The original plan was to follow the Google Maps directions to Santa Cruz. Well, we decided to follow the cyclists over the Golden Gate Bridge ($6 toll!!!). It was pouring rain (again) and traffic over the bridge was creepy crawly slow. We really weren't sure we would make it to Santa Cruz in time to see the race.
The rain let up before we hit Santa Cruz but we were really crunched for time. We called the hotel for directions and tried to follow them only to find a race route in the middle of our directions and road closures all around. We called for new directions and found more road closures. The third time was the charm--more or less--and we made it around the race route only to get spun around into a beach parking lot that forced us down a one way beach road and back out to where we had come from. It was a little frustrating, but at least the second time we knew where all the turns were. We got to the hotel and went in to the lobby to find several people waiting to check in. I was starting to freak out because it was 12:58 and the ETA for riders was between 12:56 and 2
Except my watch was still on Tucson time and it was only 11:56. We trucked the bags all the way up to the fourth floor--which turns out to be the floor immediately above the lobby. I can't explain it, it's just the way it is.
We walked down to the race route and decided to wait about 300 meters before the finish because they were just putting up the barricades there and we were able to get right on the course. I'm glad we brought the ponchos down with us because the clouds that had been hanging over the hills decided to move and they passed right over us dropping rain on the way. It didn't rain for long, but after it quit the weather remained windy and cold.
We ended up waiting well over an hour for the bikes to come in. The rain really held the riders up today. Levi and Tom Peterson came flying through with the main field only about a minute behind. It was fast finish. I overhead a guy comment that it was an awful lot of waiting for a few seconds of bikes. True. But worth it.
Santa Cruz is probably a bustling town in the summer. We wandered around a bit and the street we were on really reminded us of Traverse City. We found a multi-use path that followed the river down to the ocean so we took that route back. It was a nice walk, but really cold. We cut through Neptune's Palace Arcade to the beach and walked up a bit to our "Dream Inn."
We had to stick around the room awhile because I had to log in to hold class. Of course, the best laid plans and all. I couldn't get logged in to the chat section. It just wouldn't load. I shouldn't be surprised. I sent out an email and waited for replies and then we cut out to find a restaurant for dinner. We decided to drive out to the end of the pier to see what we could see. There were a number of restaurants out there but we picked Stagnero Brothers. It has been there since 1937 and the food was excellent. Really excellent. After dinner we waddled out to the car and back to the hotel.
Tomorrow we hope to make it to Santa Rosa for the start of tomorrow's stage. On the extremely rare chance that the weather will be good we might skip the race and do some sightseeing. I don't want bad weather, but I want to see the race, too. We'll see what happens tomorrow, I guess.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Bikebox - 15 Feb. 2009: Who do you think you are? Pancho Villa?
"Who do you think you are? Pancho Villa?" It's one of my favorite lines from the movie The Milagro Beanfield War, but it seems like a good question today--we're both decked out in full length rain parkas and it's pouring rain out.
We started out today with a few winery tours. We went to Schug, B.R Cohn, Kunde, and Landmark. Joan did all the tasting and had some good Pinot Noirs and a Meritage that she really liked. She bought a Pinot from Schug.
B.R. Cohn is owned by the long time manager of The Doobie Brothers and the winery is decorated with a lot of photos and gold records and autographed guitars, etc. The Cohn winery also had a tasting room for their line of flavored olive oils and vinegars. They had a delicious 15 year old balsamic that was amazing. There was a really nice pear vinegar, too.
After the wineries we headed up through Sonoma to Santa Rosa, Levi Leipheimer's hometown and the end city for the first official stage of the AMGEN Tour of California. We found a parking garage not too far from the action, donned our ponchos, and headed off to see what we could see. We first stopped off at a really good Mexican restaurant called El Palomar. Really good food. Joan had spinach enchiladas and I had a spinach and mushroom chimichanga. There must have been a spinach theme today because I also had a spinach and mushroom omelette for breakfast.
After lunch we walked down to the health fair and scoped out the finish line. After evaluating the end circuit (the riders made three laps around town at the end of their nearly 108 mile ride in the rain and cold), we decided to go down to the last turn before the final straightaway. It was a good choice; with all of the rain, the riders had to slow way down to make the turn. Of course, slowing way down for these guys is still really fast.
