I spent the last day of 2005 breaking in my new Fuji ‘Cross bike with Deb and Bryan. We rode some dirt roads around the Wilson’s Creek area in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The ride was absolutely beautiful… it felt like we were the only people on Earth. To cap that off, there were stunning views of the mountains as far as the eye could see. No matter where I looked it was forest, dirt road, and the blue hue of the mountains surrounding me. Just me and my friends, what a great way to end the year.

And, on this ride I discovered that I LOVE the mud. There were some muddy sections at first I would try to avoid, then I just thought, “ah the heck with it,” and I’d go straight down the middle… spraying mud and yelling “wahoooo!!!” the whole way!

After the ride we went for some coffee in downtown Morganton and just chatted for a while.

Joe spent the day with my dad at the NC State Bowl Game. NC State won, so of course they had a great time.

Joe and I then went to the Wallace’s house (a church family friend) to ring in the New Year. My friend, Kristen, and her husband Shawn Keller were there and we got to visit with them for a while. It was so good to see them again, and to spend time with close family friends for a quiet start to 2006.

I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the end of the year.

As you’ve probably noticed, there hasn’t been much activity on my blog since the Christmas season has successfully swept me off my feet and left me thoroughly exhausted this year… yet again.

Things were crazy as soon as I got home- seeing friends I haven’t seen in months since my move to Germany, getting presents wrapped in time for the annual Christmas Eve opening, going to pick up my husband from the Charlotte airport, and trying to squeeze some training in here and there when I could.

I’ve decided that Christmas is a holiday of attrition. It starts out for me on Christmas Eve and doesn’t seem to let up until after New Year’s. I woke up Christmas Eve to get in my run before our scheduled Christmas Eve Brunch at the Lange’s house (a church family friend). I rushed home at 11:00am to meet with Deb to ride up 181 to Johnas Ridge, a ride with a 12 mile climb that averages 8% I think? It’s steep anyways. So then I get home and have a couple hours before I have to get ready for church, then we start opening gifts at 9:00pm or later… when I generally had been going to bed. Gifts were over and done with after midnight and I was exhausted. I went off to bed while Joe, his brother Todd, and my parents stayed up talking.

Too bad I couldn’t sleep in on Christmas Day… I had to get up again to get my training in before the Christmas festivities started again. And I was still late for the Christmas lunch we had at our house for all the church families… but I was home for the tail end of the visiting. Then as soon as our friends said goodbye, my dad’s sister and her family came to visit that evening. Whew, another late night… and the best part is still coming…

We had to wake up at 4:00am to leave for Topsail Beach, NC to go visit my Grandfather and Aunt & Uncle. It’s a 6 hour or more drive, and they wanted to eat at… you guessed it… noon. So, we packed up and headed all the way across the state of North Carolina and as soon as we got there I got on my bike to go for a ride. I had a less than pleasant ride… it was SO windy, and it was flat… my absolute WORST kind of a ride EVER. But, I made it, and when I got back I was able to spend time talking with my Aunt and her mother while I ate as much as I wanted… which was very, very nice.

Joe and I ended up staying the night, and we had to wake up again at 6:00am to go back to Raleigh and check on our house and put some things in order before leaving for Germany again. We got to the house and I got on my bike… again, it was windy today and it was a fight with the wind.

My favorite thing was we ate Mellow Mushroom pizza that night, which made the windy ride totally worth it. Mellow Mushroom is the best pizza ever… and if you don’t believe me, then you have to try it before you can argue. And believe me, I have had lots of good pizza… including stuff from Italy… so I know pizza. This stuff is the BEST.

The next couple days were about the same. I rode and fought the wind the entire way, Joe and I sorted through clothes and repacked for Germany, and Joe worked in the yard at the house. I went to visit Charlie Storm, the best coach EVER (again can’t argue with me on this one until you’ve tried the Storm Endurance Program), in Sanford, NC at Fit to be Tried. Charlie built me up a SWEET Fuji Cross bike… which I picked up and carried with me back to Morganton late Thursday night.

I spent Friday pretty much sleeping after all the traveling I’ve been doing. I slept until noon and then woke up and watched movies pretty much all day. I ran with my dad in the evening, and then I ate dinner and fell asleep on the couch watching yet another movie.

I’m still tired, but I am rejuvinated enough to head out and test my cross bike on some fire roads at Wilson’s Creek with Deb and her husband Bryan. I am so ready for some dirt climbing… and finally guess what, there won’t be ANY wind today in all the trees. YEEEESSSSSSS!!!! (by the way, did I mention that I HATE wind??!)

