Moving Day

Although its presence was always lurking in the foggy future, I was not sure when this day might come. With the progression of events, it seems that right now is the perfect time. 

I am finally done growing flowers. It was a long season. I have tended them, watched over them, and provided them with all they needed to flourish. I used the dirt that once existed to grow the most exquisite bouquet of blooms. This transformation healed deep wounds within, allowing me to let the past rest and move on with a happier and more fulfilling future. 

I will bring my flowers with me to the other side of the world. The strength they have given me is truly of immeasurable worth. 

The most sincere "Thank you" to all who have helped me in this transformation, who encouraged me find a new path and walk down it with all the strength I could muster and claim the freedom necessary to finally experience myself. 

For no less than the next year, all blogging has moved to 

http://smokeandoil.blogspot.com/

Thank you all for everything. Know, with all the sincerity I can send through the internet, that I will be thinking of you on my journeys. 

Myrtle Beach

My mom and I took a more or less spur of the moment trip to Myrtle Beach to get in some good memory/ bonding time before I depart for a long, long time. 

Myrtle Beach is a pretty crazy place, but we had a really good time and partook in a few in- depth conversations about how Myrtle Beach is a prime representation of modernity at its very best/worst (depending on your viewpoint of modernity). Huge buildings, huge cars, huge people, huge portions, huge shopping complexes . . . everything was huge. This was quite nicely offset by our mode of transportation: the Mini! 

Here are some pictures: 

The view from our hotel room

The pool below

Us at the beach

An amazing sandcastle

Huge shrimp!!

Hard Rock Park

I rode that beast!! Twice! 

Exhausted in a big, white, fluffy bed after a long day

It's raining! How sad!

Luckily the rain appeared when we were leaving, not arriving! 

Exile

So, I have been back from the mountains for quite some time now, but a little too impacted by the experience for casual blogging. 

The mountains have become enigmatic for me. They represent all that I love and all that I hate. They gave me everything, and left me with nothing. Within them, they hold my happiest days and my darkest nights. I cannot be but affected by the mysterious power illicited by these mountains; calling and expelling me, at one in the same moment. 

Perhaps returning to the mountains so soon was not the right decision, not the best decision for my health and healing. Perhaps they represent a force, an omniscient presence, to be reckoned with for years to come. It may, in fact, be years before I am powerful enough to face them once again, knowing they can see within me the tumultuous past I left at their feet.  

Beech, Sugar, Roan, and Grandfather are my judge, jury, and executioner. Their charge for me -- indefinite exile. Exile to a foreign land, far from the familiar comforts of home. Far from the friendships that have been built, and even farther from the one's that have been destroyed. In the spirit of the duality of the mountains; their charge is both a curse and a gift. 

Cursed to begin life again, so close in time to the destruction of the last. It is hard to build with confidence where great tragedy once gripped the foundation, ripping it straight from the ground. 

Within this exile also lie the gifts of space and novelty. Far from the physical manifestations of past memories, the ability to build a stronger foundation finds renewed energy and enthusiasm. Novelty can provide distraction, and new adventure can work to construct meaning and memory where there are now gaping holes. 

From the opening ceremonies last night in Beijing, it is quite clear to me what I have in common with my land of exile. A people both burdened and propelled by their past, rebuilding from great ruin to the hope of a brighter future -- a future more welcoming to the gaze and touch of others. 

It is unsteady ground, containing both pride and fear, both hope and despair.

 

I am

going back to the mountains. I figure that with all the flat, big ring riding I've done around here this summer, I need to find some climbs to even out my little ring! I am also going to visit some important people before my final departure in August. 

I probably won't post for the next few days, but when I come back Monday/ Tuesday, be prepared for lots of great photos of beautiful Banner Elk in the summer time. 

More Family

This is Vance. He just turned four. He likes being a boy.

