A Perspective from Phil

Kelly and have just finished competing in the BC bike race, a seven day mt bike stage race. Kelly decided, a year ago, that this would be a good way to celebrate our 10 year anniversary and the milestone of turning 40. She talked me into this adventure and I am, once again, reminded of how lucky I am to have a partner that is willing to jump into such an epic race. She does know how to pick em, right!

It has been a transformative experience. Meeting bikers from 22 countries and digging deep throughout the week with 450+ other competitors. I have raced along side [for some reason I could never really stay too close :)] Brian Lopes, Jason Moeschler & Mark Weir - gravity legends and magicians on their bikes and very capable endurance riders. I have only crossed the line once ahead of them (stage 4), but I will take it! Had I known they were behind me I may have waited and at the top of a downhill and tried to see how long I could hold on. I think I would give it about 15 seconds, until I hit a tree! And, I have also seen a former world cup marathon champion from France, Thomas Dietsch, (only because he flatted and got off course did I see him blow by me while chasing the back the leaders). He is using this as a tune up for another epic stage race next week in Europe - crazy!

There are many other pros (the BC bike race was much like a rock concert for me, where I had a back stage pass). The other notable, is Jason Sager, who finished second overall and won two stages. He shattered the course record last year at our endurance epic, the Vermont 50! I have been able to chat with most of these guys - very inspirational! If you want more about some of the riders in the race go to cycling news.

This past week has been both the hardest and most satisfying week of racing I have ever done. Stage 6 was in Squamish (Thanks to Chessy and Spencer for being amazing in hosting us in their home!). Squamish has the most mind blowing trails I have ever been on. I would get to the bottom of the trail and look over at my nearest competitor and would have to wipe the perma-grin from my face. I found myself laughing and crying uncontrollably ( I know I have officially lost it - check me into the nearest hospital!) as I descend stretches of 30 minute roller coasterish single track. I knew the trails were nice, but this was ridiculous! I actually kind of stopped racing and instead took some time to really soak in the forest.

Awaiting our final stage, I was ready to let it all hang out. My body was close to to its limits and certainly ready for a break, but my mind was craving more and more of this magic that is BC mt biking. At this point in the race, I was sitting 7th in the masters (I came here hoping for a secret top 10, actually I would have liked to win it, but apparently, this year is faster, as the guy ahead of me is the winner from last year in the masters and he said that he is in better shape, but also recognized that he is a year older!) I knew at this point that I was not going to make any ground on my nearest competitor and the guy behind me was about 15 minutes back. So, I just kept an eye on him and tried to ride without burying myself into the ground.

Actually, Kelly and I have come to know the guy sitting behind me in the standings. His name is Mike Wilson, and because he is a local, I found it extremely useful to follow his lines, since this is his backyard. He wanted my spot bad, but it is good ole' healthy competition! I don't plan on giving it over without a fight! At the end of the week, we'll exchange contact info and hopefully they will make it back to VT or we will have a place to visit in BC. It is funny how life works. We met Mike at the first dinner and remained friends thereafter only to find out that we were racing within minutes of each other! He has two boys and wonderful wife, went to Stratton Mt School in VT, loves to race...

This is truly a one of a kind race with one of a kind trails. After I completed the race in Squamish I was convinced that heaven is truly a place on this earth. It just cannot get any better! I have felt this way before in my life...when Austin and Carson were born, when I meet Kelly, family vacations, graduations, epic rides with friends....personally I cannot ask for more...

Finding ways to keep focused during the race is a challenge. So, every day I dedicated the last 10k to somebody in my life. It has been a great way to get through the hard last few kilometers. For example, on the longest, hottest stage, I spent the final kilometers thinking about a friend, Dave Blumenthal, an adventurer who died last year in the Tour de Divide. He was a true adventurer and his memory reminds me why we do these crazy things in the first place. He carried me through the last miles and helped me have one of the best rides of my life. I only knew him for a short time, but he left a lasting impression on me, and will continue to influence my future choices to pursue adventure.

