(Happy Birthday to Sydney!)
Sunday, September 17, 2006 - Auburn, New Hampshire
Is it really "Cross in New England"? It was 80 degrees for the official big opener, and a tune-up for next weekend's UCI race in Vermont. All the usual fun-seekers from Nerac, Fiordi Fruitti, Alan and more were there ready to suffer - and the field was noticably larger this week than it was last week. I was hoping for some New Hampshire colors of Fall, but it was mostly green. Fine with me---I'll take the warmth any day!
We arrived in time for Mike to do a couple of warm up laps on the course before the women's race. Located near a cemetery, the course was a bumpy, rocky rolling course with barrier's set up where there were a million mosquito's and so I didn't go there! The sand sections were pretty tough as there were barriers in the sand and then it went up hill. Lots of chicane's and twisty turns. A tight course.
On the ride there I asked Mike if he thought he'd need a feed. He said "No way! It's like a crutch anyway. I'll just suck it up. I won't need a feed---geeez, it's only an hour". After we got there, and he had warmed up, I asked again. "It's kinda warm. Are you sure you don't need a feed?" He said "Nope!"
The Scrapper and I (after greeting all the competition...the Scrapper likes everyone!) decided to watch the course from the start finish since there was some shade and no bugs. I grabbed a cold water bottle and dropped it in my bag.
Mike didn't get the greatest of starts, but he took the inside turn where the pavement met the gravel, sand, bumps and dirt. The first lap, Hodgeson-Meyers, and another Nerac rider, Matt White, a Joe's garage rider and two Alan rider's were off the front...and shortly thereafter Mike came through with two other riders---and a minute later the rest of the pack passed by.
Third time through and just for fun I waved a cold bottle at Taylor---and he gladly took a drink. So much for "not needing a feed"! (Smile) He moved his way up and while the front group maintained their pace, Taylor had passed all the other guys and maintained his position riding with one other guy. He'd pass riders on the course, ride with them for a while and then pass em'.
Soon it was just 4 riders off the front and Mike was riding with one other guy. After the bell lap we waited for the arrival of the leaders--Surely someone had broken away. Surely not! Hodges-Meyerson, White (Fiordi Fruitti), the Joe's Garage rider and one of the Alan rider's sprinted to the finish with Hodges-Meyerson taking the honors.
Suddenly I hear on the loud speaker something about Taylor and "elder-statesman"! Ha! He rolled in for 6th on the day! we celebrated with sushi and beer---toasting our sponsor Seven, cross-racing, bikes in general and Sydney's Birthday! Oh--And Happy Birthday Daniel Mehler too!
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Cold showers...
...since we've moved into our place here in Watertown, we've been slow to figure out things like what's gas vs. what's electric vs. what do you have to buy special oil for to heat things up. We missed the winter here and so the really cold time wasn't very long and we've had a hot and humid summer. So hot water in the shower was not a problem. We didn't need it.
But with Fall approaching and the temps dropping into the 40's already in the evening, a "HOT" shower is more pressing. We've had 30-45 SECONDS of warm water in the evenings for our showers and then the water would get icy. Sigh. Mike hates dealing with these issues to the point that he will suffer and complain his way through it before he'll figure out what needs to be done and who needs to be called, etc.
I don't like it either [dealing with the details]---but I refuse to take a cold shower. Anyway--it was easy now that we have a landlord. I emailed him and asked if I needed to do something and he said "No---I need to do something! I'll be over tonight after work with a plummer friend and look into it! You'll have your hot water on tonight"
And true to form, he was there---apparently a special pilot light was out and like Magic the hot water worked.
So after we both got out of a steamy shower, I said, "So sweetie, aren't you glad I took care of this? What would you do without me?"
He smiled while brushing his blondish locks in the fogged up [from the steam] mirror and said, "Without you, I'd be taking alot of cold showers!"
Good answer Taylor!!
