Deluxe Retractable Birdie Bead Scoring System

I Recently improved on my Birdie Beads...

Knocked for a Loop Today...

Today I received probably the biggest surprise I have gotten in a long time....

My in box contained an e-mail from the PDGA with my invitation to the 2013 Amateur Disc Golf World Championships this July in Emporia, Kansas.

I have friends that were expecting to go but I had no idea I had earned enough points. Getting the invite is cool in it's own right. Now I have to decide if I want to go or not. I had to look my name up on the invite list to see what division I qualified for and it's looking like Advanced Grandmasters.

Great Way to Start the Year

Austin and I traveled south to Richmond and teamed up to play the Hangover Dubs Tournament. at Gillies Creek Park.

The morning round we both played good. I was even able to contribute 3 solid tee shots for birdies. We  had no bogeys and were both hitting our putts. I even hit a high sweeping hyzer putt from about 45' to save the birdie.

We ended up at 9 under par. One stroke ahead of the second place team, Allen & Patrick.

The second round didn't go as well in the beginning. We weren't hitting our drives as well and had to make a couple of long putts to either get the birdie or save par. We did have a couple of missteps. On 18 we both gacked our tee shots but Austin made an amazing shot out of the woods to save par. By the middle of the round we were 2 shots behind. Allen & Patrick were really hitting some shots. If one missed the drive the other ended up parking his tee shot for the deuce.

We slowly battled back and with two holes left we were one behind for the round and tied for the lead. On the last hole I throw a low straight shot that skips up about 12' short of the basket. Austin go for the chains and over shoots. The other team's best shot was about 20' behind the basket on a slight uphill grade. They had been making some great putts all day and all they had to do was hit this one to stay tied for the lead. First putt misses wide and the second putt hits the basket. I hit the birdie to tie the round at -6 and a one stroke win finishing at 15 under.

Allen & Patrick played great all day. They were right there all day long and were a fun team to play against.

We won some sweet Prodiscus discs and custom engraved beer glasses. For the first time playing this course I played way above my usual self and hit several great tee shots and long putts.

Rolling Thunder 25

Rolling Thunder has been changing over the last few years. It's as it the National Parks Service is doing everything they can to fuck it up for the riders coming in to D.C.

My first year back in '02 I parked on the side of Constitution right next to Thunder Alley. A few years later we parked in the grass next to the Washington Monument. In '09 & '10 Ken & I parked over by the Memorial bridge right next to the Lincoln Memeorial. Last year that area was blocked off and this year everything was blocked off. I didn't see one area for bike parking anywhere near the parade area.

We ended up parking on 5th & Pennsylvania about 3 blocks away which made all the extra walking hell on our feet.

The other thing was in the past it was an actual constant rumbling of thousands of Harleys rolling down Constitution. THis year they were spaced apart in groups and they ended up spreading out making it seem like Kinda Thunder instead of Rolling Thunder.

And as last year we could not find a way in to the parade route so we could ride to the end lot and make it out of D.C. Instead we had to ride an extra 10 miles in 90° snarling traffic to make it out.

I'm seriously considering riding somewhere else next year.

I was the luckiest fucker in D.C. today....

On the way back to where we parked our bikes I realize I don't have my key on me. Either it's still in the ignition or it fell out of my pocket somewhere on the National Mall. Either way I could be totally fucked. I parked on the open end of our space and anyone walking by could easily see the key and my helmet hanging on the bars. My Sporty was just begging anyone to "Please jump on and take me for a ride".

But luckily for me when we get back to our bikes the Sporty is still there with the key in the ignition.

A Good Day, A Bad Day...

Ken, Mike & I headed to Skyline for the day. For every good thing that happened we seemed to have to endure something bad. The forecast called for mostly sunny and a high around 65. But this morning was overcast and bone chilling cold.

So, on the way to SR 55 we stopped at a Sports Authority to buy an extra sweat shirt and some insulated under gloves. So the stop was just right and the extra gear warmed us right up.

Passing through Haymarket the main road to the SR 55 interchange is blocked for some Fall Festival. No detour direction signs. Just cops sitting in patrol cars that won't give any directions. We had to go a few miles around to get to the interchange that was 100 yards from the blocked road signs.