Jozi and Vance playing with their "dog": 

The Mess:

The rain storm we got stuck in at the pool

Vance sad that we had to get out of the pool and find shelter: 

Nute (AKA Annabelle)

Previously, I made a quite presumptuous comment concerning the size of Randy's cat, Nute, in comparison with Sean Ross' fat cat. I believe the exact words were , "Your cat looks like an emaciated Ethiopian in comparison." Well, now I have some evidence to support my claims. I present to you, 'Annabelle': 

Clearly, she is the one on the left. 

Life and Science Museum

Today we went to the Life and Science Museum in Durham after stopping at Southpoint mall to drop off my computer at the Apple store to FINALLY fix my "S" key. Here are some pictures from our adventure: 

My, what big teeth you have! 

Jozi making sweet music

I made it to the top, but Jozi didn't come with me! 

Jozi on the train. 

And here is my brand new keyboard with my new friend hedgehog I got at the museum. You will be seeing a lot of him in the future. If you want to help me name him, I am taking submissions. 

Thats all for now! 

A Crazy Niece and Sick Cats

Not too much is new around here. Since Wednesday we've had my six year old niece, Jozi, for a visit. She came all the way from Oklahoma. She is a serious handful. Her visit thus far has included trips to the pool, playing school, coloring, going to the movies, and taking the dog on a lot of walks. 

Yesterday we went up to Richmond for a day trip to visit my sister Jennifer. 

The Girls!

On another note, much of my summer has been spent keeping alive two ancient cats. Sadie is 17 and Kitty (pictured below) is 16. Sadie has failing kidneys and Kitty has the most severe case of hyperthyroidism the vet had ever seen. The normal reading for a thyroid is between .5 and .8 and Kitty had a reading of 23!! 

We have to give them lots of medicine and feed them multiple times throughout the day. Its kind of crazy to think that these cats have been with me since I was five years old! Aside from my parents, they might be the only other thing that has been in my life for that long. I will miss them when I go to China, especially knowing that the chance they will make it through the whole year is not good. 

Tomorrow we are going to Durham to get my computer fixed (new S key, here I come!) and to go to a fun museum that we hope Jozi will enjoy. I will try to remember to take pics and post them later! 

The Original Nashville

This is me before my ride today. I have to send out some props:

Helmet: Katie

Glasses: Jo

Jersey: 3po

Computer: Gonzalo

Bike: Noel

I suppose these people have, whether willingly or unwilling, become my sponsors, so thanks guys!

Oh, and Jo, this is for you: 

Today's ride was pretty epic. In all it turned out to be a 40 mile ride in 2 hours and 10 minutes. I decided to ride to Nashville . . . NC that is. Check out the sign that welcomes you to the town. I think they know they have some competition: 

The Original! 

As I was riding out, I noticed some pretty substantial storm clouds forming behind me, but I was too far from home for turning back to be a viable option. I just kept going. I made it to Nashville dry and happy, and went searching for a place to fill my bottle.  

On my way back, it seemed inevitable that I would end up in a storm. And it was: 

Luckily for me, the second it started raining, I rode by a gas station with a nice overhang. I hung out there, and kept out of the rain. It took about 15 minutes for the rain cloud to pass, and then it was back on the road. The road was pretty wet, it was still raining a good bit, and visibility was really poor. But, as soon as I crossed over I-95, it was like nothing had happened! The roads were dry, the sun was out, and everything was back to normal. All of my belongings (camera, phone, ipod-- sound familiar Kristi?) were safe in my saddle bag, and I was happy to find them all dry when I got home. 

Two is a Coincidence

Three is a collection.

As of today, I am now the owner of a vintage Schwinn collection. I, unknowingly, began this collection two summers ago when I worked at Bike Club in D.C. One came into the shop, and the owner/ manager (Phuoc van Pham) allowed me to have it. It was in a certain state of disrepair, but after a few late nights, I got it looking like this: 

I "gave" it to my mom, but after crashing it the first time she rode it, she has yet to ride it again. Everything on the bike is original, other than the wicker panniers and the white tape. It also lacks the signature Schwinn "S" seat, which my second bike in the collection still has. 

