tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11278885167466163352024-03-21T00:52:55.063+01:00HillseekersJeff Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10046883456301015459noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-75504614086645215002010-01-12T06:17:00.077+01:002010-01-17T22:44:09.480+01:00Thanks, 2009, for all the great timesGreetings and happy 2010!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3uqxkhDUGEd5VocX3jNl_8ouJiW4qWRTjbvbqimZFdNt52D_AKrmVDGW2Ezbd5JWPe2VIDdcrThg7D4jA5njVU-7_5_NGh6keLTqFqpyn56pZpogDGt2t5eF4EsKbrDGaE8RAyxFWR_D/s1600-h/Biking+in+Switzerland.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3uqxkhDUGEd5VocX3jNl_8ouJiW4qWRTjbvbqimZFdNt52D_AKrmVDGW2Ezbd5JWPe2VIDdcrThg7D4jA5njVU-7_5_NGh6keLTqFqpyn56pZpogDGt2t5eF4EsKbrDGaE8RAyxFWR_D/s320/Biking+in+Switzerland.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427248781696930130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Thank you <a href="http://www.mylifeonabike.com/">Laurie </a>for this photo above!</span><br /></div><br />After a long pause, I <span style="font-size:78%;">(this is Becky)</span> think it is time to share some brief highlights of our life in Switzerland in 2009. Better late than never, right?!<br /><br />It was quite a busy year, with my new job and both of us working 110%+, all the while balancing it with all our activities and interests and getting together with friends, <span style="font-style: italic;">plus </span>continuing to learn German <span style="font-style: italic;">and </span>more about the Swiss life and things going on around us... As always, we feel very fortunate to have these opportunities, so we are constantly trying to make the most of them!<br /><br />As they say, "A picture tells a thousand words", so I guess I don't need to add many more than that - I will let the pictures tell the story of the year. Here we go...<br /><br />The year started off with some nice fresh snow, perfect for skiing and backcountry touring, especially with blue skies to go with it...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91p8uLCTvF5JfKQ7FJx8_jbG3CGiXOVIJXgzfXcZj6s9JuQMV_SJ9pAzSiCUMJQDY9Jds7L4bpaqQlxuPtA8UiIKULornbaAJg50UENGWV4zqB1_2RxfUngBVS-8znN22Fi3VqRErby71/s1600-h/IMG_0018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91p8uLCTvF5JfKQ7FJx8_jbG3CGiXOVIJXgzfXcZj6s9JuQMV_SJ9pAzSiCUMJQDY9Jds7L4bpaqQlxuPtA8UiIKULornbaAJg50UENGWV4zqB1_2RxfUngBVS-8znN22Fi3VqRErby71/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425726350980359522" border="0" /></a>We were fortunate to have been given VIP tickets to the World Cup Ski Races in Adelboden - our first experience watching ski racing in person. Being in the VIP section meant we had front-row seats! And the weather was wunderschön...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazCEqZG6yEU6grCPyrqk5mpKbu6e9VDcObL926xb1WpP3NAmaMtEcX8jrKAAC3DmAT3aqBtgW-KRHsWomipi1nf1cR_aAg-dVfmrkckL4b6pFJz05tsxz1mu7kpU1GWeZeGVvz4o0g-Wz/s1600-h/IMG_0036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazCEqZG6yEU6grCPyrqk5mpKbu6e9VDcObL926xb1WpP3NAmaMtEcX8jrKAAC3DmAT3aqBtgW-KRHsWomipi1nf1cR_aAg-dVfmrkckL4b6pFJz05tsxz1mu7kpU1GWeZeGVvz4o0g-Wz/s320/IMG_0036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425725989358235586" border="0" /></a>The tickets were a Christmas gift from our friend Martina's parents, whom we call sMuP (it's a German thing) - Danke schön!