Like a squid at a Calamari festival

In order to have tomorrow off, I combined my workout for today with my workout for tomorrow. Why, you ask? Well I am going to get up at an ungodly hour and drive up to Kelowna to see the Nationals. Besides getting a chance to see the top ranked elites.... I am going to get to check out Winnipeg's own: Chris Grahm, Dave Lipshen and of course Patrick Peacock... my coach. This is the big race of the season and last year Pat came 5th overall in the Oly (1st in age group) and is looking for redemtion... actually. It is a really frustrating race as it is done in several waves.... so you really race the clock.... you may win your heat, but still come in 5th. I shouldn't kid about his, as I would absolutely blow a gasket if I ever made the top 50 let alone the top 5. Anyhoo... that's what I am up to tomorrow morning, so today I have a mini triathlon.

Well at least some people in the town are starting to greet us......... but not Kirsty Lindsay or Marjorie M. Montgomery.... but more on that later.

Thanks!... I don't know about anyone else.... but I need it!

I arrived a the beach this morning in my usual state.... half awake and wondering if this is all some kind of sadistic dream where you slowly lose your toes.

That's it... I'm not Ironman.... I'm Batman!

Swim... stroke.... kick... splash.. sputter... fluttler..... splosh..... gasp... gag...... drown..... weeds on bottom.... hi fishies.....flapping....resurface..... waves... elbows high.... feelin' like a squid in a tank at a clamari festival - you're swimming about, but going nowhere.

Off to the bike....

I am not Batman... I am Magellan - circumnavigating the globe.

The route today would be the start out of Penticton, along East Side of Skaha Lake and then climb the hill up to where the route comes into Penticton. See Above.

Nope... not riding my bike up that face.

This section of the KVR still has the bridge...... loads of fun to jump off.

Here is the beginning of the descent into Penticton.... always in a headwind. You should be hitting an easy 60 kmph, but instead, even in the best aero position you can muster... you are stuck doin' 45 kmph.

There's this great mountain pass carved by dynamite, drills and picks just before you start the final descent into town.

Then you can go through the city.... heck with that...... on a Saturday before Ironman.... everyone and their tri-cycle are doing the same and with the added traffic..... nutso! I prefer to take the bypass and drive along the nice new tarmac.

All in all a nice taper ride with a relaxing 50K on the odometer. Upon arriving back at the house, Lori met me for a hilly run around my folks place.

We almost look like we know what we're doing.

After the run, we headed out to Tickleberry's for ice cream courtesy of Papa.

This place is always packed... on a Saturday... it's nuts. I highly recommend their fudge dipped Skor bar waffle cone.... who cares what you put in it..... that stuff is dynamite.

SO..... when I am here I flip through the local paper - The Penticton Herald - and take in the local scene. As an ex-Pat, I have a soft spot for Ironman and I, like many people am extremely grateful to the city of Penticton, the amazing Ironcrew and the race organisers. This event is huge and having it here has helped to put Penticton on the map.

So you can imagine my interesest was piqued when this article appeared in the Editorial section of the paper.

Penticton Herald - Thursday, Ausust 19, 2010

Cyclists Must Ride Single File

"So here we are again, summer in the Okanagan on Naramata Road. Here you are again road cyclists, riding side-by-side, chatting away in groups of two or more. Bobbing and weaving all over the place far beyond the white dividing line, ripping out into the middle of the road without warning - the road, full of fast-moving vehicles, blind corners, wine tour busses and tourist [sic] that have no clue where they are going.

How did you become so bold? Or is it sheer ignorance? Are you and your cycling more important that anyone else on the road? We see these "Share the Road" signs all over the place - they aren't just for the vehicles you know. I don't want to here your ridiculous excuses of "drafting" or rocks on the road.

I'm sorry but if your tiny bike tires can't handle rocks on the road- you should look into some better tires or ride somewhere else entirely. I don't want to run you over because you were avoiding gravel. Then I have to live with the guilt of your death or disfigurement.

