Moving to MinneSNOWta...

...or Minnesoooota. Allright. So it really is Minnesota, but in the first reference I was referring to the weather (what else is new?)...and the second time, I was being phonetic. The lovely singing Scandinavian accent of speaking Minnesotan. Big changes for 2005. Getting married for one. Moving from sunny California to the seasonable extreme's of the Northern Plains is another. Buying a house and being homeowners is yet another. At the end of this month, the three of us embark on another adventure together which will start with packing up a moving truck and driving to Mike's hometown, Marshall, for a different life together. Exciting!

In the midst of packing and boxes (do we really have THAT many bikes?!?!) , we are still working, and trying to escape for an hour or four to ride. Every ride I go on, I appreciate with new eyes. Will this be my last coast ride? As a result, I keep riding to the coast. The mountains and the ocean. Not being a complete native Californian, I never have been able to get past the beauty of these two features of the lovely state. The problem though is that there are so many people here---driving cars and being a nuisance to this cyclist, as well as driving up the cost of living to being ridiculous. In every other aspect though of my life (meaning the 20 hours or so I am not on my bike), I can't wait to leave. I mean there is more to life than a bike ride, right? Quality of life.

I've spent many a day riding around Minnesota, and while the terrain may not be my forte...(no mountains and if it doesn't go uphill I get dropped by even the recreational cyclist it seems), the people and the roads are about as nice as they come. Driver's patiently wait until it is SAFE to pass me and stop and ask me what in the world I am doing riding my bike into a 30mph headwind in the 35 degree weather (forget about the windchill factor)....and wouldn't I like a lift back home? And of course they know Dave and Diane Taylor...they educated their children and so of course it is safe to hitch a ride. I decline the offer graciously saying I'm out here enjoying a bike ride and the scenery---believe it or not!! The scenery? Corn fields Everywhere. There are pyramids of corn like you've never seen. Or like I've never seen or imagined. Corn, soybeans, sugar beets and BLACK soil. Not black clay. It is real soil.

For Mike, the Minnesota flat to rolling terrain IS his forte. We're gonna get a scooter and I'll motor-pace him!! And, Mike's also already got a HUGE fan base. Minnesotans love sporting events and athlete's. Mike's picture is even displayed at the local Applebee's---not from his bike-racing feats...but from his basketball stardom days. He thinks it's silly, but I think it is VERY cool. And I'm even looking forward to this seasonal stuff. I'll finally get to go ice-fishing...just like the "grumpy old men", with my not-so-grumpy, not-so-old new father-in-love. (I already love my in-laws so I'm calling them my "in-loves"!)

Change is good---even when it's hard and/or scary. And all this darn rain we've been having out here has made it a bit easier to leave....but oh, I will surely miss the mountains and the ocean. And my family. I am avoiding thinking about that part. So, off I go to climb Old La Honda (for the last time?), before my last day of work at Palo Alto Bicycles. I will be at a different bike shop though. It's called, uh, "The Bike Shop" in Marshall. Hopefully I'll be able to get some gals riding with me there---and if they don't have a bike to ride, I'll sell them one!! How about that?!

At least the rest of the NRC races are closer to us now. After April, the West coast racing is pretty much done until San Francisco and so we'll get to see some new courses for a change---and that'll be fun. And here's a little Minnesotan humor for you (that my Mom sent to me);

A Palestinian guy married a Minnesotan gal. What did they name their first born son?

Yassir Youbetcha!!

...and on that note, I am off for a ride!