One day I thought about Austin and Carson and imagined how they would "play on the trails" as they finished a race. On this particular day, we had a epic 30 minute downhill into a ferry terminal. If you have ever seen mt biking movies, this trail was on the Sunshine Coast! Very exciting! It allowed me to let go of racing and instead focus on playing. This should be fun too, right! Well, it was!

On another day I let my family carry me through. All my family - Mom, Dad, Sis, Patty, Brian, brother and sister in laws, nephews, nieces, cousins.....It reminded me that without these relationships my life would be very empty. It is my family that has always been there when I have needed help and gave me great inspiration to know that they are in my corner! Much love to you all.

Some days, I just let the person or people come into my consciousness depending on what I need. Like my riding buddies...Jared, Grant, Nick, Pavel, Andrew, ORR team, other biking friends...wishing they could be here too! Thinking about how they would be smiling just like me as they made their way through this beautiful landscape.

Surprisingly, on stage six in Squamish, I found myself thinking about my uncle Bob (my Dad's brother). I was pushing hard in the last 10k and knew that I had much more left in the tank. Part of me was fighting going into the "pain cave" - many of you know that place! It takes concentration and focus, and sometimes it hurts! At that moment I was reminded of my Uncle Bob, who, because had MS, lost the opportunity to experience what it feels like to compete physically. Due to this, I took some time to truly embrace and enjoy the discomfort of digging deep...and that was for Bob and everyone else who has lost the opportunity to move. And let me tell you, riding hard never felt so good! We, who are able to participate in life's adventures are extremely lucky! Our bodies are designed for moving, so get out there!

Day seven- Whistler- this dedication was for ME! I let it hang out and had the best finish of my week! During this ride I thought about how many times through life, I have been my worst critic, and worst enemy. I don't know if it is human nature, but I find it hard to keep thoughts truly positive. On the bike and in the race I often found my mind wondering to places like...."you should be smoother", "I am not going to make that bridge", "your technical skills are sub-par," "the guy behind me is getting impatient". As we all know, when our thoughts are negative, it will certainly effect our behavior. And, in mt biking the result might be a bobble, running off trail, loosing traction or hitting a tree (I have several bark samples embedded in my handlebars for anyone interested!) In contrast, when our thoughts are positive we get out of our own way and the bike will follow. In the final decent, I found myself chanting (in my head), "playful, smooth, confident"..."playful, smooth, confident"....Soon after I was chasing down riders in front of me and hovering over the rocky single track like I had not done all week. Make no mistake, I was surrounded by people with some of the best bike handling skills I have ever witnessed (Yes I did get to see Weir & Moeschler rampage down some technical single track with smoothness that did not seem humanly possible. I heard them coming from a long way out. They wear black WTB Cannandale jerseys and it is like seeing a freight train in your periphery. I could see and hear - rider up! I took the opportunity to get off the trail and take witness to some of the best in the sport and begin cheering like the fan that I am. Weir, especially has inspired me to get back out on the mt bike and learn how to be a better rider. I digress, sorry.) Back to the dedication - ME! In the end, I was riding smooth and fast and I was reminded that, yes, I have some skills, too, on the bike, and I allowed it time to sink into my consciousness during the last decent of the BC Bike Race. It was a nice feeling!

I am sitting on the couch (Day 8!) very proud of myself and Kelly. We set a goal and not only nailed it, but I think we hit it out of the park! I am itching to get back on my bike and do some more epic rides with friends! I can't even believe that I am saying this, but it is true, and I look forward to returning to VT and finding a new adventures to jump into with my friends and family.

Keep riding and adventuring! Much love!

Phil

Day Seven!

We've finished the BC BIke Race with the seventh day of racing being at the biker's mecca of Whistler! After a few days of warning signs, I woke up this morning with a wicked head and chest cold. A shower and caffeine did little to perk me up but when we arrived at the Olympic Plaza, I was buoyed by a great vibe. Everyone was smiles, psyched up for the last day of racing. We knew it would be a hard day, but were comforted by the fact that the trails would be amazing and the end was near.

