Boxing Day / Double Birkie

This entry was posted in Just Life on by .

Hi.  Hope everyone had a great day yesterday.  It’s nice that Christmas was on Thursday, so most people get today off, then the weekend.  Makes for a nice 4 day holiday.  I’m on the move, heading up to Cable from Chicago today.  It’s about 7 hours, not bad.  Trudi’s nephew, Parker, is going up to hang with us in the Northwoods until after New Years.  He’s never Nordic skied, snowshoed and such, so it should be fun for him. He’s a good snowboarder, so he should be fine.

Tomorrow is the Double Birkie ski.  It starts at the Fish Hatchery and the skies up to the North End Trail Cabin and back.  I think it is around 80/90 km now, but that might be wrong.  Every, and anyone is invited.  Heather from the Brickhouse is going to have a lunch of sandwiches and soup at the North End, so it will be a nice break.

The Double Birkie started a long time ago, when Greg LeMond was winning the Tour.  He, Tom Schuler and a bunch of bike racers that skied over the winter, started doing it and it had been ongoing ever since.  Greg hasn’t done it in a long time, but Tom, Jeff Bradley and now, a bunch of new guys have kept the tradition alive.  Not everyone skies the whole distance.  Guys start at OO or the North End and ski down to meet the group coming North.  It is a great day.

I have no idea if I’ll even be able to ski.  I have a big problem putting on my jeans.  But, I’m going to try to get out, under the lights, at OO and see if I have the ability before tomorrow.  Anyway, if you want to come, here is a little more information.

We’re meeting our gang from Kansas.  Bill is driving Keith and Catherine Walberg up today.  They came back to Kansas for Christmas and now are going to make the annual pilgrimage up to Cable.   Plus, Stacie from Louisville and her family are heading up later today too.  It’s a long drive from Louisville too, so they won’t get there until late.  She is working today.

Yesterday, was good here.  I got to go out and ride for 2 1/2 hours.  I met up with a guy really close to Mt. Prospect and ended up riding with him and his friend the whole time.  His name was Teddy K. a guy originally from Bulgaria, now here.  They were friends from when Teddy first came to the US, way back and now they both race bikes.  Pretty great they can get together on Christmas for a bike ride.  And super nice that I got to tag along.  It made my day.

Did you see the World Cup cyclocross today?  The woman’s race was pretty great.  The men’s was kind of not the last half.   It is so strange that cyclocross Nationals are going to be in Austin in just a couple weeks.  I’m so far removed from the sport that I am almost embarrassed.  It will be good going down there and seeing everyone though.

Okay, wish me luck trying to ski tonight.  I think I’m gonna need it.  I’m kind of wondering if it goes just okay, should I try to ski for 7 + hours tomorrow.  Probably.

 

"My group" for a Christmas ride.

“My group” for a Christmas ride.

Dinner last night at Trudi's brother's house was a feast.

Dinner last night at Trudi’s brother’s house was a feast.

 

Nice accent for the holidays. I like that movie, but Jimmy Mac really loves it.

Nice accent for the holidays. I like that movie, but Jimmy Mac really loves it.

 

Bromont was pretty done before 10 last night. This is how he was for an hour or so.

BBromont was pretty done before 10 last night. This is how he was for an hour or so.

 

Double Birkie Day

This entry was posted in Fun Stuff on by .

By the time most of you are reading this I most likely will be skiing.  Or maybe not if you’re on the east coast.  I think the Double today is going to be around 80 km, both directions of the Birkie Ski race.  I stopped on the way up, right after dark and skied a lap under the lights.  I really didn’t have much pain at all in my hip, so I’m going down to the start with the intention of skiing the whole day.

We got up here in time to have nice dinner at the Rivers Eatery.  There were a bunch of friends from all over the country having dinner, so it felt familiar.  Most these guys I’ve raced bikes with, but a few I’ve only met through skiing.  It really doesn’t matter, we’re all one now.

I didn’t wax my skis.  I hardly ever do.  They are a bit white on the edges, but the chances of me making them any faster by applying wax is questionable.  I’m just going to go with what’s on them, which I have no idea.  It is supposed to snow around three inches tonight, but maybe Chris Campbell might be out late grooming, so there is a chance the trail will be corduroy.  If not, it will just be more stable for a ski hack like me.

Okay, probably need to get dressed and moving.  It is so hard to dress from an activity in the cold when you haven’t been doing it for awhile.  Layers is the key I guess.  It supposed to be in the low 20’s so pretty warm for skiing.  Should be nice.

Bill and Catherine decided to wax late last night. Catherine here is looking like a waxing terrorist. Her thought was the towel would protect her lungs from the smoke from the wax. I didn't think so.

Bill and Catherine decided to wax late last night. Catherine here is looking like a waxing terrorist. Her thought was the towel would protect her lungs from the smoke from the wax. I didn’t think so.

I guess Sram is moving offices and they had this sitting around and gave it to Pete Caron to bring up to us. That is me a while ago.

I guess Sram is moving offices and they had this sitting around and gave it to Pete Caron to bring up to us. That is me a while ago.

 

I got behind the truck that was applying this brine liquid to the road. I've never seen the actual truck before. I heard they were using the liquid from making cheese, but I can't confirm that is the case.

I got behind the truck that was applying this brine liquid to the road. I’ve never seen the actual truck before. I heard they were using the liquid from making cheese, but I can’t confirm that is the case.

Here is the truck with the liquid.

Here is the truck with the liquid.