"Camp"

Crazy times down here in WNC. April is roaring in like a lion, all 80 degrees and bountiful sunshine. We've been hit with a Wisco invasion of training camps -- I saw Maciej's group at DuPont last weekend, Claire is here somewhere, as is Katie, and I'm riding with the Melcher crew tomorrow down at Davidson. (Can you say "Clawhammer?!") What's this? They give you Good Friday off in the Bible Belt?!

Since I'm headed back through Chicago next week, I'm missing Easter with the family for the first time in, well, ever. To dull the pain, or rather to inflict more, I'm going big before I go back: Davidson/Fish Hatchery today, Davidson tomorrow, and then two big days somewhere in Pisgah this weekend. I figure it's my first dedicated "camp" of the year, not quite Arizona but pretty great in its own way ... and a perfect early-season preamble to what is rapidly becoming the focus of my racing season ...

In other news, work is going gangbusters, better than any of us could have imagined. I wish I could take more credit for it, but it's really a great push forward that's been building for about a year now, if not longer. I'm contributing, but I'm also riding the wave ... The energy in the air is palpable here at 355 Cane Creek Road, and things are fun. It's a great place to be.

And last but not least, I bought my one-way ticket to Chicago yesterday. I'll be flying back for Mother's Day, and then Kim, Kate and I will drive home to North Carolina just after. I'm pretty sure that's the best birthday present I've ever gotten.

Enjoy the ride!