Good friends...

...I'm sure you all have someone in your life that just changes your day whenever they appear. And regardless of whether it's been 10 minutes, 10 days or 10 years since you last spoke, the minute you see them, you're all caught up and can resume a conversation or an experience as if it just happened.

My friendship with Chris (Insinger) is that kind of friendship. I met him in Hawaii while we were working for SGI---at the "President's club"...a unique group of people amongst very unique people. I was a guest of another unique friend, Bent (Hagemark), also of SGI and also a special friend. I remember like it was yesterday---yet it was long ago, Chris and I were lying on the golden sands in Maui (Kapalua neer Kaanapali), reliving our SGI-Hawaiian experience (I had just ridden a rental bike up Mt Haleakala by myself amongst other things!), and began a conversation that has expanded and lasted over the years.

He's now in Singapore---and I am in Boston. Different lives---but the way that our friendship grows with our horizons is something I always read about in books. I miss him already.

So we had a wonderful time eating in a newly discovered diner, and getting lost in Cambridge and Boston amongst the gloriously fall foilage and the great "Head of the Charles" rowing race! Mike went to do a cross-race in Connecticut with a co-worker so it was a fun day all around for each of us!

Today is Mom's birthday and I can't believe that I will see her and my Dad in 3 days!

California---here I come! Happy Sunday!!

Coming home

Just writing these words is exciting. My Dad is picking me up at the airport. (grin) I haven't seen my folks since the wedding. My Mom's birthday is tomorrow and we'll have a be-lated birthday party...just the three of us (or four us if Layne can join in). There is so much on my plate while I am home and I think I mapped everything out and I will have ~1, 700 miles of driving to do (ugh)...but my bike shipped to Palo Alto Bicycles and Alan is going to give it some long over-due love and I am going to head out and get some California miles in these legs at last!

Sad news was that a dear person, friend died last week. Jay Shively, who is from Spingfield, Minnesota (yes Diane and Dave---the Springfield right near Marshall and his family is still there) died of a heart attack in his sleep. We know Jay from being a customer of Palo Alto Bicycles. He became Mike's friend ( and mine) and even sponsored Mike when we went to Europe (personal sponsor). He was beyond just a genuine, generous, Minnesota nice and wonderful person. He was young (50) and has (had) a wife and three small beautiful children. Adam called me at work yesterday to let me know. Sigh. Been thinking about it ever since and my heart goes out to Lisa (his wife) and the kids.

Today Mike is heading to Connecticut to do a cross race. I am staying home as I also have a visitor. Chris Insinger is in Boston (my friend from SGI who is from The Netherlands). He now lives in Singapore but the corporate offices of his company are in Boston and so he is here on business and we will visit. Lots going on...

The leaves are now spectacular. Never seen anything quite like it. The reds, bronze, oranges, yellows, and all the variations in between. Quite a sight to behold. It dumped rain yesterday---but today it is clear as a bell! I will try and get a ride in this afternoon. See you soon!

Happy Saturday!

It's been such a long time...

Did you miss me? Interbike, in Las Vegas was so much work that it took me over a week to decompress. It was a successful show, but the second hand smoke of the casino's (and the fact that you rarely get outside in the fresh air) is a buzz-kill. In any case, it was fun to see my California friends and be in the desert dry air for a change. And the mountains. Sigh. Those brown Sierra Madre's and Padre's are where my heart feels like home. Most of you see them everyday and take them for granted in their barren beauty. A part of who I am is in those mountains that I used to call hills though.

Back at work---the colors of Fall are appearing everywhere. We went to the race in Gloucester (Glahhhstah) and Mike got a crappy start so I didn't do a race report. He didn't suck...but when there are 110 guys and your starting position 60+ guys back, it is hard to move up in the mix. The race was on Cape Ann though and it was a beautiful location---and the closest I have been to the Atlantic ocean since we arrived. I need to get out more.

I will dig through my photo's and send some pictures. Now the colors are about at their peak in my daily morning ride and it is magnificent. And the humidity has dropped so it is more comfortable, albeit chilly.

Exciting news is I have booked flights to come home!!! I am doing a public talk on Seven to the Sacramento Wheelmen and the Davis Bike Club on October 26th (everyone can come and so if you want to join in let me know)....I also will be "representing" at a Mystery Tour/Poker ride/Demo Event in Tustin (Orange County) at one of the most amazing bike shops I've ever worked with, The Path Bikeshop. Everyone is invited!!! In between I will be working with several bikeshops in NorCal and riding up and down my favorite climbs in the world. Those Santa Cruz mountains are hard to beat and if it takes me longer than 20 minutes to get up Old Lahonda I'm not coming home to Boston. Ha! If I can do it in 25 minutes I would be happy actually...sigh. And of course Palo Alto Bicycles is where to find out where I am and when.

So---she's back! I'll be staying with my folks for the most part! Miss you...see you soon. I'll be busy on the trip---but I am planning on several long coast rides. Join me? (And Jamie-girl...maybe we can go surfing? I might never make it back to Boston!)