Today was the day to leave everything on the course. The start took us climbing up a gravel road for about 25 minutes and everyone was red-lining. I tried to get out as far in front as I could on the climb, so I could enter the technical singletrack in a good placement in regards to other women and with those who have compatible technical skills. We entered a fun technical descent and then a technical climb called Yummy Nummy. I found a situation, however, that was all-too familiar: bottlenecks and tried to stay calm while we rolled, walked or waited.

Finally, out on another dirt road for a big descent and then back into the woods on a local favorite trail called Comfortably Numb. Amazing rocky, ledgy descent, with open sections of rock where long stretches of rock became the trail. I loved this. It was dry and I was cleaning everything. I was so pumped! I was riding Whistler! I was almost done! The next three stretches of singletrack were beautiful, some bermed and swoopy, some with loose rocks and requiring short pops of climbing. Before big turns, I had a mantra I used to keep focus which I picked up at the downhill clinic I took before I left Vermont. Turn your head, turn your hips, tap the rear brake and let the bike whip around.

In the end, I finished second in 2:01 in the women's solo epic master's category, maintaining my overall third place in the race. Phil cranked, too, and finished 4th in 1:36, maintaining his seventh overall rank in the men's solo epic master's category. For the week, I had done 24:18 of racing and Phil had been on the bike for 19:57. Awesome!

We're proud.
We're tired.
We're happy.

We're off the the awards banquet!

Photos and details later...

Day Six

Done! Squamish has the most incredible trail network! Phil and I set the race aside somewhat and had fun playing on the course, running the swoopy sections at full throttle (Phil placed 36th/450 in one timed section) and taking rocky, technical descents with care (one trail was called the Powerhouse Plunge). Despite the play, we still maintained our overall ranking of 3rd (me) and 7th (Phil) going into tomorrow's final stage. We traveled to Whistler tonight and will be hitting a 24 km final race. Although short, it is Whistler and trails go wicked up and wicked down. More details later!

Day Five

Another great day of BC racing! Visiting friends in Squamish so no time for details, except Phil maintained his 7th overall ranking today and I am pretty sure I kept my 3rd. Tomorrow, we hit about 50km of the local finest!

Day Four

Today was a brutal day. We started with a lovely ferry ride where sea planes carrying some of the racers that won a lottery gracefully soared overhead. Although it was relaxing to look out over calm waters and green or snowy mountains, I was nervous and somewhat dreading today's stage. I knew we would do almost 7000 feet of climbing. I knew it would be extremely hot. And, in contrast to the previous three days, most of it would be on fire roads, logging roads or trails cut through clearcuts. Sound gnarly? It was.

We started the race right out of the ferry terminal and, once again, the pace was fast. Although Phil had correctly advised me to treat this like an endurance day, I couldn't resist all the drafting trains passing by. By now, I'm recognizing racers that I like to be with pace-wise or singletrack-skill wise, so I kept my position. Fast doubletrack, down and up in woods and then crisscrossing up endless powerlines, I got caught up in feeling good. I took a good crash, when the trail tucked into some dark woods and my eyes couldn't adjust in time from the bright sunlight. We crossed a stream and hit a little singletrack and then headed back out onto the dusty roads. After two hours and having passed at least three women who have consistently finished ahead of me, I accepted that I really needed to dial it back unless I wanted a really big bonk. I did some nice riding with some teams and great women and then after the second aid station I slowed it down again. A final hour of singletrack switchback climbs and then wicked descending downs would have been more pleasurable had I not wanted to be off my bike so badly. As I rounded the last corner with 500 meters to go, a woman came up behind me. It was too funny because it was the same woman I outsprinted at the finish line yesterday! We went for it and she got me this time ( I took a bad line in the end) by one second! It was all fun b/c she is in the other women's category. Anyway, I finished third for the fourth day in a row at 5:04. Phil jokes that he is concerned that all these medals will cost us with overweight fees at the airport. Austin and Carson will be psyched!

