A little more about my upconing travels

I am going to take a slight detour from my usual ramblings about bikes,  fitness and weight struggles to talk about one of the other reasons I have recently resurrected this journal and to talk about some of the other loves/hobbies in my life. Travel and Technology.

I am about to take a trip of a lifetime.  Well, a trip of my lifetime, your individual mileage may vary. In mid-December I will be travelling to Europe along with my travelling companions (my husband and his parents).  This trip was actually arranged on a dare, or a plan to see what his father and I could get away with. Here's how it happened.  In July my husband's mother turned 70, and I decided it would be really cool to plan a family reunion of sorts for her birthday.   Because I can't seem to do anything half way (more about that later) by the time July came around we had rented a beach house on the coast of CA and my husbands brother, his entire family and my brother and his entire family had joined us for her birthday celebration.  a whopping 14 of us had gathered at that house for the weekend and many wonderful memories were made. As someone who has a very small family and since both my parents are gone, family reunions just don't happen, this trip was a dream come true not only for my MIL, but for myself as well.  Below is one of my favorite pictures taken that weekend, even our super amazing dog got to join us for the celebration.  Below is my husband, Gunner and my nieces and nephews playing on the beach:

The reason I told you that story is because that trip was the birth of this trip.  One day as my FIL and I were watching the sun fall into the ocean and commenting on how this trip was so wonderful and how thankful we were.  He threw something out there that I just couldn't ignore. He said, "you know what I've always wanted to do?" "What?", I said. "I've always wanted to do one of those Germany Christmas Market River Cruises", he said. "hmm, really? Well, why don't we do it? I would LOVE to do that" I said. We both continued to stare into the sunset deep in thought and then the next statement actually put things into motion. "I'll tell you what, why don't you mention it to R. and I'll mention it to mom and see what happens.  If they don't object....then let's start planning".  I agreed, thinking there was no way mom would ever agree to it. But, she yes, not only did she say yes but she wanted to start planning right away.  Um, okay...so I guess we were going to do this.  Wow. Europe in December. I've never been to Europe.  I have always dreamed of going....and now I am going. Wow. Not only that but I get to go with my husband and his parents...so of my most favorite people in the world.

As we have planned this trip, which pretty much started in July after we got home the trip has changed a lot from what we first imagined and par for the course for me....the trip has gotten bigger, longer and more elaborate. So here is what the trip looks like now.

We fly into Vienna, Austria mid-December.  We're renting a car rather than taking an organized tour on the Danube to allow us more time and flexibility to stop where we want to stop and see more for less. Since there will be 4 of us, and R's parents are experienced European travelers we decided this would be the best bet.  Back to the list of cities we are going to stop in, well at least planning on now:

Fly into Vienna, Austria.  Then head to Hallstatt, then to Salzburg, then to Munich, then to Rothenburg, then to Frankfurt and then we take a train to Paris. We will probably travel to other cities but those are the planned ones. 



We picked those because of the Christmas markets in each city. I have heard that visiting the Christmas markets is something to see. I love all things Christmas and the magic of the season.  I'm not particularly religious....I just love the lights, the magic, the kindness the overwhelms everyone (even scrooge) during the season.  I just can't wait.  If you're interested or want to see what the markets are all about, check out this website.   http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/  Think of the Christmas Markets as mini festivals that each town holds to not only sell Christmas trinkets but also sell hot spiced wine, there are also carolers and street performers. Here is the wiki page that does a much better job describing than I do: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_market  We have planned the trip in such a way that we are staying in a medieval walled city that was virtually untouched over the centuries and dates back to 1172.  It is an out of the way town, not as frequented by tourists, which is what we wanted. The Inn we are staying in dates back to the 16th century.  Here is a picture of the town. I can't wait to see it in person. Doesn't it look like a fairytale...not even real.




photos courtesy of: http://ourgermanyadventures.blogspot.com/

Once we leave Germany on a train destined for Paris, France.  We have actually rented a flat in Paris for a week.  We are staying the famed Rue De Cler neighborhood to have a more comfortable base and to feel more like a Parisian for the week.  This neighborhood is located at the base of the Eiffel Tower and outdoor markets and cafes are abundant.  From all of my research, if you are going to experience Paris, Rue De Cler is the place to do it.  Also, our flat has a view of the Eiffel Tower, so we can see all of lights and the nightly light show from our window sipping wine or espresso fresh from the market below.  Also, we are spending New Year's Eve in Paris. Ah, I can't wait...I imagine it will be quite the night...and quite the trip of a lifetime!

