goodbye 2007!
… and don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. It’s been that kind of year, mostly. But let’s not be like that. I’m looking forward to a new year and many new starts, many hearty breakfasts, fun miles and good friends. In that spirit, a few of the highlights of this year, starting with my 3 favorite bike rides.
In early July, 2 friends and i (at my instigating) took the Amtrak train from Saint Paul, MN to Winona, MN and rode our bikes back. It was my first century ride, and we ended up with over 150 miles for the day. My friends were both experienced bike tourers, and we all happened to be on Rivendell bikes and had a wonderful long day of riding with perfect weather and excellent food. I had a blast, felt great at the end of the ride (at 2am), and wanting to do more long days. It was the perfect ride just when i needed it most, and i’m forever grateful for it.
In September, i went away for a weekend of mountain biking with a couple of other friends to a park just outside Wausau Wisconsin at Gnomefest. It had been around 8 years since i’d done any serious mountain biking and, in fact, at least 4 years since i’d ridden my own mountain bike more than a mile. I had a fantastic time, the best part of which was feeling the old singletrack rhythm and flow coming back stronger with every new trail. I’ve been racing cyclocross the last 3 years now, but i forgot how much pure fun a day of singletrack can be on a mountain bike.
Finally, as fall settled in, i had a few wonderful rides around the neighborhood with my youngest daughter. My oldest has become more of a runner, and would sometimes tag along on her scooter, but the 4 year-old is an enthusiastic cyclist and had just moved from her tricycle to a 2-wheeler with training wheels. She wanted to ride constantly, and a couple of times i took my (newly built) fixed gear out with her and we would ride together. I’d do a lot of track stands and very slow riding (good practice), but it was the first time i got to ride side-by-side with one of my kids, and it was really something special.
The thing that ties these rides together is that each of them has inspired me to do more next year: more long rides/tours, more mountain biking, and more riding with my kids. After a few years of mostly commuting miles, I’m really looking forward to a great 2008 for cycling.
Other highlights included spring with Malte, and watching him tear up the competition on the local road racing circuit. He went home in June and I miss riding with him, even though he could probably out-sprint me riding a tricycle, one-legged, barefoot. I was able to visit my dad in Oregon twice this year after 6 1/2 years away, and got to introduce the girls to the Pacific. We also visited my mom twice and let my little brother win at scrabble for once.
Ella started first grade this year, and is doing great. She’s proud to be a bookworm and has a brain the size of the universe. Fiona started pre-school and after an adjustment period, is doing really well there. She’s an open book, the most genuine person i know, and one of the most daring and adventurous. It’s a cliché, but i’ll say it anyway: they grow up incredibly quickly. Still, it’s hard to miss the baby versions when these growing kid versions of them are so darn smart and interesting.
Finally, but certainly not least, to my many friends (new and old) and the whole family: thank you. From the bottom of my heart, for absolutely everything, large and small. You know what i’m talking ’bout.
So here’s to 2008: may the road rise up to meet us, may the wind always be at our backs.