Memorial Day Weekend

Contrary to the weather guy, we ended up with perhaps the nicest weather ever for the long, three day weekend, even if it did start off on a blustery note, and even if it was unseasonably cool. On Saturday morning, a bunch of us met at the Bike Shop to do a ride early. This was the only "really" windy day. On our way back into town, we detoured through Camden, which was packed to the gills with holiday campers. You could smell the coffee and breakfast cooking on the campfires---I love that!

Sunday we woke up to fairly cool but calm and dry weather. Just before I was about to cook my oatmeal, Mike said, "Hey, Wanna go do that ride in South Dakota...we can stop in Ivanhoe or somewhere else for breakfast?" I put away the oatmeal. Minnesota Dad gave us a bike routes map for South Dakota, we headed to the "Coteau des Prairie" (hills of the prairie), which has a 98 mile network of bike routes for us to explore on.

We packed up our bikes and the small hound and headed a little North and West, stopped in the town of Porter for a $5.58 breakfast for two(!) and rolled along easily over the no-traffic roads. None. This is a really beautiful area. The land isn't all farmed and plowed but rather left in it's original state. The terrain is really rolling...you're either going up or down meandering through the very rolling prairie land and 40+ glacial formed lakes. I saw so many birds & ducks (water fowl galore!)---it's gotta be a bird-watcher's paradise. Hooded Mergansers', egret's, huge white pelicans, mallards, baby ducks, green and teal wood ducks, buff-al head, canvas-back duck, cormorants' and even a Loon! Mike knows them all by name! We rolled along for about 4 hours and I didn't get dropped until the last 15 miles...As we passed the cattle, I would "moo" at them and they'd run away...I think that was around the time Mike decided to ride away. Ha! This was the best riding I've done since we got here---hands down! There was little to no traffic anywhere---even on Memorial day weekend. On the loop we did you could count the cars on two hands in the 4 hours of riding.

Monday - Memorial Day, everyone met at our house to ride. They were planning on doing 80 miles, but after two days of riding with guys, I wasn't looking forward to trying to keep up and so I opted for a slower, solo ride instead. I left about 15 minutes after they did, in the windless morning. I stopped by Mary's house, but she was off to play some golf with her husband and so I continued on towards Russell and then towards Arco before turning around. I got caught by the Taylor foursome (which started as a 6-some...but two of the guys left saying that "happy wives=happy lives"). They ended up doing only 55 miles or so---only 10 miles more than I. But I was really enjoying not hurrying and so I rode a few miles with them and then got dropped on the way into town...

Mike and I got busy making up for all the holiday-time-off-from-jobs when we got home though and washed all the windows (inside and out), washed our bikes, the car, the floors and the clothes. The yard looks fabulous and there is nothing the smell and feel of a clean house. We headed to the Taylor's for a home-cooked BBQ, then to the Olsen's to visit with Rick and Kim and to say good bye to Jeff (Kim's brother) before he headed to his new job in Wisconsin---and then headed home, thoroughly tired and yet rested from the long weekend! Happy Tuesday!

A Mixed Bag!!

Yesterday I didn't have to be at work until the afternoon, and so after a bunch of morning errands (a.k.a. stuff to do until the weather warms up a bit), I suited up and headed out into the wind, (really?) and a sky full of sunshine! It was blowing pretty steady at 20 MPH, with gusts at 28 MPH. Sigh.

When the wind blows like that, my new thing to do is to pretend I am riding up a climb. I know how far everything is now, and so if it's 8 miles in the wind, I'll imagine I'm climbing Kings Mountain---and if it's more than 8 miles into the wind, I choose West Alpine. As long as I don't try to go faster than I would up those two climbs, it is less annoying getting blown around on the flats. Mind control. And that climb combination used to be one of my favorite rides to do before work when I lived in Los Altos. Instead of the 3900' + of elevation gains, I get 3900+ wind velocity. And less time coasting...so more actual pedaling time.

Riding in the wind makes you tough anyway...and riding on the rolling flat prairie lands with that same wind at your back is absolutely priceless. Especially, when out of nowhere, you see a storm coming. These rolling flatlands offer great weather entertainment---But this cloud was blowing my way. And it wasn't a small cloud. The whole sky, on the Northwestern horizon was completely black, floor to ceiling. And I had at least planned my weather directions properly as I was heading East & Slightly South back into town.

KABOOOOM!! (grumble grumble grumble!) Boom! Thunder is cool as long as there is no lightening. The weather channel, if you go to the hour to hour display, was almost dead-on today. It had taken me longer than I had planned (probably because I was just tooling along in the wind so I wouldn't be annoyed by it), and so I was about 20 minutes into the hour that the showers would arrive. RATS! I didn't want to even hurry because the storm was so cool to watch. BUT, I was riding my Seven---no fenders, new Ksyriums, and didn't want to have to clean my bike before work. So, I put my nose down and pedaled in my 53x12 and let the wind push me home and aside from a few raindrops and few "running of a red lights later", I arrived home just in time to watch the storm pass from inside my house!

How cool is that? And I was just delighted when I got to work only to find out that in Marshall, The Bike Shop is CLOSED for Memorial Day---so Mike and I may go to do a little touring in South Dakota this weekend---! How about that?

Sydney wants to check her email now so I gotta go...she also brought home a friend from the field last night...a wood tick. Not very happy about this and it's not the first time she's done it. Yuk! Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Annoying weather guy!

(photo missing of "Big Mig" Taylor, Jeff Bigger and Rick Olsen)

All right. It's almost June isn't it? If I told you that it rained most of the day, the wind was blowing between 25-35 MPH with gusts to 40 MPH yesterday would you even believe me? Well I am (telling you) and it was (what I just said about the annoying weather). If I hadn't been so darn busy doing stuff yesterday, it would have really been depressing!

Sydney and I went to work at the bike shop in the morning. A very tall familiar face walks into the shop. Anyone who knows me knows that if an incredibly tall guy (or girl) walks by, I notice. It's because I've been so vertically challenged my whole life, and I figure if I can't be tall, I can surround myself with tall. Anyway, I haven't seen Jeff Bigger for about 4 years and I only met him once when he came to visit Mike at Palo Alto Bicycles years ago.