Every time you fall down, you are provided with an opportunity to get back up

"Every time you fall down, you are provided with an opportunity to get back up"  ~ Unknown.

Or like the Chinese proverb, fall down seven times, get back up eight.

I would just like to add the word stronger to the end. :o)  I know it's really a duh statement, but it really resonated with me.  While this past year I have soared professionally,  personally I have definitely fallen down. Now that I am taking stock and thinking more ME and who I am today vs. who I want to be. I am trying to figure out the best way to pick myself back up.

I took on step on Sunday, which actually ended up being quite the humbling experience thus far.  Here is way happened. It actually started two weeks ago when I purchased the flower bike.  I was dying to ride her.  But, it was snowing...and I was pouty.  I was talking to a bunch of friends (okay, pouting to them) and one of them said, "Hey! It's supposed to be sunny next weekend, why don't we all go for a ride then?!".  Perfect!! I could hardly wait!

So it was decided.  The group I was riding with has been riding all summer, and was planning a leisurely 20 mile ride.  Something to think about is that I have not really been on a ride longer than 6 or 7 miles for almost a year (wow, typing that out makes me kinda sad).   But!! Last year when I was riding a 20 mile ride on the greenways and around town was a piece of cake.  So really, how hard could it be really? I mean yes, it's going to be tough, but I can totally do it.  Plus, I will be doing it on my new bike...who I am dying to spend time with so it will be awesome! Yep......

The day of the ride, my friend was right and it was beautiful, the high that day was in the 60 and the perfect riding weather...with the exception of one thing.  WIND...and lots of it! But, I was committed and just ignored the wind and headed out to our meeting spot.  Wow...as I was riding down the road the first thing I noticed was the big knobby tires.  Which none of my other bikes have.  They were loud going down the road, whoop, whoop, whoop.  I sounded like a monster truck going down the road. Cool! Then I noticed how heavy the bike was. It felt solid for sure. I liked the feeling. I felt totally secure on the bike.  But, the wind...was hard to ignore.  It was blowing east and I was headed west right into.  By the time we got to our meeting spot, I was pooped. I was half thinking about turning around and heading home, pretending mechanical difficulties had gotten the best of me.  But, since this ride was in my honor, or mostly in my honor...I had to buck up and soldier on.

When I got there I had plenty of time to rest and talk to my arriving friends.  They all appropriately oooed and aweeed at the bike, which was nice. :o)  And then....we were off. I swear the wind was getting worse. Oh well...I'll have people to talk to and this group rides slow...I rode with them last year and it was painful to ride so slow.  I can do this.

Pretty much a half mile into the ride I could no longer see the group ahead of me and there was one (super nice person) who had stayed behind to ride with me and keep me company. Wow, how did that happen?!  Then, she finally said it.  Um, do you mind if I catch up with the group? I don't want to leave you behind.....but they are so far ahead of us.  I smiled and said nope, I have my phone and my husband is on alert...so I'll be just fine.

Which I was....but I only made it about 10 miles into that wind before I told the group that I was headed home. I pretended that I was having gear problems...but just between you me and this blog....it was having breathing problems and my legs didn't want to work any longer.  It was such a way up call for me.  Wow, how have I fallen so far in my one year hiatus? I don't remember it being this bad last year when I first started training.....this is crazy.

But, now that I think about it.....I did have to work my way up to a 20 mile ride and at one time 10 mile rides were tough.  The main thing was consistency.  Getting out and riding or being active every day is the key to getting back to where I was.  It's really not that had and not something I haven't done before...I did it once (heck, in my life I have probably done it a couple dozen times) I can do it again.

After I came home, feeling completely lame and ashamed...no embarrassed. I decided it was time. If I didn't think so before...I KNOW now  that it is time. Enough of this.  So, Monday night I went to my first spin class in over a year.   Yes, it was hard and yes I was sore afterwards but I did all of it, completed all 45 minutes of spinning and felt tired but good afterwards. I took the first step and it didn't kill me...or even better it wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be.

I was supposed to go to spin today, but work got in the way.  Grrr...but I have the next 4 days off and am planning on spinning either outside or inside all 4 days. It will be good and I'm looking forward to it.  I'm even thinking about attending kickboxing with a friend or two...so that will be good too.

Now that I've picked myself up I can totally do this. And...now that I know what it takes to get back to where I was....I can get there again...I already know the way.

Thankful for a bike that remind me of the things (and people) I love

A little teaser...I will explain below. :o)

Besides the newly found freedom that I have from my job I also recently made a new purchase that has rekindled my love for riding and is causing me to become nostalgic.