Francisco Mancebo was the first rider to arrive and he had a pretty good lead. During the subsequent laps he had a couple of other riders to keep him company, but in the end he held on to his lead for the win. The lead chase group was led by team Astana and Lance Armstrong was right on the front of the pack. In the following laps he dropped back for a bit and then was right back at the front again. I don't care what anyone says--being the oldest guy in the peloton and three years of retirement behind him, this guy is smoking the youngsters. It's very impressive. And he looked completely unfazed and focused.
I wish we had access to Versus or some other complete race coverage. I haven't found good up-to-date information on the internet yet about today's stage. I'm not sure how the finish actually played out or what all happened along the field today. I suspect it was brutal out there and that a few riders may have dropped out. But I don't know. I know yesterday's winner, Fabian Cancellara, dropped out today, feverish and ill. Others may have simply been done in by the weather.
Tomorrow we head down to Santa Cruz. The riders get to ride across the Golden Gate Bridge and I wish we could see that crossing--I'm sure it will be quite the sight. We'll be a bit ahead of them and waiting at the finish. Joan is ready to pull the plug on watching Tuesday's race, but I haven't given up on that one yet.
Side note: It turns out that Lance's and Popo's and two other Astana riders' TT bikes were stolen off the Astana truck from behind the hotel yesterday. Now, I just want to be clear that even though I was hanging out behind the hotel stalking...er, I mean, waiting for Lance's return to the hotel, I did not take those bikes. I don't mean that in the way Bill Clinton meant that he didn't have sexual relations with "That Woman." I literally mean that I did not take those bikes. Honest.
We started out today with a few winery tours. We went to Schug, B.R Cohn, Kunde, and Landmark. Joan did all the tasting and had some good Pinot Noirs and a Meritage that she really liked. She bought a Pinot from Schug.
B.R. Cohn is owned by the long time manager of The Doobie Brothers and the winery is decorated with a lot of photos and gold records and autographed guitars, etc. The Cohn winery also had a tasting room for their line of flavored olive oils and vinegars. They had a delicious 15 year old balsamic that was amazing. There was a really nice pear vinegar, too.
After the wineries we headed up through Sonoma to Santa Rosa, Levi Leipheimer's hometown and the end city for the first official stage of the AMGEN Tour of California. We found a parking garage not too far from the action, donned our ponchos, and headed off to see what we could see. We first stopped off at a really good Mexican restaurant called El Palomar. Really good food. Joan had spinach enchiladas and I had a spinach and mushroom chimichanga. There must have been a spinach theme today because I also had a spinach and mushroom omelette for breakfast.
After lunch we walked down to the health fair and scoped out the finish line. After evaluating the end circuit (the riders made three laps around town at the end of their nearly 108 mile ride in the rain and cold), we decided to go down to the last turn before the final straightaway. It was a good choice; with all of the rain, the riders had to slow way down to make the turn. Of course, slowing way down for these guys is still really fast.
Francisco Mancebo was the first rider to arrive and he had a pretty good lead. During the subsequent laps he had a couple of other riders to keep him company, but in the end he held on to his lead for the win. The lead chase group was led by team Astana and Lance Armstrong was right on the front of the pack. In the following laps he dropped back for a bit and then was right back at the front again. I don't care what anyone says--being the oldest guy in the peloton and three years of retirement behind him, this guy is smoking the youngsters. It's very impressive. And he looked completely unfazed and focused.
I wish we had access to Versus or some other complete race coverage. I haven't found good up-to-date information on the internet yet about today's stage. I'm not sure how the finish actually played out or what all happened along the field today. I suspect it was brutal out there and that a few riders may have dropped out. But I don't know. I know yesterday's winner, Fabian Cancellara, dropped out today, feverish and ill. Others may have simply been done in by the weather.
Tomorrow we head down to Santa Cruz. The riders get to ride across the Golden Gate Bridge and I wish we could see that crossing--I'm sure it will be quite the sight. We'll be a bit ahead of them and waiting at the finish. Joan is ready to pull the plug on watching Tuesday's race, but I haven't given up on that one yet.