So while the rain just dumped outside the bike shop, Dave (Horstmann=bike shop owner) made a pot of coffee (and Dave only buys the best!), and we all talked (and worked!) the morning away. In fact, time passed so quickly that Jeff ended up being there from morning to lunchtime, when his brother-in-law Rick Olsen (he's the corporate pilot for Schwan's, and one of Mike's dearest buddies; they've known each other since they were like 6 years old or something ridiculous like that) stopped by to go out to lunch across the street at Hunan's (think "Jing Jing's").

After work I headed home to put dinner in the crock-pot (I love this invention!) and then went to meet my Minnesota Dad to try and figure out his GPS device. We were able to "mark our spot", name it, and then we drove out to the small hound's field so she could play in the rain) and then let the GPS guide us back home. It worked! So now Dave can go fishing and mark the spot where the fish are "exactly" and then find his way back to the fish when he's in the boat. Since he's catching all those fish for me, it was the least I could do to make his job easier!

Sydney and I went back home and I had work to do on my wedding, plus a bunch of housework (I sound like a housewife...yikes!). I was keeping my mind off of a bike ride pretty well. 40 MPH winds will do that, even if the rain did quit. Mike's hardcore though. so when he got home, he suited up and shortly thereafter, Jeff and Rick rode up (it's a "man" thing --"I am tough guy...I ride in 40 MPH wind"). You can see from the photo above that they were dressed to the gills---even if it is almost summer.

I guess Mike has had his "athlete's" reputation all his life. Rick said Mike was as mentally tough in basketball as he is on a bicycle. They all talk schmack (in private to me) saying "Taylor's lost his cycling edge". I run home and tell Mike though (of course). I said, "come on T, put the hurt on these guys next time!" He just smiles. I told him, "they think you've lost your touch!" He said he didn't care what they thought. However, after their last ride, he put the hurt on just enough to keep them quiet...and he won every city limits field sprint! He did that to keep me quiet probably.

Well, the sun's out...but it is very windy. A windy ride on the prairie---the weather guy is "off the back" but I am getting used to the wind...and with my wedding day countdown to look forward to, well, I'm still smiling!

Prairie Sounds...

So, I have been here for about 2 months now, and I just realized the other day that I have yet to hear a siren. Not a one! We even live right near by the hospital---but no ambulances or sirens. In Palo Alto, you'd hear 3-5 a day...everyday of the week as they tried to rush down University Avenue. And although you'll get some very random airplanes which fly overhead (usually transporting executives to and/or from US Bancorp or Schwan's), there really isn't much in the way of air traffic either. In the Bay Area, you've got three International Airports and a bunch of small airports within miles of each other and so airplanes overhead are as common a sight as the sun is there.

We don't have a freeway...so there aren't any freeway overpasses, and the noises associated with traffic --- and so far at least, I haven't heard any of those cars with cool stereos that drive by with the music turned on so loud that you can feel the bass drum; bah boom bah boom. Hmmm? Nice!

After a very busy day yesterday of trying to get rooms booked for all my family and friends for my wedding (there are 3 other weddings in this little town all taking place on the same day as mine and so all the rooms have been blocked off in the three nice places to stay---it's been kinda stressful). Mission accomplished...whew! I headed off to work and then Mike and I got home around the same time. He was already suited up and ready to go ride with a bunch of guys and I was hungry and so I had a snack. But I had too much of a snack, felt full, and so I thought I'd get a short ride in myself (so I'd have room for dinner! Ha!)

My short ride turned into a 2+ hour spin. It's so darn nice here in the evenings. The wind dies down and it stays warm. And it's so quiet. You can actually hear how quiet it is. Suddenly I notice this chirping sound that I hear when my wheel needs a little bit of loving care from my chief mechanic, Alan Kayser. (or Colin Baird---but he doesn't do bicycles anymore!) So I stopped pedaling to see if I could figure out which wheel was chirping and the noise continued. It wasn't my bike. It was a real FROG! I haven't heard a frog in so long!

I'd say that thus far, the most constant sounds I hear are the different birds on the prairie. My brother has one of those clocks that tweets a different bird on the hour...all twelve of those birds live here on my prairie. I even sometimes have to remind myself that these are real birds...not a clock.

Today though, the sound I am hearing is the wind. Sigh. Hopefully it "blows away" and I can get a ride in later today...but I can't really even complain. If I can get in 225+ miles a week, a day off here and there isn't such a big deal. And when you NEVER have to deal with cars and traffic, you can't imagine how much you can get done in a day and so squeezing in 2 hours in the evening (or whenever) to do a ride is so much easier.

...I'm understanding a little better the Sound of Silence. It's a nice sound---especially the frogs! And...In thirty days, I will officially be a Taylor...I sure like the sound of that!!! Happy Wednesday!

The Life of Reilly

It just doesn't get any better outside then it was yesterday! 75F and just a touch of a breeze, but basically an unreal windless day on the prairie!. After a trip to the field with the small hound, my car started making scary noises - translated to the feel and sound of metal on metal. I had an early morning meeting with my wedding planner, Amy though and so it had to wait until after the "preview". It was pretty exciting to see what she's done, and it is wonderful to have someone else in charge of this part. Amy just listens to the general idea I'm looking for and creates the atmosphere and plans everything. Of course, Diane has a good eye and has been a BIG help in perfecting the planning of the big event!

Afterwards, Diane showed me the way to the car-fixing place and then dropped me off at home. Dave was busy edging my yard (nice), and filling my fridge with more fresh fish! I had rescheduled my work days so I could deal with the car and other stuff and so when my friends Mary and Phyllis called to go for a ride in the afternoon I was free to go.

I rode to Mary's in the perfect weather. Phyllis wasn't there yet and so we oiled her chain (now she knows how!) and she showed me her fabulous yard. Phyllis arrived and we were ready to hit the road. Did I mention the incredible day? You know how in the Bay area the wind picks up in the afternoon, and then all the traffic is non-stop after 3pm? Well not here! The wind usually dies down in the evening and the day gets warmer...and there is NO traffic anywhere. Locals think one car is a nuisance. I think...this is heaven!

