Long Trip

Observations from my cross country ride.

Rain gear is a must...even if it doesn't rain, it is good for wind protection. I brought 4 pairs of gloves...I used 3 of them. I brought tools, and string tire patches just in case, didn't use any of it, but it didn't take up much space. U.S. road atlas. didn't take a gps...my phone works as one, but I really didn't need it until I was in the cities I was staying. Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, and most of Illinois were windy, the entire length of the states, this is where the rain gear came in very handy. Without it I was shivering, with it I was warm and toasty. I also had a balaclava (one of those neck warmer things that also has a thin layer over your head.
Base layers and warm socks are a must. If you are a skier at all, you already know this. I do not have heated gear, nor have I ever, and I don't see the need for it if you know how to layer, and it isn't below 35*. I wore ear plugs the whole way. I took them out for about 30 minutes and couldn't stand it. I have in helmet speakers for my ipod, music helps the miles pass by nicely. I found between 100 and 120 miles was about my limit. Had nothing to do with my seat, just figured it was a good resting point...plus I get hungry often.
I had to dodge tumble weeds across most of Nebraska...it was the weirdest experience ever.
Those huge air spoilers on the top of semis really make a difference in turbulence when they pass going the opposite direction. I found myself cursing the ones without.
The weather was not perfect, nor was it horrible. I ran into a little rain in Chicago, some hail about 30 miles outside of Cleveland, and more rain in Buffalo, and Syracuse. Nothing that stopped me, or made me uncomfortable, but then living in Portland you get used to riding in rain.


Over all the experience was good, probably wouldn't do it again, unless I had two to three weeks, but I would take a more southern route.

Bruges Waffles & Frites

So, as I am always looking for a new and interesting place to put food into my mouth , I stumbled across a great write up in the Salt Lake City Weekly about Bruges Waffles & Frites . I was curious because I had rode by this place on my way home the day before. So today, I tried them, and I will definitely be trying them again.



So this culinary delight is originally a Belgian thing...the owner and cook Pierre Vandamm, no relation to the horrible actor, is a nice guy with a great accent. He knows what he is doing, and does it well. The name of his place comes from his home town Bruges, Belgium. It currently claims to be the waffle capital of the world. Waffles and fries are sold by street vendors there, kind of like our down town taco carts here in Salt Lake City.
The place is small, with only outside seating, or a small bar with four stools inside, but that really doesn't matter. The food is great, the service is exceptional, and the price is right...

I am always amazed

At how easily my body gets back into shape...Since ski season had started, I had been ignoring the gym. Since I had been skiing a couple of days a week, and running with our two dogs about 3 days a week, I had neglected my weight training regimen. But, 3 weeks ago I started up again...and I am always amazed at how quickly I get back to where I was 6 months ago, and already am seeing results. My body is amazing, I know that makes me sound like a pompous ass, but it is just the truth. I have been blessed with very good genes, thank you mom and dad. I am a true ectomorph. My daily caloric intake is upwards of 4000...yes you did read that correctly, 4000. I know, all you women hate me right now, no worries, I am used to it.
To be honest with you, it is actually hard to intake that many calories. I don't eat sweets, or junk food, so it is an incredible feat. Basically I eat 5-6 meals a day, and supplement with protein shakes in between. I eat breakfast twice, have a shake before lunch, lunch, a shake in the afternoon, and eat dinner twice.
It is tons of fun...of course there is also all the snacking in between meals..which usually ends up being some type of fruit. Ok, enough on this, time for second breakfast...peace

Road Trip

So I have an interview on April 26th in Burlingon VT...perfect excuse to ride across the country...taking the I-80 route...if any of you are on the way...I will gladly take a break....

April 1st...2009

Snow on April first in Salt Lake City....
I love it, spring is in full swing...snow and all...
It's interesting trying to get people to read your blog. You send a link to your friends, and are not really sure if they even read it or not.
It's kind of like throwing pasta at a pot of boiling water, just hoping some makes it in, hopefully enough to make a meal.
Of course, blogs are personal, but if no one is reading it, then what's the point. You might as well just pick up that old paper journal you haven't looked at in a while.
Sure, people say they write blogs for stress relief, to vent, to relax. In my humble opinion, that is a load of crap. You write your thoughts on the internet so other people can read them; if it was really peronal, you would put them on paper.
Facebook, twitter, myspace; these are all just ways for you to get your thoughts out there for others to read, comment on, disagree with.
It seems to me that we have become a society who yearns to be heard, no matter how pointless the thought may be.
Be it about your new child crapping it's pants, or the state of the economy, we have this need to let people know what we are thinking. Twitter is the worst of them, and yes, I use it.
I freely admit that I am a part of this movement. I want to be heard, I want people to disagree with me, to yell at me, to tell me their opinions.
The fact that I don't see a difference between bleeding heart liberal democrats, and money grubbing capitalistic republicans. Obama isn't doing anything different than Bush did. He talks the talk, but I want to see some actual real change. At this time he is failing, he is pushing for more war, more spending, more taxes.
He had all these big ideas, big words, and big thoughts...where did they all go?
So far our new president, is a disappointment. I hope he can change my mind...

So Cal Trip

I am not crazy....planning an earlier cycle trip, this one solo, for about a week. This one will be less travel intensive, and more just hang out time.
Going to visit my parents, then hang with friends in LA for a bit...dance, enjoy life, see the ocean.
I miss the ocean, this is as far as I have ever lived from the coast. Growing up it was only about 90 miles from home. In college I lived two steps from the sand. Portland, is an hour drive. The smell of salty water soothes my senses. Having experienced a lot of the west coast line, I have to say the southern California coast is my least favourite. It is too busy, crowded, and commercial. Basically everything north of Santa Barbara is nice.
Of course everyone is fascinated with Los Angeles. Most people I meet want to go there, live there; Hollywood fascinates people. If I had to pick a beach in southern California that I did like, there are two, Huntington Beach, and Ocean Beach.



First of all, Huntington, I like it here for it's sense of community. There are a whole lot of bars, and restaurants just up the street from the board-walk, and they all have their weekend breakfast regulars. Mostly people over the age of 50, but there are a few younger ones too. The joggers, dog walkers, bicyclists, they all are there, all the time.
Huntington residents have a sense of pride in their community. Most of them either grew up there, or dreamt of living there as a child. It is a peaceful setting, before all the tourists show up for the day, usually around noon.




Being of Irish and German descent, my favourite place to stop while there is the Killarney's Pub and Grill. The food is good, the servers are nice to look at, and I can get a nice cold pint of Guinness with my lunch.




Ocean Beach, on the other hand, is almost the exact opposite of Huntington. It is more of a counter culture refuge. It reminds me a bit of Santa Cruz, but without all the mansions on the hill. It is a small community of like minded people just west of down town San Diego. Hippies, posers, pot heads, wanna be high school kids, you name it, this is the refuge for everyone who wants to be different.

Serving your country

So I have been reading a bunch of blog posts about military service.
First, I have to say, I respect and thank everyone who has served, or is serving in the military. Personally, it is not for me, I am to opinionated.
The hardships these people go through are amazing feats of human endurance.
I salute you, soldier, marine, sailor, and airmen.