Joe and my dad are off to the NC State Bowl game in Charlotte, NC. I’m sure they’re in heaven hanging out with the guys and watching football. Joe hasn’t seen a State game all season since we’ve been in Germany (not even on TV), so this is a very special treat for him.

We head over for yet another party tonight at the Wallace’s house, another church family friend. My maid of honor, Kristen Keller will be there with her husband who just got home this week from Iraq for the second time. It will be good to see them… but I might have to skip the dropping of the ball and ringing in the new year thing for some much needed sleep.

Christmas and the holiday season won again.

Happy New Year to All!

Man… it’s always good to be in North Carolina. I loved looking out the plane window and seeing the beautiful Appalachian Mountains below, and I especially loved knowing I’d be riding in them soon enough.

As I predicted before I even left Phoenix (yes, you can ask Gina…), my luggage did NOT arrive in Charlotte when I did. I had a connection in Clevland which was only about 40 minutes total, and I changed from Continental Airlines to US Airways. Couple that with it being close to Christmas… guaranteed that I was going to lose my luggage. This is totally NOT good when you wanna ride the next day. But lucky for me my bike and two bags arrived at my parents’ house in Drexel at noon… just in time for me to go ride with my good friend Deb and Robin.

And another thing about airlines… what is with the extra FEES?! Jeez, I mean, first of all, I have never understood the bike fee, but fine. 80 dollars. Then, 25 dollars because I have to travel with my trainer and one of my bags is over 50 pounds. THEN I have to pay another 80 dollars because I have three bags. Apparently my bike bag DOES count as a bag- unlike I’ve been told before- and I have to pay two 80 dollar fees. Whatever. I really don’t like Continental, they seem to always go by the rules to and not give you a break for anything. But that’s just been my luck with them.

So aside from the excessive fees (and I must stress the EXCESSIVE), I had a good flight and I made it into Charlotte no problem. I found my mom in the baggage claim area after I filed my lost baggage claim with US Airways. And, for all of you wondering, I have been able to opperate just fine without a cell phone. Actually, now that I haven’t had one it’s been really nice not having a phone ringing all the time. And I haven’t had any problems finding who’s picking me up at the airport. So… moral of the story is… cell phones aren’t necessary even though everyone has one.

I had a great ride today with Deb and Robin around Lake James. What a perfect day and a perfect loop for my first ride back in North Carolina. It was so pretty at the Lake. I never get tired of that ride.

Of course I am so happy to be home with my mom and dad… and my brother even gave me a hug when I saw him (which I about fell over- ha, just kidding Greg). And my dog, Symba, was so funny. He just wagged his tail and couldn’t believe that it was me! He was like, “I’m not sure… is it really you??! Oh my gosh, it is!”

And the great thing about being back home at Christmas time is all the cookies. They are everywhere… literally. They are all over the counter. I’m eating them as fast as I can and they are still reappearing. Isn’t that weird? I think it’s a Christmas Mystery… but I’m working on solving it. If I do then I’ll let you know… but I think this one will take a lot of “work”… hmmm… I think I should go back to the kitchen to investigate now.

Just when I think the riding can’t get any better here in Arizona… it does. After my “epic” long ride on Saturday, I went out for a promised fun-filled Ladies Only ride held in South Mountain park. Tina Bettini of Team One organized the event. What a great thing to do for all the women who ride in Arizona! It’s so encouraging to see new women out for the love of the sport, and I was so happy to be invited to come along on a ride with the girls.

So I decided to ride down to South Mountain Park to get in some extra miles (since you know, the 130 miles I did the day before wasn’t enough ha!) and of course I get LOST on the way there. Not just once… but TWICE. I end up doing circles thru these crazy neighborhoods. I knew the general direction I needed to go (I never stop to ask for directions- and Joe I don’t need that stupid GPS unit that actually tells you where the heck you are)… it’s just that a lot of the roads around here don’t go all the way thru. You’ll turn and think, “yeah this will work, I need to go right”… and then it’s a dead end. Or it will end and you have to turn another way that you don’t want to go.

Anyways, once I finally made it there (just in time for the ride, the women were saddling up when I showed up) we had a short question-answer session before the ride. I did my best to answer questions, and then we went out for a nice spin around the Awahutukee area. I really enjoyed talking with everyone on the ride. Then Tina took me to Starbucks to jazz me up for the ride home with a nice steamin’ cup o’ Joe (hehe, I had to throw that in since it’s my husband’s name). At least this time I didn’t get lost… what a nice way to spend a Sunday.

When I got home, Deneen was already back from her trip to Atlanta. I spent the evening talking to her and then watching some more good TBS Superstation movies. I think Jerry McGuire was on that night and then You’ve Got Mail. Another successful training day completed.

