Happy to be Back in NC

Nothing like a hard stage race clear across the country to make you really appreciate home.

I think I look forward to the end of races just about as much as I look forward to going to races. It's hard to leave behind my husband, Joe, and my dog, Symba... but I'm excited to see all my teammates and catch up with them once I'm in the air. Each race it's like I'm going "home" to my family away from home. Our team is that close.

At the end of the race, it's hard to leave. We always have wonderful host families who take us under their wing and they become like surrogate parents during our stay. Saying bye to my teammates is also difficult... even though I know I'll see them again in another week! We always keep in touch with our host families once we leave, and we call eachother usually the day after our flights just checking up on what everyone's doing.

However, there's nothing like seeing my husband for the first time when he comes to pick me up at the airport... no matter what time, day or night, Joe always picks me up. I don't think either of us would have it any other way. I love seeing his face as he catches his first glimpse of me standing on the side of the curb as I anxiously hold my luggage. He has a big smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes, and I'm hopping up in down on the sidewalk before he gets out of the car. Since my luggage is so massive (a big bike bag and a big rolling suitcase), I usually just leave it on the sidewalk and run over to him to hug him before dragging it over to the car. :o)

Joe always puts my luggage in the car, and he takes it inside for me when we get home. We talk all the way home in the car, like we haven't talked for ages, even though I talked to him several times all day long (airports are boring and I usually end up sitting around talking to Joe or to my best friend Deb... she's probably tired of me calling her at work! hehe).

I know Joe cleans up before I come home so I don't have to worry about doing it myself. He's so sweet. Even though I'm a housewife and I keep the house, he knows how I like everything and always has things perfect before I walk in the door.

It's funny because the kitchen is completely empty of food. He hates going to the grocery store, that's something I always do for us, and that definitely doesn't change when I'm away. The fridge is always bare and the pantry is dwindling on any kind of food item. If he does go to the store while I'm gone, it's guaranteed that he's only going to buy a couple items... like bread and milk... and wait until I come home to get the big stuff.

Sea Otter ended well for our team. We ended up with 4 riders finishing in the main pack in the Fort Ord Road Race, an 84 mile gruelling stage. It was fast and very hilly! I was so happy to finish with the main group. That was my goal for the day since I had been sick, and I was even able to help pull Chrissy back up to the main pack and cover an early attack so I did some teamwork as well! Wee!

I'm going to meet Joe for a group ride tonight. My friend Diana and her husband are coming along too, so it should be a fun one!

I'm still recovering from the strep throat I had during Sea Otter, so I get to take it a bit easier this week than normal. Just gotta give my body time to heal up while being on antibiotics and then I'll be ready for Gila!