January 21, 2005
LA Song

No joke. I’m really good at getting myself lost while out riding. Even with a little cheat sheet in hand, yep, I still managed to miss the route. Found myself riding down the freeway to Oceanside, cars whizzing by doin 80, happy it’s Friday. What a spectacle. Was one of the scariest times on the bike. I was doin 30 tryin to get the hell outta there, HR goin crazy mostly from fear of the end. There are days, sometimes, things are just outta hand, outta control. The day comes and doesn’t return again. I apologize to the sponsor of whose jersey I was wearing. Surely, someone noticed a rider doin crazy stuff on her bike, um, yeah and it was illegal. My excuse, it was the only direct route back to the coast I knew where I wouldn’t end up in a canyon somewhere and I wasn’t doing another out and back… 

Today, life on the bike feels like it is coming along; travel plans are laid for the first half of the season, schedules made, and training camp is Feb 25-Mar 7 in Merced, CA. Looking forward to riding with my mates. It’s been 4 months since I’ve ridden with more than 1 other person. Am proud of myself too. Only 1 beer since New Year’s Day. That’s torture.

January 16, 2005
Cardiff

Was riding along the Pacific Coast Hwy, heading toward my transitory home from Solana Beach to Carlsbad. It was the light again, from the red sun setting on the calm surf of the Pacific that caught my attention and inspired me. I shoulda been a painter, a poet or a surfer. Just an easy evening ride after many hours of morning procrastination and computering.

Walking on the coast highway was a woman, 65-75 years old, eyes confused from a lifetime of experience, clutching a black backpack, shuffling along out of place. It was one of those times I felt like the picture wasn’t right. I rode past her, slowed, turned to look back. She, calculating every step, turned to look back at me. It was haunting. I kept riding slow, thinking this woman looks like she had wandered off from a roof overhead, not the transient type living under a bridge, holding a sign, begging for money. I turned to look again, and she too stopped to look at me. Did she need my help? What could I do? I should have called someone. I just hope she made it… I was worried, still am…

Searching the help wanted ads. Most interesting:  nanny, live-in, $450-$650/week. Infant experience. Umm, that’s some serious cashola. They must have lots of infants. This is the kind of thing l look out for but would I get to take off for weeks at a time to race the bike? Hmmm…doubt it. Surely the right thing will come with patience. Is my weakness…

January 6, 2005
The Calm Before the Storm – On the Mediterranean 

I am in wine country, CA sitting by the warmth of the wood stove, eating my “sticks and twigs” (Kashi) for breakie, looking out at the landscape through a wide paned window, and it is so still outside, so calm, silent, not a puff of wind. I feel inspired to write poetry rather than head out for a ride. It is my first true glimpse of my surroundings by daylight and I am easily pleased by what I see. However, the bad news comes quick and this is just the calm before the storm. Hard to imagine but we’ll be getting 3” of rain in the next few days and 50mph winds. It’s a typical Oregon-like forecast and true, I bring with me wherever I go, crappy weather. Always.

There’s lots of riding in store so just to stay happy and healthy is the biggest challenge, for with the challenge comes heaps of discipline and I have wandered off the path some over the holidays. Been doing alright in the new year as it was the only resolution I made, getting down to business. Make the correction and move on. So simple so far.

Pause…

Feels like I hyper spaced through winter and am now enjoying the spring as the weather here is very Mediterranean-like by day, about 50 degrees and sunny, in Glen Ellen today. Nice place to train. Noticed one of my favorite vineyards, Cline Vineyards, is in the vicinity as well. Hmmm... Also was told one of the oldest vineyards in California is in the area, Buena Vista Winery est. in 1850 by a Hungarian nobleman and is still in operation... Lots of history in Sonoma County, where the Bear flag was raised, etc.

My training partner is eating his fortieth bowl of cereal today. Must be cuz he rides his bike into the ground.

January 2, 2005
Just The Facts

Rode 3:43:32 and 72.883 miles on the McKenzie Hwy to Walterville and along Camp Ck Rd and back, burning 2485 calories. It was frosty this morning so the sander had come through making no way to dodge those sharp little rocks. Lots of weekend traffic as usual now that there’s snow in the mountains…mostly skiers and holiday goers and comers to and from Bend and Sisters. Only one time did a big truck come a little too close with the side view mirror. Could the dork read my lips, see me shake my head? It has me a little worried especially since a few that I know have had this happen to them recently, concussions and all that is not pretty.  

The shower in the up river fifth wheeler is about a 7-minute shower. Not long enough to warm these bones after a cold ride but easy enough to get used to. Makes me a sort of conservationist. Had a nice warm bowl of soup for dinner. Ohhhh hungry again and I just ate less than an hour ago. An early one for a change, before 6pm even. Better start getting used to the hunger pangs again and will I finally start going to bed at a reasonable hour? After midnight, the official bedtime of Melissa Sanborn. Spending too much time yammering, questioning, dreaming, recapping…and now learning to use FrontPage. I had a good teacher.