Happy New Year!!!

In 3 hours we say good-bye to 2012 and hello to 2013.  Dana and I are sitting here in our small but comfortable RV Resort "park model" (thanks John and Linda for sharing it with us) enjoying the last of a very good bottle of Cab-Sav, paid near $10 for it at Trader Joe's (eat your heart out Sue Z).  As I write this I can hear fireworks in many directions that are being set off in celebration of thanks for the year ending and of the promise that the year ahead holds for all of us.  Or, it is in celebration for the deal in Congress that will allow the U.S. to avoid going over the Fiscal Cliff which actually delays the real fiscal cliff for this land of plenty.  Glad to have all that drama behind us.  Now we can concentrate on the real drama of NFL playoffs which start in 6 days (Go SeaHawks!!!) and the drama unfolding in New York between the NHL owners and the NHLPA.

2012 was a year of firsts.  Ryder Hesjedal became the first Canadian to win a cycling Grand Tour, I won my first Masters Race, Dana got her first Carbon Frame road bike, and......well, there was probably a bunch of other stuff happening too but I just can't think of anything important at this time.  I'll think about it and get back to you.....

Okay enough literary drivel.  Here is what is going on with our AZ adventure:

December 29th - We departed Merced, Ca. surprisingly rested after a night sleeping on Highway 99, next to the Amtrack rail line and we headed south through Bakersfield to Pasadena.  The trip took us over the Tejon pass.  This was quite the unexpected experience.  To start the highway leaves the flat farmland and goes up sharply to 4,100 feet.  4 and sometimes 5 lanes of traffic snaking up the mountain and high speed would be enough to test ones driving skills but on this day we had the added challenge of pounding rain mixed with snow and fog.  The trip down into Orange County was equally challenging.  Once in the L.A. megalopolis it was hang on to the wheel and keep moving at least until all traffic came to a halt on highway 210.  You see, this day brought rain to the megalopolis.  Drivers in this part of the country don't do rain.  20 miles of go fast, stop, go slow, go fast, stop, repeat....  Then I remembered that the last time I was here, in March, I said "never again".  So, I'll say it again, "Never again"!!

By the time we got to Palm Desert it had dried up and the traffic had thinned out.  It was clear sailing to Blythe, Ca where we stayed the night at a small Best Western we have stayed at a couple of times before.  This gave us a chance to walk across the street to the old time Cocktail Lounge that is truly a classic.  The young cocktail waitress, you really cannot say "server" here,  even asked us if we would like a "cocktail" before dinner?  When was the last time you were asked that?  (btw: Yes, we did.)  The decor is right out of the 1950's. The place seats maybe 40 people.  We had a fabulous salad and steak and then walked back across the street to the motel.  Great end to a long day on the road.

December 30th - We finally arrived in Mesa and at Mesa Regal.  We pulled into the carport at 1402, got out of the 4Runner and were warmly greeted by our dear neighbours.  We unloaded the 4Runner, Barry assembled the bikes while Dana stored the gear in the trailer, and went next door to catch up on happenings with our neighbours.  We got home had a quick bite and literally fell into bed.  I'm going to skip over the pounding rain we had in the evening and will say only that it served to clear the air of the dust and sand.

December 31st - Up at the crack of 8:00 a.m., breakfast and head out for our first ride.  While it was cool it was dry and the sun did shine.  We logged 50k and were happy to get our cycling legs in motion.  It has been 10 days since we last rode (tour d'basement) in Victoria.  10 days of sitting, eating, siting, eating......  Time to get into a better routine and log some serious miles.  Tomorrow we will go for a New Year's ride in the sun.

That pretty much brings us up to date.   I would like to send out a special New Year's greeting to Lola, Uncle Bob, Spenser, Linda S, Mary Ann F, and Diane K.  I wish all of you a speedy recover and good health in 2013.  For everyone else, Peace, dude!

PS:  I still have not thought of any other firsts in 2012.  I'll think of it some more and get back to you...

A couple of pics from our last days on the road:

Tejon pass on I-5, southern California

L.A. traffic in the rain

Wind Power.  I added this for Naomi.  Yes, progress is being made, but .....

Let the Adventure Begin.....

