Heading to the Left Coast...

Ranger Danger · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 399

Hi everyone,
Sometime after Christmas and before New Year’s I will be packing up my car and driving it across the country, all the way to my new home in Orange County, California where I’m taking a job building trails for an organization that manages a whole bunch o’ land.

I can’t even begin to think about how to say goodbye to such a special group of people. The good folks of Fats in the Cats Bicycle Club introduced me to mountain biking and shaped a good portion of my life for the past few years. The group has been welcoming, nurturing, challenging, exciting, enlightening, hilarious and adventurous. I’ve learned a ridiculous amount from everyone from things like how to trackstand, change a flat and finesse a written or spoken public comment to how to secure battery operated Christmas lights to a bike.

Big thanks to everyone for all of the good times.

The Christmas Ride will probably be my last official Fats ride for a while*. I hope I get a chance to see everyone before I head west, but if not – thanks again for everything and happy holidays!

*Until I come back to visit and say, “You guys gonna show me the great sections of new trail you’ve built at Illinois Mountain?”.
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Chicks dig guys who do authorized trail work.

lunchbox · Joined: 11 May 2009 Posts: 49 Location: red hook ny

having lived in pismo beach on the central coast for a while all I can say is enjoy the most perfect weather every gosh darn day you are out there......it doesnt make you tough like the weather here...just makes you warm and happy..........I remember finishing long rides in the sun and my clothes weren't even sweaty........have fun........maybe learn to surf

slave2bacon · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:11 am Post subject:

The bike club is going to be much poorer after you are gone Jill!

You have really made a difference to the local mountain biking - not only by singlehandedly opening up Illinois Mtn as a future ride spot and increasing riding options on other Scenic Hudson properties, but also by being an very active and engaged member of the Fats Board.

Thank you for all your efforts and endless enthusiasm about trails.

You will be missed!

Riceball · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 509 Location: disAccord

WOW-CH!

and....Stinky Trails to you....
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edgeworker · Joined: 29 Apr 2009 Posts: 149 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY

A huge loss for us, but a new adventure for you - all the best!

jamesframes · Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 2655 Location: new paltz, NY

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MattD · Joined: 09 Nov 2007 Posts: 114 Location: Poughkeepsie

your roof rack part is ready at the front counter.
good luck out west!

GG · Veep Joined: 25 Sep 2008 Posts: 907 Location: new splatz

but...but...who will teach people how to do a proper bench cut? Crying or Very sad

bike this · Joined: 13 Nov 2006 Posts: 1166 Location: YKYO

Best of luck to you Ranger Danger..... Wink

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Shut up and ride.!

Ranger Danger · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 399

@ Lunchbox - I am so very excited for the weather and I can't wait to surf.

@ Mr. Bacon - Awww shucks. This club is full of awesome people and I'm confident there's a renaissance for the club and Hudson Valley mountain biking just around the corner.

@ edgeworker - I think there's an opening for a liaison between Vassar Farm and the club... just saying. The job doesn't take a lot of energy, just plenty of persistence and patience.

@ Matt Davies - Thanks a bunch - now I'll be able to take bicycles to CA with me!

@GG - I think Captain Planet said it best when he said, "The power is yours". Go forth and spread the good word about meticulously well built bench cut.

@JamesFrames - There's no crying in mountain biking.

@RiceBall & bike this - thanks for the well wishes.

Gonna miss everyone.
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Chicks dig guys who do authorized trail work.

mtbxtc · Joined: 12 Nov 2006 Posts: 216

Ranger. Good luck. Thats a big move. Say hello to the terminator when you get there. We'll miss yah
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Jim · Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 215 Location: Pleasant Valley

Good luck Jill! At least you were on the 'right' coast for awhile.

burtondogs · Joined: 05 Sep 2006 Posts: 633

Yes...this sounds really wild. Good luck out there.

I was checking out some maps of one of the trails systems out there.
looks sick. Have fun.

SeanO · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 74 Location: Pleasant Valley

My first Fats ride was at Vassar led by you. Thanks for the intro to Hudson Valley mountain biking. Best of luck in California.

pokgirl · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 294 Location: Poughkeepsie

Good luck, Jill!

oh_blinding_light · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 8:38 pm Post subject:

Good luck on your move to earthquake country. If you don't pack up and move back east on the first 5+ trembler you experience you are made of sterner stuff than me Very Happy

. I made it 18 months and decided to move someplace the ground shook less often.

My sister has lived there for over 25 years. Her rationalization is you can die cold and miserable on the east coast, or when the big quake hits you can die happy with a great tan.

Good luck on your coast to coast move. A word of advice from one who has made the move 4 times: sell everything except the stuff with strong sentimental value. Ikea will refurnish your new quarters for way less than it costs to ship that couch you trash picked back in college.

Enjoy CA and thanks for all the beginner rides you've led (I enjoyed the one I went on),

OBL
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Nimium est melior!

Forest_biker · Joined: 16 Sep 2006 Posts: 859

Wow, that sure is quite a change!

Good Luck with your move and new career!

We'll ride some of this cold soggy dark weather for ya! Mr. Green