Phyllis and Mary usually keep me laughing during the whole ride. This is the first time since that "very first time" we rode that we've attempted the big rollers out on Buffalo Ridge (around Russell). The first time Phyllis' average speed on County Road 15 was 7.9 MPH. Yesterday her average speed was 14.7 MPH! Big improvements in just two months. She's a hammer too! She'll huff and puff up the hill and then at the top she'll come speeding by Mary and me, with a determined and focus look in her eye while she's recovering from the climb. She used to push her bike up the hills there...Not anymore!

When I was trying to coach them on breathing through the hard parts, I demonstrated the technique and Phyllis said, "Oh...it's like child birth" So now...if you ever ride by Phyllis or Mary going up a climb, you'll see them practicing the "bike Lamaze" breathing style!! Add to that, a road bike, plus some shifting lessons and these gals are ready for RAGBRAI! I've got 'em all using Hamergel, clipless pedals, bike shorts and jersey's with pockets in the back. We rode 35 miles together and I did another 10 or so to end the evening with a huge smile on my face.

Then, on the ride I get a call from the car-fixing-guy telling me my car is fixed. (He wasn't going to be able to do it until today, but somehow managed to fix it yesterday). He even said I could pick it up tonight, but I was out in the middle of nowhere and I wouldn't be able to get to the shop in time to pay him. He said, "Oh...I've known your Minnesota Dad forever and so Welcome to Marshall...no charge!" Mike said that since we just had the work done on the car when we got here he shouldn't have charged us anyway...but I like my story better than his. Even if it was something he didn't get right the first time, he still could have tried to charge us...but he didn't.

Mike jokes that I lead the "Life of Reilly". I don't know who Reilly is....but he leads a pretty nice life!

Weekend Showers...

Friday when Mike got home from work, it was still very nice out and since there were some predicted thunderstorms for Saturday, he decided to get a good ride in. While he was out riding, Kendra (the little girl from across the street) and Alycia (little girl from next door) knocked on the door. They often come over to play with Sydney, but today they had a different request.

Kendra: Hello Joni. In my whole life, I've never been inside your house (she's 7...so this is a long time!), and so I think it would be really great if I could come inside and see your whole house. What do you think?

Joni: All right Ladies...come on inside!

Kendra: Oh Wow! I just love the colors.

She's running into each room with exclamations and joyful sighs. Then she goes into our bedroom.

Kendra: This must be your room. Where is the guys room?

Alycia: (whispers) I think they sleep together...

Kendra: Then why do they need these other two rooms? Hey, can we see the basement?

Glad to not have to go into where we sleep, I was thankful for a distraction and down into the basement we went. Kendra, delighted with all the floor space (we have alot of bikes...not alot of furniture), cartwheels across the rec room!

Kendra: Wow...it's huge!! In my whole life (7 years), I NEVER imagined your house was so big!

Then they went outside to play with Sydney. A few minutes later, the doorbell rings again. "Hey Joni, do you have a piece of gum for me?" Hmmm. I need to learn how to set limits I guess. (which I did...I relayed the whole story to her Mom Beth, who was not very happy about it and gave me permission to say "No"!)

Anyway, I suppose that once we're married, I won't have to deal with the "where do we sleep" questions. The girl's all know we are getting married in June out at Camden and they are just think that is about the coolest place to get married and they all want to come!

And speaking of the wedding, the shower I was really referring to in this email had nothing to do with the weather. Nope. A bridal shower! To be honest, we did wake up Saturday morning to some "weather" of sorts. And the wind was a blowin' all weekend. But when you have indoor plans on an event filled Saturday, the not-perfect weather is irrelevant.

I can't even remember the last time I went to a wedding shower, and I've certainly never been the recipient of one. My Minnesota Mom out did herself though!! It was a wonderful time, and how often do you get a bunch of presents that you in fact picked out? (Oh...that's why you register at places...duh?) When Diane asked me which present I liked best, on Sunday night at dinner, I thought for a moment. The most delightful surprise for me was having my Minnesota Sister Sue and my only niece, Olivia there. Sue woke up and got on the road at about 5 in the morning to be here for the shower.

I've been in town less then two months and I had 20 people at my shower almost! (Minnesota Mom has a strong "following") And I have enough Peet's to last me for a while now...I think I have 10 pounds in my freezer! Woo hoo!

Sunday I rode out in the wind with Mary, Rachael and Rachael's husband Mike while my Mike went Mountain Biking for 4-5 hours, and then we ate a Sunday dinner with the Taylor's to end the weekend on a high note...

Some "showers" are nice ones!

just lovely...

...such a very fabulous day it was for riding your bike. Wow! It feels like summer already with the temperatures approaching the 80F mark! And everything is so green and blooming! Mike and I had (very Mid-west) bowling plans for the evening and so he got up early to get a ride in before work. At about 5:30 AM, a very handsome cyclist gave me a kiss and said he was off for a ride (probably so I wouldn't worry if I woke up and he was MIA).

I couldn't go back to sleep and so I got up too. It was so nice and sunny out that I loaded up the Scrapper and we went out to the field early to play. Then I followed Mike's lead, for an early bike ride. And all I can say is WOW. It's been so long since it was warm out. I headed South and West because that's where the best terrain is. 45 miles of prairie rollers later and you couldn't wipe the smile off my face for the remainder of the day if you tried.

But it gets better. No sooner had I returned from my ride and changed my clothes before my meeting with Celeste (for wedding planning), and the doorbell rings. It was the UPS guy, with a special delivery from my San Diego sister...4 whole pounds of Peet's. WOW! So I'm sitting here at the computer, with an extra special large cup of Major Dickensen's as I type! I almost kissed the UPS guy!

After work, Mike had time for another quick spin (2 rides in one day!) while I hung out with the neighborhood kids and played soccer with Sydney who showed us all how talented she was!!! What a goalie my small hound is! When the weather gets nice--you go OUTSIDE. When Mike got home we ate quickly and then headed to the bowling alley! Ha!

His co-workers have some kind of league and there was a "fun" competition between the South Eastern and Mountain-West regions. By the last game Mike had improved and bowled a 159. Each game he broke a 100 though. And I watched and met all the folks he works with which was fun. Number one question? Why oh why did you move to Marshall? Even after you respond, they give you a strange look and just say, "ohhhhh?!" And everyone but everyone is very concerned about what I am gonna do in the winter? Hmmm? I still don't get it....a warm honeymoon and if need be a trip to visit my Mom and Dad oughta get me through the cold-spell! Yes?