Finally!  Yes, we are finally on the road.  Time for the old Blogger to get to work.  It seems like weeks since we left home yet this is only day 3 on the road to Arizona.  We had an absolutely wonderful time in Point Roberts for Christmas.  Every day was full with visiting with family and eating.  What else does one do for the Christmas holidays?  Oh yes, we did the Christmas eve day treasure hunt in the woods but that is another story altogether.

We departed Point Roberts on December 26th.  We stayed with Uncle Bob and Aunt Lynda on the night of the 26th.  The short visit was a great time to visit and what else, eat and drink wine.  Just about didn't leave but knew it was not really an option to stay.

December 27th - We spent a few hours in Seattle shopping at REI and Patagonia.  Escaped with only a small dent in the clothes budget.  Spent the next 4 hours fighting traffic on the I-5 between Seattle and Portland.  If there is a worse road in North America please let me know where it is.  We fell into bed at a small motel in Roseburg, Oregon.

December 28th - We had to go to California to get real winter.  See the picture below.  We spent several "white-knuckle" hours driving through the Siskiyou mountain passes.  The snow stopped around Redding, Ca. and the rain stopped north of Sacramento.  Although the traffic was heavy throughout the day, the bird watching from Redding to Sacramento was incredible.  Hawks, Egrets and thousands upon thousands of ducks, geese and swans make their winter home in this part of California.  Beautiful sight to see.

Tonight we are in Merced, California in a Best Western motel that is truly close to all transportation routes.  Highway 99 is noisy.  Fortunately the freight train that seems to run hourly drowns out the traffic noise from the 99.  We did go to "downtown" Merced and enjoyed a lovely dinner.

Tomorrow we are going further south and then east to Blythe, Ca.  From there is will be a short hop to Mesa on Sunday.

Dana at Boundary Bay on Christmas Day morning. 

Near the Siskiyou summit in Southern Oregon, near the California border

Blog Following

I'm trying to figure out the easiest way for you to follow our Blog.  Stay tuned for information concerning this matter......  Ciao!

Counting down....and getting excited....

December 5th.  I thought I would post a short note today.  It's starting to feel a little like Christmas around here.  We put up a small tree 2 days ago.  It's all of 4 1/2 feet tall.  Last year we skipped the tradition and this year we decided to put up a tree and adorn it with some of our all time favorite decorations even though we will take it down before we depart on December 22nd.

Weather here sucks!  Lots of rain and the temps are in the 3 to 8C or 40 to 50F.  Plus, lots of high wind.    Fortunately no snow, yet, and minimal frost.  We got out 2 days ago for a longish ride only to get caught in a downpour.  Looks like Tour d'Basement this afternoon.  Thanks to Robbie Ventura's RealRides Hill Climbing and RaceDay Crit DVDs riding on the trainer is not boring.  We have been getting in several rides a week so I can't complain too much.  We have also taken up trail running and that is fun too and great cross-training.   I can't tell you how much we are looking forward to training in the dry, warm Arizona desert.

We are getting the bikes tuned up for the trip.  Hub rebuilds and new bar tape for Dana.  Don't ever get white bar tape unless your sponsor is paying the load.

All for now.   Our "To Do" list grows and shrinks daily.  At some point we will begin packing, hopefully less that we packed last year.  The countdown has definitely begun.  Bring it on!!!!

Ciao, and Merry Christmas to all..........

Happy Thanksgiving, eh?

Happy turkey day in Canada.  My goal this week was to establish the Blog for our return to the desert in 2013.  I'd say, Mission Accomplished.  I'm still learning how to design a blog so please be patient.  The blog will undoubtably go through several design changes between now and January when we arrive in Arizona for "another good year in the sun" (not too soon for quotes from favorite movies....).

With endless summer here on the Island it's easy ignore the fact that time is slipping by and we have less than 76 days before we depart.  Maybe when (if?) the rains come our attention may shift.

Once again you are invited to come along with us on our next Arizona adventure.  We will endeavour to share our times with you via this blog.  Last year was incredible, as was the year before, except for Barry's crash in the road race.  2013 holds much promise.  We are excited to think of all the fun that awaits us.  I may post a few weeks before we depart in December but you won't need to check in on us until January, 2013.  Until then, Ciao!