Ear to the ground:

"The only dates I get are updates."

– Local computer programmer bemoaning his luck with the fairer sex

Beercycles

They may be taking the issue of prostate cancer sitting down, but that doesn't mean they're taking it lightly.

On Thursday, a group of cyclists calling themselves 1400 Miles will arrive in Durango, en route from Austin, Texas, to Denver. The group, made up of Texas craft beer brewers, is making the two-wheeled journey to raise awareness for prostate cancer. And yes, there will also be a little carbo loading along the way.

More than midway through their trip, cyclists will land at Ska Brewing tonight (Oct. 3) for a benefit for their "Pints for Prostates" campaign. The event will feature food, live music and of course beer, with all proceeds going to prostate cancer research and awareness. 

The ride, and soon-to-be resulting film, was the brainchild of Davis Tucker, owner of Austin’s North by Northwest Restaurant and Brewery. He was inspired by brewmaster Don Thompson’s recovery from prostate cancer. Tucker was soon joined by other brewers, all of whom were sparked by "a common love for craft beer, cycling, filmmaking and desire to spark a conversation about the importance of men’s health and prostate cancer."

 “The challenge of 1,400 miles in 14 days is more than a bit daunting, and I’m sure there will be tough moments along the way,” said Tucker. “But if we can raise awareness and education about prostate cancer just a bit, I’m confident we can help save so many lives.”

Also helping to egg riders on the century-a-day pace is NXNW’s Beerliner Bus, a 1974 refurbished bus featuring four beer taps, three TV screens and a commercial kitchen.

The two-week ride began Sept. 25 in Austin and includes eight stops along the way of which Durango is the fourth. The Beerliner will roll up the awning bright and early Friday morning as riders tackle Wolf Creek Pass, headed for South Fork. The ride will end in Denver next Tues., Oct. 8, just in time, perhaps not so coincidentally, for the Great American Beer Festival.

For ride details, go to www.1400miles.com.

A real blast

Just because all the national parks and museums are closed doesn't mean Americans still can't have some family fun.

Despite closures due to the government shut down, the National Atomic Testing Museum, in Las Vegas, is still open for business.

Although affiliated with the Smithsonian, the museum would like to assure would be visitors that the Atomic Testing Museum is actually a nonprofit, charitable organization that receives no government direction or funding.  

So just what can attendees expect to see in this tribute to America's atomic age and the Cold War?  Artifacts include "the memorable B-53 bomb – the largest in our arsenal" as well as "the uncommon 'Jewel rack,' a, underground nuclear test rack rarely seen by the general public.  Other interesting knick knacks include air samplers, bomb relays and cultural artifacts with the iconic mushroom cloud. There are even pop-up exhibits, which include everything from children's interpretation of Mars habitats to unusual radiation items, for the kids.

And be sure not to miss the "award winning" exhibit, "Area 51: Myth or Reality," which tells the story of the most secret place in America. Well, at least what used to be the most secret place.