So, it's a new month. I have a lot of things planned this month, including a vacation and a few races. Other than that, I don't have much to say — that is sometimes the best thing. You should check out this poem though, as it about sums things up: The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot.
A very long day indeed. Tomorrow is off and that will be good. Recommended movie: The Bible and Gun Club — a big hit at the Slamdance Film Festival. A crazy mix of narrative, documentary and improvisation following five door-to-door salesmen who believe Americans can't be too well read or too well armed.
So, we got our people out of China. Is that just it? I think not. There will be a lot more to this story, but the immediate threat is over for now. It will be back with Taiwan — sooner than later. Still, good to get our people back, but what a ridiculous situation in the first place. What if the tables were reversed?
Went up to Vancouver today. Found a geocache in the Skagit Delta — my hardest so far, and my second attempt on this one. The weather was great, truly the perfect spring day. No tulips though. Traffic on I-5 was terrible as always, but the car worked like a charm.
Too much to say. Went geocaching and a triathlon — really zen-like, as I was last! Ironic really, given I was using a GPS for one thing but not for what I really should have used it for — finding the race. Still, they let me on the course, and even though I was disqualified I was still able to get a good time trial out of it. The weather was just perfect, and the Sunday Easter scene in Canada was great.
Still too much going on. Instead of driving down to Mexico for the race, I have totally rearranged my schedule. Now I am flying down to Reno, then Tucson. Stay a few days and get a new bike — the mountain bike is really slowing me down on the course. Anything will be better than what I have. I will also try to get a wetsuit, but am having sizing problems. At least the Pacific Northwest is good for getting used to cold water.
In transit.
I am back in Seattle, and not a minute too soon. Arizona didn't quite work out like I wanted — 50% good, 50% bad. As for the race, I didn't get to go because I was refused entry at the border. The reason was my rental car. The race people said it was ok, the car company said no. Apparently they just changed the rule and not everybody knows about it, save for the customs agents.
I did get a new bike though: the Specialized Allez Comp, custom fitted, $1,500 including shoes, pedals, and a case of protein bars. Saved about $400 by buying in Arizona — no sales tax, sale going on, lots in stock. While I am upset I didn't get to race, I am stoked I have a new bike. There will be more races.
What I did down there: drove to the Kitt Peak National Observatory (very cool indeed), then Phoenix (don't like Phoenix, nothing good to say about it), then drove the 108 miles back to Tucson in an hour on an open freeway. Hiked the Sonoran Desert looking for geocaches. Am still picking cactus spines out of my skin.
Just back from a sunny day journey to Port Townsend — a nice town that was supposed to be the capitol of Washington State before Olympia took the place. My mission was geocaches. Found one called "An Officer and a Gentleman" at Fort Worden — where they filmed part of that movie. The park used to be a military base with lots of bunkers and old gun placements to climb around in. Very cool. One hidden entrance into a bunker had the smell of stonerdom and the ever-present Iron Maiden slogan on the walls.
Also found one called Ewok Forest at Lake Anderson — it sort of looked like one. I would have never known about this place if not for the game. That's the joy of it, I guess.