Eatin' Worms and havin' Flashbacks

Just finished up 18 hours on the bike in the past 6 days. Today was 3 hours of sideways rain and 40 degree temps. My trainer failed after 20 minutes so it was to the closet for double booties, tights, and rain jackets. I haven't worn that much clothing outside since Belgium. Good thing I decided to delay my training for nice weather!!!

The crummy weather decided my route for me....stay close to the lake and cruise due south to Harrington Beach State Park, then west to Belgium, and home on the new bike path with a little shelter from the trees.

I was feeling pretty good and thinking of my times in Belgium. I was only in the house for a total of 5-6 weeks, but it will be a 5-6 week time frame in my life I will never forget. I will always be able to draw on the experience for motivation.

So as I'm riding down the road w/ cow crap splashing off of my helmet and worms stuck to my glasses a vision pops into my head......

I'm cuddled in bed, nice and warm, dreaming of Ben & Jerry's, and winning bike races, when all of the sudden I get jarred awake. A door slams, and a foreign voice yells, 'WAKE UP' 'IT SNOWED' 'WE LEAVE IN 2 HOURS' then I here Troy Wells reply with some smart ass comment. I look out the window to see a fresh inch of snow covering the roads. I think to myself this is nothing compared to WI. I think to myself, are my bikes even on this continent. I think to myself, back to bed....

10 minutes later I'm making a Ham and Chesse and enjoying a fine cup of Belgian Coffee. 3 sugars and lots of cream is the only way I can get it down the hatch. Soon the bags are packed and I'm on my way to Kalmthout. My bikes have been lost for the past 4 days, maybe still in Chicago, maybe in London, or maybe at the race. I show to the race, my bikes arrived, a miracle, I don't have to ride J-POWS 1999 ragged out Salsa. My wheels are missing however and after a rough translation we determine they were left back in Izegem....one of the JR's moved them. Next up is Inschription, I'm in my blue jeans, and Sven is on the course, a quick half lap on the course, some warming cream, some cigarette smoke, a last row call up, freezing cold, no brakes down the start stretch, and then onto the course for one of the most epic cross races ever...too bad I ended up 1 lap down....

Then a car splashes me...I snap back to reality, look down at my computer and realize I still have to go for another hour, I'm going to be late for work, I'm tired, and I just want to go back to bed. I grit my teeth and finish the ride....

Racing this weekend is up in the air as of now. Andrea's sister Elicia is graduating from UW Madison.....we'll do a little partying and see what happens.