Archer Braid Trail and How To Support Grassroots Causes

If it seems to have become a constant topic here it's because the Archer Braid Trail is a significant step in a good direction. Much of the use of the Trail will be for recreation and that's a good thing. Our culture can use all the physical fitness options possible. The step that is most significant is the one that makes Archer more accessible to G'ville. It's not like dozens of people will suddenly give up their cars and begin commuting, but someone might. Or maybe a few will think about it. I am much more likely to visit Archer now than when having to contend with Archer Road was a significant deterent. I hear the Mexican Restaurant is worth visiting.

Here's a picture of the donation that the people (it's a family affair) of Monica's Cococastile Soap made to the June 15 Event in Archer. In part it is to support the bicycling community and in part to remind all of us that we still have the Hawthorne Trail which passes not far from the world headquarter of Monica's Cococastile Soap. I'd say do them a favor and visit one of their internet presences, but it'd be more important to you to visit them to do yourself a favor and order their stuff.

The basket is handmade from recycled plastic grocery sacks and is filled with 5 bars of handmade soaps: Bay Rum (my favorite!); Lemongrass; Eucalyptus/Lavender/Tea Tree; Rosemary/Peppermint; and Lavender. As Monica says, they are "refreshing, especially after a great ride on the Archer Braid Trail!"

On facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/solidshampoo

Their website:
http://www.soapmakermonica.com/

I ordered three Messenger Mirrors (MMs) yesterday and asked Bruce Kremer, the designer, maker, marketer and sales person if he'd be willing to throw a couple additional MMs in the envelope so I could add them to the two I was going to give to the Event and thereby be able to say more glowing things about him and MMs. I missed the statement on the web page that orders placed between June 6 and 15 would not be handled until he got back from a trip. Oops!

This morning, I received a message from Bruce and a refund for the three MMs I'd ordered. He told me he was on a trip, but had two MMs he was sending to me and I could use them as donations. Then he thanked me for allowing him to be a part of the activities! Come on, Bruce!

I have used Messenger Mirrors for a couple of years after being dissatisfied with everything else. They are light, durable, adjustable and inexpensive. While traveling on South Carolina's narrows, shoulderless roads last August I was able to keep track of every potential vehicle set to run me off the road. (Actually, no one even came close there or in Georgia or North Carolina.) Messenger Mirrors do nothing more than work and you can't say better than that.

Bruce has a minimalist website, but, like his Mirrors, it does all it needs to do.

You can read a review dating to 2009:
http://www.cyclelicio.us/2009/messenger-mirror-review/

And you can visit the website:
http://messengermirror.com

And read what I have already said about Messenger Mirror:
http://whatssomeoneyourage.blogspot.com/search/label/Messenger%20Mirror

Thanks to Monica and Bruce for supporting and being a part of practical solutions to difficult problems. Maybe real soap and mirrors aren't THE solution, but they damn sure are not a part of the problem and it's much better than the smoke and mirrors used by politicos.

Keeping Green and Clean

I didn't liked getting haircuts as a kid. Didn't like that older people insisted on notcing that I'd gotten "my ears lowered." (What's that about?!) I tolerated it and them because there was no choice. Years later, whether I had short or very long hair, one element of those '50s haircuts remained; Bay Rum. Originally distilled from Rum and bay leaves in the Caribbean, it was (and is) a fine aroma and one I love. I was pleased whenever I discovered a source other than small town barbershops. Now, in the '10s I can indulge in that positive part of the otherwise unpleasant childhood experience.

When I met Monica at a local farmers' market and asked about Bay Rum soap, something I occasionally found in such places, she said she'd investigate and maybe could add it to her products. A few months later she told in an email message that it was now available. Since then it has been my soap of choice. I had a too long hiatus from it during the months of monetary readjustment, but a few days ago stopped by Monica Soapmaker at Kate's Fish Camp and resupplied with several bars of her excellent product.

It was good to see water in the creek again which makes the Fish Camp name more applicable than it has been for several years. It's hard to have a fish camp where the only way for fish to move to and from Newnan's Lake is by walking. Monica's soap is available in numerous locations locally and their line of products has expanded. I prefer to stop by and chat when I am riding the Hawthorne Trail. All of Monica's products are also available from the website:

Monica's Cococastile Soap

Made with olive and coconut oils and lots of real-folk care and concern, it's a damn good product made by people well-worth supporting in their efforts.

Biking Bits

How does cycling and soap relate? They don’t except maybe at the end of a long ride. Or if you ride Hawthorne Trail. Many months ago I met Monica, probably at the Saturday morning Haile Farmers’ Market. As with all soap makers I asked whether she made Bay Rum scented soap. “No,” she said, “but I’ll look into it.” She did and weeks later emailed me saying she had Bay Rum soap. I knew from our earlier encounter where she lived and asked if I could drop in some Saturday morning and buy some. Now, I am a happy frequent user of Monica’s Cococastile Soap.

Monica maintains a sales presence on Etsy where most of her wares are sold. Not overly fancy. Not a detergent. Not artificial anything. Just honest, reasonably priced soap. My concession to special personal care has always been handmade soap. I like how it feels. How it lathers. How when you purchase it from its maker you always have interesting conversations. I cut Monica’s bars in half because they feel better in my hand that way. Hardly a criticism.

One obviously nice thing about Monica’s soap is that on a Saturday morning I can turn south off the Trail just west of the creek (Prairie Creek) running between Paynes Prairie and Newnans Lake (about Mile 4.5), pass under Hawthorne Road (FL 20) and knock on her door. She or one of the family’ll come to the door and sell you as much handmade soap as you want. A shower with some of Monica’s soap after a ride may become a ritual and stopping at Monica’s another part of the adventure and all for about $5.50.

Messenger Mirror does relate to cycling. I like knowing what is behind me and prefer mirrors over neck exercises. Why not a frame or handlebar mirror? Panniers and trekking handlebars. Until recently I used a Take-a-Look. It worked well. A comment about Messenger appear on one of the Touring websites. Resembled the mirror I used twenty years ago and lost during a close meeting with an automobile and its cost made trying it an easy decision. The cost?  $5.99 plus $0.88 postage. The following things are true about Messenger Mirror:

1.      It vibrates. 2. It works.

Whatever problem vibrating may produce, the mirror works well enough in other ways so vibration doesn’t bother me. It is easily and almost universally adjustable and does exactly what I want a mirror to do; alert me of things behind. The Messenger Mirror does it with a small ½ inch diameter mirror that does not interfere with my line of sight. Take-a-Look’s large, rectangular mirror created a blind spot that was exactly in the way.

On tertiary and quaternary roads the Messenger is less than ideal because of its vibration in concert with the rough road. Elsewhere it is excellent. Light, efficient and cost effective. Lots more plus than minus. Much more go than stop..

After a couple hundred miles I am satisfied with my Messenger. It tolerates the abuse of being tucked in my handebar bag, dropped, bent and otherwise mishandled. A moment’s manipulation brings it back to functioning. Bruce, Messenger Mirror’s creator has done a fine job.