But with Fall approaching and the temps dropping into the 40's already in the evening, a "HOT" shower is more pressing. We've had 30-45 SECONDS of warm water in the evenings for our showers and then the water would get icy. Sigh. Mike hates dealing with these issues to the point that he will suffer and complain his way through it before he'll figure out what needs to be done and who needs to be called, etc.
I don't like it either [dealing with the details]---but I refuse to take a cold shower. Anyway--it was easy now that we have a landlord. I emailed him and asked if I needed to do something and he said "No---I need to do something! I'll be over tonight after work with a plummer friend and look into it! You'll have your hot water on tonight"
And true to form, he was there---apparently a special pilot light was out and like Magic the hot water worked.
So after we both got out of a steamy shower, I said, "So sweetie, aren't you glad I took care of this? What would you do without me?"
He smiled while brushing his blondish locks in the fogged up [from the steam] mirror and said, "Without you, I'd be taking alot of cold showers!"
Good answer Taylor!!
Monday, September 11, 2006
Northfield, Massachusetts
We woke up to a nice and chilly morning...sunny but chilly. Mike received a phone call from an old "racing" friend from Minnesota (he was driving to a Wisport race in Wisconsin), and it got Mike thinking. So he hopped online and walked out of our home office. "Hey---How far was it to Fitchburg?" I said, by car it was about an hour away. "Well, there is a season opener near Fitchburg at 2:30---wanna go?"
He should just say, "we're going!" --he's not really asking....but I did want to go. So in 15 minutes flat, we had sandwiches made, water bottles filled, the cross bike loaded onto the roof of the car, and the Scrapper's bags packed and we headed towards Fitchburg. The thing is, it was an hour West and North of Fitchburg (i.e 2 hours away...not 1). "Well it looked close on the map he said, when I asked". Yeah right.
Anyway--Northfield Cross season opener. The Men's Pro race had plenty of local talent, including Matt White and Jos (Fiordi Fruitti) and Adam Hodges-Meyerson (Nerac) plus a couple of Alan guys...as well as a larger than anticipated local field of guys. The course? A power rider's course---it was either up or down with a big steep run-up. The park was a ski park during the winter and registration was in the ski-lodge. NorEast racing is pretty well organized.
The Scrapper and I went exploring through the wildflowers and woods, while Mike warmed up. We situated ourselves near the pit and the run-up as there were several places to view the race from this vantage point. The first time through and my beloved was second to last coming up the run-up! And looked to be suffering. This could be a long day.
I can see all the faces of you all. Taylor? Second to last? I mean there were some good guys there...but really. No worries. By the third lap he had passed all the "yahoo's" who were in front of him and was top 10 for the next 45 minutes while Hodges-Meyerson, White, Jos and an Alan rider drilled it on the front. Jos then flatted and lost his position. And then Mike passed some more guys and had worked his way to 7th place.
Mike suffered up the run up for the last time and I counted only 5 guys in front of him! "T! You are 6th!" He said "What?" I said "you are 6th!!!" He smiled and hammered his way to the finish...
Now that's what I'm talking about!!
He should just say, "we're going!" --he's not really asking....but I did want to go. So in 15 minutes flat, we had sandwiches made, water bottles filled, the cross bike loaded onto the roof of the car, and the Scrapper's bags packed and we headed towards Fitchburg. The thing is, it was an hour West and North of Fitchburg (i.e 2 hours away...not 1). "Well it looked close on the map he said, when I asked". Yeah right.
Anyway--Northfield Cross season opener. The Men's Pro race had plenty of local talent, including Matt White and Jos (Fiordi Fruitti) and Adam Hodges-Meyerson (Nerac) plus a couple of Alan guys...as well as a larger than anticipated local field of guys. The course? A power rider's course---it was either up or down with a big steep run-up. The park was a ski park during the winter and registration was in the ski-lodge. NorEast racing is pretty well organized.
