quasigeostrophy | Oct. 23rd, 2002

Done packing. As ready as I can get for the 105 mile bike ride in Death Valley. Flight leaves Indy around 3pm tomorrow. I think I'll be okay, especially because I've seen the revised weather forecast for the ride day on Saturday. Low in the mid 50s F, high only 70!!! Not the low 90s it normally gets to at this time of year. Not having the heat will definitely help me get through in the 11 1/2 hours of daylight I'll have...

The other riders from Indy and I get in to Las Vegas airport late afternoon tomorrow and will take a shuttle bus to the Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley National Park (we're staying there - about 300 total riders from around the country). Friday is a day for checking to ensure our bikes made the truck trip okay, loosening up, and acclimating to the desert, with a big carb-loading pasta dinner that night. Saturday, the ride starts at 6:30am, and we've got until 6pm (sunset). Sunday, we start coming home, and I won't get in until pretty late.

This is going to be a major thing for me. I have never been athletic (and will never consider myself so, but at least this has helped me be a little more active), and I have had so many interests over the years I often have trouble actually finishing some projects. Well, I'm going to do this one!

Meanwhile, I sit here drooling over Natalie Imbruglia, including her lovely Aussie accent, having an oral orgasm with some cookie and tea, appearing on "So Graham Norton" on BBC America. Ahem...

And, since I'll be out of town, Happy Birthday to