But it isn't cold today---80 degrees is the forecast---lots of sunshine and so I am off to a repeat performance of yesterday! A very nice finish to the week! Have a great weekend! Happy Friday!

Peacocks on the Prairie!

Yesterday I rode in the high velocity winds...(really? what a surprise!) It was warm though and once I get going, I'm fine. Getting out of the house is a challenge when I see the flags on my street blowing straight---but at least the wind was from the South Southeast. Heading down Country road 7, I passed the Old English sheepdog house..(there are 10-15 Old English Sheepdogs behind the fence who always bark like mad when I ride by...hence the name).

You know you're starting to adjust to your new surroundings when you start describing places or giving directions or understanding the directions you're given, not by their street names or addresses, but by some sort of landmark. "Take a left at the road to Lynd...(County Road 74), or the back road to Russell (County Road 4), or the Lake Balaton Road...". You get the idea. Those were the directions folks here would give me. It gets hard when the directions include a landmark that is no longer there...like, "take a right where the old church used to be". You're like...well what's there now? Usually, nothing is---or if it was a church, maybe the cemetery is still there, but if it was something like a farm...well, then you just ride around the square route until something looks familiar.

When I first got here, all the roads looks the same. But now, I've found something distinct about all the roads and I don't get lost. My usual way of defining the roads includes some wildlife and loose farm dogs though. The back road from Ghent, is the road where the Black Lab and Friend always chase me for almost 1/2 mile when I am heading back home. County Road 67 becomes the road from Camden where the Black Lab, an Ahsa Lapsa, and some kind of Poodle try and catch me going uphill...(I always drop em' on the descent though)! The River road to Camden (in Lynd) is the Dubbledee Kennel or Donkey Road. And now Saratoga, which was the "The Dog that Bit Me Road", is now the Peacock Road!

On my way back into town yesterday, I saw these big birds on the corner of "The Dog that Bit Me" Road, and as I got closer they just kinda hung out and waited. Then one of them opened up all it's feathers and I realized the birds were in fact Peacocks! 1 gorgeous male and 2 females. With their feathers fanned, they're like 8 feet tall!! They were hanging out on the corner and I got within a foot of them. I stopped and waited while they crossed the road. But they were tame and not very scared of me. They had to be pets as they let me get within reach of them and didn't jump or anything.

And with a huge tailwind at my back, I headed home on the former "Dog that Bit Me" road...and at 30-35 mph, even if the dog that bit me was there (which he wasn't), he'd have trouble catching me!

Peacocks on the Prairie....imagine that? Enjoy your day!

Baby Burro...

It ended up being 70 degrees yesterday! It'd have been perfect if the wind wasn't blowing at a fairly steady 30 mph. But who needs perfection, right? (Need? No, Want? Youbetcha!) If I had had a camera with me on Monday, I don't think I would have headed so far into the wind yesterday---however, I wanted to take a picture of the little foal before s/he grows up. Of course I had the settings wrong, so I'll have to make another trip at some point. Sigh...

So...not really bike-riding related, but pretty unexpectedly exciting to me. I went for a wedding dress fitting yesterday! Wow...I felt like such a girl! Even with 3-4 inch glass slippers, the hem needs to come WAY up. It was a reality check fitting. (Is she really that short? Are you sure? I don't want to cut it until we're sure about it. Ha! ) So now they're sure I'm short. A simple phone call would have sufficed ("Hey Joni, this is Carol. Are you short?" Yup!) Anyway, that'd ruin all the fun. They also had to take it in at the waist and hips (otherwise it kept falling down!) so any thoughts I had of eating at my wedding reception are gone!! (ha!)

Anyway, it's been a long time since I've seen myself in a dress---no one will recognize me without my bike-shorts or jeans! Weird. 4 more weeks, or thereabouts. OK...now back to my regular business...bike riding in wind.

Wind is an amazing force. I guess I never really thought about it and the Bay Area is windy. But it's almost always blowing from the Northwest...down the coast... You can count on that. And anyway, when the wind does shift directions you get those offshore breezes which rule---especially if you live in San Francisco! You can also count on cover from the wind in the hills and trees. I logged on to weather.com yesterday before my ride and it was the exact same temperature in Palo Alto as it was in Marshall. Not only that but the wind was blowing there too! It's the terrain plus the wind I suppose.

So I am off into the wind --- today I think I will just ride into the wind directly for an hour or two so I can enjoy some direct tail wind on the way home. What a great Giro di Italia this year is. Satellite's rule...Did you see Mario Cipollini giving Danilo DiLuca instructions during the TT? It was hilarious, even if you don't know Italian.

Ciao baby!

(Jamie-girl and Layne...these photos are for you!!)

"It's that red-headed two-wheeling human again!"

Mom and Baby

Dad, walked up the hill for some baby carrot snacks!

Dad, saying good-bye to the carrot-lady!

weather woes...

Yesterday, with a Southeastern wind, I headed West southwest and out towards Camden and Russell. If you like riding anything interesting, Western Lyon County and Lincoln county offer the most interesting and undulating terrain. I was in the wind most of the day (riding directly South and East is pretty flat and boring, and after so many indoor days, I figured to heck with the wind...it's a warm wind and it does make difference, so I might as well ride somewhere with some terrain.)

Plus, after about an hour and a half, I'd meandered enough South that I had a good tail, then tail-cross wind ride back home. I will never get tired of flying with the wind at my back on these flat roads. Easily as fun as a descent. I am learning slowly, that if it is nice outside, then go OUTSIDE. That's why, even when it is in my opinion freezing, you see folks outside here. (So what's your point, Joni?)

I'll tell you. Last night, while all snuggled up in bed, I enjoyed the thunder, lightening and rain and was glad that the rain part had subsided by the time I woke up. Cool. Then this morning, Mike was on his bike and just about out of the garage when someone dumped a bucket (make that a small sea) from up above. More rain. So he opted for a ride to work today. It isn't supposed to last and with the way the wind is blowing, it oughta be out of here in no time...but, sigh, right now, my plans for any outdoor bicycle exploration have been put on hold.

Hey, did you know that today the country of Norway is 100 years old!? Happy Birthday Norway!! The weather over the pond in Viking land is much better than the land in the Viking state today---though---

And I see some blue-sky in the distance....so I better go and wake up my lazy old small hound! (So I can take her to romp in the field!)