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuw1U56BQNqMAraRYvlJ4DvWFxXxwyIEvHDiyHyNTqPhyphenhyphen9pFFbkGwCdSzb0gkZLkTA88yQFL_o0sR6n6CYh5ilv8Awi2V-pUlJ1vmej9RAlJMbEjoyc3dEZNjxrWtnJLVtIVGtAtqNf-hi/s1600-h/IMG_0015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuw1U56BQNqMAraRYvlJ4DvWFxXxwyIEvHDiyHyNTqPhyphenhyphen9pFFbkGwCdSzb0gkZLkTA88yQFL_o0sR6n6CYh5ilv8Awi2V-pUlJ1vmej9RAlJMbEjoyc3dEZNjxrWtnJLVtIVGtAtqNf-hi/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425726119812893234" border="0" /></a>We had such a fun time, we decided to check out the races the next week at Lauberhorn in Wengen, this time with the Alphorns. Other fans seemed convinced we were Swiss - at least until we started talking :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVCbZCuG69RHlsqFoP0qDG8aAMf67y4AHxpd9_4wev9cYT7OEU6K8WSih-NTvMmLYIfTY3FRgenjGxojhS5nUvOunCTnrwQXlBoNMex1Oltske_zEWROZTHagx3OJ9_cMlsXxjSVmWLSA/s1600-h/IMG_0042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVCbZCuG69RHlsqFoP0qDG8aAMf67y4AHxpd9_4wev9cYT7OEU6K8WSih-NTvMmLYIfTY3FRgenjGxojhS5nUvOunCTnrwQXlBoNMex1Oltske_zEWROZTHagx3OJ9_cMlsXxjSVmWLSA/s320/IMG_0042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425725884386444354" border="0" /></a>In Wengen I almost got run over by a parade of traditional Swiss cow bell players as I took their photo...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDU87uEBQV9RqtYX3jojd58r-y94sPVHLFHvZ-TbpALaLAcqCoUt34hBzPO4mbI1_sYYQnvyTDqJNBAt3xEfzS4sW6nI0oHLi8uC8w1CPy4lG4BHx3P7_E088mQD-fv4Rhs3TqlaJmHvz/s1600-h/IMG_0067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDU87uEBQV9RqtYX3jojd58r-y94sPVHLFHvZ-TbpALaLAcqCoUt34hBzPO4mbI1_sYYQnvyTDqJNBAt3xEfzS4sW6nI0oHLi8uC8w1CPy4lG4BHx3P7_E088mQD-fv4Rhs3TqlaJmHvz/s320/IMG_0067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425725784160535474" border="0" /></a>There were a lot of good snowstorms in early 2009, followed by sunny days on the weekend - a perfect combination, so we made the most of it nearly every weekend with skiing either at resorts or backcountry...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo89A2Kx-yC-RuPOVBp76gJE_LvlrbJXT6kL3SjFxIZCipQnp4wQDRSeyd-xBno2B0HyTmfOHrGP8Xy7vGdjffSf2k2Iv-2k2otgD9-A8Bmfo9ezGX0MZklJFFRRtdCdyg2NEUty84WNUA/s1600-h/Round+Tour+014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo89A2Kx-yC-RuPOVBp76gJE_LvlrbJXT6kL3SjFxIZCipQnp4wQDRSeyd-xBno2B0HyTmfOHrGP8Xy7vGdjffSf2k2Iv-2k2otgD9-A8Bmfo9ezGX0MZklJFFRRtdCdyg2NEUty84WNUA/s320/Round+Tour+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425725626453547186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrS5aCJw5sLltnm2kzwMHL7GjbmgmZTIWAZ20966E6q3nb5_f2cqRuUQlYHAsx-kTfR-2MbGB8a6xcQm8jW6two_Bt-mXVaFfgdrFUlPhAaZMi3zjNJ1pZG_I40Xxt63fC_aEEyZanIsiA/s1600-h/Round+Tour+053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrS5aCJw5sLltnm2kzwMHL7GjbmgmZTIWAZ20966E6q3nb5_f2cqRuUQlYHAsx-kTfR-2MbGB8a6xcQm8jW6two_Bt-mXVaFfgdrFUlPhAaZMi3zjNJ1pZG_I40Xxt63fC_aEEyZanIsiA/s320/Round+Tour+053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425725494406661810" border="0" /></a>There was even enough fresh snow for Jeff to get his snowboard out and remember how to "surf" the powder.....dude...