Side note: It turns out that Lance's and Popo's and two other Astana riders' TT bikes were stolen off the Astana truck from behind the hotel yesterday. Now, I just want to be clear that even though I was hanging out behind the hotel stalking...er, I mean, waiting for Lance's return to the hotel, I did not take those bikes. I don't mean that in the way Bill Clinton meant that he didn't have sexual relations with "That Woman." I literally mean that I did not take those bikes. Honest.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Bikebox - 14 Feb. 2009
Happy Valentine's Day!
Well, we're up and we had our free breakfast downstairs. The dining area was standing room only, but we managed to get a small table for basic hotel eggs, yogurt, toast, and "seasonal fruit" (i.e., melon, which is apparently seasonal at every hotel in every season). It looks blustery out, but we're ready. I think. While we were in the dining area the Astana chef kept whizzing in and out of the kitchen and whisking eggs and muffins off to wherever the team was having their breakfast. No sign of Garmin, though.
We have to be out of the hotel before the race begins so I won't be able to update until our next hotel in, I think, Santa Cruz. Hopefully the wireless is faster there--the one here is, as near as I can tell, "High Speed Internet for People in No Particular Hurry."
====
Well, we're now at the Sheraton Petaluma and the internet connection is "High Speed Internet for Really Laid Back Dudes In Even Less of A Hurry." Oh well. You make do. It beats a 1200 baud modem--if any of you can even remember a 1200 baud modem and text only internet, well, good for you. I remember when the 1200 was an upgrade....
We had a really good day. No rain! It was cold and windy, but it was dry up until the end of the race so that was good news. I haven't seen the official results yet but I believe it was Fabian Cancellara in first and Levi in second. We got to see all of our favorites, even my personal fave, Karl Menzies from Team Ouch! (formerly Health Net) by way of Tasmania. He's a really cool guy and a hell of a bike racer. All the big guns are back this year: Tyler Hamilton, Floyd Landis, Ivan Basso, Lance, Levi. It's a really good field of riders.
We wandered around a bit after breakfast and saw a few riders out for their training rides. We had to officially vacate the hotel at noon, so we headed back to bring our bags down to the front desk. They kept them there for us. It was a good thing we came back when we did because as we were leaving Lance was coming in from his morning ride. Joan was oblivious and kept walking and missed it completely. I got a photo but he wasn't stopping this time around, just saying hi and thank you and all that. Got the picture though.
We wandered a bit during the race and rather than our original intent of scoping out the start and then running off to the finish area when our favorites went. The start and finish areas were so packed you couldn't see a thing. I miss those VIP tents we used to get with Health Net! We found that the long straightaway on the far side of the course was quite open. We wandered up and down and free reign to photograph any rider we wanted. It was nice and the fact that the lead motorcycles had each rider's name on the front it made it easy to know when a favored rider was coming. Unfortunately, while we walking along some mysteriously sharp, painful, invisible particle landed in Joan's eye. It was bothering her so much we ended up going back to the hotel so she could use a good bathroom with a good mirror to try and clear her eye. Joan went into the bathroom and Chris Horner came through the lobby. I took his picture but didn't bother him for an autograph. But I should have. I bought a $3 bottle of Visine from the hotel "Marketplace"-- you know, the size of bottle that like two drops in it. It didn't help much. Whatever was in Joan's eye must have scratched her eye because it never stopped hurting.
After the race we headed back to the lobby of the hotel to get our backs and lay in wait for returning riders. There wasn't much happening in that regard so we went out to the valet, which was a madhouse. While I was waiting for my turn I saw Levi ride by so I ducked around the corner to where they had a makeshift shop stop set up and got a quick pic. As he came up to the hotel I also got his photograph. We hoped Lance would not be far behind, but we never did see him. We eventually had to pull up stakes and move on.
The drive to Petaluma was interesting. Joan drove, blind in one eye and unable to see out of the other. I was, as usual, exhibiting signs of highway narcolepsy so we decided it was better to have a blind person driving than a sleeping one. The rain finally found us while we were driving and it kept it up most of the drive. It was mostly clear, but wet, when we arrived at the hotel. It's a huge hotel and it sits on some kind of bay. I'll know better what it's like in the daylight, but I do know there are boats docked in a harbor right outside our window.