Anyway, Phil had his best day yet! He said he felt great and came in 5th in 4:04, moving his overall ranking up to 7. Climbing up everyday!

Tomorrow will be a relief as we will take another ferry to Sqamish for singletrack and less climbing!

Photos to be posted later!

Day Three

We traveled this morning by bus and ferry to the lovely town of Powell River. Coastal lifestyle and landscapes are threads that connect these communities. The other similarity is how the locals are truly enriching our experience. They are proud and friendly to tourists. The ferry guard in water-locked Namaimo claimed it as a great place to live if jobs can be secured. The restaurant owner in Cumberland has watched his town stay true to its small, quaint nature while surrounding communities succumb to sprawl. He believes the trails for hiking and biking are largely key to local quality of life. Watching the scene in Campbell river on race morning was a professionally dressed man, who thought it was great for the town to host the race. The weathered owner of the natural foods market there described the smoked salmon in his freezer with great enthusiasm.

We've also had our meals in each town's community center,'which seems to be a hub of social connections- from senior activities to kid's recreation. I don't know if townspeople fund these facilities and centers but it seems to bring people together and create a close-knit social fabric.

Another day of amazing racing - almost all of the day was gorgeous, technical, rooty deep woods, singletrack. Phil and I felt like we were on Vermont's finest trails at times. At the end of the day, I again placed third in the women's solo epic masters category in 3:33. Phil also had a fantastic race, placing 8th in the men's solo epic masters category in 2:56 and now overall in 7th place. He moves up everyday! Phil thinks that "we've arrived" because we both have made the results posted on www.cyclingnews.org, the major media source for cycling events around the world.

The race leaders are pretty fast. Jason Sager from the US took the race yesterday in a one second photo finish against Canadian Chris Sheppard from Rocky Mountain. Trish from Canada (master's category) is the overall woman leader. But stage races are interesting in that a ten or twenty minute gap can be made up or lost any day by a mechanical, wrong turn or bonk. Therefore, I'm trying not to focus on where the women are on the course or in the rankings, rather I'm striving for a well-executed race, conserving energy and being smooth, enjoying the journey and I'll end up where I belong at the end of day 7.

Tomorrow we head to Earl's Cove for our longest day yet - 65 km (40 miles ) with a total elevation gain of 2110 m (almost 7000 feet). It will be hot and brutal, so I'd better get some sleep!

Come back for more!

Day Two

Another great day on the trail. Phil and I took a bus to the ocean-side town of Campbell River (known as the Salmon Capitol of the World- 1.14 million salmon migrate by annually). Base camp was set up on a bucolic waterfront park, overlooking a marina of sailing and Orca whale-watching vessels and a range of snow-capped coastal mountains. We got our bikes and took care of race rituals and nerves. Again, 450-bikers lined up under the black inflated start/finish line and the music was pumping. The mayor blew the horn, setting the peleton loose on the main drag, which was soon humming along at 22 mph.

After 7 km of pavement and gravel, we entered the woods for some gorgeous flowy, singletrack. Although today's forest felt prehistoric with tall ferns brushing my helmet and fallen log trunks covered in thick moss, I associated many sections of trail with familiar ground in Vermont. In my head, I was linking all my favorite trails. At times I was on TNT at Millstone (rooty) or Bear's Run of the Stowe Town Loops (fast switchback)s. Other times, I was coming down Cyclone (rock drops) at the top of Dana Hill or I was doing the woods side of the Catamount Outdoor Center Wednesday night race. Although there were a few bottlenecks, my "pod" was soon moving smoothly and at times we were humming along in the big ring.

As amazing as the trails are the people riding them. Each day, I've found myself with compatible riding partners, oftentimes from other countries (22 are represented with 50% of the racers being Canadian). Yesterday, I spent the good part of the race with a guy from Santiago, Chile (he had some good South American race suggestions). On the morning shuttle, I talked to a couple from Venezuela (they said the government owns 90% of the land and often closes trails and shuts down races). Phil and I sat next to a guy from the UK (originally from Zimbabwe) at dinner (he just started cycling in February)! I washed my bike next to a man from Munich, Germany who lives close to the alps, but said the trails are nothing like this (the altitude is all there, but they ride lots of fire roads). And, on and on. Given it is Fourth of July today, it is neat to feel patriotic in a different way.