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1JfNb0YyWJKMErUOuil4g0MAjS9EMSqjCFa3V89RuUI3wTPjN0e9T-j-GpkVP7rMnoMTNDdbqsKDn35NEKKr1ChdXbr_e1jWGQTRTCv2Bknt_luvRYN4vNYx6tyLzvn4Gwh4r3U9__cz/s1600-h/February+041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1JfNb0YyWJKMErUOuil4g0MAjS9EMSqjCFa3V89RuUI3wTPjN0e9T-j-GpkVP7rMnoMTNDdbqsKDn35NEKKr1ChdXbr_e1jWGQTRTCv2Bknt_luvRYN4vNYx6tyLzvn4Gwh4r3U9__cz/s320/February+041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425725368173183298" border="0" /></a>And can't forget the après-ski - warm Jaegertee and that lively Austrian music, ja ja ja....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuGP7_nTO_U2UiZ0IZYEhBS91EVaEz8hs6a_sO3qPYr2rU163-d9kBYJnKSKi6ZuCYzrMRxQxcjracx5bM5fjad4Y-UegEm3F3A2t3VF8SdFvML7c11J2VD1PwMrljAWvHemY9CscAtvj/s1600-h/February+082.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuGP7_nTO_U2UiZ0IZYEhBS91EVaEz8hs6a_sO3qPYr2rU163-d9kBYJnKSKi6ZuCYzrMRxQxcjracx5bM5fjad4Y-UegEm3F3A2t3VF8SdFvML7c11J2VD1PwMrljAWvHemY9CscAtvj/s320/February+082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425725131183904274" border="0" /></a>During après-ski can be a great time to come up with new ideas for future adventures (!) So we decided that on the next full moon night, we would ski up a nearby mountain in the moonlight. When that night came, it felt like an especially crazy idea to me, since it was snowing quite hard as we got started. But it was great fun, and we had fresh powder all to ourselves on the way down, and didn't even need our headlamps since the moonlight was so bright reflecting off the snow.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAIwKge6awP7iAXbR1PaRqEx8oHfNSSq2eaqpzQ-M8eRR2JR_oYWW33lAQn_4PtBoar10_2N9i5jUNBbYSnrHoHDXAOvdl9JfXIRWktli9rvwDJhUPgesTAhDBjWR0TPA6u21viRzkf-S/s1600-h/Moonlight+ski+tour.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAIwKge6awP7iAXbR1PaRqEx8oHfNSSq2eaqpzQ-M8eRR2JR_oYWW33lAQn_4PtBoar10_2N9i5jUNBbYSnrHoHDXAOvdl9JfXIRWktli9rvwDJhUPgesTAhDBjWR0TPA6u21viRzkf-S/s320/Moonlight+ski+tour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425726430244308770" border="0" /></a>Thanks, Dave, for lugging your tripod all the way up the mountain just for this picture - We appreciate it!<br />In general we tend to do a lot of "uphill skiing" - It's quite a good workout...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GqMCoKpvf9dRE-KR3CSRiE8l08G8-lfPoZBXKGqS-N2_zTZqnKlG2yPzyTfjFddKpebrNG5kFRZQEMSBD7ls5oYmI5Jd8rblPJiUhGgIw0uHTfOFg7-h19QeHUxfCbxp-QLpNw3S2vVU/s1600-h/IMG_0287.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GqMCoKpvf9dRE-KR3CSRiE8l08G8-lfPoZBXKGqS-N2_zTZqnKlG2yPzyTfjFddKpebrNG5kFRZQEMSBD7ls5oYmI5Jd8rblPJiUhGgIw0uHTfOFg7-h19QeHUxfCbxp-QLpNw3S2vVU/s320/IMG_0287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425724899506577010" border="0" /></a>...plus you have the added advantage of staying warm even in the cold weather, from all the exertion. After this climb, Jeff celebrated at the top with a short Alphorn concert.