Marshall YMCA Time Trial

Saturday, April 30, 2005

Let's just say that I am finally feeling some of that Minnesota cold folks have been telling me about. At least Mike was first to go on this balmy (not at all), yet crisp (freezing cold with or without the wind chill) Saturday morning. I'd mention that at least it isn't raining...and it wasn't while Mike was out on the 17 mile, mostly flat with a few rollers circular course. Nope. Not raining. Can you believe it though when I say, that on April 30, 2005, it was SNOWING? Well it was and it did. But like I just said...Mike went off first and the snow didn't start until the last guys were riding.

We waited until Mike rode away and then Dave, Hunter, Taylor, Sydney and I piled into Dave's truck and drove the course in reverse to our lookout point (I was a directing traffic on the course so guys would know where to turn...and performing my usual cheerleading routines) We caught up to Mike right as he was powering along a a stretch where there were strong cross winds and the only place on the course where there were some rollers. He was in flying form!

We haven't touched his TT bike since last year's Gila Time Trial. So his big ring was a 56 and his gears were a little big for the course. Still, once he turned into the tail-wind, back to the start, he was simply flying! It's been a long time since he tested himself and he came out a HUGE winner on the day! 17 miles and 37 minutes. You can do the math, but for a 40 hour per week working stiff, we were happy with the result and the win and are looking forward to the next road race in a week or so.

Even in the cold (freezing cold), and even though Dave and Taylor (Joseph) headed back to the warmth at the YMCA, Hunter had Dave drop him off so that he could help me out and keep me company and play with Sydney and let me know when bikers were coming up the road so that I could jump up and down and cheer folks on the lonely freezing route back into to town. He's my champion of the day!

And the other champion was my new boss, Dave (popular name out here, huh?), who stopped by to watch Mike's start with a fresh and strong home brewed espresso with hot steamed milk in tow for me. Just cause that's how people are in this part of the world.

After the race, Hunter came with me to work to check out which new bike has his name on it. And then later we went to Ghent with all the Taylor's & Rooney's for a burger feast. I am beat. But in a good way.

They say this is the last cold spell.

Too many bicycles?

Hard to believe that just two people own these bicycles. Not included are one of Mike's race-machines and Mike's cross-bike that he was out riding at the time I took this photo. It kinda looks like we're having a party and everyone rode their bikes to avoid parking issues, like they would in San Francisco---only here in Marshall, trust me, parking is not a problem. There is plenty of space. In fact, looking at them all I begin to wonder, "Can a person have too many bicycles?"

Anyway, I've decided that as long as the wind is blowing from any direction but the Northerly one, that it is fine. The Southernly winds may seem stronger...but it is probably because they are warmer and so I am out riding in them, exploring Southwest Minnesota at close range. Good for practicing track-stands and for getting a good workout, and not freezing. But if the wind is blowing from the North---stay inside or go to Camden. At least you always a choice, and at least it's dry here. California is soggy according to the email message I've been getting. What is up with that anyway?

Most locals here are also informing me that I might be a little thick in the head. (And this is surprising to who? or is that whom?) I am surely compensating for my lack of thick blood. They are less bothered by the cold, because they don't feel the need to go out and play in it. It's just that it looks like it's nice outside. You can't see the wind and you can't see the temperature. You feel them both, but from this "Bird's" eyes view, it looks nice out there. sigh.

The small hound is more spoiled than ever. She has even trimmed down a bit with all the running she's been doing. Tonight we have fresh "Northern's" on the menu...not people...ha! Fish. Minnesota Dad, Dave, hit the jackpot yesterday and just dropped off dinner (for a few days!) And Sue and the 4 kids are coming to town for the weekend. They can help cheer Mike on at a local race!

Have a great weekend. The Scrapper sends her love!

Saved by a Crockpot!

Saved by a Crock-pot!!

So it's supposed to warm up today to a whopping 54F. Right now? 33F, feels 23F. The wind is blowing from the West though this morning so I can ride out to Camden at least. April was on target for the warmest April ever until the end of last week. Sigh. At least it is dry...windy and dry.

