Off Season in Full Effect
I’m not one full week into not riding the device that is not to be mentioned. I’m getting past that stiff feeling of my muscles contracting in recovery and heading into the full on feeling laziness that comes with sloth likeness. Sunday after the long drive home from Clear Springs, we went out for pizza and beers….Tuesday was out with a few of the neighbors for dinner and beers….last night I did go the Beltline Study Group meeting was productive…tonight it’s off the our neighbor, Dan Willis’, art showing to have some culture thrust upon us and of course the free wine 
The Beltline Study Group meeting was part of much bigger project to create perimeter of green space and a trolley around Atlanta. I think this idea is about 20 year late, but good on these folks for pushing in through. There is still resistance of course, but this city needs this in such a bad way. The meeting last night was about the redevelopment of an area just south of our place that includes a large park which could include among other amenities some single track.
There were 5 of us there representing the mtb community including Tom Tomaka, the SORBA ATL pres and Bruce Dickman, race announcer and all around get’er done kind of guy. These two make a good team whether they know it or not. Tom is a little more thoughtful and even soft spoken at times, but he diplomatic and understands the process of working with a land manager such as the City of Atlanta plus he has the patience to work with such a slow moving bureaucracy. Bruce is brash and many time abrasive, but he’ll lean on someone until they get what it he is after done. His heart is in the right place as he is all about having trails built in Atlanta and beyond. He is a connector to steal a term from the book Tipping Point. He knows everyone and everyone knows him. I don’t think the two of them have this two pronged attack planned, but I can see it being very effective and it gives me hope that there will be legal trails being cut in Atlanta with in the next year.
The art showing this evening should be interesting. Dan Willis was one of the first neighbors we met here at M-West….I think he is the first neighbor everyone meets, he’s just that way. He’s a great guy to drink a beer or four with and discuss the worlds issues….especially politics. We are on the opposite ends of the spectrum on politics, yet we can are able to have conversations about the issues of the day without it turning to useless drivel….at least in our opinions. I enjoy his company. The funny thing is that I have only seen one pieces of his work. We have talked about it and how he came to be an artist, so it will be cool to finally see what he does. Stop by the showing if you are in the area….
Eddie O