Just Being...

When things get a little crazy, I look to my cats for clues to living in the moment...they definatley have that art mastered!

Cool Ratz!

This is Sebastian and Pasquale or Pasquale and Sebastian (I'm not sure which one's which :) They are my teammate Sarah's pet rats and they'e soooooooooooo cute! Laura, Robin and I stayed with Sarah at her home in San Francisco the final night of our training week. It was great to see Terry again (Sarah's husband) and to meet these little guys that we've heard so much about. I'm already looking forward to my stay with Sarah later on in March! :)

Yes...this is California!

Having only 6 days to ride in this amazing place, we went out today rain or shine. Luckily it wasn't rain...but as you can from the snow on the mountain tops and from Laura's newly purchased snowmobile gloves, it was pretty cold. Pictured here from left to right are Anne Samplonius, Robin Farina, Laura Van Gilder, myself and Sarah Bamberger (absent today is Stacy Marple...but she's rejoining us tonight).

Sonoma County, California

This week some of my Cheerwine teammates and I are staying in Forestville for some early season training.

We're staying in a beautiful little place along the Russian River (not this house...but I thought this house was beautiful too :)

Yesterday we did an incredible ride that went up, and up, and up King Ridge Road. For a more indepth description with picutres, check out this link put together by a gentleman from England who did the same trip http://www.lkjh.org/bike/california/sonoma/king_ridge/index.html

The best part of the ride was descending to the coast (on roads with pitches of up to 22%)

And then back to our little home surrounded by these majestic trees. For more pictures check out this web album I've put together http://picasaweb.google.com/cyclehobson/SonomaCounty?authkey=y-Tx4VCo6Kc

South Carolina

While home was looking a little like this...

South Carolina was looking like this!

I joined Julia, Christine, Ana and Dave in Devil's Fork State Park for 10 days of incredible training...there's no better place than South Carolina for early season riding in the mountains. The weather is mild (by Canadian standards), the roads are smooth, and there are group rides with 80 plus riders!

The triathletes in our group even got in a little swimming :). Dave and Christine kept the Polar Bear tradition going with a New Year's Day dip in the lake.

Julia, Christine and I then hiked up Table Rock Mountain for an incredible view of the Appalachian foothills. Until next time...

Catching up from Christmas

Oby opening presents Christmas Day.

Visiting family (Cynthia, Deb and Josee)

The irresistable game of Twister!

A little hockey on the front porch with Alex and Jeff.

Jeff and I getting out for our Christmas Coffee ride :)