The Scrapper and I went exploring through the wildflowers and woods, while Mike warmed up. We situated ourselves near the pit and the run-up as there were several places to view the race from this vantage point. The first time through and my beloved was second to last coming up the run-up! And looked to be suffering. This could be a long day.
I can see all the faces of you all. Taylor? Second to last? I mean there were some good guys there...but really. No worries. By the third lap he had passed all the "yahoo's" who were in front of him and was top 10 for the next 45 minutes while Hodges-Meyerson, White, Jos and an Alan rider drilled it on the front. Jos then flatted and lost his position. And then Mike passed some more guys and had worked his way to 7th place.
Mike suffered up the run up for the last time and I counted only 5 guys in front of him! "T! You are 6th!" He said "What?" I said "you are 6th!!!" He smiled and hammered his way to the finish...
Now that's what I'm talking about!!
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Ken & Amanda!
Mike and I both are pretty beat on Saturday's these days. You'd think sitting on your rear end all day wouldn't make you tired, but I am more tired from sitting down than I am when I am riding 50+ miles everyday. Weird. I am riding about 25-30 miles a day during the week...but I wake up at (literally now) "Oh-dark-thirty" to ride and then I sit down all day. Sigh.
I wasn't sure I even wanted to ride [Saturday] I was so tired---but I headed out anyway and did my 45 mile loop. In Concord, on Lowell Street, I pass over this pond and river and out in the middle of the road I see this black rock...a walking black rock. It was this cute little turtle. Uh Ho. She was meandering across the road and was about to be a flat rock, so I turned around and picked her up and she went inside her shell. Almost. Her mouth opened and it was so pink inside I was mesmerized. I walked her across the street to safety as she scurried towards the pond. She was a cutie!
It was a warm day and when I got home there was a phone message on the machine----from Ken & Amanda! Sweet! I was expecting a call earlier, but she had left our new number in California and had to wait for Palo Alto Bicycles and then the Bicycle Outfitter to open to get our Boston #. (Call a bike shop to find out where Joni & Mike are! Thanks Adam & Dave P. for getting her in touch with us!)
Mike and I rode the "T" into the city and met Ken & Amanda on State street near where the Declaration of Independence was signed (I think) and where 5 people were killed (Did I get that right Amanda?) Boston is so busy. I had no idea. Way more people than I ever remember seeing in San Francisco! While we were waiting for Amanda to walk and meet us, I was "people watching". There was this drunk guy near us with a bottle in a brown paper bag in his hands...he saw an empty bottle of Schnapp's sitting on top of a newspaper stand near the garbage can , but there must have been a drop left...I thought to myself, "Don't do it!". But he didn't hear my thoughts and sure enough he picked it up (out of basically the trash), opened it and put it to his mouth to get the last drop! Gross! Then he put it back near the trash and washed it down with whatever was in his own bottle!
We walked over to an Irish pub and ate and drank and talked the evening away! They were celebrating their 1st Wedding Anniversary---on their way to Maine. The last time we saw each other, neither of us were married. We decided we looked the same (although Amanda looks a little more like "Barbie", as in the blonde Barbie doll---her words, not mine) than I remember--(that's a compliment, AJE!). Mike and I got carded while trying to follow Amanda through the door---I love showing them a Minnesota driver's license. We are still acting like foreigners. California License plates and MN driver's licenses.
A little bit of Northern California in Boston was good for the soul. But now I am REALLY homesick. Especially since I got caught up on so much gossip about so many friends. Happy Sunday!
I wasn't sure I even wanted to ride [Saturday] I was so tired---but I headed out anyway and did my 45 mile loop. In Concord, on Lowell Street, I pass over this pond and river and out in the middle of the road I see this black rock...a walking black rock. It was this cute little turtle. Uh Ho. She was meandering across the road and was about to be a flat rock, so I turned around and picked her up and she went inside her shell. Almost. Her mouth opened and it was so pink inside I was mesmerized. I walked her across the street to safety as she scurried towards the pond. She was a cutie!