I shouldn't have to drive behind you at 30 km/hour because you cannot grasp the concept of "sharing." This is a main road, lots of people like myself travel this stretch twice a day. It's only going to get busier as Naramata continues to develop. So, if you can't go the 60km/h speed that is set on Naramata Road, stay to the right of the white line.

Cyclists: single file, keep right - no exceptions.

If you don't give me any space, I don't have any space left to give you. Share it and I promise I will too. For those of you who don't, I have lost my patience."

Kirsty Lindsay

Naramata

That was followed the next day by this:

Penticton Herald

Friday, August 20, 2010

Cyclist flips car the bird

Dear Editor:

"Thanks to Kirsty Lindsay for writing what so many of us vehicle drivers feel about cyclists (Herald, Aug. 19).

It's about time they realize that we pay for the priveledge of using our roads and the necessary upkeep and they contribute nothing.

At this time of year particularly, we are innundated with the many cyclists getting ready for the Ironman avent and their rudeness and arrogance is unbelievable.

They even use "the finger." This is very prevalent on the East Road into Okanagan Falls. This is our town, we live here and that should be respected.

Whilst on the subject of Ironman.

Its [sic] OK for the city fathers to pledge [a] large amount of taxpayers money in promotional fees to keep this going, but it is the small tax-payer who eventually picks up the tab, without gaining any profit, unlike the business community.

It's acceptable that the actual event only lasts a day, so we can stay indoors, listen to music and forget the whole thing.

And really what is it all about - a massive ego-trip for the participants."

Marjorie M. Montgomery

Penticton

Gary Coleman says.......

Tri-Guy debates shoppin' in Kelowna tomorrow.

The Pipe

Another beautiful cloudless morning in the sunny Okanagan

Today's run was all about the loop in and around the finish line. In an attempt to get myself familiar with this section of the course, I was going to run the area in and around the finish line. I have nicknamed this route "The Pipe" for some pretty obvious reasons.

I guess you could also call it the #1 Wood or the Soup Ladle....

The route itself is 1.35 miles. I managed to do 5 loops in the hour for a total of 6.75 miles at 8:25 minute miles. I felt really great and there was something about the visualization of crossing that finish line (every 11 minutes or so) that made me feel like I was finally ready to do this thing...... which is good.... all things considered... as I made it under the line by 8 days.

This sign has been around for years and I don't think they have ever repainted it... sort of an ode to its history. I hope they don't touch it up... I like things that show their age.

As you can see the finish line is not far from the Peach.... it is just to the left of this shot. The actual line is just behind me in the shot below.

The end. Fist raised.... armpit hair braided and the biggest grin you ever will see.....

It was a really nice route to run repeats on and the time flew by as the scenery was really inspirational and, as I mentioned before, I found it very easy to imagine all the people and the cheering as you head towards the finishers gate and run into that chute hoping that the photo you intend to pay the big bucks for is actually worth displaying.... I think we have all seen some pretty dumb finishers photos. From my understanding, this whole section of the course is packed with people.

Here's a bit of the scenery in and around "The Pipe."

As you make the turn off of Lakeshore Drive, you head up Main street. This area of the city has a load of beautifully majestic trees whose large long branches hang gracefully over the road and provide the perfect amount of shade for the motorists as they plug their meters.

As you head out on west on Lakeshore you hit the turn-a-round at Powers street and make your way about 3/4 of a mile to the finish line. On the left hand side of the road are the nicest benches. The kind of spot where you just want to sip your morning coffee and scan the horizon for Ogopogo.

I just though this little blue slide was so inviting. Not that it was all that particularly warm this morning, it just looked inviting .... perched atop the crystal clear water patiently waiting for its first adventurer.