Anyway..the race. So, the first aid station came and went, leading me to a lengthy & tough technical section that I'll describe as alpine-type-zone-which-quickly-turned-to-wet-slippery-rainforest. Evidently it is always wet well into summer from the mountain's snowmelt. Like yesterday's descent, it required focus as each root and trail was slippery and moss-covered ledge was slick. There were lots of drops and descents where you could not see the roll out - had to trust your bike and ability. I was with a group of about 6 or 7 and the pressure was on not to mess up. In the end, I slipped out and had to let them all pass, but felt alot more relaxed and therefore, was more efficient. The last section was dreamy - fast, flowing and downhill, with lots of whoop-de-doos. The trail designers had a timed segment of this section, so when I passed the line where my chip beeped, it was fun to push it as much as I could.

In the end, I was third again in the women's solo epic masters category in 3:13, so I got to stand on the podium! Phil also had a great race today finishing 8th in the men's solo epic masters category in 2:43.

After the race, we Facetimed my parents and Austin and Carson who were enjoying a beautiful evening in Vermont. We heard about parades, pancakes and the bike path from my parents while the boys did "drive-bys" to my dad's iPad as they ran around outside. It was great to see them!

A few days before we left, we watched the mountain bike movie, Follow Me, with Austin and Carson. There was great footage of the Sunshine Coast, where we ride tomorrow. We'll take the ferry to the town of Powell River, where we'll be treated with 50Km (32 miles) of singletrack with a total elevation gain of 1070 m (3500 feet).

Come back for more!

Day One

It was sunny and already warm when we arrived at base camp for our first day of racing. We collected our bikes and milled around doing last minute race rituals before rolling to the start on the Main Street of Cumberland, which is a cool stretch of retail shops, natural food stores and cafes. An incredible vibe filled the street. Dance music. 450 bikers lined up as far as the eye could see. When the collective emotion couldn't get any higher, the mayor wished us a great race and blew a whistle.

A great shifting of gears, whirring of wheels and the mass of lycra moved forward. We had a neutral start for a few km and then wound along a gravel road on the outskirts of town to try to spread everyone out before we entered the singletrack. My strategy was to push it these first fifteen minutes to get a good place in line, to avoid being behind too many people with lackluster technical skills. Seems like everyone else had the same idea, though, and the pace was fast. That's when I started committing myself to drafting trains, when I would work to hang on to a few riders, benefiting from draft and then hop when I could to a passing train. It made it interesting and all the while I was watching my heart rate to make sure I didn't bury myself into a hole I couldn't climb out of.

We entered some amazing singletrack and although bunched up (and sometimes waiting in line over an obstacle) we started to have a great time. Brushed with tall ferns, cooled by tall trees, banking on smooth dirt, with the occasional root, rock and bridge to navigate, we flowed along trails, like Bear's Bait along the Puntledge River. After an hour or so, we had to climb a long, at-times-steep, dirt road (at the same time watch for logging trucks hauling down) to an aid station at 630 meters. From there we experienced the most incredible 30 minute downhill that I'm glad I was not briefed on beforehand (I might have been intimidated). We had rock and root drops, ledge spines, and narrow dirt chutes (now I know why one of the trails was named Screamin' Demon). Commitment was the only option. It was intense in that it required total concentration and I could only think about how to take it, not whether I was going to take it. In the end, I felt a rewarding sense of accomplishment as well as had stiff fingers from clutching the brakes! Another dirt road climb and then undulating singletrack through clearcuts and new growth forests to a (milder) fantastic decent through forest to the finish line.

After crossing the finish line at 3:26, I was psyched to learn that I placed third in the women's epic solo 40 plus category (out of 13 women). Looking at the other women's solo epic category (under age 40) with 16 women in it, I was the sixth woman today. It was fun to get on the podium, and even better will be a good seeding at the start line tomorrow.