Today I am working the "late" shift at the bike shop. We stay open late on Thursday evening, just like we used to do at the Palo Alto Bike shop I worked at. And with my new domestic responsibilities---well what's a girl to do? Luckily, my sister-in-law to be always manages to buy the right present. A Crock-pot! Saved by the Crock-pot. Every year, Sue comes up with a cool present that Mike and I never knew we needed, but wonder, after we have one, how we ever lived without it. Like the French-coffee press. Or the Coffee-for-Two machine that we used for every out of town bike race we ever did. Imagine the luxury and delight of waking up at "oh-dark-thirty" at a Motel 6, in Boonie-Ville, USA to a fresh cup of Peet's, right in your motel room!

When we were living and racing the bike in Belgium, we were fortunate enough to have a house with a Crock-pot and Sue must have remembered us saying how it was so cool. Or something. All I know is that I just prepared dinner and it is only 8:30am. Now I can ride my bike, play with the small hound, make my 1pm meeting with Celeste and still have dinner ready for Mike when he gets off work.

Boy, do I sound like a housewife or what? (No laughing from the peanut-gallery in Palo Alto needed. I mean you, Mraz!)

So I'm off to brave the elements. Can someone tell the weather-guy that it is SPRING..please. I mean this last week has been colder than ANY winter (except "on-purpose" looking for snow in the winter vacations) I've ever known. And maybe that year I worked in Sweden in December. Below 45F is not something I know anything about. All the locals smile at me when I say this. Hmmmm?

And to my friends out racing the Tour of the Gila: I wish I was there too! Go Cafe Hunt and Burke Swindlehurst!! I'll sure miss the Gila Monster and the high-desert racing this year. I'd love some high-elevation and high-desert weather right now. But I am still not complaining.

All-right West-15mph-only-Wind, I am ready to ride, dressed for the arctics, but ready, all the same!

Wherever you go, there you are!

Wherever you go, there you are!

Richard Feynmann, one of the most brilliant Nobel prize winner's in Physics made this famous quote many years ago. He died of cancer on my birthday in 1988. Now what the heck does this have to do with riding your bike in the crisp Minnesota climate? I have received so many email messages about how tough a transition it must be moving from the Golden State...to the Golden Gopher State. Especially for a cyclist...and especially for someone who's farthest North long term living experiences are limited to Northern California. Sure, I've visited winter (even for long periods at a time!)---all over the globe---but I have yet to know the below 0F experience. Luckily, I won't have to think about those temperatures for several months.

Anyway, riding my mountain bike in Camden yesterday was in fact a whole lot of fun. It's amazing what a few trees can do to shelter a person from the wind. (That's the problem here...not enough trees!) I love the sound of the cold earth and the cold leaves and all the other cold stuff as it crunches underneath my bicycle wheels. I love all the different birds---Dave (Minnesota Dad) knows all the birds by name...and can even imitate their distinct sounds. I believe I was the only person out there---no other humans. So the locals are smarter than I...they don't feel the need to "feel Minnesota" the way I do. They are familiar with her enough to know that some days it's best to just not go outside to play. It was exhilarating. And it allowed me the time to get to know, on a more personal level, the beauty of my new surroundings, and to think. (uh ho!!!)

For whatever reason, I thought of Richard Feynmann, and his quote, which is the subject of this email. For those unfamiliar with him, he was a great teacher/professor/writer. He was always admired for his wit, intelligence, independence and a never-ending curiosity. He was never satisfied with what he knew and always continued to question science. But his curiosity was not restricted to science. Anything that puzzled him became a challenge to be solved for him. I don't have a clue really about Physics...but I loved reading his stuff and this quote always stuck with me. And I am VERY curious and intrigued by my new surroundings---even when it isn't always easy or fun.

Speaking of not easy or fun, the current weather readings are 29F, feels like 19F. Sigh. I am being tested by the powers that be. Oh well, what I have learned for sure and what I was hoping would stay true is that the weather does not make or break things for you. I really could (and perhaps did?!) move to Siberia---but as long as Mike and the small hound are in tow, I'm fine. Life is one cool adventure and "Wherever you go, there you are"!!

Feeling Minnesota

Feeling Minnesota

Cloudy 40F, feels like 31F; winds from the NNW at 19 mph. This is the forecast for 9AM this morning. Hmmm. By noon it will warm up to a whopping 46F (feels like 38F) with the wind still aiming from the NNW at 23 mph. Hmmm, again. I really am in Minnesota. The really shocking thing is that the weather guy just nonchalantly mentions cooler temperatures. Not cold. Just cooler. This little California gal has decided that it is freezing cold. And she's met her match at any attempts at a road ride outside today.