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-t5akZQFPiQn-EohGyKxB2DfS0L6jGzFEuu9MHPl6_UE0D87bPWjO942DMc7AZgA90r07O99Y3rUIP5GoZjr5upOtQQpMaU1NWcHyXWuFAdDXl8EhRnMoOpFP6m_s__4VsjyG_aonMEf/s1600-h/IMG_0059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-t5akZQFPiQn-EohGyKxB2DfS0L6jGzFEuu9MHPl6_UE0D87bPWjO942DMc7AZgA90r07O99Y3rUIP5GoZjr5upOtQQpMaU1NWcHyXWuFAdDXl8EhRnMoOpFP6m_s__4VsjyG_aonMEf/s320/IMG_0059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425724759769151522" border="0" /></a>On Easter weekend we skied to the top of the Wildstrubel.... Lots of good places to hide Easter eggs up there under all the snow....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wNyUWtIjuV8zTrztHplCutiS_i7N74VroHSsY1bfHnvax71iYEX-529b0TjjjKg2BvwY-zBpjyM6IYSPL85RRYVNXE2DL5thTgmCVq-Zjy9rn-tPQ2Wo3QF4XcnKMykH5q60JXJn-gMy/s1600-h/IMG_0116.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wNyUWtIjuV8zTrztHplCutiS_i7N74VroHSsY1bfHnvax71iYEX-529b0TjjjKg2BvwY-zBpjyM6IYSPL85RRYVNXE2DL5thTgmCVq-Zjy9rn-tPQ2Wo3QF4XcnKMykH5q60JXJn-gMy/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425724511608040594" border="0" /></a>SMuP and family treated us like family too with everything including a traditional Easter brunch...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TPspOvr5vdjmOb3PNoGAOBA-hXcPumuuKg_wP7wS2F0UADncGVsGCtZxrGi9qKVVpkl5-71X7fRAWNVfSPYw2_gBL5yMfX4ZTxT9lPc6gxcuUXV00LMM0VrqU-Ik5ObEHm3GDWYoxjgl/s1600-h/IMG_4565.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TPspOvr5vdjmOb3PNoGAOBA-hXcPumuuKg_wP7wS2F0UADncGVsGCtZxrGi9qKVVpkl5-71X7fRAWNVfSPYw2_gBL5yMfX4ZTxT9lPc6gxcuUXV00LMM0VrqU-Ik5ObEHm3GDWYoxjgl/s320/IMG_4565.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425724386808886626" border="0" /></a>Later in April we did a different kind of race called the <a href="http://www.oetzi-alpin-marathon.com/default.asp?sprache=de&seite=streckengrafik">Oetzi Alpin Marathon</a>, made up of mountain biking (uphill), then trail running (more uphill, to the snowline), and then skiing up to the finish. I did it as a relay with Team Abenteuer (adventure) gals Kate and Kat, while Jeff did the whole thing... It was unusual to see the racers wearing shorts along with their ski boots!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxl0wik9u-wvO0kqTa_BTav2tCLGTk-rqJMtGHKXKVMEMd-wZ24bDXKTEa2KuUAQIaEmkX6eOjiCXXWW7ZSlmKGxKHYHJ30-lU1Y9kQ8iSMFmwwkMY1z94ETiVcQ61UUnICtSiB6K97R1J/s1600-h/IMG_0217.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxl0wik9u-wvO0kqTa_BTav2tCLGTk-rqJMtGHKXKVMEMd-wZ24bDXKTEa2KuUAQIaEmkX6eOjiCXXWW7ZSlmKGxKHYHJ30-lU1Y9kQ8iSMFmwwkMY1z94ETiVcQ61UUnICtSiB6K97R1J/s320/IMG_0217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425723721650836258" border="0" /></a>Soon after, I travelled back to the U.S. to visit friends and family, and our little dog Brandy who was sick and not doing very well. She was 16 years old so we were afraid this would be the last time I would see her... although she seemed quite energetic while I was there with her. So we took her on a short hike on a beautiful spring day (she is just about to sit down in this picture, really!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hbimpL4IZV6yHcFxDTYBEL8bly3hsOPJkxV1BrNxlgVdhnXqIMRBiKttW0fLbLBcfm8g1r2bJkRlrN2Lxs2cgP5mP3uLQqN4rKXw-UO2eDN2RMihC9Pj2q7Kji7ALUY8EB8dZfQCW0hS/s1600-h/IMG_0353.