At the very end of that same summer, another vintage Schwinn came into the shop, and because I felt I had to have it, I bought it from Phuoc. It was in great shape when I got it, and all I had to do was wash it, and put some elbow grease into getting rust out of the fenders. If I go out for a cruise around the neighborhood or to StarButts, this is what I most often use. I never had it in the mountains because the gearing and back-pedal breaks makes it a little impractical. 

I came upon the third in my collection today, when we went to my mother's collegue's house. He is moving in the next few weeks, and the vintage Schwinn in question beglonged to his wife. She used it while she was at U. of Illinios. When he found out that I had two other Schwinns, he thought it would be a suitable home. 

And so began my collection: 

RSL Cycling Systems: Summer Training Camp

2008 Edition

At Randy S. LaPrairie training camp, one becomes enmeshed in a great number of challenges. Located in the heart of Warren, MI only a few miles from downtown D'Troit, RSL Systems fuses traditional and unorthodox training methods to turn flabby marshmallows into lean, mean, cycling machines. Here are a few of the skills you, too, could acquire with a short stay at RSL Cycling Systems:

• Paris-Roubaix level handling skills on the streets of D'Troit
• The ability (and stomach) to kill a tent full of mosquitos with your bare hands in under ten mintues
• Wicked accelerations out of stop signs and traffic lights
• Camping without matches or flashlights
• Swimming without towels
• Bathing without showers
• Tolerance for near freezing water in a gigantic lake
• Immunity to pet hair
• The ability to flee, in pitch dark, from a storm  
• The reflexes to escape a flooding tent in under five minutes
• The patience and flexibility to sleep in car seats overnight
• And, most importantly, the drive to ride faster than you ever have . . . ever. 

The following is a testimonial to the week I spent cycling and exploring at RSL training camp. 

Day 1: Arrival

I was picked up by Randy S. LaPrairie himself from the metro D'Troit airport at approximatley 11am. We proceeded to his house, where I met the fattest cat I have ever seen. (Dick, if you are reading this, your cat looks like an emaciated Ethiopian in comparison!) After a short stay and a snack to prep for the day's ride, we headed to Macomb Bike to pick up what would become my training tool for the following week; a Bianchi Vigorelli (as pictured below): 

We returned to the house, threw on my pedals, and were off on the first of many grueling rides. Grueling for me, that is.  We rode to Grosse Pointe, which has some sick houses (really huge!) and a really nice view of Lake St. Clair. 

It was on this ride that I began to understand the ridiculousness of D'Troit city streets, which are the most poorly maintained roads I have ever seen with innumerable hazards to one's livelihood. I was pretty glad I wasn't on my bike, actually, because it was quite likely that I would damage it. 

Here is where I gained Paris-Roubaix level handling skills (kind-of) and honed in on my cat-like reflexes (well, maybe the reflexes of Randy's fat cat Nute, who I renamed Annabelle). This first day saw some reasonable top speeds on the flats (maybe 25mph) but my hesitation and frustration with the roads and the novel environment slowed us down. 

Day 2: Jew-Baby

In honor of Ben, Randy took me on a ride to Jew-Town. I was very excited at the prospect of seeing some of Ben's family, but we only saw a few, and they sped by us driving. Aside from the Jews, it is not in my memory that anything significant happened on this ride, only continued frustration on my part as a result of poor road conditions. The following are significant representations: 

Imagine burying your front wheel in that. I nearly did. Multiple times. Hello new wheel set. 

Day 3: To the Lake

We set out for a nice road trip to Lake Michigan, where we would camp, ride and swim. A leisurely stop in Kalamazoo for some wonderful beer (Yay, Bells!) and we were off to the lake. 

