I kind of hate flying nowadays. I really love it, but also hate it at the same time. Southwest is the easiest airline to fly. You can get to the airport way less than an hour before, in KC and still normally have 30 minutes to spare. It’s not quite like the good old days, but it’s not stupid like LA or Chicago. I miss Bromont all ready.

I had to pay for my bike, which $50 seems like a deal now. Somehow I have no toiletries. I had a couple FSA cards in my bags, but can’t imagine them stealing them. I called Kris at home and he say there is nothing there, so it must of been taken by security. Not sure what they would of gotten in that bag.

It’s always busy here. I barely got on the ground yesterday afternoon and it had already started. Sue had gotten tickets to the Banff Adventure Festival Films in Encinitas. I put my bike together in a hurry and rode the hour up the coast and met her. The films were great, as always. If you have never had a chance to see the traveling Banff show, they you should make a point of trying to get to it. My favorite film was of this speed climber, Ueli Steck. He free climbed the Eiger in 2 hour 47 minutes. After watching the film, I don’t think he is going to have a very long life.

Okay. Nice finish by Tom Boonen today in Belgium. Should make for an interesting next two weekends. KU basketball in a couple hours. Kind of gets in the way of bike riding today, but you have to have priorities, right?

Alex and Uli speed climbing The Nose on 5.20.10 from Chris Falkenstein on Vimeo.

Here’s a little Sunday morning entertainment – Alex Honnold and Ueli Steck speed climbing The Nose of El Capitan.

North County is probably the easiest place in the world for me to get in quality training. The miles come so easy. There is so much to look at that the time passes quickly. And the choices of terrain is pretty great. I still am feeling just mediocre, but that may just be from travel.

Yesterday was pretty depressing with KU being put out of the NCAA’s. They were playing fairly poorly and VCU was crazy hot from 3-pt. early. It is college basketball, which is pretty exciting. We just rode up the coast for 3 hours afterward. It is pretty nice out here, in the 70’s. It snowed back in Topeka yesterday. It’s good I’m not there.

Today I’m going to go up to Rancho Santa Fe and then climb some. The bakery in Rancho is closed on Mondays. That’s no good.

Looks like Joseph (Schmalz) had a good race in San Dimas last weekend. Top 15 in that race is nothing to sneeze at. And best young rider. Pretty great. He never updates his website, but he’s going to be working that hopefully. And Amanda Miller finishing 2nd Overall. Her team, HTC, pretty much dominated the woman’s event. Good results from the Midwest contingency.

Okay. Better get out on my bike.

Seals down in the Cove in La Jolla.

This bike was parked at the Pannikin in Encinitas. You couldn't pay me enough to tour on this.

Inside of the Pannikin Coffeeshop.

Sue and Don's dog Ranger. He has been sick, but is doing better now. When we get back from riding, he goes and grabs his blanket and runs around with it.

A necessity for some serious wine consumption, which occurs here often.