However, I may be down, but never out. I've got a fancy, not frequently enough used mountain bike that is just beckoning me for a frolic in the dirt. So frolic I will! About 7 easy miles away from my house is this little treasure of a park with trails galore. It is full of white tail deer, wild turkeys (those big birds again), pheasants, big rabbits...I mean hares, (ha!) and just a plethora of other wildlife to keep me entertained. It is also sheltered for the most part from the freezing cold wind.

I've been told (by the locals) that I need thicker blood; that once my blood gets thicker I will be able to handle the cold better. I wondered out loud to Mike the other day about how long it takes to get thicker blood? Days? Weeks? Months? Maybe a year? He didn't know. I will say that Minnesotans are hardy. Chilly (COLD), but sunny days when I am wearing a long sleeved craft base-layer, sweater, vest, jeans and wool socks, I've seen folks come into the bike shop wearing a t-shirt and sandals. The shop is like just over a mile north from our house and if the wind is blowing from the north, even with warm gloves, my hands won't warm up for two hours.

Thin blood. With all the "cycling transfusions" of blood in the sport of cycling today, I wonder if one also can order, along with a high hemocrit request, a little thicker blood too? I'd joke more about this, but it really isn't funny so I won't.

Aw Jeez! (Do I sound Minnesotan?) My windows are even fogged up, it's THAT cold outside! Wow. Diane (Minnesota Mom) predicted it would still snow somewhere in Minnesota before the end of April. I think she was right. I'm sure that it is snowing somewhere in the State...

Yup! I am feeling Minnesota today...nice, clean, crisp and "cooler" Minnesota. Cooler than what? My freezer, that's what!! Yup, it's cooler than my ice cold freezer out there...so I am off for a long overdue mountain bike ride. And you thought I'd ride inside today! Ha!

Monday, Monday

Monday, Monday...

After an absolutely lovely Sunday, the fickle weather system opted for some rain this morning. Since it's only rained 3 times since we arrived (a month ago!), my complaints will be kept at a minimum---especially since the weather that I left behind was pretty wet and dismal. Imagine moving from California to Minnesota in April for better bicycle riding weather! (I didn't say terrain...just weather...I'm still in search of mountains, but like I said, this will be a LONG search!)

The plan for today is a ride on the trainer. I never thought this would be something I'd opt for, but some days it is just smarter to not push your limits and inner strength...keep suffering at a minimum, so to speak. I'm glad I did a somewhat longer ride yesterday when it was sunny. I got home in time to watch OLN's coverage of the Fleche Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege as well as the Sea Otter and it was cool to see Mike's teammate, Roman, do such a remarkable ride to 2nd place in the road race, placing him at 2nd in the overall GC as well. Nice job!

Yesterday's ride started out on highway 23 heading over to Green Valley before turning off to a lightly used county road towards Ghent. I passed this HUGE dead skunk, followed shortly thereafter by a dead bunny (baby rabbit), followed by a dead robin (exotic bird!) Happily that was the extent of the road kill for the day. From Ghent I headed towards Lynd, through Camden (a little treasure of a park), then out on another county road before heading home. You'd have to ride your bike at 4am in California to have so few cars to contend with. It's amazing how the lack of traffic makes for such stress-free riding too! And even when there is a car, it moves all the way into another lane before it passes you. Very considerate! There's this guy, Scott, who also rides and lived for a while in Arizona. He commented on how Mike and I always look back when we hear cars approaching and on how it is so unnecessary..."they won't even come close to you..." they'll wait until it is safe to pass...no horns...no "finger salutes", just a smile and a wave as they go safely by.

And there is nothing like coming home from a long ride to find that your Minnesota Dad invited your small hound on a trip to the cornfields to play after he sprayed your yard (another job you can check off your list!), as well as an invitation for a home-cooked dinner by your Minnesota Mom to end an already lovely sunny Sunday.

So you see, after such a day, a little bit of rain can't ruin my day today. Actually I have so much to do that NOT going for a 3 hour bike ride is probably a good thing anyway. Sometimes (always) I allocate too much time for play and NOT enough time for jobs. (But I can do both when the scmack goes down---or when it's raining and I don't feel like cleaning my bike afterwards!) Mike always jokes that, "Joni is on a permanent vacation!" So a few morning jobs might do wonders for my tarnished image...you think?