This is where it gets kind of crazy. Actually, absurd might be a better word. On the drive there, which took about six hours because of our stop in Kalamazoo, it became apparent that Randy had forgotten a few key items. Whoops! These items included firewood, matches, flashlights, and towels. When we arrived in Manistee, we decided that we would eat dinner out, and make due for the first night and go about scavenging for forgotten materials sometime the next day. Then, we were attacked by these: 

About a million of them. Okay, maybe not a million, but while we were trying to set up the tent there were, quite realistically, a swarm of about 50 or so around us, attempting to eat us alive. I have never, in my life, seen anything like this. I have been hiking in Mexico, to the jungles of Guatemala, and the villages of India, and never have I seen a mosquito population like this one. The entire time we were there, they never let up. They were relentless. Persistent. Nearly intolerable. Nearly. For some reason though, perhaps because it was so unbelievable, we found ourselves in utter hysterics, unable to control our laughter when entire swarms would surround us, deep in the woods, in the dark, with no flashlight. It was an interesting night. 

Day 4: Fast Ride

Glad to be on the bike, and moving faster than the mosquitos, we went out for a ride on some of the rural roads around the lake. Randy warned me that, according to his training plan, he would need to keep a descent pace, I knew I was in for a hard ride. We warmed up for a mile or so, and then I tucked myself behind his wheel, and "zenned-out" by staring at his gearing and cadence. Our top speed for this ride was about 28mph, and most of that was into the wind. At a few points it felt quite taxing on my heart, but then I went back to focusing on his gearing and my peddle stroke. When we went back to the campsite, I collapsed in the tent, and he went out for more. Daaaaannng. 

Day 5: Mosquitoes, Flies, and Rain

More mosquitoes, more riding, and some biting flies on the beach. We did, however, manage to acquire all forgotten materials from a K-Mart in town. 

Our tent incurred some damage from a storm that blew through around 5am, and we woke to a leaking ceiling, and puddles of water seeping through the floor of the tent. We quickly evacuated, and slept in the car. We had to sleep in the front seats, however, because the bikes, the cooler, and all our other shit was in the back. Needless to say, I was a bit sore when I woke up. I was also, oddly, craving McDonalds. 

Day 6: Back to TroitTown

We returned to the big city. With our drive, I was able to see the whole state coast-to-coast. I had never been to Michigan before, even though I lived in Ohio for nearly 6 years, so this was a treat. We were so happy when we got back to his house and could unload the Vue sans mosquitoes and biting flies. I was also happy to take a shower. We had been gone for four days, and I only bathed in the lake once. Yikes, thats kind of gross, eh? 

Day 7: Fuck You Cement Lobbyists!!!!

Worst ride of the whole trip. If the roads weren't bad enough, we managed to find bad roads UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!! AHHHHH! I had a mini-break down, and nearly stopped riding entirely. Something about Randy's demeanor while riding makes me averse to being a little bitch, so I said fuck a few times, and then shut my mouth and settled in for the rest of the ride. I was exhausted with a headache and a sore wrist by the time we got back. 

Day 8: Getting Back to the Pointe

Maybe because anything would have been better than day 7's ride, day 8's ride was quite nice. We went back to Grosse Pointe, and Randy did some of his own riding at intensity while I rode at my own fast pace along the shore. On the way to and from Grosse Pointe we were killing it, and I hit my highest top speed of the trip at about 31mph, on a flat. I felt like a fucking machine. 

I am back in NC now, and can already see the improvement in both my physical and mental capabilities on the bike-- all thanks to RSL Training Camp. 

Update

So, I haven't updated in a while. 

But don't get too excited. This is simply an update to inform any interested readers that I will not be updating for the next week. It's nothing against you, believe me. Its simply that I am going out of town for a week and will not be bringing my computer. 

This should be a welcome vacation from the multitude of distractions that exist in internet-world, demanding my absolute attention. The result of these incessant demands is, generally, a nasty case of internet hangover, leaving me parched with an throbbing head. You know the feeling . . . 

Until the 14th . . . 

Picture Day