France trip

Ile De Re

I spent the past six days in paradise, the most beautiful place I have every been. Last Saturday night I was invited by my friend to go on a six day trip to an island off the French coast. I of course accepted and left early Sunday morning. Sunday was a 7 hour drive, but it went fast as we passed though Paris and the beautiful countryside. We arrived that after noon in La Rachelle, a stunning beach town on the main land. We staid the night here and enjoyed feasting on oysters and fries.
The fallowing morning we awoke to a gorgeous blue sky, the sun was shinning and I was smiling. We ate at a nice little café with a great view of the harbor and the middle-age castle. After a zesty omelet and beget, we pilled in the car and drove out to the island. We spent the rest of the morning and afternoon in the town of St. Martin, out off all the beauty this was the most beautiful village. The whole island is very old and that’s what gives it its beauty. All the villages are filled with old; cobblestone roads, churches which the city is centered around, and small allies just like you in your fairytales. I have never been so relaxed in all of my life, sipping on tea with the sun shining down and sound of the boats and the wind. I wish I could have stayed here forever, but this was just the first day in paradise.
Tuesday we awoke to another beautiful blue sky, and after a nutritious breakfast it was off to tour the island, on bikes. We rented some cruisers and set out. We first went to the NW point of the island where we found this huge lighthouse that was built in 1854, we climbed the 293 steps and at the top had a breathtaking view. After a quick race down the stairs, we saddled up again and hit the road, from here we made our was along the Northern coast, where we saw bunkers from WWII, and then south thought a wildlife estuary. Here we ate a nice lunch and listened to the singing of the birds. Continuing we went east though Ars ( we where staying here in an awesome house two blocks from the beach) and rode to St. Martin. It is so beautiful we just had to go back, my friends father got a haircut as Julian and I relaxed with ice cream and our books. Once the hair was cut and I was about to doze off, we mounted again and headed home. But being the beautiful day it was and being on an island we stopped at an oyster shack for an afternoon snack. With some fabulous oysters and the afternoon sun , I yet again found my self on an all time relaxed high. A short ride and we returned home.
The nights are also nice, we all work together to cook dinner, and during dinner take time by mixing eating with talking and enjoy the meal. After dinner we all relax and read our books and sit in front of the fire. Its great.
Wednesday was yet again a beautiful morning. Julian and I ate a light breakfast and then went for a refreshing run on the beach. We came home and got the rugby ball and returned to the beach where we played for hours. At lunch returned and after eating we departed by foot for Loix, 8 km from the house. It was a nice walk, Julian and I brought the rugby ball along so we were passing and kick the whole way. In Loix we met up with one of Julian’s fathers friends at a little café, we relaxed here with a hot chocolate (the best ever), and soaked up some more rays. We got a ride back to Ars in the car, we were all tired.
Thursday morning was no different from the rest, and warmer too. I went for an easy run after breakfast which was great. Once I returned the weather was perfect, I sat out on the porch getting rays and reading my book until lunch. We had no plans for the afternoon so we just went to the beach and relaxed, Julian and I played rugby while his father took a nap. The beach was superb, with the white sand and the sun shining, it was so lovely I took my shirt off. It was great at the time, but after I was a little red, but I need some sun before I go back north to Belgium. Following rugby we took a stroll on the beach, while walking Julian reminded me that it was November. For a second I couldn’t believe it, its November and here I was walking on white sandy beaches with no shirt, this is the life.
Friday morning started at 8 o’clock when we packed up and hit the road. This was first day without blue sky’s but it was fine since we were in the car for the majority of the day. The drive was fine, but I could notice it getting colder every time we stopped as we moved north.
It was a excellent trip and hope I can go there again some day. My brothers and mom will be coming to visit in two weeks so I’m looking forward to see them and showing them where I have been living for the past two months.

Enjoy life everyday
Ian

Day 1-2







Day 3







Day 5

France.

I was invited yesterday to go to France for six days to an island, so I'm off. It's in the middle/south off the coast in the Atlantic, so today will be a long 9 hour car drive, but will be well worth it. I don't know if I'll have Internet, but if I do I will post pictures and let you know whats going on.

Live
Ian

Kalmthout, Cross Crazy!

My trip began at 7 A.M. Saturday morning. I had to catch the 8 o'clock train for Izegem in order to give my papers to Geoff before he left for race registration. I figured I had to leave the house at about 7:30 to have time to ride to the train station and get my ticket. As I grabbed my bike to leave the house I noticed that I had a flat. I didn't have time to fix it so I just pumped it up and hoped that it would hold. I made it to the station with a little air left in the tire. The train went fine and I arrived in Izegem on time.