Take the plunge and get on with it

I am almost certain that it is now impossible for me to sleep-in any later that 5:00 a.m. This is a good thing, as I am going to have to check-in for numbering and weigh-in at 5:00 a.m. on the 29th. Now that means I am going to have to get up at 3:00 a.m. to get my body moving and get - in the zone - whatever the hell that means. All I know is that I am starting to get very sleepy and I have heard from many people that sleep is a good thing.

What is supposed to happen is that you will eventually (about 6-7 days before the race) start to get loads of energy and all you can do is think about the race, dream about the race and wanting to race..... the classic blunder that a lot of people make now is to get that last big work out in. All the reading I have done says the exact opposite... in fact... they say if you are going to do anything, err on the side of caution and do too little.

It is on that note that we start our day.

I always park by this beautiful copse of trees and meet up with all the other wanna-be's. At any given time in the morning.... well realistically from about 5:44 on... (gotta wait for the sun you know) there are triathletes getting their feet wet at the "Peach." Everyone is in different states of readiness... some arriving.... some contorting all over as they try to get that supersuit just right.... and some standing there staring from the kiddie pool (shore) staring out at the big kids in the waves.... and some returning full of tales from their epic voyage. Now you don't want to be rude.... so..... It usually goes something like this as we swim about just before we're eaten by the waves.......

Hope you loved Rainier Wolfcastle's "up and at them" yesterday.... "my eyes - the goggles they do nothing!" I loved the Fallout Boy episode.

So out to the beach this morning only to find that it was quite windy and the waves were reminiscent of my days as a goofyfoot in training at South Padre Island. But, if coach Pat says you swim today.... you swim. For me... these are the days I really have fun... no fish to chase, as they are WAY smarter than me and have already headed off to their fishy homes for a morning latte and a glance at the Poseidon Times and I also have fun because there can be no real goals for times as it is just me verses the natural roller-coaster of the Okanagan Lake.

Off I go into the waves and the hour or so I was out there went by fairly quickly as I spent most of my time giggling. In my mind, I am always a little intimidated. I show up and take my time, which basically translates to fooling around in the kiddie pool. I look around and see all the big kids in the big pool and leap at the chance to be out there doing what they do. However, once you are out there and the waves are crashing over your head and you are not even sure if your arms are leaving the water and with every breath you take comes with a bit of water and sometimes a lot of water..... Even better, looking down you see the bottom veer left then right, realizing that it is you who is bobbing about in the waves like some rubberized fishing cork and not some tsunamic earthquake activity ripping across the sub aquatic sands of the angry bluish-greenish (not navy or lime) waters of the Okanagan . However, after a while and a little "encouragement" from friends I eventually make the leap off the metaphorical high diving platform, take the plunge and get on with it.....

You might say, it goes something like this....

It really is that easy to make me laugh.......

So here is the view down lakeshore drive at about 7:00 a.m.

Looking West

Looking East.... the finish line is about 300m in front of me.

These two images constitute the out-and-back to start and end the race.

There really is not much on the street that would indicate the sporting phenomenon that is about to take over this little beach town of 40,000. I wanted to take these photos, as plain as they are, to give everyone a reference point for when I up-load the photos from race day - or the day before... it will be a pandemonium of difference.

The only thing to indicate that somthing might be happening is that the Lakeside Hotel has put up its enormous Canada flag.

There's one way to get some free advertising on the numerous TV stations that will broadcast this event.

By the way, as a footnote... if you are interested in following along you can follow live on www.ironman.com. Here is a list of Winnipeg athletes that will be competing.

Cool..... I did not know the bib #'s were up........ go # 970. I guess you number is your I.Q. plus the year you were born.

We ended the afternoon at my favourite private beach far far away from the crowded beaches of Penticton. It is private only that no one really knows about it and it is not clearly marked. If there were 50 of us on the 1000-1500ft of sand I would be amazed. Nice and quiet... just the way I like my Tape-worm.

Lori and Tri-Guy..... two beach bums enjoying the sun, surf and sand.