We're supposed to have the "wine" package--bottle of wine and cheese plate. We checked in to a room with two little beds and no wine or cheese. We called down about the wine and, well, we're still waiting. I guess we'll just go out and find something to eat. I'll check back in tomorrow. We're supposed to do some wineries in the morning. That should be fun. Then we make our way up to the finish line in Santa Rosa--that's Levi's home so I'm sure he'll want to win that stage if possible.
Well, we're up and we had our free breakfast downstairs. The dining area was standing room only, but we managed to get a small table for basic hotel eggs, yogurt, toast, and "seasonal fruit" (i.e., melon, which is apparently seasonal at every hotel in every season). It looks blustery out, but we're ready. I think. While we were in the dining area the Astana chef kept whizzing in and out of the kitchen and whisking eggs and muffins off to wherever the team was having their breakfast. No sign of Garmin, though.
We have to be out of the hotel before the race begins so I won't be able to update until our next hotel in, I think, Santa Cruz. Hopefully the wireless is faster there--the one here is, as near as I can tell, "High Speed Internet for People in No Particular Hurry."
====
Well, we're now at the Sheraton Petaluma and the internet connection is "High Speed Internet for Really Laid Back Dudes In Even Less of A Hurry." Oh well. You make do. It beats a 1200 baud modem--if any of you can even remember a 1200 baud modem and text only internet, well, good for you. I remember when the 1200 was an upgrade....
We had a really good day. No rain! It was cold and windy, but it was dry up until the end of the race so that was good news. I haven't seen the official results yet but I believe it was Fabian Cancellara in first and Levi in second. We got to see all of our favorites, even my personal fave, Karl Menzies from Team Ouch! (formerly Health Net) by way of Tasmania. He's a really cool guy and a hell of a bike racer. All the big guns are back this year: Tyler Hamilton, Floyd Landis, Ivan Basso, Lance, Levi. It's a really good field of riders.
We wandered around a bit after breakfast and saw a few riders out for their training rides. We had to officially vacate the hotel at noon, so we headed back to bring our bags down to the front desk. They kept them there for us. It was a good thing we came back when we did because as we were leaving Lance was coming in from his morning ride. Joan was oblivious and kept walking and missed it completely. I got a photo but he wasn't stopping this time around, just saying hi and thank you and all that. Got the picture though.
We wandered a bit during the race and rather than our original intent of scoping out the start and then running off to the finish area when our favorites went. The start and finish areas were so packed you couldn't see a thing. I miss those VIP tents we used to get with Health Net! We found that the long straightaway on the far side of the course was quite open. We wandered up and down and free reign to photograph any rider we wanted. It was nice and the fact that the lead motorcycles had each rider's name on the front it made it easy to know when a favored rider was coming. Unfortunately, while we walking along some mysteriously sharp, painful, invisible particle landed in Joan's eye. It was bothering her so much we ended up going back to the hotel so she could use a good bathroom with a good mirror to try and clear her eye. Joan went into the bathroom and Chris Horner came through the lobby. I took his picture but didn't bother him for an autograph. But I should have. I bought a $3 bottle of Visine from the hotel "Marketplace"-- you know, the size of bottle that like two drops in it. It didn't help much. Whatever was in Joan's eye must have scratched her eye because it never stopped hurting.
After the race we headed back to the lobby of the hotel to get our backs and lay in wait for returning riders. There wasn't much happening in that regard so we went out to the valet, which was a madhouse. While I was waiting for my turn I saw Levi ride by so I ducked around the corner to where they had a makeshift shop stop set up and got a quick pic. As he came up to the hotel I also got his photograph. We hoped Lance would not be far behind, but we never did see him. We eventually had to pull up stakes and move on.
The drive to Petaluma was interesting. Joan drove, blind in one eye and unable to see out of the other. I was, as usual, exhibiting signs of highway narcolepsy so we decided it was better to have a blind person driving than a sleeping one. The rain finally found us while we were driving and it kept it up most of the drive. It was mostly clear, but wet, when we arrived at the hotel. It's a huge hotel and it sits on some kind of bay. I'll know better what it's like in the daylight, but I do know there are boats docked in a harbor right outside our window.
