As you read this I’m probably in Oklahoma. Or hope to be. I’ve had enough of this 20 something degree Kansas weather and have decided to do the 10 hour drive down to Austin Texas. There are a couple cyclocross races there this weekend and my friend, Ann, is having a holiday party Sunday night that is not to be missed.

I can’t believe that by December I haven’t gotten much of any of my cyclocross race equipment together. Supposedly the FMB tires I had made, with the Michelin Mud 2 tread, are on their way to Texas from Belgium. They should be there early next week I hope. TRP is sending some new brakes, which I truly need and appreciate. I’m still thinking a little about riding discs on one bike, but haven’t gotten the wheel thing figured out yet.

I’m also thinking about stopping and getting a blood test on the way. I think my problem recently is cold and lack of sleep, maybe not in that order. That should change tonight. But, these online blood test being only $27, it seems cheap. It can’t hurt.

I checked the participates in the Masters Cyclocross Worlds. My category has the most with 42 people registered. That is about half of what we need to race a qualifying race. I’ve been playing phone tag with the promoter, Joan Hanscom, for the last few days. She is a busy woman, but sounds super nice on her messages. Here is a good interview with her. The only thing I doubt from the interview is that 400 riders are going to be coming from Europe. I’d give that a 0 percent chance of occurring since there are a total of 260 riders entered total as of now, about a month before the event.

Okay. That is about all I have for today. I like the drive to Texas. Pretty dramatic terrain difference in such a short way. It’s supposed to be raining from Sunday thru Wednesday. At least it will be semi warm rain.

Austin Texas has been seriously into 'cross since the 70's. A little before my time, but just.

Okay, made it to Austin. Just in time, around 3:30, to barely miss the gridlock traffic. I got dressed pretty quickly and went for a ride. It is amazing how much better it feels just to not have something on your legs when you’re riding. Especially over your knees. It was in the lower 60’s, which felt balmy.

Anyway, I just got back with enough light to take Bromont for a couple mile run. Even though the Friday traffic is about everywhere, Ann’s neighborhood is relatively safe. People had already turned on most of their Christmas lights. I’ve never been to Austin before Christmas and was amazed how many people light up their yards. I’ll take some photos he next couple days of the best ones. They have a bigger selection of lights here than I’ve seen elsewhere.

Ann and I went out to dinner at an Italian place on Barton Springs Rd. called Romero’s. It was funky Austin dinning for sure. Good food, interesting ambiance. They had live music, which is everywhere here, but it was a group of 3 old guys, by old I mean maybe upper 60’s, and they were playing a pretty wide variety of music. All over the place from the Beatles, Led Zeplin, to the Bangles. Fun.

I ate too much last night. I’m one of those people that can’t stand to leave anything on my plate. No matter how full I am, I’ll always a member of the clean plate club. I don’t overeat very often. I know why because it makes you feel so rotten. Plus, I had two huge glasses of cheapish red wine. They nearly used a water glass for wine glasses. I have a mild hangover this morning.

Maybe it’s because of only sleep 4 hours and then driving 10, I don’t know, but I’m in a fog this morning. I even got up and took a shower first thing, which I hardly ever do. I slept 9 hours hard last night and now feel like I’m way short of time for the cross race at 1:30. I still have to put my race wheels on my bike and switch the pedals back from my road pedals. Okay, I’d better get going.

The early morning driving yesterday was a little sketchy. Foggy and a bunch of these. I'm not sure how many states allow semis to have three trailers. I don't think many.

This truck seemed a little precarious.

Bromont's position for 10 hours straight. He is a traveling machine.

I’ve been watching this house being built for the last year. I guess it is done now. I like the way they have enclosed a tree inside their living space.