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hbimpL4IZV6yHcFxDTYBEL8bly3hsOPJkxV1BrNxlgVdhnXqIMRBiKttW0fLbLBcfm8g1r2bJkRlrN2Lxs2cgP5mP3uLQqN4rKXw-UO2eDN2RMihC9Pj2q7Kji7ALUY8EB8dZfQCW0hS/s320/IMG_0353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425723324174383298" border="0" /></a>Turns out she really was near the end while I was there - Just a few weeks after I left, she was too sick to go on. It was very hard to say goodbye. But I am happy that we had 16 happy years together, filled with lots of smiles...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s4B1oO9DHM08O6Lxh-M3EqdjrsSJziynFY2egDhFgjzREEGl46grNe4TAHpsG1SAngGxCL08NoanzQGLuyBHI9QDTbvFCCl_4FTRAkKP0ACfuwR9EHmoF3dj1hmdcFW7Muu_ODyNRr18/s1600-h/Brando.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s4B1oO9DHM08O6Lxh-M3EqdjrsSJziynFY2egDhFgjzREEGl46grNe4TAHpsG1SAngGxCL08NoanzQGLuyBHI9QDTbvFCCl_4FTRAkKP0ACfuwR9EHmoF3dj1hmdcFW7Muu_ODyNRr18/s320/Brando.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425723035680702802" border="0" /></a>We miss you, Brandy, but I'm sure you are enjoying running off your endless energy in doggie heaven now.<br /><br />When I got back to Switzerland it was already May, which means..... Cycling season!! We kicked off a summer of epic hill-seeking with a ride in nearby Liechtenstein (probably the only place in the world with even better roads for cycling than Switzerland)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjEV58eMkuR3D9ob4xKgE3BflMTNiAJ623Uog_gToJckmr-AbiH1G3wkxrvgSuhk6SOCAdPssZOLqHGPDljnWrJ3uyQ9W2rOt3mCmlEW6bciwDBHJbzX6QgplnwJBsed41dxI7-b8NILd/s1600-h/IMG_0453.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjEV58eMkuR3D9ob4xKgE3BflMTNiAJ623Uog_gToJckmr-AbiH1G3wkxrvgSuhk6SOCAdPssZOLqHGPDljnWrJ3uyQ9W2rOt3mCmlEW6bciwDBHJbzX6QgplnwJBsed41dxI7-b8NILd/s320/IMG_0453.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425722635826347058" border="0" /></a>Then Jeff's parents came out to visit and we made a side-trip to beautiful Venice...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3xeKgvPOBRw1EjcM0xjCJ3qK7mOBrbMjuZONV2q06Y_ERSWFtXyLIbNq-Pe22uekZryKfNi-uzhJBHDgAYOnjNWOx2VHA5KVKoNkSYlj_ah9YIaBSa0dHkTBaoP7UtQQQkSc4oZdCY0B/s1600-h/IMG_0262.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3xeKgvPOBRw1EjcM0xjCJ3qK7mOBrbMjuZONV2q06Y_ERSWFtXyLIbNq-Pe22uekZryKfNi-uzhJBHDgAYOnjNWOx2VHA5KVKoNkSYlj_ah9YIaBSa0dHkTBaoP7UtQQQkSc4oZdCY0B/s320/IMG_0262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425722338535858626" border="0" /></a>Then it was time to start up the Thursday Night Ride again, with all the usual suspects...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7KTEaC0kG01HKOAIAeSyg-I5Vp9yEPYVebvUbPS22hY1gbEMs_ayZnXnwpVJJr3iZLIVC6RJBfpBTlzZ7Huy7RQVvyQyO-PBZA995rO_Qwr-RbfBTmuaCl1-fN2u7Fjpx1qVFSQgKiCY/s1600-h/IMGP1474.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7KTEaC0kG01HKOAIAeSyg-I5Vp9yEPYVebvUbPS22hY1gbEMs_ayZnXnwpVJJr3iZLIVC6RJBfpBTlzZ7Huy7RQVvyQyO-PBZA995rO_Qwr-RbfBTmuaCl1-fN2u7Fjpx1qVFSQgKiCY/s320/IMGP1474.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425722099870420434" border="0" /></a>Thank you, Howard, for the picture above!<br /><br />In July we were fortunate to get a spot to ride in the <a href="http://www.maratona.it/info/2010-courses/en/">Maratona dles Dolomites</a> - what a beautiful place...