Love Love LOVE!

N.B. I have collected more items for the Uganda Wishes auction. It will be posted within the next few days. Please do check back!

What can you see that you love?

Right now in front of me I can see my fave coloured sharpies – green, red, orange, purple and yellow. I love my sharpies and the colours especially!

Nearby is my meditation timer. Set to 21 minutes. I love meditating. It brings a sense of calmness and peace to the day. Moments of solitude and self reflection. Awareness.

In front of my table where the computer is, hanging from a porthole is my second place medal for Day 6 of BC Bike Race Challenge Course. I love that I set a goal for myself, trained for it and achieved greatness! It felt so good for my first ever stage race getting on that podium!

The next thing I see that I love is my little Right To Play ball. It reminds me of the love and fun I had during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, volunteering at the CBC studios for RTPtv. Amazing.

Next I see a picture of my son then nine years-old on the base of the largest Fir tree in North America. We’d ridden our bikes together to see it. I LOVED that bike camping holiday. Best holiday ever.

It’s everywhere love is. All we have to do is recognize it!

love love love love love love love love love love love love love love

Health is Wealth

Last night I went to bed for a nap. Thought I’d wake up within 15 minutes so I could write my blog. Clearly I was sick. I didn’t wake up until a phone call at 6:20 a.m. this morning. Bummer.
Made me think about things though. Here I was rushing around to do the BC Bike Race www.bcbikerace.com where I maxed myself riding a mountain bike on the sweetest single track British Columbia has to offer. I don’t sleep much the final encore as I’m so wound I DID IT! All seven days of the Challenge Course. Then what do I do, I go straight home and back to work in the boatyard in 30 degree Celsius heat with not much sleep and thighs I know exist. So what happens… I get the summer cold. Haven’t had anything like that for I swear two years.
My famous anecdote rings in my head, time to slow down sit down and shut down. So I do, but then I don’t get up for ten hours.
Back to the headline. Health is wealth. No matter what we do in life, health is gold. Really, it’s our bread and butter. If we didn’t have it, there would be nothing.
My dad was 44 years old when he had his first stroke. I was nine years old and remember it like it was yesterday. One day he was dad, next day he was someone in a hospital bed with a bandage wrapped around his head and drool coming out the side of his mouth.
He survived paralyzed on his left side and lived a love filled life until his later seventies. But one thing always stuck with me. No matter how much money we had, it would never bring the feeling back in his left side. Or, get him out of that wheelchair in the latter years.
When I think about what I’m doing to survive because of financial pressures and the almighty buck, I need to remind myself about my dad. Like he used to say, your health is your wealth and without it you have nothing.
Time to rest up. Thanks, dad.

Dakine Bag Wazoo

BC Bike Race is a seven-day stage mountain bike race with a choice of two courses: Challenge or Epic. This was my first stage race. I did the Challenge.
For more information go to www.bcbikerace.com

“Take your pillow case, then at least you can fill it up with clothes and use it as a pillow,” said Peter as I scrambled to re-pack my luggage into my new BC Bike Race Dakine racer bag, discarding everything I wouldn't need until Day 7 elsewhere.
I had 15 minutes to get it loaded onto the truck. All of which I would not see until the end of Day 7.
It was a gallant attempt at downsizing from a backpack, gym bag and dry bag (with sleeping bag, pillow and throw blanket). Not everything made it.
By the end of Day 2 you pretty much have it figured as to how things will organize into your Dakine bag. What I missed most was my pillow. Luckily I’d managed to fit my three-season sleeping bag in, and my inflatable blow-up air mattress. That made for good sleeps. Too bad I didn’t make it to somewhere like Mountain Equipment Co-op to find some comfy type of blow-up pillow too.
It worked to pack the sleeping bag with the extra bike parts in the bottom of the top of the bag. I took an extra brake, pedals, tires and tubes.
In the middle all the clothes and as I was blogging, my computer with Telus stick and Blackberry charger. I didn’t have room for jeans and extra shoes. Only a light weight pair of track pants (anything that folds small) and thongs. In the front of the bag I packed my almonds, protein bars, vitamins, Traumeel (topical gel and tablets), a container of Witch Hazel (great for butt burn) and Chammy cream, Wild Oregano Oil (works great if you get the stomach flue - which I did), sunglasses, dates and apples when I had them.
Since I live on a boat, which is often cold I made sure I packed my wool socks and a fleece hat for the evenings. It did get cold and damp. One good long-sleeved thermal undershirt was a bonus too.
I took two raincoats so at least when it did rain, I had one to change into after riding.
Before I left I bought two extra pairs of cycling shorts, in case I didn’t have access to laundry. I also took a bandanna with me. For the hot rides. I would soak it up with water and put it around my neck. It kept me cool.
With my toiletries I did the zip-lock thing and put everything in super small containers. Shampoo, moisturizer and soap all got locked so no seepage.
The only thing I missed all week was my jeans and my pillow. Not bad for a first timer!

The Uni Challenger of BC Bike Race

Still can’t believe the Unicyclist, Kris Holm http://www.krisholm.com/khu/ did the entire seven days of the Challenge Course on one wheel. Man could he climb. He’d always get me on the climbing.
We’d often meet at the start. Reflecting on the nerves, getting ready to do the jive. He’s the coolest guy I’ve ever met. Especially after seeing the video. He actually rode the Burrard Street bridge in Vancouver. The outside rail part. The vid was incredible. I asked him if he was scared. He said it was all about being in the groove. Once you get in the rhythm, it’s all good.Then he tells me he made a promise to his wife he’d never do that again. We both laugh.
The guy is super fit. He’s got an incredible wheel to power. Some kind of hydraulic break. If he ever got a flat, it’s a nightmare to change as he has to take the break apart to do it. He’s open to people asking him questions about the mechanical aspects of his Uni. Apparently designed hub wise by himself. In collaboration with another guy.
His gear for protection includes wrist, leg and knee guards, besides the gloves and the helmet. Oh, and high tops. To preserve his ankles.
His seat looked pretty comfortable. When he’d wait on the race starts he’d use his wheel for the pad. I thought I was challenged enough riding two wheels, but to see what we did and what he did on one, I was pretty amazed.
Goes to show you, whatever you put your mind to, you can do.