The whole story is that my dad would come home after a day long hunt of junkyards far and wide with a trailer stacked high with a burned car carcass and filthy twisted and crumbled pieces of metal.  When he drove up in the driveway I never quite understood his excitement.  He would tell me found the coolest car (I must have looked at him like he was crazy, but he didn't care) letting me know what year Corvette it used to be and all of the plans he had for it.

Over the next year I would spend hours in the garage with him holding the flashlight in just the right spot, my arm cramping feeling like it's going to fall off. Running back and forth to the tool box a million times (give or take)picking the perfect tool he would need next.  But, I got to spend time with him...and watch as he excitedly polished, shined and replaced pieces to someone's "piece of junk" that would be reborn as someone's treasure. I never got the bloody knuckles or burns he got from twisting and turning his hands to fit in the smallest of places, but I was there...experiencing everything with him and more importantly, helping. When we would finish a days work, somehow I would always end up with grease on my face and hands and got to use the special "goop" soap in the garage that only people working the garage got to use. He never let me hang out when he got to the fiberglass part. But, somehow I always ended up being in the garage to get the little glass fibers stuck in my feet, fingers or hands. It's messy stuff.  Still to this day, many homes and decades later, I still can't walk in the garage barefoot for fear of getting fiberglass threads stuck in my toes.

I know what you're thinking.  "What does this trip down memory lane have to do with your new bike?!"

Well, growing up, we always had a corvette in the garage..in one form or another. He would fix up the car, build the engine, repair the body, interior and get it painted a beautiful color.  Then, I would never see it again. He would sell it to someone (we never talked about that part, it would just disappear) and then a couple of weekends later, we had another project car show up in our driveway.

So, when I saw that Schwinn also made a Corvette in the 50's and 60's I knew this had to be my next bike....and so the quest began. Did I need another bike, no not really.  Especially not a cruiser.  But, I did have use for a mountain bike so I could ride on some of the dirt roads around my town. The Corvette was not a mountain bike. Not even close.  But, I just loved the idea of having an old corvette in our garage just like when I was little.  Even though he's been gone for almost 6 years now, I know my dad would love that too. In a way, it felt like a tribute to him.

Almost every weekend I would do the random search....and there are a few corvette's out there...but none really made me want to purchase them.  Mainly because I already have a cruiser I like and couldn't justify getting a second one.

But, last weekend....I saw it.  A 1957 Schwinn Corvette. She was a beauty.  While my dad would always try to restore his Chevy Corvettes back to their original beauty, sometimes he would take liberties with the engine, making it just a little more powerful and beautiful.

Back to the Schwinn.  This one had undergone a complete restoration (if you want to call it that, really it was what I affectionately call a Franken-bike) and almost nothing on it was original, but it was perfect.  I LOVE flowers...and someone had gone and hand painted flowers all over it. Plus, it had been turned into a mountain, perfectly rounding out my group of bikes and filling several needs/wants at the same time.

But most importantly, I now have a Corvette in my garage...and am paying homage to my dearly departed dad.  I know that he is smiling knowing that his daughter had a Corvette now too...hope he doesn't mind that it's made by Schwinn and not Chevy. ;o)

And without further ado, here she is.  I know she's not perfect for everyone...but she is absolutely perfect for me! :o)

I am thankful to this bike for helping to make me feel closer to my dad (silly, but true) I can't help but smile whenever I see it and think of him.  Also, she had called to me, yes called to me to go out and ride.  Reminding me of how much I loved it.  I feel very luck and blessed to have found this new companion. I look forward to our adventures together. :)

Roo

Now to Catch you up on what I have been doing since....

It has now been over a year since that ride and I have to confess that this ride was WAY more difficult for me both emotionally and physically that I imagined.  I haven't really been on my road bike since, and looking back I really regret that.  As one of my friends pointed out, at the end of the CA MS150 ride I was probably in the best shape of my life.  I mean, I did a CO MS150, a metric century, Venus De Miles and another MS150 in CA. Not to mention hundreds of miles training...  That's quite the season.  ...when I got back from CA I hung up my bike...and life got in the way.  I honestly think that since I pushed myself so hard that summer...It wasn't that difficult to ignore the call of my lovely road bike. To be honest I had a hard time looking at her for a while, she reminded me of many things about myself that turns out...I wasn't really ready to see.