Phil had a good day, too. One of Phil's goals was to make the top ten in the 40 plus category and he nailed it today coming in tenth out of a hundred others at 2:58. It did not, however, come without a mishap. Phil had a strong start, but halfway through the race he felt some cramping coming on. Phil has figured out how to prevent cramping long ago, with the winning antidote being a vial of salts. So, with what looked like a stretch of doubletrack ahead, he pulled out his vial and popped the cap just as the road curved sharply into some singletrack. As you can imagine, Phil grabbed the brake and the salt went sprinkling onto the forest floor. Bummer. Although the next aid station had some electrolyte drink that helped, he had to dial his race back a bit.

Day Two's Race: We'll ride in Campbell River on a "true cross country course" of undulating technical singletrack with moderate climbing along the way. The course if 50 km (~32 miles) with 1005 meters (3300 feet) of elevation gain.

Come back for more!

Ferries and Outposts

"If a black bear attacks, fight to win. If it is a grizzly, don't fight." Those were words of advice from the BC Bike Race medical team at today's mandatory racer meeting, despite the low likelihood of an encounter with wildlife with 450 bikers on the trail. We learned other practical information, such as what to do if we had a trail emergency and trail etiquette if a faster racer or the moto pacer is on our rear wheel.

Before the meeting, we had handed over our bikes and bags to be loaded and packed with care in a semi-truck. We had been given a Dakine travel bag at registration and it was full of everything we might need for the week (from boxes of energy bars to the bikini for the Whistler hot tub). It was hard for me to do, but the laptop stayed at Gabrielle and Greg's house (no separation anxiety yet).

These trucks will cart our stuff from start line to start line each day. Loads of amazing volunteers will set up a tent city and buffet line at each base camp (called the Bear's Den) and attempt to care for each rider's needs. Maybe I'm getting soft in my years, but I admit that taking the logistics out of eating, sleeping and handling our bikes is very appealing. Unlike a race like the Tour de Divide, the race along the Continental Divide where racers have to be self-sufficient over the 4000 plus miles, this event allows you to expend mental bandwidth on racing well, not setting up camp along the way.

Mid-afternoon, we boarded a massive ferry in Horseshoe Bay to travel two hours up Howe's Sound to Nanaimo, a city of 90,000. Biding time on the ferry dock, we bought fresh strawberries and raspberries that had been picked that morning. An iced latte hit the spot as temps had already climbed into the 20's Celsius ( that would be 70's Fahrenheit). The weather forecast looks dreamy for the week ahead, with 20's and dry weather everyday of the week. This is typically a dry period of the year, but like Vermonters, locals have lamented over a wet spring and closed trails. In fact, many of the peaks that have encircled us the last few days still show snow chutes.

We arrived in Cumberland in time to catch a salmon burger at a local pub called the Waverley and settle into our hotel room. Tomorrow will be a good introduction to the flowing singletrack through deep forests and the vistas of vast inlets here. Day 1's race is 54 km (almost 34 miles) with 1200 meters of elevation gain (almost 4000 feet). I'd better get some rest.

Canada Day

Today is Canada Day, the country's independence day. As with the Fourth of July in the States, it is a holiday: the government and most stores are closed and Canadians take family vacations or hold neighborhood block parties.

This is the second day that Phil and I have been in Vancouver. We've settled into our friend's (Gabrielle Kissinger, Greg Kehm and sons' Quintin and Sebastian) wonderful home in the Kitsilano district and had a dose of local culture and cuisine. After assembling our bikes and confirming they hadn't taken a beating during air travel, we went downtown to Granville Island, a market of of agricultural and artisan goods. Listening to street music, we sampled sweet kale from a farmer in Squamish and browsed traditional instruments produced by some of the 20 First Nations that inhabit BC. We bought fresh eggs, locally-picked strawberries and chocolates filled with lavendar and pink grapefruit. We observed the making of wood-carved totems and tasted seafood seviche at a restaurant overlooking the inlet.