Anyway...the sun just came out and so cancel that thought...I may go ride anyway and keep up my "on vacation" image!

Life in the FLAT lane!

Live in the FLAT lane!

On the days I am working, I am trying to get my ride in early, before work. Just like I've always done. Only here, it is sometimes very COLD in the mornings. And here, it is also WINDY in the mornings. Today, that translates to 20-35 mph winds...and they're blowin' from the North! Ugh! I'm still very naive to this new climate of mine, or else not-too-bright. I'll stick with naive. So I braved outside, all dressed up in my COLD weather climate riding gear...looking pretty stylish if I don't say so myself. I'd hoped for a two hour easy spin. So I chose a flat road and headed into the north wind.

I was thinking about the fact that my hands were already numb from the cold, and perhaps this would have been a better rest-day. But I pedaled on, into the wind, waiting for my ride-buzz to happen. Then my ears got cold. Sigh. All of a sudden I get this HUGE horn from a BIG semi truck..who blasted by me. What happened to that Minnesota-nice I've been enjoying so much? Then I saw the license plates. Indiana. It figures.

The wind was bad enough. But the Gusts were killing me. I literally got off my bike and sat down in the dirt, looking at the sun on the horizon. It looked so beautiful. The sunrise and sunsets out here on the plains are really fabulous and spectacular. And with no trees or anything in the distance (which could have been great wind blockers if only there were any), it's very deceiving. You can't see the wind. You're only clue that it might not be a nice day to ride is that Minnesotans are very patriotic, and so there are flags waving in front of every house. Well, that, and the dirt that kept blowing against my cool Oakley sunglasses. Even though the flags were pointing straight at me, I got back on the road and started my pedaling into the wind. I did a couple of track-stands for entertainment, and it did work a little to change my mood.

Why am I doing this? I don't race, and have no special goals for riding really. I hate to suffer..(ask Mike). And no one's making me do this. So why all the aggravation? Sigh again. This was hard hard work...and I wasn't going uphill. I pedaled on for about 45 minutes this way. Almost in tears with how hard this was...(I mean I was in my 39X24 on a flat road for crying out loud, out of the saddle even!), I decided to call it a day and head back home. Even the trainer is more fun than this and I hate riding the trainer.

Woo hoo!! I shifted into my 53X12 and flew. Life in the FAST lane! I was pedaling 38mph on a FLAT road. I've never done that in my life!! There is a lesson in here somewhere about hard work and the pay-off. But I didn't care...I was having so much fun. I was wishing someone I knew would drive by and see how fast I was going cause it had to look as cool as it felt, right? Probably not.

It took all of 10 or 11 minutes to ride back the almost hour ride out. So now I have some time to get some housecleaning done before I head to the bike shop. The PEET's sure tasted GOOD this morning. Even Taylor helped himself to an extra cup!! Mike's made it through his first week on the job!! He looked dashing this morning in his work clothes with his pants tucked into his socks!

Have a great day!

loops and squares

loops and squares

For my entire bicycle-riding life, I've enjoyed looping my way through the Coastal California mountain ranges, riding what we Californian's call, a "loop". A loop is a curvy-kind-of-up-and-down circular route, of varying lengths, with a same start and finish. We get nonchalant with this term and talk about which loop we rode on any given day. This is especially true in Palo Alto, where the "loop" means the Portola Valley Loop. You can add or subtract miles by adding Arastradero, or a climb by going up Old La Honda or just a plethora of other options---but for what it's worth, it's gonna be a loop.

One big observation in my rides out here on the plains is that a loop becomes a square. Very linear. So does this make my daily jaunts on the road "square roots"...I mean routes. Ha! (What a corn ball!). Additionally, things are pretty straight forward. Linear. Whereas in California, things are a little more "grey". (Circular?).

What makes me come up with this junk?

Today I had to ride early because I had to work at The Bike Shop. I love that my new bike shop, is called, simply, The Bike Shop. See, everything is very straightforward out here and it's kinda nice and simple that way. Anyway, today was the first cold day of riding I think I've done. And it's weird, because what I used to consider pretty cold in the Bay Area was 60F. 60F here in Marshall feels more like 75F back home. It's "dry" here...so 45F feels like 60F in Palo Alto. Riding in the brisk morning made me think of my old commute from San Francisco to Palo Alto...with less cars.

