Winter Work Begins

Today will be the first day of my winter work, having arrived back in Colorado Tuesday night after a much needed trip to Iowa. Although the snow laddled work begin today there isn't a whole lot of the white stuff. We had a few good storms producing a few inches here and there in the final weeks of October. On top of this mid-day temperatures didn't get much above the mid-twenties during that time so snow-making was in full swing. Now our guns sit idle most of the day waiting until the wee-hours of the morning when the temps fall just enough to hit the on switch. But no fear, the snow comes tonight.

The trip back to Iowa was both short and long; ten days, numerous drinks, one race, and much friends and family. The first good drink of the weekend happened after my one race of the 2009 season - Buffalo Trace with Blue, in a mason jar. I think the concept of drinking bourbon from a mason jar is as important as weather you prefer neat, water, or ice. I placed 6th in the race, much better than I thought after all those damn masters started passing me. After a while I realized I'm not in the shape for cyclocross much less my usual racing fitness so I just stopped counting positions. Plus, all those guys that used to race the open or 3s have gotten gray and have transferred over to the old-guys-club.

I've been on a handful of the Amana, a.k.a. Doctor, rides and had only made it to Amana once in my 4 years in Iowa City. Usually the group had gotten sidetracked by bars in town, tailgates, Oxford, or even Solon; this past ride marked the second time I made it to the Brewery. And the standard high water of MacBride had us going way around up to Shueyville after and attempt by Tracy and I for an adventure. The haters in the group thought we were ridiculous, we thought the same of them.

Well the sun has blanketed most of town now and I have about and hour before I need to leave for work. Time for a nice crisp walk with dog now.