We're supposed to have the "wine" package--bottle of wine and cheese plate. We checked in to a room with two little beds and no wine or cheese. We called down about the wine and, well, we're still waiting. I guess we'll just go out and find something to eat. I'll check back in tomorrow. We're supposed to do some wineries in the morning. That should be fun. Then we make our way up to the finish line in Santa Rosa--that's Levi's home so I'm sure he'll want to win that stage if possible.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Sacramento Sacre Bleu!
No, I have no idea how to spell that and don't care if it's wrong. Anyway, everyone knows it's going to drive me crazy and I will eventually have to check. And, of course, I did. The surprising thing is I got it right. Mostly. The French apparently always spell it as one word. It is a curse, after all.
Anyway, we managed to land without our heads exploding. We got our rental car (Pontiac G6 with carbon offsets) and managed to get to Sacramento without incident beyond hunger, lack of tissues, and persistent cloud cover and light rain. There was a slight gaff in the hotel directions, but we made it finally with little argument and got to the hotel to find the Garmin Chipotle team car in the valet spot. Apparently a few teams are staying here, but the desk clerk wasn't giving us any information we couldn't see with our own eyes. Very tight lipped and hush hush about it. There was a small conference room (well, is, I suppose it hasn't gone anywhere) off the main lobby and as staff came and went we could see a team in there having a meal. Garmin staff appeared to be getting some bikes and water bottles together for a training ride. Maybe we'll see some riders!
We have since seen a lot of Astana staff. I haven't recognized any riders but that can be hard when they're in street clothes--you'd be surprised, really!
We took a chilly walk through the wet streets of Sacramento, through Capitol Park, by the Capitol, and beyond. The park is very nice with several different war memorials--the Viet Nam memorial is particularly well-done. There is a trout pond sans trout, a bell from the U.S.S. California sans ship, and a replica of the Liberty Bell sans crack. There are rose trees grown from grafts from plants from souther battlefields of the Civil War. It's a beautiful park and I'm sure it's amazing on a nice spring or summer day.
We stopped off at the 4th Street Grille for a drink and an appetizer and had a good time talking with the bartender, Ken (I think). He shared his beautiful hard cover edition of a Tour de France retrospective that he had brought into the bar on the off chance someone of significance happened in who might be worthy of autographing his treasured tome. I told him he should hang out at our hotel if he wants to see anyone.
From the grill we walked down to Old Sacramento and had a really nice dinner at the Rio City Cafe. We briefly walked around old town after dinner but it was simply too cold and wet. Besides, it was getting dark and wet and we had fifteen blocks to walk in a strange city, at night. We headed back. I have to admit, we were almost done in and it wasn't even 6:00 p.m. back home!
We went to the room and ditched our jackets and then went down to the hotel bar for a drink and to scope out people who came in. There were team staff about but no one we recognized by name or anything. I had a nice Belgian beer and Joan had a Bailey's and coffee to warm her bones. I also ordered the 3 Fires Habanero Sorbet. It was good! It was a citrus (heavy on the lemon) sorbet with tri-colored habanero pieces. It had a really nice, slow burn that kicked up a few notches after the last bite disappeared. Isn't that how chiles always work?
Anyway, we're back in the room and sufficiently doped up. Racing doesn't start to 1:00 or 1:30, so we're not setting our alarms. As long as we're up before our free breakfast disappears I think we'll call it a good night.
Anyway, we managed to land without our heads exploding. We got our rental car (Pontiac G6 with carbon offsets) and managed to get to Sacramento without incident beyond hunger, lack of tissues, and persistent cloud cover and light rain. There was a slight gaff in the hotel directions, but we made it finally with little argument and got to the hotel to find the Garmin Chipotle team car in the valet spot. Apparently a few teams are staying here, but the desk clerk wasn't giving us any information we couldn't see with our own eyes. Very tight lipped and hush hush about it. There was a small conference room (well, is, I suppose it hasn't gone anywhere) off the main lobby and as staff came and went we could see a team in there having a meal. Garmin staff appeared to be getting some bikes and water bottles together for a training ride. Maybe we'll see some riders!
We have since seen a lot of Astana staff. I haven't recognized any riders but that can be hard when they're in street clothes--you'd be surprised, really!
