Morgan and Transrockies

So, if you read my blog, you probably read Lauren’s blog and you are aware that Morgan is off in Canada on a MTB adventure of epic proportions. I am glad you read Lauren’s blog because it is funny and has pictures and is all around an entertaining good time. I just wanted to also add that they are doing great and I am really glad for them. Results from Stage 4 of 7 have them in 19th place in their age group – out of about 70 entrants.

Considering how the trip started, I would say they are improving steadily. Morgan was leaving on a Wednesday and it ended up that I was off work that day so I offered to take him to the airport. It turned out that he also needed help packing since he fractured his wrist and was behind because of that and because of work duties piled on at the last minute. Lauren was out of town as well further emphasizing the helplessness. Here is an anxious text I got that morning:

Help me this am? Frantic. Need bike box pickup, ink paper, hit one or two stores on way to sf, pick up MB, then SFO.

I called Morgan, got the scoop (I still don’t know what ink paper is as we never got it – JK, he forgot a comma) and was off to Mike Hardy’s house to pick up the bike box. After failing a spatial relations pop quiz, I finally got that thing in the car and headed up to Morgan’s. Morgan was still working on work work so I played with Liberty for a while before finally admitting there were better things to do. Took the roof rack off the Land Cruiser. Put said rack on side of house. Dropped some pieces in the leaves. Found the pieces. Told Morgan I was worried that I did not know where the pieces came from. He could not have cared less. Back to the garage and open bike box. Measure bike box. Measure Morgan’s bike – holy crap. Decide it may just fit. Morgan comes down and we disassemble bike. Does not fit. Morgan calls Left Coast and inquires about getting an alternate bike box. Remove more parts – looks ok. Pack copious amounts of spare parts and tools and get those in the box too:



Attempt to close box – no go. Remove more parts – still not working. Morgan wants to get the box from Left Coast but I persuade him there is no time and we will have to make our current box work. I figure out we can rotate the frame and get it in a better position – unpack box, rotate frame, repack box. Looks good. Lid on – squeeze, squeeze, pull, push, curse – success. Box closed and weighing 300 pounds, almost. It is now about 11:20am and we were meant to pick up Matthias in SF at 11:45 (Morgan still wanted to go to REI but I had to tell him there was no way to do that on this Planet Earth given the current restraints of space and time and, well simple physics). Morgan goes to shower and shave. I take out the trashes and give the stray cat some food (eep, hope that was ok). We get Morgan’s duffel and carry on downstairs, load the box on the roof, strap it down and we are off to Montclair. Morgan dumps me at the bike shop where I pick up a spare crank. He dashes off to the camera store to pick up a new camera and case. It is about Noon now and I tell Morgan he had better call Matthias. We call Matthias and dash back to the car and are on our way to SF. Morgan nearly rolls the car at the 13/24 junction – cruising. Busted FasTrak receiver works – looking good. Exit, dang, funeral procession. Matthias has been calling a lot. Morgan illegally calls him without his hands being free and assures him we are close. Finally get to the meeting spot but over look Matthias. Go around block – get Matthias and duffel, bike box and backpack. Off to SFO. I am in the back repacking Morgan’s carry on to fit all his gadgets and trying not to throw up from car sickness. We miss the SFO exit due to some crazy panic over the Domestic v. International terminal and have to circle back. We pull up to the curb and unload. I shove Morgan’s new crank down in his duffel – I hope that didn’t rip anything – and they are off. I drive the car back to Morgan’s, have an encounter with the cat lady, take the puppy out to pee, drop the keys off, and get in my car (feeling very small after the Land Cruiser) to head home. A restful day off indeed.