I'm just rambling now. My new boss ordered me 2 pound of Peet's, Major Dickensen's and it arrived today!! He even made me a cappuccino right in the bike shop. I gotta run now and make dinner for Mike (notice a role reversal?) He's working more hours than me and so I have new domestic responsibilities now. Imagine that? I am becoming a square, perhaps...but a loopy square all the same.

Wild Turkey & Babies

Wild Turkey & Babies!

I've got my routine down pretty well now and have found different rides to do for all the different wind patterns. I still get confused sometimes about which direction is which, but more often than not I have the wind at my back for at least half of my ride...and if I am really crafty, I'll fine tune it such that the cross-wind sections ride more like a tailwind than not. How do I do this? Ha! Come on out for a visit and I'll take you for a ride!!

For something to focus on during the long flat windy sections (all the time!), I've been checking out all the wild-life here on the plains. Ah, yes, the title of this email is about to make sense. And you thought I was gonna write something about how drinking too much wild turkey can lead to babies? Shame on you. It's just that on today's 40+ mile jaunt (which by the way took me absolutely no where really except North and East and then back South and West), I passed the most wild turkey's I've ever seen in my life. 7 Big Turkey's! They were huddling right near the road (out Lyon County Road 2 and almost County Road 11---right past Amiret for all you Minnesotans), and since the wind was blowing right into my path, I don't think they heard me approaching and so they didn't tear out until I could almost reach out and touch them! They are HUGE birds. They look like short ostriches. And they walk really funny at close range. They are about as tall as my bicycle wheels, maybe bigger...and they waddle..but very fast! Weird.

The other thing I noticed were all the cute baby cows. I've also never seen so many babies. Spring. Ah yes. This is spring.
Everywhere you look. And these cows are clean cows. I think Minnesotans wash their cows as much as they wash everything else. The white fur is WHITE. The colors are BRIGHT. So they must be using one of those nifty laundry detergent brands to keep so clean looking. The nice thing about the cattle here is that it is nothing like COW-shwitz...you know that highway 5 (in California) cattle ranch that looks strikingly like a concentration camp for cattle. Not here. There are maybe like 15-20 cows and they're all hanging out, eating grass, having kids and taking baths alot.

I got home from my ride and ate a HUGE plate of spaghetti and sour dough english muffins, probably un-doing all the good I might have done on my ride...then took the small hound to her special running spot and watch my own little wild-thing-Scrapper tear out like a race car for miles over the Minnesotan black soil, hunting for huge Minnesotan squirrels, in her new little Minnesotan prairie home town.

...another day on the prairie

Baby Cows R Calves...

...of course I know this. And if I didn't, than the 18 (yes, 18 and counting...so if you were just about to hit the send key, it's not necessary) email messages I received have clarified things.

I was trying to sound like a city girl who just moved to the country. I guess, it worked!! (and I guess I am)

I like baby dogs, baby cats, baby rabbits AND baby horses too!!

I can do a trackstand!

I can do a trackstand!


I have always been a great admirer of those who could stop at a stoplight
on a bicycle and not put a foot on the ground. That "suspended in space"
look. I've spent years watching bicycle messengers, bike racers and the
normal guys at the bike shop where I've worked master this cool technique.
Martine can even do a trackstand with no hands!

Well, this gal can finally do one! Here's my secret. Watch the weather
channel and find out that the wind is blowing from the South (Or
North...or East...or West) and look for the days when it's gusting at 300
MPH (or at least 30 MPH), which around here is everyday, in case you're
wondering. Hop on bicycle and start pedaling into the wind. I kid you
not, I was at a complete stand-still today and I held it for over a
minute! I was so impressed with myself that I was able to continue on for
about 20 miles or so into the million mile per hour headwind...just so I
could go nowhere for minute-at-a-time intervals.

There are all kinds of ways to entertain yourself out here on the prairie.
Perhaps that wind isn't such a bad thing.

Welcome to Marshall, MN

Welcome to Marshall, MN

"Population, 12,735." I ride my bike from all the different roads that lead into town, and every time I pass the sign I keep wondering when they are going to change it to read, "12,737+ one cute small hound!" Actually, during the work day the population almost doubles as all the even smaller towns populations drive into work at either US Bank, Schwan's, the Corn Plant or the College. But after the 10 minute "rush-hour"...or "rush 10-minutes" at 8 am and 5 pm, the town settles back into the "12, 737 + the cute small hound" number. And it's really very nice.

