XC- skiing/-2 degrees!

Ready? Set? GO!!!

We woke up to, get this, MINUS 9 degrees. Yes, that would be 9 degrees below 0, and unless you're reading me from Minnesota, trust me, you have no idea what that means! Way beyond cold. Anyway, once it warmed up to -2, Mike and I loaded up the car with ski's and headed over to Camden. Cycling gear translates well to XC skiing by the way---you just need several layers of it. I wasn't cold once we got going.

And, it's so cold and the snow was so fluffy that even when I crashed (often) the snow would just brush off...and it never turned to water so I never had that soggy feeling you get when you get wet.

We got out there before the trails were groomed, so we crunched our own paths through the trees and down by the river. It was SILENT. And I forgot how snow glitters like a million diamonds in the rough. Mike attempted to teach me the herringbone technique for going up the hills. I prefer the side step, but it takes too long so I "herring-boned" and fell a bunch of times going UPHILL. Very different than downhill skiing.

And while we were skiing, the trail grooming guy buzzed his way around and made things easier. I am seriously lacking on technique, but XC-skiing is quite the workout and uses a bunch of muscles that cycling does NOT. When we got home we ate a bunch of food and then (I wasn't surprised, but was in awe of) Mike (who) geared up once again for the cold and headed out on his studded tire mountain bike for a couple of hours riding his bike outside in the cold, ice and snow. When he got back home, I was in the basement on the trainer and he just said, "My feet feel like 2 ice-blocks". I hope I always feel such admiration and pride when I think and talk about my guy! I really do!

They are finally using words like "bitterly cold" on the news here. The wind chill here in Marshall today is -27 (below 0). I'm sure it's warmer where you are, so get outside and enjoy the day! I will too----though I promise you, I'm wearing way more clothing than you are!

(In these pictures...two craft LS baselayers with windfront, bergamo arm warmers, long sleeve bike jersey, long sleeved wool bike jersey, bergamo leg warmers underneath pearl izumi tights (2 pair, one amfib), wool swobo tights, two pair hardcore wool socks, face mask (but I exposed my mouth cuz my glasses fogged up), neck gator, ski hat (so three hats), Winter weight pearl vest, and lobster gloves). You try walking around in all that!