Travelling down to the Deep South of Sweet Home Alabama

Time in the small piece of paradise of Truckee California ended with semi chaotic packing last night. Trying to squeeze two bikes, two and half months worth of gear, camping stash, and all we’ve collected along the way over the past six weeks into a few bags which at the end, remind you they need to be zip closed as opposed to openly bulging. Destination Bermingham, Richmond, London, Wales, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Cannes, London and finally my own Sweet Home Stellenbosch.

(Packing with tlc)

A long day of smooth travels ending in Helena, a quaint old small town 8 miles from Oak Mountain, the venue to Xterra East Championships this Sunday morning at 9:30am, made for some smiles and sighs. The A22 on our boarding pass was not Terminal A gate 22, but our line number for boarding. There are no reserved seats. But it was good seeing some of Las Vegas airport and its characters. Which are a bit different to those at Bermingham’s…

(Exchanging dates for some nuts and dired berries)

I am feeling a little trashed, after two good days of training after cruising on the weekend nursing the allergic ‘fake-cold’ induced from the Pine Tree forests shedding some pollen. Grateful to be feeling okay after the weekend’s scare, and could leave feeling confident in the time at altitude over the past six weeks.

(Killing time outside Bermingham Airport)

The swim should definitely be a non-wetsuit swim if the temperature and humidity were to be any indicators today. The bike I’ll pre-ride in the morning, try scout some better lines than the one that took me to ground last year, assess and decide on tire decisions, suspension pressures, tweak the Specialized Epic, and hopefully be set for a cracker on Sunday. I may play it safe with some heavier tires, and try minimise the risk of a DNF. As I didnt make it to the run course last year, I’d like to have a jog about if I’m feeling alright out in the heat after the travel.

Yeah, looking forward to this the first of five weekends of racing.

Oh yes, and Ruth made it into her first Wal-Mart this evening. Where car tires and organic veggies are sold under the same roof…