Bicycle Dreams: Unicorn Farm, Victoria and New Beginnings!

It has been a busy and most enjoyable month of December, great way to head into the New Year!
I was escaping the snow and cold weather in Ontario, but really just brought the snow with me to Vancouver Island. It was warmer... Had great 10 days of visiting friends, testing and cycling behind 17 y/o lads for a week and 3x triathlon world champion Melanie McQuaid for the day, amazing inspirations.

Several tires, tubes, wheels, many miles and chocolate milks down, made for hard week of training in the bag before the TransAndes at the end of January. It is a great training option without leaving the country! Made for quality rest week going into the holidays. The team TT was by far the worst day of the week, was being very cautious with my lack of skills on the road... I spend most (ok all) of my time riding my mountain bike alone on some endless gravel road/trail, so needless to say it was quite the experience riding as a group on the road. My coach just stood on the side of the road smiling, as I struggled to hang on Team TT going blistering speed....he must really believe that my fitness can make up for such lack of skills! I didn't even know what a team TT was...now I do. ouch.

Prior to the training camp in Victoria, spend few days with my friends who live in "deep" Errington. Many celebrations to be had around the holidays, 5 y/o birthday fun and random Turtle meat tasting/fancy dress parties to attend. We also spent a nice day at Kingfisher spa/shopping and lunch in Courtney sans children. My friend Julie was working hard to ensure I didn't have any excuse why I don't just live here...

Turtle Meat Soup....very high in Potassium

And lose, and start again at your beginnings....

Buddha look festi ---Temple in Qualicum

High speed burn-outs on ice....

My friend Natalie would say, in our honest self reflection of life.... "she hasn't learned the lesson, make the fire bigger", we are all guilty of putting our hand in the FIRE! All human we live in such denial, disillusionment, when the facts are life is very simple.