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1-tzcRgoJy1eF5wobhZsczlqd39cE9m9MdgPk5SafGyIFsEx1JUWyTHg1CRIPoN_Hid-aOWxxdSEIH0hfWrKASyrw-MIpw0cr5EOld23U03taKygoBn3uJQZi_E5NM0rdgREKHG5AlEc/s1600-h/IMG_1103.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1-tzcRgoJy1eF5wobhZsczlqd39cE9m9MdgPk5SafGyIFsEx1JUWyTHg1CRIPoN_Hid-aOWxxdSEIH0hfWrKASyrw-MIpw0cr5EOld23U03taKygoBn3uJQZi_E5NM0rdgREKHG5AlEc/s320/IMG_1103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425722021984764914" border="0" /></a>It was great riding with our friends Chris and Heather, and celebrating afterward!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCg23Ljd-BoIAwWouVnOWQw9xdKPfCrJVkN3UVaGcU8bIj-wUCPE1_Dwd585Op3meqgDvSkhqPfo0OXIQIRSL_tNEucC26kP90beRhKR1zAbeWZSecyF_GBAKopZVtbc9L0lo8c8BhY-K/s1600-h/IMG_1175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCg23Ljd-BoIAwWouVnOWQw9xdKPfCrJVkN3UVaGcU8bIj-wUCPE1_Dwd585Op3meqgDvSkhqPfo0OXIQIRSL_tNEucC26kP90beRhKR1zAbeWZSecyF_GBAKopZVtbc9L0lo8c8BhY-K/s320/IMG_1175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425721847039796578" border="0" /></a>Thanks to you both for a great day, and for the pictures too!<br /><br />The next weekend was my birthday - What better way to spend it than by riding my bike up beautiful hills with great friends?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPPC8nAAqsI99mm2zs_885gdbu2rFTvdK30k69s1TRkx9MN-xIYHuyAEHDYant66-dWxDvegqsa22YRxBiQa__tMIlO2T94Tu1QCdcynNDWsfzZS9pZI5WVKufJDFZUBBR8UZbgaEpk5M/s1600-h/IMG_2229.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPPC8nAAqsI99mm2zs_885gdbu2rFTvdK30k69s1TRkx9MN-xIYHuyAEHDYant66-dWxDvegqsa22YRxBiQa__tMIlO2T94Tu1QCdcynNDWsfzZS9pZI5WVKufJDFZUBBR8UZbgaEpk5M/s320/IMG_2229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425721735153338178" border="0" /></a>We were very happy to have two very special friends Laurie and Roger out to stay with us for a whole week of fun-filled adventures, both on the bike and off. Laurie is amazing at taking pictures during these adventures, and never does anything without her camera (except maybe when she is eating chocolate like below!). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTp-qiu5A3sHASNSawqstu-q6IljZQdU-DYu5DPLkSYtduV8hIdaeMmw5y4iiJC665rELaXYPLWqcnahvSZrWRym1akC3PsCqevw-jnOSCr6IaUuX17qHIO75o7HA-vzCh75gDXliTHnci/s1600-h/184.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTp-qiu5A3sHASNSawqstu-q6IljZQdU-DYu5DPLkSYtduV8hIdaeMmw5y4iiJC665rELaXYPLWqcnahvSZrWRym1akC3PsCqevw-jnOSCr6IaUuX17qHIO75o7HA-vzCh75gDXliTHnci/s320/184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426842330832135234" border="0" /></a>It was this hike when the tradition of jumping at the tops of mountains started... Yahoo!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRa8aPAA464ypssUrkMgnJDNhha6_GR5hdBhBZ4XjEs2zEb3GbBk5xnX6IIfOvUAJ2sS3ac3ZNFu6xoP5wKNeJULWIQgUEmMAbc-ZHZisoTImn599H_fBZdf3KHod29JaYFOjP8GFJ4EB/s1600-h/da+jump.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRa8aPAA464ypssUrkMgnJDNhha6_GR5hdBhBZ4XjEs2zEb3GbBk5xnX6IIfOvUAJ2sS3ac3ZNFu6xoP5wKNeJULWIQgUEmMAbc-ZHZisoTImn599H_fBZdf3KHod29JaYFOjP8GFJ4EB/s320/da+jump.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427248906156774498" border="0" /></a>Thanks for this picture too Howard! It was a fun day we will never forget.