What am I going to do. The Olympics are over.
I just finished watching the closing ceremonies and looking back at all those memorable moments (Michael Phelps, Bolt, Shawn Johson, Natasia Liukin, Walsh and May (best event) Mens’ volleyball and so on). I’ve loved the whole Olympic thing since I was a kid. It’s one of those rare events where the whole world is paying attention and participating in the spirit of good sportsmanship and understanding. If only the world could maintain that for longer than 17 days. The world needs the Olympic spirit if only for those two weeks to remind us of what could be.
I recently returned from Utah a few days ago. Besides the team’s great results, good natured ribbing, and scenic mountain biking, I’ll remember Park City as a place where I watched some of those Olympic moments with our own multicultural team. and with a roomful of strangers glued to the television at the bar. Erupting in screams as Phelps wins another gold! (Team Type 1 had two guys from the team competing for their respective countries in Beijing).
Chris Davidson and I worked as the mechanics for the race. It was great to work with him again. The job goes smoothly working with guys like Chris Davidson and Eric Jellum. Chris lives in Salt Lake City and knows the trails in Park City. Although I only got in two good rides it was worth the effort. Good views, good times! Hard to breathe though at that altitude. I could only go one speed. Slow!
Ran into Sima and her husband Cory at the downtown Salt Lake City Crit. It’s always nice to catch up with people you haven’t seen in awhile. We shared some laughs when she was on Colavita/Cooking Light. She hasn’t changed. Still a bunch of laughs.
Stephanie was our liason when the team was in Taiwan earlier this year. She is going to school in California now and decided to come see us. She told me in Taiwan I was too serious so I had to convince her that I just tend to concentrate really hard. Ha!
Driving around the country the last 4 seasons I’ve noticed more wind-farms being erected. If you ever see those blades being transported on the highways they are huge.
For all you mountain bikers out there… When traveling on I-80 through Wyoming look for the rest stop with Abe’s bust (it’s a little East of Laramie. Exit 323. Continental Divide.) Two minutes off the interstate is a mountain bike trailhead for the Medicine Bow National Forest. Camping too! See the pictures below for the perfect place to stretch the legs a little.
The car trailer blew a tire on I-80 near Ashland, Nebraska. Of course you’ve never heard of Ashland, NE. Was fortunate to drive the car to the next exit to find a place that could mount a new tire on the rim. When it came time to pay the lady, she informed me that they only take cash. I only had the company credit card. When I offered to leave her my card while I went to find an ATM she politely said that wouldn’t be necessary. She was on her way home anyways and could just follow me to the truck stop where there was an ATM. I must admit it looked a little odd handing this woman $92 at the lunch counter of Cabby’s Truck Stop. While waiting for her husband to mount a new tire, I learned that she has a vegetable garden at her house that grows enough vegetables for the whole town to use. I asked her how the tomatoes were and she said, “perfect!” We also lamented about the fact the some of the bean farmers in the area were going to have to spray their bean crops because something was getting at the leaves. Either a bug or maybe a virus. They weren’t quite sure yet and I didn’t have a clue either. I suggested maybe get some ladybugs because that’s about all I know about gardening. She agreed that was probably a good idea.
I’m leaving in a few days for South Carolina. US PRO Championships in Greenville, SC. After that, Univest Grand Prix somewhere in Pennsylvania.
Cheers,
DJB
