window seat
I see quite a bit of Virginia from the comfort of my 4-inch-wide, titanium rail, 165 gram racing saddle. And, trust me, it’s actually quite comfortable. A faux leather cover with magical cushioning below - combine that with a proper bib short + chamois, and I could ride (and do) for thousands of miles.
Anyways, I notice a major difference in environment when I travel for these collegiate cycling races. The terrain loses steep grades and you could look for miles through the clear blue sky and see nothing resembling a mountain. Apart from Virginia Tech, it seems no other Atlantic Coast Cycling Conference [ACCC] school has its home base in the Appalachian Mountains. I would have to travel to the Rockies to compete in collegiate events containing such mountainous terrain.
However, it has become clear to me (and has been made clear to me) that I need to get out more. Get out of Virginia, get out of the east coast, get out of the country. And so I will.
Today, I applied for a U.S. passport. I was expecting a turnaround of 90 days but the guy at the post office said that if I don’t receive it (and my birth certificate, which they temporarily confiscated) back in about 40 days then I should contact them immediately. Has the Dept. of State become efficient? What a remarkable turn of fate, that a government agency would increase its output.
So, the world I will see. Gradually. Probably starting with Europe or South America. Or Canada. I do hope to do some international cycling as well; obviously not with competition in mind, but how can you turn down the opportunity to climb the Alpe d’Huez where Lance Armstrong once destroyed the peloton, the beautiful Tourmalet, or the leg-numbing Hautacam? Thinking about doing some cycling in Europe is making me all smiles. I might even consider a mountain biking expedition through Peru…
And speaking of traveling. This week I am going to Cupertino so that I can receive guidance from Apple and those Apple authorities that I listen to. Then the following weekend I will be racing in Charlottesville on the beautiful UVA campus. And later in the year, I have just begun working on plans to head over to Los Angeles for Jeremiah & Arthur’s fantastic ceremony. A’traveling I will go.
It’s time for me to close Google Earth and start making some marks in my soon-to-be-approved passport. I’m looking forward to all that is to come.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
after all of the travelling i’ve done, i am really looking forward to seeing a foreign country through your eyes. i absolutely cannot wait to take you out of the country.
and you know i’ll always give you the window seat
March 17th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Happy travels!
I’m going to France again this May. I might just see you riding there one day.
March 18th, 2008 at 12:24 am
I’m so jealous that you’re going to Cupertino. Oh, and I can’t wait to see ya in October!