Hardly a chicane... but fun nevertheless

Well, let me begin by saying that we are all reunited. My family arrived last night; safely delivered to my hands by the very capable people at WestJet. We made our way back to Penticton from Kelowna and the big catastrophe of the night was that no matter where we looked (3 different stores) we could not find a 4 litre jug of chocolate milk. What did they run out of chocolate cows? Hmmm... when Walmart, London Drugs and Extra Foods are out of Chocolate-moo there is definitely a crisis of epic proportions.

After a late evening of visiting, you'd think it would be hard to get up. I set my alarm for 6:00 a.m. but I still woke up at 5:00 a.m. I managed to wait it out for a few minutes, but at 5:30 I was up and attem.....

Ya gotta love The Simpsons.

Today I meandered down through the town and along Lakeshore drive which parallels the beach front of Okanagan lake... it was an easy 50k day and I was in no rush to get it done. As always, there was many other athletes out and doing their thing. Loads of people in the water, cyclists and joggers alike. Now that we are 10 days out, I am sure that the roads and whatnot are only going to get busier and busier as we get closer to the race.

Can you find the bass fishermen in the weeds? I wonder how big the bass really are?

Sorry - I could not resist one last Jaws reference...

Once I got out of the city, the view along Skaha lake was pristine and the water was still and placid and the wind was pretty much non-existant. My route was to go out of the city and along Skaha lake and do the McLean Creek Road climb (which is the first of the three climbs on the Ironman course) and come around through the city of OK Falls and the hook up with East side road and circle back towards Penticton and home.

There is a great winery out this way called Blasted Church.

He does look blasted... now doesn't he.... only 5 more bottles to go Padre.

They always have such punny signs... and you know I love puns.

Just past there is the start of the MacLean Creek Road. The climb is not long at all, but it is really scenic. A the top there is a mini-rodeo and a real cowboy feel as opposed to the winery "Canadian Napa Valley" feel.

Hardly a chicane... but fun nevertheless.

The ride through the road winds its way around the back of neat series of outcroppings and mountain-like formations. As we come down in to OK Falls, there is a wicked descent. Wicked only because it is the hands down worst section of pavement of the whole route. It is pitted so bad that you could easily close you eyes and imagine that you are on the cobbles. I actually has one side of my dual rear seat water bottle carrier break off here from the constant trembling vibration. It is a truly awful section of the course and I do not like it at the best of times and I am certain it will be even more alarming with 100 or so of us in a group all trying to speed down.

Just a quick note of warning from Tri-Guy..... I do not recommend you try that, though. Descending at 60 kmph (or faster) with your eyes closed, even if it does bring you that one step closer to drooling as you pretend you're riding in the Paris-Roubais, may lead to a loss of teeth and/or fingers and/or appendages and/or spleen.

Where's Moufasa? Get it.........Pride Rock....Kind of a Circle of Life kinda thing...... roar...

The Southern end of Skaha Lake was particularly beautiful today and The Giant was at it again... love at first sight.

I personally don't give my blessing for this match as she seems a little...... thick and not that flexible.

This is the kind of photo that you should open when you need to de-stress. Just enlarge and imagine yourself sipping a quiet cup of coffee as the sun comes out to kiss you awake. Ahhhhhhhh.......

Looping back to McLean Creek Road there is a tiny climb that brings you to this summit. The descent is nothing epic, but it is pretty as you swish by the ponderosa pine cones on the side of the road mixed in with the local recycling bins.

Down the hill and out on to the flats of the lake...

.....and finish your day basking in the sun....

.... or in my case running 2.5 miles with your wife.

Screw you John Williams

WOOOOOO HOOOOO I got a sleep-in today... man do I look forward to those. Today I didn't have to get up until 5:00 a.m.

...... That extra 1/2 hour is worth fighting for... even if it is in silliness.

Regardless, I was back into the routine with reckless abandon.... or should I say auto pilot. I was downstaris getting the supersuit ready for the inevitably refreshing dip in the pond, when I came to this realization that I was needing some coffee....

