Things a road trip can provide

Good Food

Beautiful scenery

Awesome architecture

and a handsome chauffer

2 Dad's in Poland

l-r Ruggy (Daniel's Dad & Bob (My Dad)

They are in Poland watching the USA Garmin-Chipotle team race on an indoor track for the World Championships. Daniel raced with Colby Pearce in a Madison that they took 8th in. Congrats to both and the whole team for all their hard work.

Hollywood goes to Poland

Daniel "Hollywood" is in Poland this week racing with his dad my Dad watching. It is an opportunity of a life time for all of them to betogether for this event. I am sure they weren't expecting SNOW but several days it has either snowed or rained. Good thing the racing is indoors. Go Daniel Go.

Track Cycling World Championships

Daniel, his Dad and my Dad are going to Poland. Ruggy & my Dad are going to watch Daniel race his heart out. He doesn't have a butt to speak of so he can't pedal his a-- off. This is a very exciting time for all. These are world class riders and it'll be tough for Daniel "Hollywood" but a memorable moment for all his family and fans. They leave on 22 Mar. How fun it would be to be a fly on my Dad's shoulder to watch what he does and sees. As the commercial says "he's too excited to sleep". Good luck Daniel.

Daniel = world class track racer

My nephew Daniel has been selected to represent the US at the World track cycling championships in Poland. His dad and my Dad are planning their trip to go along to see the action live and in person. Also representing us will be his friends Colby and Shelley, along with Taylor Phinney. Shelley is the only women selected to represent the US. The track site is all a twitter with the news. www.usacyclingnews.org

Feeling the Air

The fresh high desert air of Arco has helped me to feel better, breath better and relax. LOVE IT. Our friends always cook the best food which helps Walt fatten up a bit. Dave & Keri & Walt & I share the same anniversary date. So tonight we went out to dinner at Ken's Club in Mackay, ID. The place even thru in the dessert cause we were celebrating. LOVED it. Cheese cake.
Afterwards, everyone but Walt relaxed the the hot tub scoping out the evening stars. Go figure, I even saw lots. LOVED it.

Dejavu in the snow

This week I am in Winnemucca, NV working... We drove thru a snowstorm to get there. It was dejavu of our trip to Seattle. We made it safely though. The next day is to Elko. We ate at the Martin Hotel which is a Basque resturant - LOVEd the food. Chuck & Kalyn you would have liked it. I know you would have. Happy Valentines everyone. love you

The travelers are back

This past week Walt went one way to visit friends and I went the other way to work. Luckily this time the weather was more cooperative. Judy and Lynn's daughter Kandy needed some help with the drive to Walla Walla so Walt offered to help out. They were gone for a week and while he was gone, I spent a couple of days in Kanab, UT working. I just love the views of the red rocks that are there esp in the morning when the sun first strikes them.

Back in WW, WA

After a few days away from Walla Walla we are now back there and it's amazing how much of the snow has melted. I will be posting pictures from Christmas in Seattle and Mom's birthday in the next day or so. But for now I'm decompressing for a bit.

We are driving away...

YEAH - the time is here. Time for visiting family & friends. Time for winter driving conditions. Time for LIVEing, LOVEing and EATing. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year everyone and be safe and careful.

Chain up?

This afternoon we laid out the 2 sets of chains we have to make sure they were in working order and we remembered how to use them. Not that we want to, but just in case, we are ready for anything. Oh sure, now that I am writing this I think " oh we could have had a V8". No really, I should of gotten the camera out so have picture of the scene. Oh well. Hopefully, we won't even have to put them on.
Less than 36 hours to go. EEEEE gads. It's creaping up on me faster and faster. I AM READY though and still breathing just fine.

Seattle Crippled

Oh NO - SNOW cripples Seattle. I pray that the roads are at least clear by the time we need to drive on them. I can handle cold and snow, but not snow on the roads. Only 1 1/2 days till take off and I'm more anxious than ever abt the traveling part.