We took a chilly walk through the wet streets of Sacramento, through Capitol Park, by the Capitol, and beyond. The park is very nice with several different war memorials--the Viet Nam memorial is particularly well-done. There is a trout pond sans trout, a bell from the U.S.S. California sans ship, and a replica of the Liberty Bell sans crack. There are rose trees grown from grafts from plants from souther battlefields of the Civil War. It's a beautiful park and I'm sure it's amazing on a nice spring or summer day.
We stopped off at the 4th Street Grille for a drink and an appetizer and had a good time talking with the bartender, Ken (I think). He shared his beautiful hard cover edition of a Tour de France retrospective that he had brought into the bar on the off chance someone of significance happened in who might be worthy of autographing his treasured tome. I told him he should hang out at our hotel if he wants to see anyone.
From the grill we walked down to Old Sacramento and had a really nice dinner at the Rio City Cafe. We briefly walked around old town after dinner but it was simply too cold and wet. Besides, it was getting dark and wet and we had fifteen blocks to walk in a strange city, at night. We headed back. I have to admit, we were almost done in and it wasn't even 6:00 p.m. back home!
We went to the room and ditched our jackets and then went down to the hotel bar for a drink and to scope out people who came in. There were team staff about but no one we recognized by name or anything. I had a nice Belgian beer and Joan had a Bailey's and coffee to warm her bones. I also ordered the 3 Fires Habanero Sorbet. It was good! It was a citrus (heavy on the lemon) sorbet with tri-colored habanero pieces. It had a really nice, slow burn that kicked up a few notches after the last bite disappeared. Isn't that how chiles always work?
Anyway, we're back in the room and sufficiently doped up. Racing doesn't start to 1:00 or 1:30, so we're not setting our alarms. As long as we're up before our free breakfast disappears I think we'll call it a good night.
The Bike Box Heads To California
Bikebox 13 Feb. 2009
I am not a good blogger. I admit.I have come realize my shortcomings in this area. Now, I have always known the notion of the blog as something rough and unpolished, though I am certain there are folks out there who take their blogging very seriously. I've seen their blogs. Impressed or not, the care is obvious. I know the idea is to just get the thoughts out there, a form of public journal, laying your thoughts out in the open, or in the case of unread blogs like mine, to waste. I have gone weeks without an entry. No one likes a blog that doesn't get updated. Well, I am going to try to actually enter the world of appropriate blog behavior--frequent updates, careless proofreading, and generally pointless and random thinking So, really, the only difference will be the frequency of posting.
What better time to start than this, the beginning of my trip to California for the start of the Amgen Tour of California? We dragged our sickly carcasses out of bed at 4:45 a.m. to prepare for our journey, so I might as well share my suffering with the world.
Joan and I both have head colds. I've had mine longer, so I'm not as bad off as Joan is at this point, but we've both seen better days. Our ears are plugged and our heads nearing explosive pressures as we sit in our traveling tin can at cruising altitude (someone remind me to purchase the carbon offsets for this trip--I haven't done so yet). And, as we fly to sunny California the weather forecast has decided to defy the travel brochures and promises us five days of rain and temps in the low 50s. That should be good for us.
I went in search of decent rain ponchos yesterday. I didn't just want the disposable ones, for a variety of reasons For one, hello, disposable. Two, they have to last five days of standing in the rain watching bicycles whiz by spraying water and mud in every direction. I ended up at Dick's Sporting Goods. They had three different options: Disposable, $5 ponchos, and $25 dollar ponchos. I could find no discernible difference between the $5 and $25 dollar ponchos Not a $20 difference anyway, so I ended up with two $5 ponchos, one blue, one yellow. I like to give Joan choices.
Ponchos in hand, we have begun our intrepid journey to the capitol of California, Sacramento, by way of Oackland airport. Tomorrow is Valentine's day and Southwest Airlines is actually selling Hallmark cards on the flight. They offered cards before drinks. I suspect those who are that hard up for a VD card would be more likely to buy one after a drink or two, but I could be wrong. I actually saw people buying them, though. As much as Hallmark cards cost in the store, I can only imagine what they cost when they are hand delivered at 30,000 feet.
