Christmas Fun for the Young

Click on the Chin Carolers for minutes and minutes of Excellent Under-Age-12 Entertainment.

A few suggestions from Axel, age 8:

12 Days of Christmas

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Deck the Halls

Psycho-X

Our friend Steve Lamont (aka The Dude) encountered a little difficulty while pre-riding the course at Cyclocross Nationals in Bend, Oregon. Apparently they feature extra sharp ice in Bend. He recovered and went on to bravely finish 42nd in the 50-54 Age Class. Good thing he was wearing his Bouré Wooleez socks!

He's not Lebowski, he's the Dude.

So that's what you call him.

That or His Dudeness... Duder... or El Duderino,

if, you know, you're not into the whole brevity thing.

Dudleya Do-Right of the Mazatzals

On a recent trip to the Mazatzal Mountains of Central Arizona, Lisa Bourey (our local native plant expert) came upon this interesting plant which we could not readily identify. Luckily, Arizona native plant expert Peter Geirlach (or Petey Mesquitey to radio listeners in Tucson) quickly helped us identify it as the rare and protected Dudleya saxosa. Peter is a Grower who lives near the Chiricahua Mountains and is responsible for some of the more interesting Sonoran and Madrean plants in our yard.

Rock Echeveria

Dudleya saxosa

Flowering occurs in mid-April. Looks like we'll have to be going back then.

This subspecies is a Salvage Restricted Protected Native Plant, by the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

PARTICULARS
Rock Echeveria is a blue-glaucous succulent which forms a basal rosette. It has bright yellow - orange, tube shaped flowers It seems to grow best in rock crevaces with little soil. In fact, Dudleya saxosa thrive in a very small soil volume, and the underground corm is the major supplier of water to the succulent leaves during periods of drought. This would make it an excellent Xeriscape plant.

Height: Height to about 1 feet. Spreading to about 1 foot.

Flowers: Bright yellow tubular shaped flowers which are supported on orange - red peduncles.

Blooming Time: Mid-April.

Leaves: Smooth gray - green in color, elongate in shape, with smooth margins, the leaf tips are not sharp.

Stems: Stemless, densely leaved basal rosette.

Fruit: The fruit is in a group of five capsules, containing numerous seeds.

Elevation: 0 - 7,218 Feet.

Habitat: North facing rock cracks, clifs, with some, well-drained soil. Full Sun. But best with some shade.

Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken near Apache Lake, Arizona. April 17, 2009. It is a host to the Sonoran Blue Butterfly, Philotes sonorensis.

Particulars and flowering pictures courtesy of George and Audrey Delanges.

Snow, a Pyracantha and Superman

Durango was recently blessed with two excellent snowstorms, the better of which resulted in 18" of accumulation.

Until further notice, refreshments will no longer be served outside on the patio.

Pyracantha pruned as an espalier.

The ornamental fruit of the Pyracantha.

To put the copious snowfall into perspective we use an established and standardized backyard measuring instrument, the Weber Kettle Grill. Pow!!!

Winter on the Animas River Trail

One of the pride and joys of Durango is the Animas River Trail, which contrary to local confusion, is maintained on a daily basis year around. The trail travels through several city parks and across five bridges, and I get to use it everyday to ride to and from work. The trail currently extends about 5 continuous miles - luckily from just about where I live to just about the Bouré workshop. Within a year or so, anticipated work on one bridge and one trail connection will extend the trail another 2 miles south. Even better, there are ongoing plans to extend the trail another 2 miles north into the Animas Valley.

The development of the Animas River Trail in Durango has occurred over several decades, beginning in 1976. And to give credit where it's due, we offer a big thanks to Kevin Hall, the City of Durango's Parks, Open Space and Trails Viceroy. He's personally overseen the most rapid expansion of this trail system to date.

On firm packed powder, excellent traction can be had with a set of Continental Town and Country tires. Looks great for skate skiing, too! Did we mention Kevin Hall's a XC skier, originally from Wisconsin?

This snowblower is one of many machines the City of Durango uses to quickly clear snow and allow the trail to be used as an everyday bike commuter route. Honestly, the trail is always in better shape for riding than the adjoining streets after a snow storm.

Cycle Squawking

Cycle Squawk is aired lived on KDUR Radio every Tuesday from 11-11:30, immediately following Margy Dudley's show, "Timbuktu and Beyond - West African Music". Hosted by Ruscle "The Mussel" Zimmerman and Chad "The Decider" Cheeney, this show takes in Durango cycling with riveting interviews and listener call-ins. Go to Durango Herald Multimedia to get the Podcast for every single episode, or subscribe to every episode using Apple's iTunes.

Your hosts

Vive Le Tour!

Biking is Groovy!

Directed by Philip Chernyak & Nora Wolf, Grand Prize Winner in the "Why Biking Rules" category, Best HD/HDV 4-minute PSA. Check out bikingrules.org/PSA to find more.

Special Holiday Hours

How to be... AWESOME!