Monday, November 08, 2010

Journeys: Sugarloaf Part Deux

This one is more for the archives than anything else. My blogging has fallen off in the last two months and I am trying to do some recollecting. Although this post is listed before "The Last Day of Climbing" post, I believe it actually happened after that post, but do not remember.

I do remember that Kristin and I made a trip up to Sugarloaf thinking we would be bathed in warm sun all day, but soon found out that we would be huddled close to the crag staying out of the biting wind.

I just remembered how the end of the day went. We had climbed numerous routes despite the cold and the crowd of PATC climbers that had rolled in throughout the morning. After we had had enough of the chilly weather and were on our way out something remarkable happened.

There was a loud crash a few routes uphill from where we had packed up. The noise was followed by a continuous spray of expletives and moans from a climber who had been dropped by his belayer.

It looked liked the climber, who may have been leading, came off the rock a few feet off the ground expecting the belayer to put the brakes on, but it never happened. Instead the belayer, not moving once, looked down at the climber and simply said, "I pulled down man, it didn't work."

Luckily for all of us there were no broken bones and the climber was able to transport himself under his own power.

Wishing for a bit of warm sun on a chilly Seven Wishes.
Photograph by KRMG.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Rides: Patapsco

I took a spin on the ol' XXIX last Saturday on the Avalon trails. It was my first ride since my longvacation from home. It felt great to mash the single gear until my body was thrashed and Mother Nature had spit me back out of her grinder. Fully rigid is more harsh than I remember, but it will just take some getting used to.

Cheers.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Snapshots: Kickoff!

Surprise tickets to the final Ravens home game?!

Yes!

Kickoff!
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Winning made it even better.

31-7 Ravens over the Bears.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Nonsense: Improvements Continue

The Axeman and I have been burning all of our free time at the boat, helping to slowly morph it into a living breathing houseboat organism. One that has a floor to walk on and an engine to propel. Well, we are still working on the engine part, but we did finish the floor this week. Carpeting still to come.

Putting the cross boards in.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Halfway finished.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

All the way finished.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Monday, November 09, 2009

Arsenal: The Houseboat

Yeah, you read the title correctly. Last Wednesday we added a 1970 34' Nautaline to the arsenal of casa de Bolte. Peppered with slight cosmetic damage and a tired old engine the houseboat will be something of a fixer upper, but will no doubt provide good times out in the bay for the next two summers. Check out these pics!

Cashing in!
Photograph by the Axeman.

Got a little Captain in you?
Photograph by the Axeman.

The skipper's chair.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Inside the main cabin from stern to bow.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

The head.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Snapshots: 20 Gallon Tank

The new tank!
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Friday, September 04, 2009

Nonsense: Elvis Has Entered The Building

Wecome to Graceland.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

We have a new addition to the 10 gallon fish tank. His name is Elvis and he is a calico ryukin with a double fan tail and he is the bomb!

Nonsense: You Have To Go Away To Make A Comeback

The last time that I rode a mountain bike on a trail was on March 20th, 2008. According to timeanddate.com that comes out to be 533 days, which is far to long for someone who has a blog title "The Single Speed Storm Trooper" to not have ridden his single speed mountain bike.

My "comeback" started at the ever familiar Patapsco State Park, which as not too familiar considering I got incredibly lost in the first 30 minutes and wound up in Rockburn. After some informative hikers set me straight, I pedaled around the trails for another two hours before coming out of the woods back at the Catonsville park and ride.

All in all it was a great day to be in the woods on the bike. I missed riding these last 533 days and look forward to being more proactive about my favorite hobby.

Here's to a comeback.

Getting back to the basics.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Snapshots: Warped Tour 2009!

Warped Tour 2009 pictures taken on the camera phone!

CHIODOS.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Flogging Molly.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Bayside.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Snapshots: Baltimore

Been out and about in Charm City these past few weeks enjoying good weather and good times. Wanted to publish a few photos from around the city to show off the skyline.


The typical "Harbor from Fed Hill" shot.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.


Panorama from La Tasca.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.


An orange moon hangs over Tide Point.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.