join the PCRs for an overnighter.  We hope he was not too offended by the childish hijinks and high testosterone of the likes of Lloyd, Bruner and Hawks.

The fourth first, was that Bruce Jensen was heard to whine a bit.  Could it be that Hale is wearing off on Jensen?

“We went everywhere, man, we went everywhere.  Crossed the deserts bare, man, we breathed the mountain air, man.  Travel, we had our share, man, we went everywhere.  We saw Snow Canyon, Veyo, Gunlock, Santa Clara, Leeds, Sand Hollow Reservoir, Hurricane, La Verkin, and Toquerville .”  (In case you did not know young Cory the foregoing is a variation on Johnny Cash’s song “I’ve Been Everywhere”.)  We discovered Veyo pies.  Some think it was Lloyd’s conspiracy to introduce the PCRs to that wonderful purveyor of pastries to cause his brothers more trouble with shedding their winter coats.  The weather was great and the company could not have been better, except, of course, if we could just figure out how to get a lot less hot air out of the Big Man!

Keep the rubber side down, but not flat! 

YIPPY SKIPPY 

When riding with the PCRs it's key to stop and meet some of the locals

 PCRs love to "feed" and "ride" like horses

Fueling is KEY!

 Ok, say the 6th word on this sign 6 times as fast as you can.....  Mr. T is really good at it.. :-)

 Mystery Fans???  

(Woody's former hometeacher and the sister of a P-1 bishop)

I'll let you guess who the reverent riders are?? 

Best Bed & Breakfast 

in the State

Some don't like to get their hands messy when changing flats.... 

HOW MANY ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE??

Romneys,  and you thought your place in Carmel is quaint... 

Check out where we're staying next time

Road Bikes are designed for riding on the ROAD!

Today's ride started off a little cool. When we woke up it was 22 degrees, but we're glad to say that by 9 am, it did get a little warmer, 25 degrees. When the eVite went out, replies came in saying the proposed ride was "TOO earlier, TOO cold and TOO long." However, as all PCRs rides/adventures go, they are never TOO boring.

As we all know, riding bikes makes us act younger and sometimes we lose common sense. The first picture is next to a young girl, to remind us that biking is for the young at heart. The following two pictures are reminders that when leading, the shortest distance back to the trail is not always a straight line.  I know now what the rest of you must feel like when Wood is leading and says, "Just Trust Me" 

YIPPY SKIPPY

 "I thought it was cold enough that the mud would be frozen"

First of TWO stops to wash the bikes down. Note Mr. Ed in the back ground