The weather channel has new meaning here. Not really for how hot or cold it's gonna be, but rather how WINDY it is and which way is the wind coming in from. Jeeez! I work way harder into a headwind than I ever did on a climb. If you get in a cross wind here, it WILL blow you over. Or come close at least. Riding with Mike and the boys is nice because I never have to take a pull and they are all good blockers of the wind. But then I have to keep up such a good tempo that I get worked no matter which way you look at it. Sigh.

The racing calendar out here isn't like the NorCal/NV either. But we've found a few good ones that we hope to check out in the next week or so. Mike starts work next Monday. I've already started at the bike shop here in town and have already managed to get a nice following of girl's from as far as Aberdeen, South Dakota! I'm also working a local triathalon that's happening at the end of the month, right here in town.

Sydney can't believe her luck. She's got a huge backyard to play in! Her nails have grown since she's not on the pavement all the time and her little paws are pink instead of brown...The sun rises early from the east and sets late in the west and you get to watch them both which is something spectacular indeed! Mike's Dad has been catching us fresh Walleye for dinner. He comes straight from the fishing trip to our house to clean 'em!

And, not only was I welcomed by the neighborhood ladies, (Beth, Janet and Kim) when they gathered together the day we moved in to introduce themselves and welcome me to the neighborhood, or the next door neighbors (John & Phyllis) who dropped off a beautiful candle and vase and card to say they were glad we were here, or Mike's long ago neighbors/family doctor (The Martin's) who have since moved to a different neighborhood in Marshall, but stopped by with a plate of homemade cookies---or even the three gals (Rachael, Mary & (another) Phyllis) who I sold bikes to the first week I arrived who came over to drop off a HUGE basket of fruit, a california cactus plant and a homemade card welcoming me to Minnesota and thanking me for getting them set-up on their bikes...But I just received a phone call from a lady named (yet another) Phyllis who is the unofficial, official welcoming committee (socialite) in Marshall who is coming by on Monday with coupons and samples(?) and welcoming gifts.

If this is sounding like you're watching something from "Back to the Future"...or "Pleasantville"...well, you're close.

The wind is a blowin' from the South today and so it will at least be a warm wind. Sigh. I'm using way different muscles here---I'm used to getting out of the saddle and climbing...Mike says I'm working my "core" cycling muscles. Great...I guess...I liked working whatever muscles I was working when I was climbing out of the saddle though. And so, I'm in search of some mountains. It'll be a long search as the visibility is 10-20 miles and I don't see any. I still feel like we came out winner's though. We have such a lovely home and life is so darn easy here.

And you guys at the bike shop will probably laugh when I say that I am thinking about putting aero-bars on my bike. Not my Seven, but my Klein. I am though. Even if I do look like a, uh hmm, tool!

Miss you all...but we've been "Welcomed" to Marshall and we're stayin'! The Mid-west is pretty special!

Sunday - April 10, 2005

Sunday, April 10, 2005

So, it finally rained this morning. Thunder, Lightening. A real fireworks display too, not just a little light in the sky. It was cool. And rather short. It's already sunny and Taylor's out on his bike. The amazing part is that, like magic, the grass is green and we've got plants popping through the soil. Add water, and "presto-change-o" you've got a garden!

I think I will suit up myself and go for a spin as the wind has finally calmed a bit to a more tolerable speed. Anything below 20mph is "calm" here. Sigh. A 2.5 hour ride equals a 4 hour ride to the coast back home. No wonder those mid-western bike racers are so tough! Like the Belgians. In fact, it feels sorta like Belgium here. The weather, the terrain...it's all very similar.

I was out riding about a week ago and a farm dog (they're all over the place), came barking up at me. I've never in my life been afraid of dogs and so I just kept pedaling along (into the darn wind!). Well there were three dogs and one of them came around to the other side of me and bit my ankle!! Ouch!! I luckily had leg warmers and booties on, but he still bit through! So now I've avoided that road and have found that staying on the highway roads instead of the country roads might mean more traffic, but it also means less dogs. The Bike Shop here sells "mace" and now I know why. I think I will get some!