Wait a minute.... I smell coffee..... Awww isn't that nice that Mom would get up at 5:00 a.m. to make coffee for me........ odd, but nice......

Hold on..... wait a minute.....I made coffee this morning... I think

.... hmmm..... sleepy.

I grab a cup and head out the the hot tub where I finally manage to wipe the sleep from my crusty eyes and enjoy the coming of the dawn as it ever so subtly changes from a dark purple to a fiery orange. Actually... that is a pun. There are so many forest fires around here that the sky is hazy with smoke which causes the sky to be beautiful hue of orange... somewhere between amber and mandarin. What the hell am I saying... I am a guy. There are only about 10 colours and they are modified by light or dark if they are not quite right....... what the hell is chartreuse any way.

Part one: Tri-Guy verses John Williams......

Managed to get Dad up at 6:00 and we headed off to the beach. At this point, I am still not convinced I am awake, but luckily my training serves me well and I somehow ended up in my supersuit.

Getting the goggles just right.

Now, for those of you who don't know me, I wear glasses. Not that big a deal. I have prescription shades for the bike and run, but I could not bring myself to purchase prescription goggles. So, as I make my way into the water, I have to have a plan as I head out the 1612 metres to the first turn. I am told, that even with good eyesight, you can barely see the buoy. So there I am in the water, blind to begin with, staring through the blue-ish (not azure or denim) haze of my scratched goggles that should have been replaced about a year ago, but I cannot seem to part with them as they have been with me forever, fit incredibly well and do not fog.

Tri-Guy's Tip of the week:

Doesn't it piss you off when you are in the middle of a swim and your goggles fog up and there is nothing you can do about it? There you are strokin' away (easy now) and you have this dilemma on your hands... I could stop and fix it, but they are only going to fog up again. I could rip them off and just go without and wait to the end and see if Costco sells an industrial sized bottle of Visine. Then you think, maybe I will just leave it and eventually it will bead up enough moisture that it will run and clear itself off. My solution you ask?.... shampoo. Seriously.... shampoo. When I first get my stuff out at the car or swim bag, I put three or four drops of shampoo in each lens and mess it about with my finger. I leave it in there until I jump in the pool or water. Then I kinda swish the goggles about in the water and then check to see that all the bubbles are gone. I find the little bottles that you get at the hotel, that you bring home and they always seem to end up under the sink in that cute but never used wicker basket, work the best.

Now back to the show.....

I see my Dad come around the front of the pier at the Lakeside hotel in the Overdraft...

(..... Yes, the name of his vessel is Overdraft. I voted for M.L.C. aka Mid LIfe Crisis, but was voted down. Overdraft won as it is a cute double entendre.... over the draft line of a boat means it is too heavy. In this case..... with revelers and party gear. The second meaning has to do with the overdraft of your chequing account and maybe implying how it was paid for)

....and we exchange our secret signal so he recognizes me out of the bubbling mass of posers on the beach... that is, I wave and he waves back. Heaven help us if there is someone else wearing a yellow cap.

And so I hear the slow pulsing crescendo of......

After about 1200 meters the turn is really in sight. You can see that the water has taken on an orangish hue (not ochre or persimmon) from the smoke in the air. It was somewhere around here that I started thinking about the promotion poster for Jaws. That movie has screwed me and 1000's of other swimmers up for life. There is not one time out in the open water, that I do not see this exact photo in my head.

Duuuhhh.. dummmm.............. Duuuhhh... dummm.......... dum..dum.. dum..dum...

I am actually laughing out loud now as it may sound silly, but it is true, true, true. Better yet, if I am completely honest, it has been that way since I was maybe 10. I can remember falling off a dock at summer camp and almost leaping out of the water because I could hear John Willimas brilliant semi-tonic theme as clearly then as I do now.

Wow.... today is just a day of side-bars.

Look at me splashin' away attracting the sharks attention..... and I know better, too!