I'm looking forward to Sacramento. I have never been there. It's unfortunate that we are only there for one day and that it will be raining (the captain tells us it is 45 degrees in Oakland) and cold. Tomorrow is the first day of racing and we begin with the Prologue. The prologue makes a circuit around Capitol Park, one 2.4 mile lap per rider--about five minutes of riding. If we are ambitious and the crowds aren't too heavy, we will be able to watch a rider start and then make a two block cut across the park to catch the finish. I admit I'm excited to finally see Lance Armstrong race. The closest I've been to that scenario is seeing him whiz by in the Discovery car during the first Amgen TOC--post retirement. Although I'm looking forward to that, I'm not rooting for Astana, not during the TOC anyway; I will cheer them on in the Grand Tours, probably, but loyalties are seriously divided these days. Hincapie is on High Road, and you have to love Georgie. Zabriskie is on Garmin. Astana has a lot of favorites. But for domestic racing I'm pulling for Ouch! presented by Maxxis. Ouch! used to be Team Health Net and I followed them from the beginning, mainly because Joan works for Health Net and we often had VIP access to racing events. It doesn't hurt that they were the number one domestic team each year of their existence. Health Net was Gord Frasier's team. He's retired now, too, but he was always a great guy to hang with and talk to at the races and other events. I'm not going to pretend we were friends or anything, but he was friendly and remembered me when I saw him. That counts for something in my view.
I'm looking forward to the next few days, weather be damned. I'll at least try to do daily updates of the races and our adventures along the way. I might even post a photo or two from the doubtless hundreds I will take of blurry, rain-spotted bicycles and drenched skinny men in spandex. But right now the flight attendants are telling us to put our things away as we prepare for our descent into Oakland. I can already feel the pressure building in my head and sinuses and can only imagine what this is going to feel like in a few minutes. I just hope that if the pressure gets too bad and my eyeballs pop out of my head some kind soul will help me pick them up and pop them back in.
In the meantime, welcome to The Bikebox.
I am not a good blogger. I admit.I have come realize my shortcomings in this area. Now, I have always known the notion of the blog as something rough and unpolished, though I am certain there are folks out there who take their blogging very seriously. I've seen their blogs. Impressed or not, the care is obvious. I know the idea is to just get the thoughts out there, a form of public journal, laying your thoughts out in the open, or in the case of unread blogs like mine, to waste. I have gone weeks without an entry. No one likes a blog that doesn't get updated. Well, I am going to try to actually enter the world of appropriate blog behavior--frequent updates, careless proofreading, and generally pointless and random thinking So, really, the only difference will be the frequency of posting.
What better time to start than this, the beginning of my trip to California for the start of the Amgen Tour of California? We dragged our sickly carcasses out of bed at 4:45 a.m. to prepare for our journey, so I might as well share my suffering with the world.
Joan and I both have head colds. I've had mine longer, so I'm not as bad off as Joan is at this point, but we've both seen better days. Our ears are plugged and our heads nearing explosive pressures as we sit in our traveling tin can at cruising altitude (someone remind me to purchase the carbon offsets for this trip--I haven't done so yet). And, as we fly to sunny California the weather forecast has decided to defy the travel brochures and promises us five days of rain and temps in the low 50s. That should be good for us.
I went in search of decent rain ponchos yesterday. I didn't just want the disposable ones, for a variety of reasons For one, hello, disposable. Two, they have to last five days of standing in the rain watching bicycles whiz by spraying water and mud in every direction. I ended up at Dick's Sporting Goods. They had three different options: Disposable, $5 ponchos, and $25 dollar ponchos. I could find no discernible difference between the $5 and $25 dollar ponchos Not a $20 difference anyway, so I ended up with two $5 ponchos, one blue, one yellow. I like to give Joan choices.
Ponchos in hand, we have begun our intrepid journey to the capitol of California, Sacramento, by way of Oackland airport. Tomorrow is Valentine's day and Southwest Airlines is actually selling Hallmark cards on the flight. They offered cards before drinks. I suspect those who are that hard up for a VD card would be more likely to buy one after a drink or two, but I could be wrong. I actually saw people buying them, though. As much as Hallmark cards cost in the store, I can only imagine what they cost when they are hand delivered at 30,000 feet.