At the house I meet up with Geoff and Ryan (Geoff Proctor is the USA cycling cyclocross coach and Ryan Trebon is the current US cyclocross champion). Geoff went to Kalmthout to get all the US athletes registered, while Ryan and I just hung around the house and then went for a ride. I cooked some spaghetti for Ryan and myself then it was off to bed for a good nights rest.

Sunday morning I awoke at 6 A.M. then left at 7 for the race with Geoff, two mechanics, and two of their friends. It was an hour and half dive to the course, which is only 10 km from Holland. We were a little rushed for time, so everyone was busy doing their part to help. I got dressed and went out to ride the course.

The course was awesome. here are some pictures.




There was an extra cross bike my size at the Izegem house so they let me use it for a spare. The brakes on my bike don't work so well so I was planning on using the spare, but while in warm up I broke the seat post so I was left to ride my normal bike.

The race was filled with strong riders, the only teams allowed in for the junior race were national teams. The counties represented included: Belgium, France, Great Britain, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Italy, Czech Republic, and myself racing for the United Stated. Each country got a front row starting spot and since I was the only American that was me.

From the minute the gun shot it was pure craziness. There was about 100 meters of pavement before a hard left hand turn onto a small trail, so riders were fighting hard for position. I went into the turn in 20Th place, so you can see how crazy it was. The first third of the course was open and fast, so there were spots to pass and move up (for me move back). The course then went into a tight single track section with two different sets of stairs, at the end of the section was a very tight "s" shaped single track (I lost a lot of time here). By the end of the first lap I had gone from the front row to the very back. I rode hard but my legs just didn't have it, and I lack the technical skills needed for cross. I kept riding hoping that my legs would come around but they never did, I passed a few people that had bike problems, and thankfully didn't get lapped. I was the last finisher,in 41st place. After my race I was completely demoralized, I thought I would never do a cross race again.

But, after watching the pro race my perspective changed. It made me want to race cross more then ever, plus I realized that this was only my second cross race, and I was racing against Europe's best. The pro race was by far the best bike race I have every seen live. Those guys race like they're on pavement, they are going 35 kph thought the turns. I had a huge smile on my face during the whole race.

The atmosphere was electrified, it's like a NFL football game in America. there was a jumbo tron (huge TV), food and beer gardens every where and at least 15,000 spectators.





I will keep training and well I might not enter another World Cup for a while I will be out there doing some smaller races.
here are some more pictures for the race.







Hope you enjoy
Ian





this is a video I took. If this doesn't work it is also on you tube, I will add more soon


http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Kalmthout+cyclocross

Kalmthout Report.

didn't have a good race but had a great time. i will do a full report tomorrow. here is a video i took.tomorrow Ian

Off to the World Cup

I'm leaving for Izegem, Belgium to meet up with Geoff Proctor and Ryan Trebon so we can pick up our numbers and info for the race tomorrow (Sunday). I will take pictures and update my blog after.

Talk to you soon
Ian

Root canal!!

That's right, since my bike crash three or four weeks ago my tooth has been changing color. I first noticed the black tooth about two weeks ago, I waited awhile to see if it would heal its self, but it never did. Once I knew that I would need to see a dentist I told my host father, but the problem was that I didn't have any insurance. After contacting some Rotarian's and with the help of my parent, I had a root canal today. It wasn't painful so that was good, but I have another root canal in two weeks to fix the tooth.

Now, I will start to focus on the Cyclocross World Cup race in Belgium this Sunday in which I will participate as part of the US national team. I'll give it my all, and update you on my experience.

Keep it real
Ian

Great weather, Great riding.

The past two days have been spectacular, the weather here is awesome, for the moment.

Today was my first Rotary meeting and it was good. All the Rotarian's are very nice and the food is zesty. I have no big plans for the weekend, I was going to do a race but I don't have my wallet and racing licence. I didn't say this in my last blog because I didn't know yet, but last weekend at the race in De Pinte I forgot my folder which contained my wallet ( 60euro, credit card, and my social security card) and my passport. I left it in the locker room after the race and didn't realize I forgot it till the fallowing morning when I couldn't find my wallet. I had no contacts of the race organization, so I just had to wait to see if someone trustworthy had found it. Thankfully a member of the clean-up crew found the folder and I should get it by Monday. It just goes to show shit happens, but it all turns out ok in the end.

Ian
Some pictures of my ride today.