From most viewpoints, infrastructure stands out as icons of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Looking towards downtown, we could see buildings the hosted the athletic teams of different countries. Looking north towards the mountains, we could view Cypress Bowl, where much of the skiing events were held. Gabrielle and Greg had attended the Olympic nordic events and said it was an awesome experience to witness the speed with which skate skiiers could glide uphill ("faster than I could ski downhill," Gabrielle, said - which is not true given her skiing history, which included the Canadian Ski Marathon).

Later that day after sampling a green tea chai - its pepper had me sweating - we saddled our bikes for a spin along the shore which had us looking North over the inlet towards Howe Bay. That is where our journey will begin on Saturday, when we take a ferry at Horseshoe Bay in North Vancouver to Nainamo and then a bus to Cumberland. We spun past towering Douglas Firs and Western Red Cedars, as well as triathletes preparing for the Vancouver Half Iron on Sunday.

That night, we went to eat at Pear Bistro, a fantastic restaurant that Greg described as a BC specialty. We were not disappointed with local elk, prawns and wild "salmon candy," (some sort of caramelized and cured delight). While sampling a pinot noir from the desert region of BC, our server told us that the wine was taken care of by the table in the back of the restaurant. We turned to see folks from West Point Cycles, a local bike shop we had visited earlier in the day, who called out "..to a good race!" We were blown away by their friendliness and enthusiasm, which they had also shown earlier. This act confirmed our perception that Canadians are incredibly nice people, or at least everyone in Vancouver was that we have encountered so far.

The next morning we set out on bikes for espresso touring. We first hit a place around the corner which claimed to have the gooiest cinnamon buns. We won't argue with that as well as how well a double espresso washed it down. Later on the ride, we hit the 49th Parallel Roasters to sample the Piccolo Latte. We had been introduced to their delicious roasts the day before when Greg produced a series of double cappuccinos with perfect creme from his kitchen using their Epic Espresso beans.

Mid-day, we went to registration to check in our bikes and pick up information. Again, uber-nice people took care of us. We met the bike techs, Obsession: Bikes, which brought me relief knowing that there would be mechanics waiting at the end of every stage. Just that morning, Phil had given me a mini-review of the mechanicals I might encounter along the way. I'd also reviewed the mandatory gear list with diligence.

Back at the house, Gabrielle accessorized herself with a gorgeous Trife with Summer Fruit (with perfect custard) for the neighborhood block party and we wandered to an adjacent lane that blocked traffic by the presence of a bounce house (Quintin and Sebastian had already been there for hours). We met spirited Canadians who cracked dozens of Dungeoness Crab with gusto, and sampled tasty dishes and a local microbrews called Phillip's Blue Buck.

It has been amazing to take a break mentally and physically from biking and the race, and just let the days unfold, eating good food and being good tourists. The last weeks and months have been fast-pasted, structured and to-do list driven. Although packing tonight got my head in the game a little bit, it was the best race prep I could have done to enjoy some very interesting surroundings.

It made us feel not so far away to do Facetime with our kids and my parents, as well as Skype Phil's parents. Austin and Carson were goofy with the technology - they wanted to show us rocks they found today or point the camera at the dog or make funny faces. The only real comment they made was that they want Phil to win first place and me to take second. We'll see what we can do :) We've also adored Gabrielle and Greg's sweet kids, Quintin (almost 8) and Sebastian (age 5). It was inspiring to see them into celebrating Canada Day (Quintin was the first one up this morning to work on red maple leaf signs for the day). They've also shared their Star Wars lego ships and Pokemon cards, which make us feel right at home.

Tomorrow, the journey begins. Our endlessly generous hosts will take us to North Vancouver. We'll check our bags and get the skinny on race details at a mandatory meeting. Rumor has it on www.cyclingnews.com that there will be a few sections within stages that are timed and mostly downhill (glad I took the downhill clinic at Sugarbush last week with Mountain Moxie).

Come back for more!