It was a warm day and when I got home there was a phone message on the machine----from Ken & Amanda! Sweet! I was expecting a call earlier, but she had left our new number in California and had to wait for Palo Alto Bicycles and then the Bicycle Outfitter to open to get our Boston #. (Call a bike shop to find out where Joni & Mike are! Thanks Adam & Dave P. for getting her in touch with us!)
Mike and I rode the "T" into the city and met Ken & Amanda on State street near where the Declaration of Independence was signed (I think) and where 5 people were killed (Did I get that right Amanda?) Boston is so busy. I had no idea. Way more people than I ever remember seeing in San Francisco! While we were waiting for Amanda to walk and meet us, I was "people watching". There was this drunk guy near us with a bottle in a brown paper bag in his hands...he saw an empty bottle of Schnapp's sitting on top of a newspaper stand near the garbage can , but there must have been a drop left...I thought to myself, "Don't do it!". But he didn't hear my thoughts and sure enough he picked it up (out of basically the trash), opened it and put it to his mouth to get the last drop! Gross! Then he put it back near the trash and washed it down with whatever was in his own bottle!
We walked over to an Irish pub and ate and drank and talked the evening away! They were celebrating their 1st Wedding Anniversary---on their way to Maine. The last time we saw each other, neither of us were married. We decided we looked the same (although Amanda looks a little more like "Barbie", as in the blonde Barbie doll---her words, not mine) than I remember--(that's a compliment, AJE!). Mike and I got carded while trying to follow Amanda through the door---I love showing them a Minnesota driver's license. We are still acting like foreigners. California License plates and MN driver's licenses.
A little bit of Northern California in Boston was good for the soul. But now I am REALLY homesick. Especially since I got caught up on so much gossip about so many friends. Happy Sunday!
Saturday, September 09, 2006
School back in; traffic out in full force!
My morning ride's have become inundated with cars and school buses! Kids don't walk to school anymore I guess. I leave 15 minutes earlier now to get a head start out of town. I leave 45 minutes earlier than Mike who is busy walking the Scrapper, but inevitably he catches me somewhere in Concord or Lexington. Last Thursday when he came pedaling past me he showed me a new secret route off the busy road.
"Follow me!" He said over the loud traffic. I was skeptical. Usually his routes are longer or harder or both. But this one was a winner and I was glad I followed him on the hilly quiet roads for a reprieve. We meandered through lovely neighborhoods---a little more climbing which is a good thing and by-passed the freeway on-ramps and crummy pavement of the busy road I usually ride.
It's cold in the mornings now. It is supposed to be warm in the 80's today---but the mornings are cool now and so Fall is in the air, along with a bunch of stuff that makes me sneeze. Some of the leaves are changing already. I'm waiting for the spectacular colors of the season. (Thanks Dave P. for telling me why the wet weather effects the changing of the colors).
Anyway---I am off for a ride...just wanted to wish you a happy Saturday---
"Follow me!" He said over the loud traffic. I was skeptical. Usually his routes are longer or harder or both. But this one was a winner and I was glad I followed him on the hilly quiet roads for a reprieve. We meandered through lovely neighborhoods---a little more climbing which is a good thing and by-passed the freeway on-ramps and crummy pavement of the busy road I usually ride.
It's cold in the mornings now. It is supposed to be warm in the 80's today---but the mornings are cool now and so Fall is in the air, along with a bunch of stuff that makes me sneeze. Some of the leaves are changing already. I'm waiting for the spectacular colors of the season. (Thanks Dave P. for telling me why the wet weather effects the changing of the colors).
Anyway---I am off for a ride...just wanted to wish you a happy Saturday---
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Rain and it's effect on the Fall colors?
