This One Goes Out to Slick

I needed some pep in my life. Vancouver Washington was bringing me down. Facing another week alone in the team house, and terrible weather forecasted all week, I decided to jump ship and booked a night-before flight across the continent to old PEI.

When I walked off the plane after a quick hour flight to Vancouver BC, I noticed the air was a little fresher, the trees a little greener, and my head a little clearer. Its the little differences that you notice when crossing the boarder between Canada and the US. Instead of a coat check on the plane you have your hockey stick, lumberjack axe, and pro-socialist flag check. Things of this sort are so awkward to carry on a plane anyway. Also, random nurses and doctors walk around offering people free check -ups and medical advice. Its like people trying to get you to buy prostitutes in Mexico.

Mmonths of hearing about the same three things in the US news, being the recession, President Obama, one of the wars no-one cares about, and now the swine flu. These things have covered the news and of course the front pages of the newspapers. When walking into the airport terminal I noticed a fresh Canadian Globe and Mail....on the cover was a story about seal clubbing.(no joke)

Of course there is the whole bilingual thing as well.

In Canada its also acceptable, and fashionable to wear a hockey jersey with your normal clothes, especially to work.

Suddenly, a one hour plane ride up North, turns the Mexicans into the minorities again.

So a long day of travel was had by me. Living in BC for the past few years has made me accustomed to the jumps across the continent. You begin to know where the best lunches and coffee are hidden in the random spots in the airports.

When I arrived home I noticed it was pretty chilly and rainy. Pretty much the same weather in Portland. I could see my breath as I walked out the plane, but no matter, I was home.

I have this fantasy in my mind of what PEI is like. I hadn't been here in May, since 2005. I've always arrived home in August after the cycling season The weather is nice, and its the perfect time of year and temperature to ride around town, and chill at the coffee shop.

I think I had this idea in my head when I booked the plane ticket. In reality its pretty cold and damp. At the same time I'm happy with that. Suddenly I can ride and train on the same roads I grew up on. For me, PEI roads are like that old pair of jeans that you forget about in the bottom of the droor. You re-discover them every so often and when you pull them on they are worn in just right and you feel comfortable in them. They remind you of good times.

So after a week or so of hanging around, I plan to head up to Montreal to see if there is any intense racing to be had, then I hope to re-join the team for either CSC, Philly, or Nature Vally GP

And I also got to see the little man.