We get to Front Royal and plan on stopping at the Apple Cider Inn for lunch but it was packed. We then stop at 3B Burgers around the corner. It's a mom & pop burger joint that was very good. As we are eating the road to Skyline is backed up a lot.

We figured it was just heavy traffic.

Around the bend to the entrance of Skyline is backed up about 100 cars and the traffic was heavy all the way to the entrance gates. The Rangers were just waving cars through not charging any visitors just to try and get the traffic moving again. But the clouds broke at this time and the sun came out and warmed up the day a little.

On Skyline it was slow going at the overlooks and very crowded. It wasn't all bad we hit some stretches of good moving traffic and was able to make it to the Sperryville exit with time to spare.

We topped the day off with a stop in Cupleper for a stop at The Stable. We had met a a group of riders from D.C. at 3B's that was planning a ride south like us and I told them about The Stable since they were going through Culpeper too.

We saw them several times along Skyline and as we were heading in for dinner they were across the street checking out some of the other Downtown Culpeper shops.

Operation: Perfect Fuckin' Day

The crisp Fall weather lasted through the weekend so I set out on enjoying that weather to the Max.

Phase 1- Play a round of Disc Golf at Greene County DGC.

Phase 2- Ride Skyline Drive.

Phase 3- Stop by The Stable in Culpeper on the way home to enjoy the best sandwich anywhere.

Operation: Perfect Fuckin' Day was an unqualified success.

A great day for Disc Golf & ridin...

Today was perfection in the making. A cold front came through and temps had dropped from the high 90's to mid- 80's. The sky was blue and is was time to finally hit Skyline Drive.

I usually hit Skyline a few time by now but with all the rain & other rides I haven't been able to ride there. But today changed all that.

And then some.

I strapped the bag 'o golf discs to the back of the Sporty and headed to Strasburg, Virginia to play Signal View Disc Golf Course. This works perfectly for the plan because it will be just a few miles west of Front Royal & Skyline Drive.

Signal View DGC was a great course and after playing I headed out to hit the drive.

Skyline was in perfect form today. I bought my season pass today and the traffic was good today. There were several sections where I didn't see a car for many miles. The AC was on at just the right temp all along the ride through the mountains.

Rolling Thunder XXIV

Rolling Thunder XXIV

Ken & I headed up to Washington D. C. for Rolling Thunder XXIV. We started out in Dumfries, Virginia at East Coast HD to watch the bikes leave from there.

It was really humid today bit the overcast skies helped it from being a scorcher of a day.

Thunder Alley for a couple of hot dogs. Then a walk through the Viet Nam Wall Memorial and the WWII Memorial.

We joined in on the parade after watching the bikes roll through the city. Then the ride home. It was a great day to ride and honor our military veterans.

Disc Golf Ride

I recently began playing disc golf again after a 9 year break.

A little online research and I found a course just outside Standardsville. Greene County Community Park. So I strapped my disc bag to the back of the Sporty and headed out.

It was a beautiful day today. Clear blue skies and 68.

My plan was play the course and then hit Skyline to pick up my season pass for this year. But after the 18 it was almost 4 p.m. and I was a little tired so I headed home. But it wasn't a bad day at all. I rode about 125 miles and played a great course.

Virginia Bike Fest

Ken & I rode down to the Virginia Bike Fest at Virginia Motorsports Park just south of Richmond. It was a little chilly this morning but warmed up nicely. It was a great day to get a day ride in. The Bike Fest had Motorcycle drag racing and during the break anyone could take a run down the track. It didn't go so well for this one...

Winter Project: Mission Accomplished!

A month and $90 later the custom seat for my AirHawk pad is done. It totally changes the look of the Sporty. The old Sundowner seat beat the hell out of the paint on the rear fender. Repaint this Spring is the next project.

Winter Project: Update

Just about got the seat pan done. Smoothed out the metal & filled out the shape with a little body mud. The mounting base plate is ready all that's needed is the mounting brackets that are on the way.

Now it's time to start practicing on sewing the custom cover.

Winter Project: Update

The shape of the seat is just about done. Today was spent smoothing out the metal and working on the small dings that are left. All I need now are the seat mount brackets that are on order.