Comments on: How Not to Be a Shepherd

By: DanKMTB

DanKMTB — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:34:10 +0000

Wow Tom, way to bring down a fun post. “I tinker, so be it”. Even when your tinkering is perpetually holding up the whole group? That’s awfully cool of you. “I will however, ALWAYS consider myself left behind by riders that I used to consider my friends”. Harsh. Only you can call how you really feel, but to unfreind and entire group of friends because your perpetual “tinkering” caused you to miss a roll-out strikes me as a bit harsh. They may not have waited another hour for you to get ready that time, but I don’t think they really left you behind either. Sounds like they expected you to catch up, and when you didn’t they got worried and took action, to the extent of involving S&R. I’ve been left behind too, but never completely abandoned, as it sounds like you were not either. Well, I have been completely abandoned as a kid on a 4-wheeler, but I hardly knew those other kids so it doesn’t count. Never held a grudge over it. Sounds like you’ve got an awesome group of friends here, I for one hope your wounds recover and you rediscover your friends. Sounds like a lot of good times have been had, and a lot more will be had in the future. Be a shame to miss out on them.

As for the initial post, great stuff! Dug, always enjoy reading your writing. Seems like you stepped it up a notch to fill the shoes of the notorious FatCyclist. Good work!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:00:20 +0000

it wasn’t apparent from dug’s post above, but it’s obvious from tom’s comment: tom the tinkerer is both a bully and a crybaby.

helluva combo.

By: dug

dug — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:19:22 +0000

thanks steve. except. um. i DID leave a man behind.

dad would be mad.

By: steve

steve — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:58:31 +0000

umm, OUR dad. Sorry, no proofreading. Can’t believe they don’t have grammar/spell checking on these blogs. Of course, if they did itwould take forever to get a comment posted.

By: steve

steve — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:54:50 +0000

I was wondering when Tom would weigh in. Way to keep going Tom. For many reasons I too am often last but hopefully never lost permanently. Glad you made it out. I think Dug gets his Shepherding instincts from out dad. Never leave a man/woman behind.

By: KitchenSink

KitchenSink — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:42:37 +0000

Dug,

I don’t care what you wrote about not being a shepherd, or what some search and rescue dude in a fit of frustration about stripping your title, the whole article says that you ARE a shepherd. There’s no denying it. You are what you are. Wear that shepherd badge with pride!

Losing a sheep doesn’t make you not a shepherd; it just makes you more thoughtful next time you go out.

Thanks for the post. Fabulous.

By: Tom the Tinkerer

Tom the Tinkerer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:23:47 +0000

To all D.A.’s that feel so inclined to weigh in with regards to Tom. I’m not a sheep. I tinker, so be it. Yet rarely am I last to the top and certainly can rock and roll on the “down”. Big ledge drops, Tinkerbell Tom does them, few others try due to their lack of grapes. I crash, bleed and yet still ride on. P___s. Being left behind to fend for oneself in the cold, dark unforgiving Moab backcountry is enough to cause many riders to come to their untimely demise. Not Sonny. Not Uncle Tom. I had a blast. I didn’t need search and rescue (as I was already out when they showed up) and I certainly don’t need Kenny running his mouth. Funny how he didn’t run it when I was actually IN UTAH. Yeah, consider that a call out. So I’m older and fatter and live at 600 FT above sea level. Did anyone hear me complain? Didn’t think so. The point is this. I was NEVER lost thanks to the moon, a tiny flashlight and the fact that I was having an adventure saving my own life. I will however, ALWAYS consider myself left behind by riders than I used to consider my friends.

Scrum anyone?

LTB

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:21:00 +0000

i’d always heard that you could never get lost if you didn’t know where you were going, so….

great post!

By: Clydesteve

Clydesteve — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:31:29 +0000

dug – the pink shirt comment caught me – You almost got nose.

By: Eber

Eber — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:51:25 +0000

I have been the benefactor of Dug the Shepard (not in the Bjorn 4 Lycra sense). It’s a strange emotion when you ride up on Dug sitting at the top of a climb, leaning against his bike like those profile cutouts you see in old Hollywood ghost towns. You know the ones – the cowboy, arms folded, chin resting on chest, 10 gallon tipped down. Granted – Dug’s wearing plaid.

You experience gratitude, shame, and embarassment all in the same moment. But then you realize your just a blubby, slow guy riding with guys way above your pay grade and it was great that Dug waited – otherwise you might still be riding the foothills of Summit County trying to find your way out.

Great post Dug – here’s to the return of your crook and to my perpetually pending graduation.