I dream of a White Christmas

Yeah, so many storms. Ugh - in rush hour traffic isn't the best time for them though. 3 days till take off.

I need a brown paper bag

I can hardly breath right thinking abt my up coming trip. Just 4 more lays before we head out. We are staying at the Poole's Palace for the first couple of days - thanks veryone for the chance to stay there. I am even more excited that my niece and her husband (the newly weds) are coming from LA to Sea to be a part of the occasion. Yeah.

The countdown begins

Only 5 days till take off to see my family and friends.... We are packing cold weather gear as well as wet weather gear - including chains. We have gifts, pics, food and memories to share. I can't even breath sometimes thinking abt it all.

Getting Ready

Getting ready to leave town is fun, confusing, exciting, harried, exhausting and I can hardly wait till we are on the road. We are going to visit family in WA for Christmas and a huge wonderful event (Mom turns 80). Christmas can't get any better than being together with those that you love and have fun with. We are loading up the sleigh and fueling the reindeer for the drive north. As the commercial says "I'm too excited to sleep".

A quickie

This past Wednesday a coworker and I were sent to Winnemucca, NV to do some work. We had been scheduled to redo 2 sections in the Khoury's Market there, spend the night at the Red Lion Inn then come home on Thursday morning. The jobs went smoother than expected and after a moment of pissyness (food deprivation) we were giving permission to drive the 5 1/2 hrs back that same day. Can you imagine? 11 hrs driving/riding and only 3 hrs on the job. That is what I call a quickie in NV.

Treasures and Friends

Saturday we went out with the U's again. They take us places that we might have thought of going to right then. First was to the Star Mill Antique's in American Fork. It's been a long time since we've been there but always a nice trip. It always amazes me to see things that I have used in my life time at an ANTIQUE store. Does that make me ANTIGQUE or just UNIQUE? Both probably.
After that we stopped off at Cabela's for some more serious browsing. That in itself should be a whole day trip. But since we had an evening with TRUDY to go to, we had to cut our trip to sports Heaven short.

Our evening with Trudy included Margie and her husband Dick. Our small little party was perfect company catching up on old times and current ones too. In the pics =Donna in the green Tneck, Trudy in the pink top, Karen in the turq and Margie on the right. Thanks Trudy for the pizza.

Trailer Troubles fixed

We are on the road now for a few weeks. Heading south to AZ for some quality time with Walt's brother & his wife Kate. Gene is battleing prostate cancer and is undergoing some Chemo treatments. Right now he's doing sort of ok and wanted to spend some time with Walt. So, we are headed first to Quartzsite then on to Yuma. We hope to catch some warmer weather. I'm really sad I missed that snow storm but am not sad abt the cold weather. On our way to St. Geo we experienced the first of our troubles. One of the trailer tires started separating and was bouncing hard enough for some other traveler to notice and tell us. Ugh. We gased up and had the spare swapped out. The tire changer told us the other tires were cracked also. So much for maintenance... So, we gritte our teeth and prayed that we'd make it into St. Geo missing rush hour traffice with out any misshaps. Whew! we did. Not being a drinker, all I could think abt was getting a drink to settle my nerves. When we got in the door at Gene & Kate's I ordered a DOUBLE shot of Gingerale and downed it. All was better then for the nerves. hehehe
More on the next stage later... ok, now is later...
We took the trailer in for new tires and come to find out the tires we thought we 6 years old were actually 10 years old. Ugh. As well, the wheel bearings needed repackng. We found that out after the tires were put on. So that meant another day in St. Geo while we waited for our turn. We did some food shopping, organizing the inside of the trailer and getting Gene & Kate in order also. They were lent a motorhome for this trip. They know nothing abt RVing but we are going to educate them. Wish us luck. I might be off line for a bit, but that doesn't mean we won't be thinking abt all our family & friends.
Here's wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.