See, almost immediately after returning I was given a HUGE promotion at work.  It was very exciting and little more than crazy scary. I never imagined I had the talent to do this job...but here they were giving it me and asking me to do it well. But, they basically said, "show us you can do this new job, oh and we're not going to back fill your old job so do that one too...AND if either are neglected we will yank this new promotion away from you and know you are a failure and can't handle it."  Okay, so maybe I am paraphrasing...but you get the idea. And this IS what it was all about. For some reason (perhaps they know me better than I know myself and knew I would see this as the ultimate challenge...which I did). At the time, I never really understood exactly how much they were asking of me.

Now it is a year later, and not to toot my own horn I was WAY more successful than they imagined I would have been...and because of that they kept giving me the most difficult problems to tackle, which I did. I worked really hard at both jobs, averaging 60+ hours a week, working all evenings and weekends just trying to catch up. I am happy to report that no balls were dropped or even injured during this one year period. But, I did kinda start to feel like a zombie robot (imagine that!).

So, about a month ago I compiled a whole bunch of data and walked into the owners office and told them, either you promote me...or don't. I can't keep doing both jobs anymore. I'm done. Make a choice.

I made this decision thinking about how much of my life and the people/things I love had been severely neglected. Oh, and did I mention that I settled in my old habits and my horrible eating and lack of exercise have resulted in a 30+ pound weight gain. I had reached critical mass (literally, har!) and something needed to be done.

Their response, yep...we have been thinking a lot about this. There is no denying that you have succeeded in everything we wanted and more, so starting 11/01 you will no longer have to do two jobs and can focus on just the new job.

I am now 15 days into just doing my new job and I am loving the fact that I now have some free time and my mind isn't constantly doing the inventory to ensure nothing was dropped. But, I have to confess it is very weird! It has been so long since I've had free time.  I almost don't know what to do with it.  Almost.  I have decided to start writing again...and doing what I can to lose those 30 pounds and get back to a point where bike riding is actually enjoyable again. I do miss it so much! Honestly, I miss a lot of things a lot.

But, this is a start...and recording my progress and new journey to discover me and what I want to do with these new "spaces or voids" in my life is kinda fun and exciting!

Roo

I'm Back Again. :o)

I'm Back Again. :o) Wow, I just read my last post and this poor blog has been so neglected. So much has happened and I have been thinking about dusting this thing off for about a month now but have had no idea where to begin. How far do I go back....how much do I include? How much do YOU really care about? Hmm...dunno.

So, I have decided to post a letter I wrote to a friend (the one I met during last years Venus De Miles and has become a sort of big brother to me...pushing me when needed, which everyone needs right?)
 

• September 20, 2011
• 5:33am

  From my "Big Bro"
  

  
  

  Good morning Roo,
  So how did you do? Did you win???????
  
  Sounds like you had a good time, I was surprised at the amount of climbing you did.
  
  I have always wondered what it would be like to ride at sea level, but it sounds like you just get to push yourself more & breath just as hard. LOL
  
  HUGS
  P
• September 20, 2011
• 9:24am

  From Me:
  

  
  

  Hi P,
  
  Good morning to you!! :o) um, did I win? Yes and no. :o) I won in a sense that I rode 150 miles, but I abandoned the hope of riding faster after that second crazy hill climb on HWY 1 over Mt. tam. Then, I was just satisfied with finishing and and finally rode my own ride. :o)
  I was shocked at the amount of hill climbing as well, the mapmyride map only showed 2900 feel of hill climbing on day one (which to this point was still the most I'd done in a single ride, the CO ms150 only has 2100 according to my GPS.) But the fact we got up over 4000 feet of climbing for both days was impressive (and super challenging for this very bad hill climber) I even fell on day two when we we're climbing a 5 mile 22% grade climb, I was at the top and it was one of those twisty turney roads that got steeper and steeper around each sharp bend. I was just about at the top, my legs were burning and spent (we were 60 miles into the ride) and I turned the corner, went too slow, lost my balance and fell. Luckily, I was going about 1 mile an hour so only a few bruises, but nothing major. :o) I walked the 500 feet up the rest of that hill got back on my bike and finished the ride, it was good the hill and the fact that I fell really pissed me off. :o/
  
  Riding at sea level was interesting. I found it was MUCH easier on straights and for endurance. My heart rate barely got elevated. But, those are the parts of my riding I'm already strong at. Hill climbing was surprisingly as difficult as it was in for me in CO.
  
  But, I do have more body weight than the average athlete to drag up that hill, so I guess it makes sense. :o)
  
  Well, I guess I'll stop talking your ear off about the ride now. Thanks for asking and thanks for cheering me on in CO, I was thinking about you guys during those hard hills on day 2 wanting to make you all proud. :o)
  Take care!!
  Roo
  
  To Be continued......