I hope to ride to Dubbledee's to see the little donkey foal. Her Mom-donkey and Dad-donkey are always close by, but very friendly. If I stop at the side of the road on my bike they all approach the gate like they're glad to see me. So I am packing some baby carrots in my jersey today!! I hope your weather is better than mine...

Prairie Musings

Riding with girls...

...usually a soloist on my bike ventures, it was nice to have some girl-company on Sunday. Finally a decent riding day to boot. I was really reconsidering my "love of the bike". It was that bad. Don't get me wrong. Life isn't *that* bad...just life in the saddle. You cyclists out in California may not understand this very well, as you don't have to deal with weather.

Saturday night we went out to dinner in Lucan, Minnesota. Don't even try to look it up as I can't imagine it's on the radar. There is a place that brews it's own beer though, hence the attraction. So the Taylor-foursome ate a lovely dinner and commiserated about the unseasonably cold weather. The funny thing was is that there was some kind of baseball tournament taking place and folks were out there playing like it was summer. The pitcher was wearing a bright orange long-sleeved t-shirt and shorts. I'd be surprised if it was even 40 degrees---and the wind was blowing like you definitely can't imagine. Minnesotans are hearty. If there isn't snow on the ground they are outside in shorts!

Sunday when I woke up it was 38F degrees---BUT, the forecast called for 60F by the afternoon and so I was happy to get outside after many indoor riding days. The thing is, I hate exercising. I just love exploring life on my bike....but I am not an athlete. Folks think I am because I ride my bike everyday. But it is fun. Not work. Riding the trainer is work. I don't have a clue why I do it---except I like the exercise "buzz" I get.

Anyway, I rode over to Mary's---she has an awesome place right along my favorite route out of town...I've sent photo's of the cool houses on this road. Rachael, her niece, was already there with her cute little yellow lab-puppy (baby dog!), Morgan, and we were just waiting for one last partner-in-crime, Phyllis, to arrive from her weekend camping haven in Ivanhoe. These were the gals I sold bikes to when we first arrived in Minnesota. They are training to do RAGBRAI!

We were way too happy about the weather. It actually got progressively better as the day went on. It's kinda funny to have someone who's only been in Marshall for about 7-8 weeks leading bike rides to a bunch of very local Minnesotans...but there I was, amazed that these gals hadn't ridden my favorite Camden Loop! As we passed Dubbledee's Kennels (the cool house with the shetland pony and pregnant donkey that I emailed a week or so ago), I saw that a new little baby donkey was added to the cool farm collection. (I know, I know...it's a foal...I'm tryin' to keep my city-girl image!)

The rain we've had sure has made life green in Camden. Just lovely! As we passed several areas where the dogs always chase me, I am pleased to report that no dogs (except for some kind of toy ahsa lapsa-type) took us on. I suppose that riding in "packs" like we were sorta put the dogs in their place. 1 girl snack? Maybe. But 4 girls? On funny two wheels contraptions? I don't think so.

My normal "square-route" was barred at one point when we were stopped by a road that had at one point been tar, but was now hard-packed dirt. Simple enough to detour around...everything is pretty much in a straight line. I mentioned it to Mike when I got home though and he informed me of a new-to-me infamous Minnesotan saying;

"We have two season's in Minnesota, Joni. Winter and Road-Construction".

Well, this Marshall "Team Betty" gal (If you can't ride with the girls...than at least ride like a girl!) will take the "road-construction" season please. I'm off for a ride in the South East winds today. South anything makes me happy!! Happy Monday!

A Hot Dish!

...and I don't mean Pamela Anderson (or Mario Cipollini), both of whose names come to *MY* mind when I think of the term "Hot Dish". (Or maybe it's Danilo Di Luca---I do love the satellite Live Giro I get to watch---who needs OLN, I just need to learn Italian!), Anyway...

Earlier this week, my Minnesota sister emailed me a recipe for the crock-pot. A tortellini slow cooking dish. It sounded easy enough and so I high-tailed it to Hy-Vee (Marshall's Safeway...or grocery super-store), and picked up some ingredients. I added three whole cloves of garlic to the recipe, (only in Minnesota would an Italian recipe NOT have garlic in it!), plus added a bunch of other spices.

The recipe is simple. Had I actually grown up in Minnesota, I most certainly would not have been amazed by it's elegant mix of ingredients; basically vegetables, fruit(are tomatoes fruit?), some grain (sort of), and protein. It's like a complete well-balanced meal that you can pretty much cook anywhere. How perfect is that?

Anyway, that night at dinner, I was pleased when it all turned out pretty well. Mike looked at me after taking a bite and said, "Hey, you made a hot dish!" He was still chewing and so I thought he said, "Hey, you're a hot dish!" So I said "Thanks, you're a pretty hot dish yourself!" Ha! He laughed and then explained "Hot Dish" to me.

And like I said, had I grown up in Minnesota, I probably would have realized that "Hot Dish" wasn't some clever name Mike had come up with for a the dinner, but rather that it was the ubiquitous name for an infinite number of variations of the noodle/meat/vegetable casseroles that are served at potlucks and church socials and company picnics all across The Land of 10,000 Lakes.

The things you learn that you weren't even trying to learn! Come to think of it, I can't tell you how often I've been hearing things like, "hot dish", "egg dish", etc., since I've been here. (Everything is called a "dish".) Now I am beginning to understand. All I need to remember when I get the recipes though, is to add some spices... Because the other thing that comes to my mind when I hear "hot dish", (when referring to food, not Cipo), is Spicy Hot. Burning your lips hot! Jalapeno-peppers and Thai-spicy-hot-garlic hot! Mike and I picked up some "Super spicy burn your lips hot" sauce and it tasted sorta like a Heinz ketchup.

Sigh...I'll tell you what's NOT hot though---the weather. NOT hot! I've been informed that I should enjoy the NOT hot while I can, because once it warms up, the bugs will arrive. Bugs? What bugs? I'm afraid to ask. For whatever reason I've been plopped down on the Prairie so I am making the most of all this new stuff as it comes my way---and what is definitely coming my way is warmer weather, according to the weather guy. We're back in the 70's for the weekend and beyond! Woo hoo!!

