Road Trip:
Thursday
So Thursday morning Diane and I decide we are going to New England to see my brother’s family. I always have a great time up there and new years sounds like a kick ass time to go. they are awesome. So I busted ass out of work at 5:00, loaded up the element with 2 bikes, 2 dogs, a set of skis, a snow board, 2 sets of boots, 1 crate, and 1 guitar. Yeah we were pretty much an ad for Honda toasters.

During the drive Lela and Riley were f-cking crazy, they would never settle down. Layla squeaked for about 4 hours. When we had to stop for gas she jumped in my seat, ass on the steering wheel honking the freaking horn. I thought the attendant was going to kill me. At one point Layla submarines below Riley and then stands straight up launching Riley into the air, and then into the back of the element. Crossing the GW Bridge, Riley and Layla decided to wrestle in between our seats and knocked the car out of gear. Diane went guns of navarone on their asses. It was not pretty.

We got in at 12:00, ate some food and hit the sack. mmm corn beef and cabbage. Layla was totally freaking all night, this is her first road trip since joining our family. Guess I expected a little foolishness.

Friday:
new years eve. f-cking aye! that aye is for my Canadian friends at Spot Brand. Craig and I had planned on going out for a ride this morning, but my body felt like shit. I think the combination of PT in the morning and the long drive had my back totally jacked up. So we bailed. Diane and Craig planned guitar for a while and I took great joy sitting back and listening. I have to say in the history of New Year's Eves, I am usually really disappointed, with the exception of course of one party at Fuzzy's that ended with me swimming naked in the river behind his house. Most new years are pretty mellow for me.

Had a great day today, we went North Hampton brewery and had some good beers. That little bit of self medicating made me feel so much better. We hit a Barnes and Nobles and a liquor store. Beth's sisters and boyfriends are all coming over tonight and we are going to rock out a bit. I don't expect any naked swimming but we have a festival of good beer, and Seth, Heather, Beth’s older sister's boyfriend is making some home made pizzas that smell really good. So I'll tip back the old magic hat # nine and enjoy the night. Hopefully feel better Sunday and we can do a nice ride.

Saturday- The day my wife threw me off a mountain.
Had a single track ale last night. It tasted like crap. What a let down.

We left early and headed for Haystack, the backside of Mount Snow. The day started off great as we stopped at the local grocery to pick up some bagels and tampons. Diane and Beth walk into the store, which clearly states Hours : Sat 7:00-11:00 . It’s now 7:15, and never mind they had to open the automatic doors manually. They collect their bagels and tampons. They try to pay, and Craig and I can see them getting yelled at by the manager through the big front window.

The manager, she said to them “we are closed; I don’t appreciate you coming in here when we are closed!” Diane tried to explain “but the door said you open at 7:00 so we came in…” The manager sold them tampons, but no bagels. Must have been a sisterhood thing. I mean either you sell us everything or nothing. What’s this 50/50 deal ?

We hit the mountain which had awful conditions and only 2 trails opened. Which for me was 2 more than I needed. Many of you know before becoming a mediocre cyclist, I was a mediocre skateboarder. As such you would think I would love snow boarding. I snowboard like a fish rides a bicycle. I suck. I am horrible. I mean I can get down the mountain, but damn it takes so much energy. Riding single track, or even a fast road I feel fluid. I can carve a turn, jump a log, clean a rock garden, and it feels natural. Riding a snowboard I feel like every carve is forced, every slide is manufactured. Cycling feels natural to me , and snowboarding is well, like a monkey bowling. Yes, it is physically possible but why the freak would a monkey want to bowl?

After repeatedly falling off of the lift, I decided to call the day a bit short. Diane, who skis, was taking a beating today on the really icy conditions, she sat with me for a little while. We ate some kick ass chili cheese dogs that only cost like 70 dollars. It was a half off sale.

That night we went to some “fusion” restaurant in the hippy town of Shelburne Falls. Town was neat, food was good. High light of the evening was Seth doing shot of Habenero sauce, and then eating these wicked hot peppers the cook had in the back. I find it’s never a good idea to talk smack about spicy food in a fushion Mexican/Indian food joint. I think Seth would agree with me. I had a burrito, it sucked mightily. Gin and tonics were very good. Guacamole and chips ruled too…

All in all a great weekend. Dogs were maniacs on the way home. Shocker there huh. Looking forward to getting back to PT, and hopefully on the bike again this week.

Respect
Marc