I'm looking forward to Sacramento. I have never been there. It's unfortunate that we are only there for one day and that it will be raining (the captain tells us it is 45 degrees in Oakland) and cold. Tomorrow is the first day of racing and we begin with the Prologue. The prologue makes a circuit around Capitol Park, one 2.4 mile lap per rider--about five minutes of riding. If we are ambitious and the crowds aren't too heavy, we will be able to watch a rider start and then make a two block cut across the park to catch the finish. I admit I'm excited to finally see Lance Armstrong race. The closest I've been to that scenario is seeing him whiz by in the Discovery car during the first Amgen TOC--post retirement. Although I'm looking forward to that, I'm not rooting for Astana, not during the TOC anyway; I will cheer them on in the Grand Tours, probably, but loyalties are seriously divided these days. Hincapie is on High Road, and you have to love Georgie. Zabriskie is on Garmin. Astana has a lot of favorites. But for domestic racing I'm pulling for Ouch! presented by Maxxis. Ouch! used to be Team Health Net and I followed them from the beginning, mainly because Joan works for Health Net and we often had VIP access to racing events. It doesn't hurt that they were the number one domestic team each year of their existence. Health Net was Gord Frasier's team. He's retired now, too, but he was always a great guy to hang with and talk to at the races and other events. I'm not going to pretend we were friends or anything, but he was friendly and remembered me when I saw him. That counts for something in my view.
I'm looking forward to the next few days, weather be damned. I'll at least try to do daily updates of the races and our adventures along the way. I might even post a photo or two from the doubtless hundreds I will take of blurry, rain-spotted bicycles and drenched skinny men in spandex. But right now the flight attendants are telling us to put our things away as we prepare for our descent into Oakland. I can already feel the pressure building in my head and sinuses and can only imagine what this is going to feel like in a few minutes. I just hope that if the pressure gets too bad and my eyeballs pop out of my head some kind soul will help me pick them up and pop them back in.
In the meantime, welcome to The Bikebox.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
It makes me crazy!
It just baffles me that anyone can seriously, with a straight face, propose the teaching of creationism, or, er, excuse me, "intelligent design," as science. The teaching of mythology in a science classroom is ludicrous. Pretending that creationism is another "theory" that should be taught is insane. Insane. There is nothing testable about it. It is not researchable. It is not in any way shape or form science. It's hooey and nothing more.
Evolution is a fact. We do not fully understand how it works in all cases but the fact that it exists and is happening all around us is unquestionable. Get over it.
Evolution is a fact. We do not fully understand how it works in all cases but the fact that it exists and is happening all around us is unquestionable. Get over it.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Inauguration Day 2009
Inauguration Day 2009
And now we must stop making excuses.
Beyond that, I have no words.
No words that seem adequate;
None that seem eloquent enough,
Deserving enough to be shared.
Some two million strong
Along the Washington mall
Wave flags and hats and hands
And wishes and hopes and dreams.
We are all strengthened by their pride.
Wrapped in the icy embrace of
A winter both literal and symbolic,
Their breath plumes white
But their hearts beat warm
And the future smells of sweetest spring.
From ball to ball, tonight
America dances toward the future.
The waltz beat strains of Hope and Change
And all the best the World can offer:
This is what's to come.
So no more excuses. No blame deflected.
Responsibility is ours once more.
Gather up the tools of growth,
And fertilize with faith and hope;
America, your future has already begun.
--Chris Kmotorka, January 20, 2009
And now we must stop making excuses.
Beyond that, I have no words.
No words that seem adequate;
None that seem eloquent enough,
Deserving enough to be shared.
Some two million strong
Along the Washington mall
Wave flags and hats and hands
And wishes and hopes and dreams.
We are all strengthened by their pride.
Wrapped in the icy embrace of
A winter both literal and symbolic,
Their breath plumes white
But their hearts beat warm
And the future smells of sweetest spring.
From ball to ball, tonight
America dances toward the future.
The waltz beat strains of Hope and Change
And all the best the World can offer:
This is what's to come.
So no more excuses. No blame deflected.
Responsibility is ours once more.
Gather up the tools of growth,
And fertilize with faith and hope;
America, your future has already begun.
--Chris Kmotorka, January 20, 2009
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