Yesterday was Mike's birthday and we went out to dinner in a town called Currie, right near Lake Shetek. It was fun. Mike had the local liquor store special order a ton of Chimay (Belgian) beer and we took two big bottles in a cooler and went to the grounds by the lake and toasted his birthday with his mom and dad. It was warm...upper 70's and there were geese and wood ducks flying over head. Mike ate a 20oz rare (RAW!! in my opinion!) rib eye, and I had a local fish...my new favorite, Walleye. My fish came with a candle-lit bowl of butter for dipping and Mike kept putting his steak in the butter to get it hot (and to keep it from crawling away!) It was a wonderful dinner...complete with an oreo-ice-cream cake for dessert.

I've been feeling pretty tired from being on "full-speed-ahead" since we left California. I need a little R&R. But we still need to paint our bedroom (We've painted almost every room in our new house already! It looks very cool!) Sydney LOVES her new digs. All she does is play, chase BIG squirrels and eat. Our doorbell never stops from the neighborhood kids coming over to see if the small hound is available for "playing".

I've already started working a couple of days a week at the bike shop too. It's very different than the shop in Palo Alto. I was surprised at how busy they are there. A guy was in from Aberdeen South Dakota yesterday with his TT Trek bike (he was buying Zipp 404 wheels for it) and his Speicalized S-works Road bike). Getting it tuned up for the Senior Olympics. Aberdeen, by the way, is about 180 miles North and West of Marshall. I also sold a mountain bike to a guy from Edina, MN (about 150 miles North and East of Marshall.) I haven't seen a ton of riders here in town though---but there are a few and it's early yet in the season. There is a triathalon on April 30th right in town and I signed up to work the event.

Guess I'm just babbling now. I do Miss the mountains. The ocean. And you (if you are getting this message). Mike is happy as a clam---I've never lived without the mountains, and or ocean though and so it is more of an adjustment for me I think. I do love our new home though.

It's good to miss stuff anyway---

Reason #96: Why I love Marshall

Reason #96: Why I love Marshall

I awoke this morning to that unseasonable warm sunshine (that I keep hearing about but know nothing but...). Left for a 30 mile bike ride, stopped by this other riding gal's office to arrange for a day to ride together; hooked up with Diane and the girl's at the Daily Grind before they were leaving; went home and ate a huge pasta lunch. Then left for the Bridal shop to get fitted (I'll remember to NOT eat so much next time I do this!) in my beautiful new wedding dress. It looks even better in a smaller size!!! Bought new shoes, a necklace and earrings and had the veil fitted.

THEN...I went to take my Minnesota Driving test...passed like a champ! Went to the court house to take the eye exam, and pay the fees and take my picture. Registered to vote. Stopped off at the grocery store for some last minute items and came home. I thought the clock in my car hadn't been set yet to the proper time...since it was like 2:17pm. I re-set the clock two hours ahead as I was sure it had to be like 4:17pm. I mean I'd gotten so much done. When I went inside I was greeted by the small hound and sure enough...it was only 2:17pm. So I went back outside to change the clock again, and then Mike just got back from his ride. It's like 75 degrees with no wind. Amazing!

I could get used to this....

From California to Minnesota...

From California to Minnesota...

Friday, March 25, 2005 : Bay Area, California to Salt Lake City, Utah

Another "oh-dark-thirty" wake up call...but wait. This was not for a bike race. No. This was the beginning of our trek out of California, East, (and North), to Minnesota.

You can't believe how crazy Thursday was. Or maybe you can. We picked up our moving truck and car trailer to tow our VW Golf with. We had to wait until 10am for Penske to open and by the time we were all rented it was about 10:30. We then headed back to Los Altos to drop off the car trailer so we could go pack up the city. Since our house was on a steep hill, we parked it by the little league fields and tried un-hooking the hitch. The hitch wouldn't come off. UGH! We'd only had the thing for 10 minutes and were already stuck. After waiting for almost two hours for the tow truck to get us un-hooked, our neighbor came by and jumped on the end of the trailer and off it came. Tired of waiting, we called and told Penske where to pick up the darn thing and off we went to pack the city...two hours behind schedule.

We decided to "ditch the hitch" and we'd both drive, so after we packed up San Francisco and finished Los Altos....followed by a teary good-bye with our friend, Alan...and our neighbor Howard, we headed to my Mom and Dad's for dinner and a bed to sleep in. But neither of us could really sleep...and so we decided to get out of dodge at about 3:30am!

