The Desperate Riders practice

  Finally, a little wind blew from the south and the Desperate Riders Association got a practice session in. The crew showed up in full force, a little rusty from lack of time on the water. Created some spectacular crashes and a even a few new moves thrown in. Really was great to get out and ride a bit before the water starts to cool off. I think we all remembered why we started doing this stuff, then the crazy clouds came in and ruined all the fun. 

  Rain for the 5th day in a row and even the snails are up to their eyeballs looking for a dry place to hang. Funny to watch them squirm and not even leave tracks. It has been years since I sat and watched one slither over rough terrain.

   Even though they travel really slowly when you watch that closely it becomes apparent that they move pretty quickly for their size and mode of transport. Astounding when you think that they are carrying a one bedroom on their back even while climbing the equivalent of Pikes Peak.

  You go little guy, just dont eat my plants!

   So Montana is called big sky country, but there are definitely days when Texas gets short changed in that category. Most of the state is pretty flat so you have a great vantage point and a true 180 degree fishbowl. 

  Looking around you really take notice of the variations that you see. I've seen skies so blue in West Texas that it makes your eyes hurt and the clouds that form with an approaching storm can be everything from cotton balls to great balls of fire. I still get caught off guard once in a while with some crazy new color or pattern that I just haven't noticed.

  Other day, the ozone was kind of heavy and the sun was starting to go down with a pattern of little cotton balls. Shot this one as it appears, no color shifting or any funny computer stuff, just a little underexposure so that the sun wasn't completely blown out.

  Looks like a tobacco filter or something but just straight up mother nature. Still amazing after all these years. Wonder what Im gonna see today.