Okay. The first photo below is of Brent Brookwalter and his 10 grade school teacher – Ms. Anderson. She flew all the way to Paris, alone, to watch Brent finish the Tour de France. Brent removed his race number and signed it for her. She ended up coming to the BMC after race party. She was great.

I’m up in Cable. It was 106 in Kansas yesterday with a heat index of something way more. It was a high of 75 here in Cable yesterday. I rode the last 1/4 of the Chequamegon race on my MTB. It is so weird, my ribs are much worse riding on the rode. I’m beginning to think it is a soft tissue issue (tissue issue, he he) and not a bone or cartilage deal. That might not be so good. I’m just trying to ignore the whole thing right now and do whatever I would normally do. It has kind of been working. I got up at 7 am and swam all the way across the lake and back. About 20 minutes. I’m not any worse rib-wise than the day before. I think that is progress.

The 2nd big news of the day is that Dennis Kruse has a new washer and dryer. I know a lot of you out there have used his 1962 Maytag machines that were his parents. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I washed my clothes after returning from Europe and had to dry my jeans for 2 1/2 hours. We went to the small Sears outlet in Hayward and looked at new front loading machines. I was bound and determined not to leave the store without new appliances in the back of the van. It was iffy, but after a little negotiating with the store, and Dennis, a brand new LG pair were safely tucked away. They are great. The washer plays a little happy song when it is finished.

Tonight there is a Tuesday night ride down at New Moon in Hayward. In the meantime, we’re replacing the floor in Dennis’ ski boat. He has some good friends coming over from Germany in a couple weeks and they have two teenage girls. Water skiing is a must in that situation. I’ve never messed much with boats. A combination of wood, or non wood in this case, and fiberglass. We right now looking for some teak to use over the marine grade plywood.

I have no idea where my form is right now. I rode the Seeley Firetower climb yesterday in my middle ring a couple down in the back. That is the gear I use normally. I kind of wished I had raced the Firehouse 50 on Saturday. That would have at least given me a gauge of where I’m at. I ran another 30 hour yesterday. That is twice now and I can still walk. I figured I had walked enough around Europe to allow me to start running. It seems to have worked. So far.

Brent Brookwalter and his high school teacher Angela Anderson right after the finish of the Tour de France.

The new appliances. Anyone need a washer and dryer from 1962?

Middle of boat demo.

I went on a ride yesterday with a bunch of folks I have mostly never ride with. They turned out to be one of those “car up” groups. It sort of drives me crazy. The constant car up, car back, stopping, hole, ect. thing. I’m so used to riding in groups where nothing is ever said, unless someones seems to be in mortal danger, that with people are yelling every other minute, it initially scares me and eventually bugs me.

I know how this starts and it is somewhat common throughout the country. I don’t get it. Especially car up. What is the purpose of yelling car up? Telling the guys you are with to not peel off into the oncoming traffic. I always think, “boy, I was lucky they yelled because I was just about ready to ride for a while in the opposite lane.”

We went to eat after the ride at a local brewery in Hayward, The Angry Minnow. It is obvious that people are doing this vocalization to look out for the safety of the other riders. I asked if they actually thought someone was going to be riding over the center/yellow line. They said maybe. If I see someone that is riding or I think for some reason is maybe going to ride over the centerline, I’d said something more like, “WTF are you doing. Get back on the right side of the road.” Car up doesn’t really come to mind when I see something dangerous happening.

Stopping is another “saying” that is pretty valueless. I’m pretty sure I don’t want to be riding with a bunch of guys that can’t tell when the riders in front of them are stopping for a stop sign. Braking. The same thing. Can you imagine in a criterium everytime you pulled your brakes, you have to say braking.

You get my point. I’d like it if guys I’m riding with yell something if I’m running a stop sign and don’t see a car barrelling down on me, but if that isn’t the case, then maybe we can just go out and ride our bikes.

Some local photos.

Oyvind Solvang. Norwegian skiier. Super athlete. But, not such a MTB rider. It is most likely his own tread print on his shirt from his front tire. Probably not easy to do.

Nice camo, North Woods ride.

Stopped by the CXC training center and watched a painful VO2 max test.

Typical morning. They stare long enough and eventually someone will walk in the woods with them.

The boat repair project is getting a little more serious. Note to self, wear long sleeves and pants when sawing fiberglass next time.