Here I know the shark is behind me..... look at that burst of speed.

Screw you John Williams and the hell with Stephen Spielberg and your stoooooopid rubber shark. Thanks for scarring me for life.

Okay..... Glad that's dealt with..... whew.....

... HR returning to normal.

The shark thing never seems to motivate me for long and it goes as quickly as it came.... I mean let's face it I am certain we could all PR our run times if we were cased around the course by a Puma. You would think that Jaws would at least help me shave one or two minutes off my time. I am willing to do whatever it takes to gain the advantage, but dreaming of sharks in fresh water is pushing it a bit...no? Either way, I did the 3.224K in under and hour and I was pleased.

Part Two: A stroll through the Italian country-side.

After I picked Dad up from the marina, we were off home to change and then back at it. I decide that it would be fun to try running the 5 mile route that Mom and I did yesterday..... yesterday when I went for one of the easiest spins of my life at and average 6 kmph.... but let's face it, I needed that.

As I explained yesterday, the route follows the North end of the KVR as it leaves the city. Last Tuesday, my Mom and I went on the southern route of the KVR down towards OK Falls. If you follow the Google map above, you can see that the route hugs the vineyards and clay cliffs of the East side of the lake and eventually catches up with Naramata road.

Incisor or Dragon's tooth?

The cliffs are particularly magnificent, as they are constantly being eroded and falling into the water below. Not at any particularly alarming rate, but over the years (like 10,000) they have been transmogrified (see ......it pays to read Calvin and Hobbes) into these interesting outcroppings that seem to appear as teeth coming out of the gums of the the lake.... but you'd really have to squint for that to work... or try it with my scratchy blue (yes, just plain blue) goggles.

If you follow the metaphor to it's logical conclusion...... this molar has either rotted away, or was removed by a really big pre-historic dentist.

Enough of that silliness......here is that trestle I hid in one of the photos from a day or two ago.

It is the little things like this that make this area so special.... wandering down this centuries old path really has a European feel for the most part. In fact Naramata is in the process of re-branding itself as a "Slow city... you heard me correct..... a "slow" city. Cittaslow as a movement started in Italy working against the fast paced life of today.... they pride themselves on a "slow" lifestyle that centers around "slow" cooked meals. If you have ever been to some of the small towns in Italy, particularly the province of Tuscany, you will know the vibe that they are trying to achieve.

With all the grapes around, your mind wanders to Italy.... or at least mine does. This particular section exuded that Italian vibe..... right down to the little old man out for a stroll in search of an espresso as he inspects the vineyard he once oversaw so many years ago that has now been sold, as he can no longer manage to keep up with the ever spiraling vines. ¡Ciao!

Glistening in the sunshine

I can't remember dates very well. I can't remember much of my childhood. But, I can remember that I was playing inside watching TV and someone interrupted my show and said that Elvis was found dead in his Memphis home. It was August 16th, 1977 and I was 7 years old. I went out into the yard where my Mom was in the garden and I told her what I had heard and went and played on the swing. Sometimes life is that simple. One minute you're "jonesing" for a fried peanut-butter and banana sandwich and the next your using your .38 to change the channel.

Here's Elvis on the Ed Sullivan Show. His hips were the question, so Sullivan agreed to have him on the show, but to appease the morality police they only shot him from the waist up.

Another in the seemingly endless beautiful days here in the Okanagan. Today is a day of easy spin.... well I think I may have taken it way too literally as you will see.

I started this morning with my Mom, volunteering at the local soup kitchen. My Mom has been volunteering at the soup kitchen for 15 years now and has quite the routine. So we hopped into the truck and headed out to make the rounds. Our first stop was Starbucks where we collected all their day old stuff and then off to Tim Horton's for the same. Loads and loads of bagels and the like. The over to IGA for even more breads and individually packaged lunches that have not sold. We then take all of this to the "Soupeteria" as it is known locally and distribute the goods on the shelves for the local and migrant people who may need a hot meal or just a pick me up.

