I’m packed up and heading back south. I might stop in Minneapolis for a bit and then try to round Michael Fatka up for a quick trip through the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. I’m not sure my hip will be up to a long walk, but I haven’t been to a fair this year and the Iowa Fair is one of the best.

I swam 30 minutes straight yesterday. I think I might have swum more up here than rode my bike? But, now my shoulder, than I did rotator cuff surgery on last year, is a little sore. But not nearly as sore as it was after I got off crutches last month, so it is hopefully a good sore and not a bad sore. I have to build that muscle up some, so I need to swim more, but I don’t like swimming much in pools. Fresh water lakes would be my first choice, the ocean, my 2nd, and 3rd, but way down the line, pools. I dislike pools so much because of the repetitive nature and the chlorine. The smell of chlorine pouring out of my skin when I’m riding makes me think I’m poisoning myself while swimming. That is most likely not the case, but I don’t like it.

Bromont is a pooped dog. He barely crawled out of bed this morning and now is on the couch. He does 3-a-days here, so he’s pretty much just running, eating and sleeping. It is amazing how much more food he eats when he’s in full exercise mode. This is his favorite place in the world. We brought him up here when he was just a couple months old and he’s been coming at least a few times a year, ever since. He knows the woods like the back of his paw and has a million favorite places that he needs to check out all the time.

I’m coming back up real soon, maybe as soon as a couple weeks, but definitely before Chequamegon. Right now, I couldn’t race Chequamegon, and even if I get to that point, I won’t be competitive. I’m sort of thinking that I’ll start at the back and experience the mayhem back in the thousands. Or maybe ride with a friend that goes about my post-op pace. I’m not pitiful, just slow right now. It all might change in the next month, how would I know?

Okay, Bromont is staring at me, knowing the car is loaded, so I’d better get moving. The weather looks pretty great in Kansas this week, which will be nice.

Trudi and Cadel after Sunday’s stage of the Tour of Utah.

Bromont is on his back most of the time when he’s sleeping here. He is really tired when he does that.

Yesterday I did the drive from Cable, Wis to Topeka, KS. It’s nearly 700 miles. I really didn’t have any agenda other than trying to hook up with Michael Fatka in Ames. I got out of Cable pretty early, for me, and made my way down to Spooner, where Alley Cats Coffee is. I always like to stop there. Good coffee, great cinnamon rolls, super inexpensive. Like I mean cheap. Yesterday I got two cinnamon rolls to go and a medium coffee for $3.30. That is with tax. It is crazy inexpensive. Two eggs, meat and toast for 3 bucks. If you have a chance to go through, stop. Last February, when Ned was driving up to the Fat Bike Nationals, I told him to stop there. I didn’t ask him what he thought, but the owner remembered him. There are MTB magazines laying around all over, so it has a good feel.

Anyway, I made my way down to Minneapolis. I stopped by and saw Hollywood Henderson, Hollywood Cycles and Paul Krumich, Donkey Label. Hollywood had just gotten back from a singlespeed MTB race in the UP of Michigan. There was a cool video on Youtube he showed me. Made me jealous. Paul gave me a new pair of custom Donkey Label bibs. Complete with my initials on them. I can hardly wait to try them out.

I chatted for a while and then drove to Iowa. Michael is pretty elusive sometimes. When I was about 20 minutes north of Ames, my phone rang and it was him. I was starving, so I told him I’d meet him at a Panera on Duff St. He showed up riding an old upright bike. I had a sandwich and soup, Michael just tea. We talked and then went over to Skunk River Cyclery. It’s a shop that Michael’s ex-employees started after Michael’s Cyclery ceased to exist. Ron Ritz was there and I hadn’t seen him forever. It was nice catching up.

I’d ordered a knock sensor for Michael’s/Bill Stole’s ex-car, a Subaru Outback. So, we proceeded to put it in. It was easy, out in the parking lot, behind the shop. I hope it made the car run better.

There was a lot of construction between Ames and Kansas City. I felt a sadness pang driving by Des Moines and not stopping for the Iowa State Fair. I would have, but I can’t really walk that much as of yet. There is always the Minnesota State Fair at the end of the month.

I got a photo from Brian Jensen showing our new team clothing had arrived. August is perfect for that. At least for me this year. We had Capo make the clothing. Jay Thomas, Trek Store Midwest, works there now and it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t ride it. So, I made a detour through Lawrence on the way home and picked up my clothing. It was pretty late and Brian just left it on his porch. Brian moved recently, before Leadville. His new house looks awesome from the outside.

Anyway, it is supposed to be nice weather here for a while. Highs in the 80’s, lows in the upper 50’s. Very un-August like in Kansas. I hope to go for a long ride today. Slow, but long. It’s about all I can do just yet.

Michael Fatka sighting.

Cinnammon rolls at Alley Cats.

Check out the prices.

I was getting good mileage with the new Insight battery. Over 60 mpg, before I got on the Interstate and was driving 80+.

I like going into a bike shop and seeing a pile of post race stuff. Such was the case yesterday at Hollywood’s.

Bromont just hung in the shade while Michael and I talked.

Old team clothing at Skunk River.

New team clothing on my bed.

Back of the Donkey Label bibs I got from Paul.

Dennis made me brats and sauerkraut for my last dinner in Wisconsin. Seemed appropriate.