In fact, right now it's sort looking cloudy, but warmer than yesterday with no wind so to speak. In California we call this coastal morning fog---or overcast. In California this generally burns off around 9 am or 10 am and then the day is lovely. So even if it doesn't burn off (there is only a coast here in my dreams---or near Lake Superior!), I can imagine that it will (burn off) and ride in the very familiar "fog" today. Outside!

What bugs?

A Mirage!

Nothing like finding some hills at last to ride my bike up! Woo hoo! Where did they come from? Anyway, with the sun in my face, I headed to the East. The morning sun even felt warm for a change. (You know how even if it's brisk out but you look into the sun you can feel that radiant heat?) Nice. As I approached the foot of a climb that appeared from I don't know where, I shifted into my 39x19, got out of the saddle and settled into a nice uphill rhythm.

There were even a few steeper sections and so I down-shifted again as the last mile or so appeared to be about 7-8% gradient (or thereabouts). "How did I miss this place" I wondered out loud? I have to remember to tell Mike about it when I get home. We always call each other when we're out on a ride and we see something really cool or find a nice road somewhere. I would have called him right away, but you know how bad the cell phone reception can be when you're riding up a climb. As I ascended the last 200 meters to the top, I looked out and saw the Ocean.

Wait a minute? An Ocean? In Minnesota?

...and then I woke up.

Sigh! One of Mike's famous sayings to me, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is (too good to be true)". Sigh again...After my dream, I looked outside and checked the weather. Hmmm? 39F, feels like 29F---warming up to a balmy 42F. Rain and wind. This is more like "reality", huh? Is it already winter or what? I even drove Mike to work for the first time since we moved here. (He's actually ridden everyday but one though---he can squeeze in a ride since he's got that fender-bike...plus way warmer riding gear than I) And when he gets off of work, it's supposed to quit raining so he'll likely get a ride in today as well---we threw his bike on top of the car just in case.

As for me? I'll be riding in my garage listening to the Cowboy Junkies and the Indigo Girls, singing at the top of my lungs, and dreaming of mountains and oceans and sunshine---If you are reading me in California, GO OUTSIDE and RIDE to the coast for me. Do the BIG coast loop. Take the day off of work!

And if you work at PAB and are reading me...did the Falke base-layers in XS ever arrive and do you have any left? At least my San Diego sister called me last night to tell me she is sending Peet's! (small miracles do happen)

And so, with that, and with a smile (still) on my face, I will ride my bike absolutely nowhere really...to another "mirage"!

Cloudy 48F, feels like 42F

Windy and overcast with showers! Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph... (Big Sigh!) I can quote the weather channel even. "Storm stories...blah blah blah, right after your local on the 8's..." (Sigh again) I feel like I am in Belgium---only everyone here "spreeks Engles" (speaks English). Really. The last time I experienced this kind of weather, Mike and I were living and racing in Belgium. Seriously, the terrain is the same, the wind and weather are the same. There's even a town called Ghent less than 10 miles or so away...hmmmm?

But they definitely are not the same. In any case, I am done trying to prove I'm so tough, and I believe a trip to the YMCA is the plan for the day. I can handle the cold (sort of), but I hate cleaning my bike's drive train. And the North East winds plus the cold are too annoying! All right, so I might be a wimp. Sydney doesn't care if it's cold out---she's so fit and trim right now! In California, Mike and I were busy either working or riding our bikes that she had gained a few pounds. But now, she's got her girlish figure back even from all the outdoor exercise she's getting. That is when she's not sleeping on my new comforter!

I did get a special delivery package from California that made me smile yesterday though. Not Peet's (Rats!), but a bunch of bike race schwag from Terry!! Woo Hoo!! So the next sunny day, I'll be sporting a new McGuire-Langdale team kit as I get ready for the early summer racing out East!! Thanks Thanks Thanks!

To be honest, with all the rain back home, I doubt I'd be riding much more than I am now. And planning a wedding here in Marshall is so much easier than it would be there. Oh yes....the wedding! In 6 weeks time, I will be a real life "Taylor" too!! (a Mehler-Taylor...hey, it rhymes!) I am so looking forward to seeing my family I can hardly stand it!

...that's it, reporting live from Marshall---where the weather is NOT spring-like at all today!

Coteau des Prairies!

A little bit of history about this new region of the world I now call home. It is called, Coteau des Prairies, or "highland of the prairie". This high plateau was formed a bazillion years ago---er, uh, during the last Ice Age (it figures!), and glaciers covered the shale and sandstone bedrock with many layers of mixed rock, gravel, sand and clay, which together are known as till. Then, where the glaciers stopped advancing, the till piled up into long high ridges called moraines. (I'm sure that all this stuff is why the soil is so black.)

One of my favorite places to ride to (road bike) and in (mountain bike) is Camden State Park. Camden lies atop the Altamont moraine, which is the second highest and most eastern moraine in the Coteau. Camden used to be a small village, but now it's simply a beautiful place to be if you want to be outside and close to cool wildlife (including a small colony of Blue Herons...a.k.a. pterodactyls) . It's also a great place to shelter yourself from the wind! (I was gonna try and NOT talk about the weather, but there I go with the wind already!)

Speaking of which, there is a surge of Nationwide weather drama! The weather has gone absolutely loopy! Fun to watch from inside your house, when you have nothing to do but snuggle up with your cute little hound and your cute sweetie, but a major drag if you feel like riding your bicycle, or actually have work to do, huh? "Holy Buckets!" (Now I really sound like a local!)

When it rains in Minnesota, it rains. Like a bucket of water gets dumped on you. No droplets of water until the deluge-part has passed, after which time it sorta sprinkles for a spell and then completely stops. The sun comes out dramatically, then the wind kicks in like a 25000 watt blow-dryer, drying up the roads so it looks like the rain never was. It's wild!

On my attempt at a bike ride before work yesterday, I got about a mile down the street before some drops began, and I got too scared that there might be lightening and so I high-tailed it home. I'm such a chicken when it comes to things like natural electricity! Today's plan is a ride North. The wind shifted to my least favorite (for riding my bike) direction --- sigh.

The funny thing is that it's the days like this, when it is a challenge to get my rear in gear and on my bike, that I end up discovering something cool and new about my new locale. I found out about the above little history lesson one day when I was almost in tears from the miserable wind and I ran into this older guy who was enjoying a walk in the park.