After everything was established we headed out on the old Kettle Valley Railway - the K.V.R.

Just follow the signs.

This route would take us up over the marina and out towards Naramata. Now the interesting thing about today, is that the roles are to be reversed. I have no interest in power walking, as I was looking for an easy spin if you remember. So I had brought one of my Mom's bikes along and now I was going to ride along side her and act as the aid station and photographer. It was really beautiful and the lake was flawless.

On top of the world, looking down on creation...

I was giggling to myself the whole way, as I looked down on Mom's little Cat's Eye computer as it was registering a slow and steady 6 kmph. It said easy spin today... and damn it... that's-a what i'm a-gonna do! In addition, since trains could not climb really steep grades, I was ascending at about something less than 1% grade. My HR was about 60. Now that's fast considering my resting is about 53. I did not even break a sweat over the 90 minutes..... but my Mom on the other hand was glistening in the sunshine as she was on a mission.

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow... don't be alarmed now...

The trail takes you through some of the heart of the wine region and creates some absolutely stunning vistas as the roads intersect the row and rows of grapes as the mature in the radiant sunlight... alright enough shots at the weather in Winnipeg.... I can see from the net that you are back to normalish-like temps now.

You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky, as we walk in fields of gold.

The Similkameen Valley

Another 4:30 a.m. start. I think they are catching up with me. I could not seem to do anything right this morning. And once I get out of my routine, it just leads to a muddled up day, as it is not one thing that set the day on end ... it is indeed a series of unfortunate events.

Okay.... where did it all go wrong..... well...

I stagger up stairs and I make coffee, as without a couple of cups of coffee I am a wreck. So I pour the water in and hit go and procede to make coffee with last nights grounds. That's just wrong. It came out all tea-like. Hell no.... I want molasses. Then I ended up missing my morning hot-tub... which is where I do some initial stretching to start my day. The heat sort of limbers your body and the coffee limbers your brain. Well..... I got neither. Then my breakfast was all wrong... basically I had too much. I had my usual ironfuel and a big honkin' cinnamon bun. Just a wee bit too much, I think. Then I went to mix my gatorade and keep in mind that this is something I have been doing for months and months on end on auto-pilot every time I work out. Well for some strange reason I decided to add an extra scoop to each bottle. Now... for those of you who do not do this regularly.... ya don't gennerally taste it at the time you mix it. You jsut take you bottles along with you on the bike and then the first time you have some is often about 30 minutes in to your day.

So... today was the last time before the race that I would get a chance to ride the Ironman bike route. As I am in "Taper" mode, (when I say that, I always think that it sounds like I have a tape worm and that's why I am wasting away to nothing), we decided that it would be best not to ride the whole route, but start in Osoyoos at the Husky station and begin with the assault on Richter and then make my way back to Penticton via: the rollers, Cawston, the out-and-back, Keremeos, Olalla, and Yellow Lake.

My parents have been absolutely 100% supportive of this crazy venture, as you can easily tell. Both of them want to be my support crew and are eager to do whatever they can to make sure that I cross that finish line. So my Dad volunteered to drive me down to Osoyoos for the start. Well, actually, I drove and he enjoyed the last Cinni-bun and a coffee I made for him.

Here's my Dad and I. Family certainly is fuel for life.

So then, with no warm-up , I say my good byes and head out to conquer Richter for the third time this season.

It really is not a bad climb... just constant for about 11K. Without the real heat of the day beating down on me, it did feel a bit more manageable, that said, I was gasping like a fish out of the bowl by the time I summited the first part of the climb. Remember that gatorade that I have not yet tasted..... well there I am gasping away and I take a big swig of this yucky syrupy swill. OMG! WTF! NO LOL! Tri-Guy is sad. Not only is it disgusting, this is the only liquid I have for the next two hours until I am at the Big Bear fruit-stand just outside of Keremeos. This day is getting sticky. Nothing like washing down a gel with treacle.

