variousity

A tiny view of the Kremlin in 15th century Novgorod.


Intent was to see more of Novgorod, but due to its construction we didn't see much. One consession was a drive to another site. This was a monastery that was under less construction.


An old wooden church in an open museum of many wooden structures.


St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square.


Peteroff's Palace.


Ah...vodka.


The midnight train from Moscow back to St.Petersburg.

Levon

lots of stuff in my head

and still needing to sort it all out. Until I have, here is our friend Joe asking a question during Larry's sold out Points Race clinic. Joe, we hope you make a full recovery.

Maflaira

Maflaira
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Daisy completed a 6 day stage race.
On Tuesday, Daisy went to San Ramon for three days and learned all about Safety and Compliance and Utility blah blah. Friday was a transfer/rest day, and the beginning of the Central Valley portion of the race. Friday's prep didn't go well so she just sat in the shitter for a bunch of hours. Saturday was a double day and started with a light prologue around 5am with a morning feeding. The second half of the day was looking up, and she started feeling her way around the room. By Saturday night, she was a real trooper and even felt brave enough for some entertaining. Daisy watched the Bellas eat a little chocolate and drink a little port. Her favorite part of the evening stage was talking race tactics and watching Paris-Nice. She thought that Bertie boy showed a human side and kind of liked him a little. Sunday was a long day, and she was treated to many Daisy pettings. By the end of the stage, she was pooped and ready to head back up north to the land of liberals and commie loving homos. Daisy got a little recovery nap in on the way home and perked up around the time she hit Berkeley. Sunday night she was famished and was treated to eating all that she wanted. Daisy fell off the calorie wagon. Monday, she woke up stronger than ever and her housemates found her on the kitchen table scrounging around for snacks. Overall, a successful weekend for team Daisy with her form coming along nicely as evidenced by the sight of a few ribs and definition in the hind end. At her present rate of progression, Daisy should be on track for a new kitty come Kern time.

Go Daisy!

Daisy stage 2

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

doppleganger daisy

doppleganger daisy
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Snowy Ride in the East Bay

Leftovers from Sunday night still here on Tuesday. Had my left over Sunday workout which got pushed away for some Cherry Pie spectating.

I have a cruel coach who gives one nicknames to take away from
the self important seriousity of cycling. He also likes to give hard workouts to take away from the silliness of the nicknames.

I dread hills and Sunday was a multiple time up the mountain. Easily substituted by spectating. However, I pay this coach so I feel bad about wasting money, and I fear being unfit for Kern. I swapped my Wednesday vacation day for Tuesday and went to MtD today.

Climbing 6000' is fun for some but not for me. But, I managed to get up for the challenge. I listened to my 80s REM during the first 99 min climb. Didn't want to climb the 19% 1/4 mile to the top and actually wondered if the sign at the bottom indicating the top was closed was true. I snuck around the closed road gate and kept looking for ice. About 5 min before the steep part at around 3600', I saw the snow. Yes, I turned around. 3500' down 2500' left. The 30 min downhill was very very cold. I thought how cool it would be to have someone waiting at the top to drive you down and all you have to do is climb up.

Erika says when she is on her TT bikes she thinks of herself as long and lanky. Kind of funny. But when I climb on my own, I pretend that I am one of those drug induced
climbing fools from the pro ranks of the 90s. Pantani attacking in the drops, Chechcu pulling through the Alps, Escartin crabbing his way up a Col, that's me. And like Lance having a car following him in the bad weather, I imagined a nice warm vehicle saving me from hypothermia.

2nd time up, I switched decades and listened to Elton John. I did some intervals and reached my 170s and 180s and sang along to Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting and Philadelphia Freedom. I rested to Daniel and Amoreena. I came up with the name for the next kitty: Levon, even if it's a girl.

Completly distracted and at 6300', I called it a day and headed back for the cold ride down. At the road closure, someone called out to me. It was VB teammie Andi, and she was bummed that she could not get to the top with her visiting sister from Minnesota. They were in car and imagine my surprise when she offered me a ride down... all the way down. How cool was that? So since my wishes 2 out of 2 have come true, I have a third one. Now, I think that I need to win an obscene amount of money so that I can stay home and keep Daisy company.

not exactly what I had in mind

not exactly what I had in mind
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Erika thought when we were asked about Minnie's paw that it would be a chopped off body part. Like a rabbit's foot, I guess.

I loved seeing his paw prints all over everything. I once got not so secretly upset with a friend for washing my truck windows and cleaning off all his smudges.

So when the doctor asked if we were interested in a paw print, it was a no brainer. Absolutely, yes, I'd like a paw print and his ashes. I had wrestled with the latter for a long time and concluded that burying Minnie wouldn't work since we might have to move someday. I thought of burying him in places we go to often, but Fonda's was out and Tunnel Road was too far away from me for him to be.

Erika picked up Minnie yesterday. His
ashes were in a box with a small
lock on it. The keys were hooked to the lock. I peeked in, and it was ashes in a little baggie. And the paw print, well, it didn't really look like Minnie's. It looks like a dog paw. There was also an embossed fancy rememberance card addressed to Landa Locke.

Who knows, I might be glad that I have these things later on, but right now,
they are all a bit weird.