Being a master of multi-purpose gear, I’m always thinking of how much value I can get out of every item purchased. So when it came to extending my riding season through the winter, I knew I was going to have to bite the bullet on studded tires. It was either going to hurt my bank balance or suck up hours of my time. However, I figured that having reliable traction on snow and ice was better than looking like a three-legged cat trying to bury its own scat on a frozen pond.

While hanging out in Santa Cruz we stumbled upon Spook-Fest. Designed as a crash course for equestrians and their horses to prepare for the dynamics of trail riding, the event is organized by the Santa Cruz County Horsemen’s Association. It was really by accident that we even heard about SpookFest. Basically, we showed up for the Saturday morning group ride led by MBoSC (Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz) and the rest is history.

With a week off from talking trails, we found ourselves in tourist mode. Our last visit in Arnold was not too far from Yosemite National Park so we pointed the IMBAru in that direction. Rain kept us sightseeing in the car on the first day as we drove from viewpoint to viewpoint. Thankfully, we awoke to bluebird skies on the second day and shouldered small packs to climb to the top of Yosemite Falls.

Our Trail Care Crew visit was another piece of the puzzle for the Arnold Rim Trail Association. As a well organized and highly effective volunteer committee, the ART folks have great vision for the development of an awesome trail system. Their primary goal is to establish a 30+ mile loop that connects the communities of Arnold and Avery. With a third of the plan complete, the committee continues to move ahead. One key to their success is the great relationship they have fostered with their local USFS land manager.

Life on the road as a Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew classifies as anything but normal. Our Monday is Thursday; Friday is Monday; and we never spend too many days in the same place. We give presentations in lodges, libraries, and even the pizza joint in the local mall. We’re a mix between trail evangelists and a low budget lounge act; ready in a flash with our portable laptop and fold-up movie screen.

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.

When I found the info regarding the trails in the Arcata Community Forest, I laughed when I discovered it was described as “MTBing into a huge salad bowl”. I couldn’t have described it better myself. The salad starts with ferns, features ancient redwoods, and rounds out with some fun singletrack.