I was watching the news this morning "from New Hampshire", and one of the verbal headlines was that all this rain [we've had] may effect the changing of the colors this Autumn. I meant to stay tuned to the channel, but I got distracted waiting for the story and then Mike and I headed out to Lexington to stock up on some Peet's. Has anyone ever heard of such a thing [as rain effecting leaves changing]? They repeat the news all morning here about things I really am uninterested in but I haven't seen the repeat of this story that actually interests me.
It started raining last night sometime and has been light but steady ever since. They keep talking about "Indian Summer"---so I don't think the warm weather is done---but what do I know about any weather ---let alone New England weather? In any case, it doesn't look like I will get a ride in today even if it does stop because the roads are so wet and unlikely to dry.
I've been reading the personal memoirs of Katharine Graham---leading woman/owner of the Washington Post [& Company]---the paper who championed the coverage of The Pentagon Papers and Watergate. My Mom sent me the book last year and I struggled through the first 300 pages...but then it got significantly better and now it's good. I will probably finish it today since the weather is so dismal.
Well---I'm not one to complain about another lazy day just yet! Happy Sunday!
It started raining last night sometime and has been light but steady ever since. They keep talking about "Indian Summer"---so I don't think the warm weather is done---but what do I know about any weather ---let alone New England weather? In any case, it doesn't look like I will get a ride in today even if it does stop because the roads are so wet and unlikely to dry.
I've been reading the personal memoirs of Katharine Graham---leading woman/owner of the Washington Post [& Company]---the paper who championed the coverage of The Pentagon Papers and Watergate. My Mom sent me the book last year and I struggled through the first 300 pages...but then it got significantly better and now it's good. I will probably finish it today since the weather is so dismal.
Well---I'm not one to complain about another lazy day just yet! Happy Sunday!
Saturday, September 02, 2006
A little bit o' Ernesto!
Just a little and just enough. We're not expecting much of a storm, but it will be in the 60's and windy and showery until Sunday night and Monday. Then the weather guy says it'll be near 80 and humid for the remainder of the week until the next weekend when it is "supposed" to rain again. It's cold enough in the mornings that when I head out on my morning ride I am in leg/arm warmers, vest and a long sleeved craft already (though that might change again next week). Mike says, "it's like San Francisco!", with a smile on his face. I don't even sweat through my craft base-layer. The difference between here and San Francisco though, is that in San Francisco this is as cold as it gets. I am not looking forward to winter.
Last week was the busiest week I've had at Seven. Pre-season week. But a successful week and so I hope this is a sign for a great year for 2007. I am BEAT though. Mike and I celebrated making it through the week with sushi and Belgian beer. We reserve those occasions for races usually, but after last week we really needed "something" and he knew just "WHAT!"
Speaking of "racing"...Cross season is just around the corner here in New England. In fact, September 10th is the kick-off race and Mike is already "practicing" his moves. The terrain and the competition is pretty fierce here. McCormick, Hodges-Meyerson, and Powers showing up at your local races will certainly keep things exciting.
And some folks from Marin will be gracing us in September as well---Amanda & Ken will be here for a visit. Sure will be nice to see some California friends. I think I'll just curl up with a book today. Have a lovely Saturday and a safe Labor Day weekend!
Last week was the busiest week I've had at Seven. Pre-season week. But a successful week and so I hope this is a sign for a great year for 2007. I am BEAT though. Mike and I celebrated making it through the week with sushi and Belgian beer. We reserve those occasions for races usually, but after last week we really needed "something" and he knew just "WHAT!"
Speaking of "racing"...Cross season is just around the corner here in New England. In fact, September 10th is the kick-off race and Mike is already "practicing" his moves. The terrain and the competition is pretty fierce here. McCormick, Hodges-Meyerson, and Powers showing up at your local races will certainly keep things exciting.
And some folks from Marin will be gracing us in September as well---Amanda & Ken will be here for a visit. Sure will be nice to see some California friends. I think I'll just curl up with a book today. Have a lovely Saturday and a safe Labor Day weekend!
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