It is frustrating. I put away (I thought for good) my cold weather cycling gear right when we moved here, as it was pretty warm. Unfortunately, I can't remember where I packed away my Pearl Izumi lobster claw gloves...and Mike's are too big (but I sneak and wear them anyway!) One day it's 80F, and the next day it can be 48F. Loopy weather.

I guess it is all over though. My Mom (in "Sunny's" California) said she was enjoying thunder and hailstorms so go figure? Anyway...I'll head North and then West (there's a little bit o' West in that North wind today)...and see what Les Coteau des Prairies has on display for this little redheaded explorer today! (A Peet's coffee shop would be a nice "find"...sigh)

You Betcha! (Happy Tuesday!)

A Minnesotan Mother's Day

A Minnesotan Mother's Day

My first Mother's Day that I can remember where I didn't get to spend it, live and in person, with my Mom! I am not much of a holiday person...but I think that Mother's Day has always been one of favorite holidays. I was blessed to get to spend it with my Minnesota Mom though. And we partied...Taylor-style!

I spent the morning on the phone with my Mom, and then headed South, into the wind. You might have been hearing about the storms out in the mid-west? Well, I rode 40+ miles in the sunshine, and was glad I remembered sunscreen, as the temps were near the 80F mark! It's amazing how much easier it is riding into a South wind though. It's warm. Based on how fast I was going, I think it is almost the equivalent of riding up Page Mill---only about an 18 mile Page Mill! I headed out the Lake Balaton Road (many miles in the wind!) then into the crosswinds for about 3-5 miles, before heading to the town of Garvin (population 159)--and a couple of more miles into the wind! I was comforted in knowing that I was about to have the ride of my life home. Almost 20 miles of 20-30 MPH tailwinds back into Marshall!

Some new "wildlife spotting" included real life peacocks! And really cute piglets! I had to stop to watch the baby pigs. They were so clean and cute and pink. They didn't look real!

Anyway, after an afternoon of jobs, (yard-work, floor cleaning, laundry, other junk!), we fired up the BBQ and put some "caught by Dave" Minnesota croppies, walleye and northerns on the grill, watching the thunderstorms underneath the awning in our back yard while we drank some special Belgian beer with Minnesota Mom & Dad! The weather entertained us with thunder, rain and then sunshine, followed by a very pink and pretty sunset---Just for Mother's day!

After a fabulous dinner, we ate a DQ ice cream cake and shared stories about important things we learned from our Mom's!

Today's plan is a questionable ride in the questionable weather. One minute the sky is black...the next the sun is out. I get ready to ride and then worry about lightening. Hmmm???? It's going to be an interesting week, weather wise. (But what does the weather guy know?)

It's funny because your TV programs get interrupted by weather alerts almost daily out here. "BEEP BEEP! Severe thunderstorms for Lyon County, Lincoln County, Yellow Medicine County, Somewhere in Minnesota County, in effect until 9pm...blah blah blah" At first I was alarmed, but now I know that it is just standard Spring out here in the plains.

I hope your Mother's day was special. Mine was!

For crying out loud!

I suppose that when your life is so nice that all you have to talk about when you're using that "complaining" tone is the weather, than you should consider yourself a blessed soul indeed, right? Well, it isn't cold anymore. Nope. Like I mentioned before, the wind has shifted from the North to the South. But boy did it shift!!! Gusts @38MPH! (But it's a "warm" wind!) You can barely ride in the cross-winds when it's blowing this hard. ("Would you like a little cheese with that whine, Joni?") Enough about the weather.

It's days like these where you need to know the farm roads you ride on and where the dogs are because if you are passing them while riding into a head wind, they will catch you. The other day, when we were motor-pacing passed the house where the dog that bit me lived, the "biting dogs" buddy was lounging in a field and every time we'd pass, he'd get up and chase Mike. But he was not able to keep up. In fact, after the 5th or 6th time, he just gave up trying to chase, and would let out a bark while he lounged around in the dirt and watched us speed by. I however can't ride at "Taylor-speed", so I need to know where to watch for the loose farm dogs or risk being a farm dog's snack!

Today it was actually not too bad. Just a wind workout. I hadn't planned on doing as long as ride as I did, I was just gonna tool around and take some pictures, but then I kept thinking about the awesome tailwind I'd have going home if I rode out Camden way and then out on the county road detours back into Marshall---so plugged away into the wind for an hour or so longer than planned, and then got home just in time to eat and take a shower before I had to go to work.

While I was at work, the wind shifted again and a huge thunder and lightening storm blew in. (Just in time for Taylor to get caught in the weather-mess after he got off of work and was on his ride.) By the time the shop closed (we stay open until 8pm on Thursdays), the sun performed a little color and light show as it gently set in the West, the wind had died down to nothing, and I enjoyed a peaceful ride back home in the warmish evening air. Weird weather from my "it's always nice out in California" perspective. In one day you had wind, sunshine, warm weather, sleet, thunder, lightening and pouring rain, etc...I guess this is what you call a "mixed bag".

So, I guess we're racing tomorrow. Still not sure, but the race is near St. John's where Mike went to College. I've never been there---the town is (ding dong!) Avon (calling!), Minnesota---and if the weather holds, I'll have a race to report on as opposed to all these "Exploring Southwest Minnesota stories, Joni-style"

Happy Friday!

Motor-pacing on Saratoga Road

That would be Saratoga Road in Marshall, MN---not Saratoga Road in San Jose, CA. Can you imagine the latter?

Anyway, I spent the day riding around in the warm sunshine and warm wind. I have a great appreciation for wind coming in from the South. IT's warm wind. If it was this windy in California, I might bail on a ride. Guess I'm starting to adjust to it, or else two days on the trainer did me in and so just being outside on a ride is good enough.

When Mike came home from his meetings (he's doing some kind of Sales Seminar/Training thing with some brokers and so he's literally right down the street), he said he changed his mind about dinner at home and informed me that he was going out with the guys from work to play golf. He dusted off his golf-clubs and left them on the kitchen floor. So I ate dinner while he went out for a short spin before heading to the country club.

