Watching the snow fall from the hot tub in Texas... who'd a thunk it :)

you guys are from Canada and you let a little snow keep you off the trail? Isn't that like me (from Texas) going to Canada to ride, but not going because it is too hot?

I think I might be able to make about 2 miles on the Ouachita trail on a bike before passing out. I have hiked that one a few times and that was somewhat of a Challenge itself. I hike it once by myself (28 miles in one day) and the other times were with Wayne. Very cool trail!

e

Hi ep! Good to see you on the 'blog.

How many times do I have to tell you Texans that it doesn't snow in Vancouver!! Anyway, I still think that snow wouldn't stop us, BUT, it's the people here who get mad at you for chewing up the trail if you ride when it's muddy.

We've never been on the Ouachita trail or the Womble trail. Now you're scaring me. Why would you only make it 2 miles? You went ~8 miles that day at Northshore!

As I said, I have only hiked the Ouachita and you can ask Wayne how far he could make it on a bike. I would be surprised if he said more than 10 feet. Actually, I want to be there when you tell him that you plan to ride the Ouachita. Seriously though, the Ouachita is a 250 mile trail so I am sure that some parts of it are extemely ridable, just not the portion we rode. I have got a great book on the Ouachita trail if you guys want to borrow it.

As far as the Womble goes, I have done that one too. Gibby and I got a wild hair and went to ride that one. It was quite the bitch too. Not too much fun, as the hills were too much work and the downhills too short. It was true MOUNTAIN biking. We did find a great trail though near there. I will have to find out what the name of it was. It has a great huge spring fed pool in the parking lot that was incredible after riding. After our ride we drove on to Memphis to play in an Ultimate tournament and I dislocated my shoulder and tore my biceps tendon in the first game of the day. I should have stayed on the bike trail!

e

We already told Wayne we were riding it! He said, "Oh yeah, I hiked that, it's a cool trail" that's all. Big Gulp is doing the Challenge ride too. Well, maybe we are on the easier part because I can't imagine an extreme ride for 60 miles.

What do you mean by you and Gibby "got a wild hair"? Must be some hash thing. Or some Texas thing!

yeah, i think i told you i wouldn't want to ride that thing, as it would be kinda a bitch. but we were in the mountains and stuff. it's a long trail, and i'm not sure if they allow bikes on all the parts we hiked, some of it not bike friendly at all.

anyway, it's better you than me trying to ride 60 miles and all, i haven't ridden at all in probably almost 2 years, so i know i would die out there.

Where is there snow in Texas? My 8-yr. old son is visiting me for eleven days, starting on December 22nd, and he would like to see some snow. I am willing to go to the snow, but not being a native Texan, I don't know where there is any. Can you give me some ideas where upon there might be snow for my son to see?

Hi Susan. The snow I talked about in this entry, was in Dallas. If you are in Dallas you might be lucky and get some snow - we have had a tiny bit every year since we've been here, usually around Christmas. But I don't think you can depend on it!

I think your best bet would be to go either north or west. Somewhere in Arkansas or Oklahoma where there are mountains, there might be snow. Also I know there are ski hills in New Mexico that have been open since Thanksgiving, so you might check and see if any of those are close enough for you to get to over the holidays. Sorry, I'm not a native Texan either, so I don't know any more than that.