They finally delivered my yacht

First off, just want to point out that Cervelo has added a new frame to their "aero" road frame line-up, the S3. Pretty sweet. When I saw them during the Olympics I thought it was just an SLC-SL with a white paint job. It basically is, but apparently with a little more aero AND vertically compliant seatstays and chainstays. Nice.

Check it out: http://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=S32009

Back to the subject of this posting. A while back I came across an extra $10 million just hanging around under the sofa cushions, so I ordered a yacht...over the internet, sight unseen.

It finally arrived in San Diego last week. They threw in a helicopter for free. Any SH-60 bubba's out there want to be my personal pilot?


Clearly I was joking about happening upon all that money. I just want to point that out (and the fact that there is not a single dollar bill in my wallet right now) so any crazy person who happens upon this blog doesn't come to knock me off for my money!

The pic below is a little off-kilter. I was driving down La Jolla Shores Drive this past Saturday (after a fun club ride) to meet Cezanne and her friend Deb for lunch and I caught a glimpse of a couple of gliders from the "glider port." I could only get my phone out in time to get a pic of one of them.

It was an absolutely beautiful day... a little humid for my SoCal blood, but I can't complain, at all.


I can't complain because I've had it good in the weather department for the past 5 years; besides the wild fires last October. Monterey/Carmel for just over 2 years and San Diego for 3 years, it really doesn't get a whole lot better than that.

Like most things, it has come to an end. Washington D.C. here we come. Home of hot and humid summers with winters full of cold rain, freezing rain and sleet. The cross-country drive will be starting October 15th, with stops (planned) in Oklahoma to see Cezanne's Dad, Michigan to see Mike & Cathy Cisek and their daughter Norah (partly because we kept saying we were going to plan a trip out and never did and mainly because they are the best peeps!), then Meadville, Pennsylvania (WHAT!!!/WHERE???) to meet Cezanne's Grandparents (on her Dad's side) for the first time.

Her "Pap-pap" is an old Greek man and a WWII paratrooper vet. They own a KFC, so I'm looking forward to eating that for the first time in at least 7 years.



The above pic is a little further down La Jolla Shores Drive. I've almost wrecked before coming down this road. The tight turn kind of sneaks up on you.

I've been a little down about cycling lately. I know I've only been doing it recreationally (is that a word?) for 3 years and stepped it up a little this past year, but I was a little bummed about not doing better in the 2 beginner races I did this year.

I've been on a couple of training rides these past few weeks where I felt really lackluster and unmotivated. There were points where I didn't have a lot of pep in my cycling and felt like I couldn't push any harder/dig any deeper even though I wasn't really anywhere near my limit.

It may have to do with my loading up on swimming and running for the Annapolis Triathlon and my body probably isn't happy with the change and with the extra physical activity. Come to find out just last week that Anne Arundel County did not approve the Annapolis Tri's permit for the bike route of the triathlon! Crazy!

So, there is no bike and they are planning on possibly doing an aquathlon (swim then run). The Annapolis Tri folks said they submitted the necessary paperwork this past February, got the tentative "looks good, go ahead" only to get it disapproved a month before the event. I was actually almost happy to stop running and swimming, but my bro Jonnie wants to still do the aquathlon...so I'm still running and swimming.

That is frustrating. They had the inaugural Annapolis Tri start downtown in Annapolis and with staging there and at the Navy Stadium, but residents complained and they moved it out to Sandy Point state park for this year. Lame. I also heard that people complained about it being on a Sunday while they were trying to get to church...well, if you move it to Saturday, what about the people going to temple?

But anyway, the club ride this past Saturday lifted my spirits and re-peaked my love for cycling. It's nothing special, a 46-mile "B" club ride, but it was a ton of fun. I'm typically at the front of the B-ride, mixing it up with the strong folks. Given my feelings lately and a little less riding volume, I thought this would be more of a "hang back" ride and get used to it again.

This wasn't the case. There is this guy who is always punishing people with his legs and putting the hammer down on these rides (in a nice way, he's not a jerk at all). He is older, probably 45, with thighs twice the size of mine. He is a racer, I'm just not sure what Category.

Anyway, I got on his wheel at about 29mph winding up into the final big sprint before the stop at Java Depot. He seems to always find the right path. Long blog longer...I followed him, he held me off, but I was able to take second in the sprint and didn't get out of the saddle (I was trying to pull a Cancelara). Although not a huge deal, it made me feel good. Sometimes that's all you need.

Well, I'll end this long blog with a pic of Bono, peering up at me. By the way, that is Cezanne's hand, I don't have a ring with Diamonds around it, although I REALLY want one! :)