Twenty five minutes later, I get a phone call. "Hey Sweetie! Feel like driving out to Saratoga and motor-pacing me for awhile?" I said, "No problem....but weren't you playing golf tonight?" He just said he needed to train. I think the fact that last night, he came home smelling like an ash-tray from the "Sale event of the evening", plus a smoke hangover from breathing in all the second hand smoke, he needed some time away from all the smoke. But training is always good. (California-smoke-free-Dreaming...sigh!)

Anyway, this was the first time I've ever motor-paced Taylor. We did just over 50 MPH at some portions of the road. I got a real good perspective about racing too. He pretended I was the "bunch". One time he "attacked" me and rode off the front and in the wind. I didn't know what he was doing so I attacked back and sped up. But then he couldn't get back in my draft until I slowed down. After he told me what he was doing though, I let him attack me and ride off the front and in the wind, while I maintained a steady speed until he fell back "into the bunch".

The coolest part is the "flame rouge" (or 1K to go leadout). The road we were riding on was 5 miles long and then we'd turn-around. So at the last kilometer,(of each leg) he'd get behind me and I would get to do the lead-out. I'd inch up the speed in 2 mph increments...faster and faster until we'd pass the "pretend" finish line. I've never gotten to see him suffering so closely. Mike wasn't pretending...only I was pretending. He was going all out...100%...38-50MPH for like 30/40 miles after a day at the office...and in addition to another 30 miles warming up and cooling down.

And the only other time I have ever witnessed that look of suffering on anyone's face, is when I've watched the look on a women's face who is giving birth.

And it's why, as much as I love and need to ride my bike every single day for as long as possible, I will never race. I just don't DO suffering....

Time and Distance

One of the things I noticed when I first visited Minnesota, was the way that billboards on the roads would measure distances in time. Like, "McDonald's with indoor playground...31 minutes away", or "Menards, 23 minutes away" and so on and so forth. I thought to myself, well now why don't they just say it's like "30 miles up the road" or "23 miles ahead"? I still don't know. But it's how it is out here.

So today, I went local. I brought a watch, and didn't look at the odometer once. I rode my bike outside in the sunshine for 4.5 hours or so. I have no idea how far I went and I don't care. I was "4.5 hours up the road." For sure I had a smile on my face. Two days indoors on the trainer will do that to you once you finally make it outside. It wasn't really warm (51F), and the wind was there (after all it is southwest Minnesota), but it sure was a nice day.

I stopped by the Silver Dollar in Ghent, after winding my way through Green Valley...and from Ghent I headed down County Road 5 towards Lynd. The farmer's were out a plenty, plowing and doing whatever they do this time of year. I entertained myself noticing all the black soil, green prairie growth, and the birds. Imagine my surprise, when a real life 21st century pterodactyl flies up right next to me in the field as I was passing. All right. So it couldn't have really been a prehistoric bird. I don't know what it was (Dave T.---any clues? a heron maybe?). The wing span was certainly more than 5 feet though. No exaggeration. And it flew past me like something from Jurassic Park or the Flintstone's...yup, right out of bedrock. Of course my camera was put away and by the time I booted it up the bird had high-tailed it. Rats! Anyway, as I pedaled into Lynd, some tamer wildlife was on display...

This yard (in Lynd) is chock full of animals and ornaments...it's also some kind of dog kennel for shitzu's, poddle's and other smaller than Syd hounds. It's called "Diddleedee's" or "Duddleedoo's" Kennels, or something like that.

And then from Lynd, I entered into the Camden State Park via the rear entrance. It's like magic in Camden...there's no wind. Today it was warm and still...very nice and quiet.

I had so much fun in Camden that I rode through it again (it's a "small" treasure of a park...) then headed to Russell out on Buffalo Ridge---the highest elevation point in the state (I believe)...nice!

What I remembered, is that it is only recently that I started clocking my miles. I'd always just gone for the time, devil may care about how far I went. Even as a runner, I always ran for time...not distance, and not that I was fast either. It's nice that way. And while I don't guess I plan on hanging up my odometer (in fact, the reality is that I am bugging Mike to install one on all my bikes!), some days it's just nice to not care about the distance, and to just enjoy the time. Minnesota-Time. Like today. Welcome back sunshine and warmer days!

a welcome warming trend...

After two days of being unwilling to suffer in the cold and wind, it'll be nice to get outside for a change. I forgot how boring the trainer can be. And when it is in the 30's outside, it takes almost 40 minutes for me to warm-up on the trainer, even in the garage. So it isn't "just" the wind chill making it cold. It *is* cold out there! Sigh. I think it's just because I expect it to be Spring is all. When it is *really* winter, then it'll be more expected and I'll handle things appropriately. (I hope so at least).

Besides, last night over a beer before dinner, Mike started discussing our honeymoon plans. He could tell I was a bit "blue" both figuratively and literally, and so he said that we'll take our honeymoon next winter to someplace warm. He was looking at pictures in the travel section of the newspaper that had white sandy beaches and warm balmy temperatures. Sigh...

If you weren't so dead set on riding your bike outside all the time, the weather isn't such a problem really. The storms that blew in on Sunday were amazing really. There was a creative mix of "little ice balls" (as our now gone Belgian friend Hans used to call hail), big snowflakes, rain that turned to ice on your windshield, and moments of sun...short moments...but moments. The most unusual thing for me was the way that the all of the above doesn't just fall down from the sky, it falls down sideways. I can't explain it but it's like a tornado of stuff. Literally sideways. Weird.

All this outside weather stuff hardly bothers the small hound. We were inside doing laundry. This is surely one of Sydney's favorite "jobs". Give her a minute and she soon buries herself in the warm clean clothes before you can fold them. This makes keeping hound hair off of everything a real challenge, perhaps, but also makes for great photo opportunities, you think? I know Minnesota Mom will think twice before using a "clean" towel at our house! (Sorry about that!)

Anyway, it will be very good to get outside today and ride my bicycle and get some fresh air. The weather guy says that it will be 80F by Sunday. Weird. Last Sunday it was high 30'sF and one week later, magically and thankfully, 80F. I've been busy getting things arranged for the upcoming USPro and Nature Valley Stage Race, which is fun. I miss the racing. I do still marvel though on how much a person can get done in a day when you don't have to deal with traffic and people. We finally put gas in our car after 6 weeks. Not bad, huh?