Brandon Santini and Delta Highway playing Mr. Handy’s Blues Hall on Beale Street. We had a mission when we reached Memphis tonight; dinner at the Blues City Cafe and live music (blues of course). We found both.

Mountain Pedaler bike shop has a special place in our hearts. It opened about the same time we moved to Eagle, Colorado in 1999. We actually took part in the first shop ride (it was the two of us and the owner, Charlie Brown). Eleven years later the shop is still there and one of the most loved shops in Eagle County (next to Mountain Pedaler in Minturn…).

Watch out for Ruidoso, NM – they are poised to be a GREAT mountain biking destination in the near future.

Chris helps Steve and Morgan ‘zero out’ on their inclinometers. A ‘clino’ is a trailbuilder’s best friend – it helps us measure grade.

After wrapping up our visit in Waco, we pointed the IMBAru towards Colorado and started heading home. As usual, we discussed the weekend’s events and how it may have impacted the people who participated. Strangely enough, later that evening, we received a heartfelt email from Lannie French, one of Cameron Park’s dedicated rangers. Our visit had stirred his thoughts about the people of Waco and their interaction with the park. His reflections were the inspiration for this blog and it is our pleasure to share some of his passion. ..

The Ridge Riders are a great example of a club that has been able to tackle multiple projects while keeping a pulse on the local issues. Through grant writing, events, and trail stewardship they are an integral part of the riding scene throughout the Austin area. We had the pleasure of meeting a few members at the Thursday night social and were impressed by their commitment to enhancing mountain biking in the community. We look forward to hearing about their work in the future.

That afternoon we began our important multi-day journey by discussing the importance of mountain biking to the local community and economy. Sedona is a major tourist destination in Arizona, second only to the Grand Canyon. It’s not the ‘if you build it, they will come’ type of place. They are already here and many of them are mountain bikers. By the end of the day we had the Forest Service, the Verde Valley Cycling Coalition, Friends of the Forest, and others sitting around the table having meaningful conversation.

Just a little over two years ago we set off for New Zealand. We had nothing but two bikes, too much gear, a little money in savings, and each other. Twenty four months and 14 countries later we still find ourselves on the road. Our mode has changed (we drive a Subaru with bikes loaded on the top), but we’re still living the bicycle life. We feel lucky and blessed that the universe has us on this path.

On our travels we get to ride in a lot of cool places. I’d have to say that riding the MRT has created an entirely new category. Lava beds, old growth forests, and cascading waterfalls – these are some of the many highlights along the 26 mile route. It was a day of wonder; riding along beautiful singletrack beneath the shelter of trees that are hundreds of years old. If the moss on the bark could talk, I can only imagine what it would say…