We made it out of the traffic zones in the dark of morning and were headed over the Sierra's just around sun-up! It was beautiful...snow covered hills but sunny weather. Sydney was riding shot-gun with me, and we marveled at our luck weather wise. But we were tired all day. I drank too much coffee and so it was lucky that Mike's truck got bad gas mileage because he had to stop somewhat frequently, and I could go to the restroom. Our first stop in Nevada was in Winnemucca. And just after that we hit some weather...hail and rain...but not for long. Nevada is a big state....up and down. But rather beautiful in an old-West "lots of deserted nothingness" kind of way. The terrain is awesome.

What amazed us both is how different the states are. 30 miles or so into a new state, and you really can distinguish the difference. From Nevada we headed into Utah (we drove on highway 80 the whole way!). Utah is lovely. All the mountains were covered in snow and it was COLD COLD COLD...we were pretty fried. 760 miles on day one.

We stayed at a Hotel near the Salt Lake City airport. The only traveler who was fresh as a daisy today was the small hound. After eating a bread-bowl of soup, we drifted off to a much needed sleep. It's amazing how 13 hours on the road doing nothing but pressing down on the gas pedal can make your rear-end hurt....my bicycle seat is way more comfortable! Anyway it felt great to sleep and we both were out like lights in a flash!

Saturday, March 26, 2005: Salt Lake City, Utah to Kearney, Nebraska

We both woke up feeling like champs...and with the complimentary breakfast at the hotel, we loaded up with bagels and cream cheese for snacks to keep us from getting too hungry between stops during the drive. As we began the ascent out of Salt Lake (towards Park City), the views were spectacular...really. What a lovely place Utah would be to ride a bike. (I guess I always evaluate a place by the way it would be to ride around). The rock formations and brisk but clear outdoors kept us pre-occupied...even without tunes. If I had planned on driving I would have not packed all my CD's. As it stood, I had accidentally, but thankfully left my Santana CD in the walkman, and a Neil Diamond CD was in the glove box. But how many times can you listen to "Smooth" or "Forever in Blue Jeans"? Sigh.

Soon we were in Wyoming, traversing the continental divide several times. High desert! I think it is one of my favorite places. But here is where I got my first dose of WINTER. Ice on the roads. Salt (for the ice) on the roads. We had to stop and buy more wiper fluid as we couldn't see from all the dirt on the windshield. Finally, in Cheyenne I caved and bought a new CD. John Denver was all they had available. Luckily Sydney didn't mind me singing at the top of my lungs, "Rocky Mountain High" and "Take me home, Country Roads". Sigh again.

From Cheyenne it wasn't long before we were in Nebraska. Now I'd always thought that Nebraska was flat (nope...rolling), and boring (nope....lovely). Every State seems to have a redeeming quality. We made it all the way to Kearney (pronounced Carney) and that left us with only 450 miles left before we were in Marshall. We stayed at a Best Western Hotel with an onsite restaurant called...Sydney's! How about that?! Not only that, but the room was gi-normous...and the Over King sized bed was the size of a small state! It was huge. Plus it had free high speed internet. The place was booked as there was a big migration of sand hill cranes taking place.

The migrating birds were fabulous. These were HUGE prehistoric birds (with big feet) and apparently very eery sounding bird calls. The skies were covered with the dancing beasts! Thousands of em', or so it seemed. There was even a tour group from the Ukraine there just to see them...We ate at one of the best chinese places ever. Who'd a thunk in Nebraska you'd have such killer chinese food. Better than anything I've ever had in San Francisco even...and it was 11 bucks for the two of us! I was liking the mid-west already!

Sunday, March 27, 2005: Kearney, Nebraska to Marshall, Minnesota

Amazed at what great progress we were making, and feeling great, we couldn't believe we'd be to our new home today. You couldn't have asked for more perfect traveling weather...and we were hammering at around 85 mph---no problem. In Omaha, we had to get on a new road (we'd been on 80 most of the way...). Here we headed North towards Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and from there we were Minnesota bound. Finally onto highway 23 and I could have lead the way from there.

We arrived at 2pm...1963 miles from my Mom & Dad's to Mike's Mom & Dad's. Door to door! We celebrated with hugs and hello's and then Mike and I got on our bike shorts and went for a long over due bike ride in the unseasonably warm Minnesota springtime. Happy to be done driving for a while and glad to have a couple of days to chill out before un-packing all the junk we'd spent days packing up and hauling across the country.

We are here and happy to be as such! What a cool trip!