On Monday I was so excited because I got to climb the infamous Mount Lemon. It’s a 27 mile climb up a beautiful mountain in Tucson, and at the top I got to pet a wolf (yes, a wolf. well, it’s 7/8 wolf but that’s close enough for me) and I had a slice of the best apple pie I’ve ever had at the Mt Lemon Cafe. If you ever climb this mountain, it’s worth it just for the pie.

And by the way… what is up with the pie stops on mountain tops anyways? What’s the deal with the pie? On the top of Oak Glen in Redlands there’s a big huge pie store. I guess it’s the only way they can get crazy cyclists to ride up there, I dunno. I know I’d climb Mount Lemon or Oak Glen anytime because I actually like climbing (yes, I’m weird).

So I made it back to Scottsdale, and Deneen and I ordered up some Julio’s to go. I had a great veggie burrito and a huge side of rice and beans. It really hit the spot after a long day of climbing.

Yes, the sun is still shining here in Arizona… in case you were wondering. I’m loving the weather, although it was VERY cold again this morning when I left to go meet up with the group leaving from Soma Cafe for an epic 110 mile ride. Yes, 110 miles. Weee…

So, before I get into today’s ride, yesterday I rode by myself out to Seven Springs because my riding partner wussed out. hahahaha… nah, actually the pollution has been super bad here and he woke up not feeling well so he took a much needed day off. He knew that Saturday’s ride was going to be really long and then we’re planning on driving to Tuscon to do Mt Lemon on Monday. You know you have to rest up if you’re going to ride with me.

Even though I was by myself, the ride out to Seven Springs was really nice. I went out a dirt road for a couple miles after the pavement ends, guess I got really confused and thought I was mountain biking. But it was fun climbing back out on the dirt, except for the fact that my bike hasn’t had a tune up in like 6 months so it kept skipping and stuff. But eh, the bike rolls and that’s all I care about.

Today’s ride was fun. I met with the Patent It! team at Soma Cafe for a promised long, long ride. We rode out thru Fountain Hills, Rio Verde, up 9 mile hill, then continued all the way up to Seven Springs (where I was the day before! wow, I actually knew where we were). Except for this time we stopped where the pavement ended and then turned around and rode back into town. I ended up with over 130 miles for the day since I rode to the Cafe and back from Deneen’s in Scottsdale.

I got home and immediately started cooking dinner, and once that was settled I played ball with Bonnie and got to talk to my husband on the phone for a quick minute. He’s still in Munich and it was well after midnight there. He stayed up to talk to me and to make sure I got back okay. I can’t wait to see him next week… I can’t believe it’s going to be Christmas next weekend! Wow, bring on the presents! So if you’ve forgotten to send me a gift this year, that’s okay… there’s still time. Just ship to my parents’ house in Morganton, you know the one. Email me if you need the address and I’ll be happy to send it to you.

Tomorrow I am going on a Ladies Only ride in Awatuke or something crazy spelled like that near South Mountain. It’ll be fun riding with all women. We’re having a breakfast before the ride, then doing like 40 or 50 miles. I’ll ride down there from Scottsdale, so it will be another 70 plus mile day easy. And Deneen will be home tomorrow from her Christmas party in Atlanta. It will be nice to have someone to hang out with again!

The weather has been great here this week in Arizona, and I’ve enjoyed several 4 hour days in the sun. I’ve had some eventful rides. On Tuesday I bumped into Dara Marks, a pro mtn biker who’s a super climber. And yesterday I rode with Gina and the Bicycle Haus guys before I had to take Gina to the airport.

I drove out to South Mtn Park in the afternoon and got to stretch my climbing legs a bit. It was nice at the top. You can see out all across the valley where Phoenix is at the Summit, but the smog was really bad yesterday.

Today I think I deserve a gold star and a super-huge cookie because I woke up at 5:45am (YES! that’s right) to meet with the Patent It! team at the Soma Cafe for another one of those early bird rides that these Phoenix people like to do. Apparently people work around here for a living or something and they have to get their ride in before going to this so called “work.” Hmm… weird, eh?

Anywho, now that I’ve been awake for waaaay too long I am crashing early. I feel like I’m in a zombie state even though I’ve had plenty of coffee to keep me awake for a month today. So this post is probably short and choppy because I’m so tired, but hey at least I wrote some!

Tomorrow I’m meeting up with Shawn and the Patent It! team for another long ride. Hopefully not so early!? We’ll see…

I spent the morning helping Deneen make yummy Christmas treats… mmm, I love the holidays!