Fahggeddaboudit.... wha-yagonnadoo?

Doesn't look so bad..... does it? (No clouds at all.... or rain for that matter)

So here is the view you would see out of the back of my head as I made my way up the pass. Off in the distance is the town of Osoyoos and as you can see, there is not a cyclist to be found. The last time this happened, the sky opened up and poured on me..... but as you can see there are no clouds here.

So I continued on my merry way and made the summit in 36 minutes. I am not sure if that is any kind of big deal, but it felt fast to me and I guess that is something. On race day, they make quite a big deal of this climb and I understand that it is covered with spectators and well wishers. I don't think it is like l'alpe d'huez or the col du tourmalet on the tour where you wonder how in the heck are the leaders ever going to get through the throngs of screaming masses. Nevertheless, it will be pretty neat to see that.

Over the top is great descent and then you come around a corner and you can see the start of the rollers. You are going to have to enlarge this photo, as the shadow from the mountain sort of obscures the view, but if you do enlarge it, you will see the first roller way in the distance as the highway turns north to follow the Similkameen valley.

Always nice to stop on a hill for a photo as it is easy to get going again. (no clouds here either... hmmmm I wonder where they are?)

....... Then you continue on your way through the seven rollers... some people (Michael) call them the seven bitches. Judging by the way he rides them, he should be calling them the seven speed bumps. He attacks those things like a olympian going for a medal in the moguls. I have great jealousy for that. Needless to say, they are absolutely beautiful, and if there was not a head wind, I should have hit 77kmph again.

Does that not look like a great ride or what? If you look (enlarge) you can see the road stretching out for miles towards the turn to the out-and back at Beck's road along the old Okanagan highway. (Is that a cloud in the distance.... no.... wait a minute.....that's just a bit of fluff on my screen).

After the rollers had their way with me, battered and bruised and covered in syrup, I made my way onto the flats of Cawston and Keremeos. So there I was in the aero-bars riding into a headwind... now that I know how to do well. So I found it comfy and reassuring. And, if you squinted real hard the mountains disappeared and I was on highway 26 heading towards Poplar Point back home.

Just some really neat topography here. All the water eroded valleys make the mountain look older and wiser.. or is could just be trenched by the sun like some of those old leathery people you see on the beach that apply the lotion to keep their skin from cracking.

I wonder what you are supposed to do here?

Well... as you can guess the heat was starting to kick in and in a few short kilometers, it was time to get some cool water from the wonderfully refreshing well outside the Big Bear Fruit-stand.

The poor Giant. No action here either....Little gender confusion I think.

Now that's helmet head.

Just after I left the fruit stand I came across this fellow in by the side of the road.

That's a baby rattler. They are all over the place around here.

Basically rattlesnakes are very shy and reclusive.... but cannot resist warming up on a hot surface like the road. This guy was hit by a car or whatnot and was of no real threat. As it is still young it does not have a rattle. It "grows" its rattle. Each time it sheds its skin it adds one bead to the rattle.

The highway department has just redone the asphalt from Keremeos to the top of Yellow lake. On the side, most likely for some paving purposes unbeknownst to me, they have marked off every 100m from the fruit-stand to the lake. So you can count down to the 13k marker where the hill starts and the 17K marker...that's if your lungs have not popped out of your chest from the last big climb on the route.

Up on the left side you can see the turn to Green Mountain Rd. where I have taken you all before as it meets up with the start of the climb to Yellow lake. This photo is at the 12.6K marker.

All in all it was a nice ride that took me 116k through the Okanagan countryside. Upon my return home, I went out for a brief transition run of 3.2 miles (5k) just to get the legs moving and the HR up. There is this beautiful route from here out to where I took the first photos yesterday of the beach.

Sorry to hear that the weather is so poor back home..... as much as I jest. All the best to everyone as they prepare for their events.

Be safe.