<br /><br />Laurie has a really great blog, and there she documented their visit with some incredible pictures and stories - Check it out: <a href="http://www.mylifeonabike.com/switzerland/what-does-it-take/">My Life on a Bike</a>.<br /><br />Later in the month we headed to Davos for Jeff to do the alpine marathon, while I did some biking and hiking on the numerous Wanderwegs...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdth8xNdyCfnVad9TdpIix09aPfUycsLKEmxu63g6acmKZzb-z83Oh5OR5Y6R-ivhNzJUMLyW0d_xpMPb3WcnDrH9CzzGJU9FnnKUVgY7pZ_CbjG2v9G3ykSgC2sU-qws_pDANu1lZhyQy/s1600-h/IMG_0525.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdth8xNdyCfnVad9TdpIix09aPfUycsLKEmxu63g6acmKZzb-z83Oh5OR5Y6R-ivhNzJUMLyW0d_xpMPb3WcnDrH9CzzGJU9FnnKUVgY7pZ_CbjG2v9G3ykSgC2sU-qws_pDANu1lZhyQy/s320/IMG_0525.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425721603980225618" border="0" /></a>On August 1st it is "Swiss National Day" in Switzerland, like July 4th in the U.S. I spent the day hiking with some friends - a very appropriate Swiss activity. Although the Swiss have many alternative options too - Notice in this picture below the cable car on the bottom left - It takes people to the top of the trail we were hiking, and then they can still hike around on the top.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbi55jds1v1Qc1gKY1qQXmOENjS-dKNdwLAXZAuNKEOVl9EKzH1POradNncvWrLI0yk-SU_kH02W8uQnFLipm32bl5mV-zzATPHlhY8GwixixpDZOjKDmQtGqZZPosdLf93QItdAOO7J5x/s1600-h/IMG_9242.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbi55jds1v1Qc1gKY1qQXmOENjS-dKNdwLAXZAuNKEOVl9EKzH1POradNncvWrLI0yk-SU_kH02W8uQnFLipm32bl5mV-zzATPHlhY8GwixixpDZOjKDmQtGqZZPosdLf93QItdAOO7J5x/s320/IMG_9242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425721507584051538" border="0" /></a>Like every good Swiss mountain there is also a restaurant at the top. We participated fully in celebrating Swiss Day with some traditional Alpenmacaroni and Panaché (beer mixed with lemonade)...mmmm......<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdh19u99xYxF_FilHu2w2YiC-Q01M0vChKhLPXlqBUbsIj77K5oVzFUCNdqopYZaZy2bNs7Rsu7wBwwDvvk6pfZCGuqT6bKPaDQvK0j82I-Zol3KVL5HIb3hs7YG_-gIWYtMJ8bNhJjkE/s1600-h/IMG_9275.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdh19u99xYxF_FilHu2w2YiC-Q01M0vChKhLPXlqBUbsIj77K5oVzFUCNdqopYZaZy2bNs7Rsu7wBwwDvvk6pfZCGuqT6bKPaDQvK0j82I-Zol3KVL5HIb3hs7YG_-gIWYtMJ8bNhJjkE/s320/IMG_9275.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425721410615914562" border="0" /></a>Good thing we work off all these calories with the hikes and bike rides! There were many more Thursday night rides...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UN56VWdg4tFuHnmJGdoUA730a9cJr8ka3zDuiv38MNE_2KJHk9CXgcHPGALxLcLvUwB7BwB7M6gmHPaLTjERIH4u5cSGRqOFOfcrbZ2wJzjqqYcC8d3iA8_n60pblvxZ801ThyphenhyphenOm0ELm/s1600-h/IMG_0562.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UN56VWdg4tFuHnmJGdoUA730a9cJr8ka3zDuiv38MNE_2KJHk9CXgcHPGALxLcLvUwB7BwB7M6gmHPaLTjERIH4u5cSGRqOFOfcrbZ2wJzjqqYcC8d3iA8_n60pblvxZ801ThyphenhyphenOm0ELm/s320/IMG_0562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425721281043754930" border="0" /></a>...and some epic weekend rides too...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisO7v-87LOsD-UTAvg_gAp6oWMtYI-Ct9LPZl0Yf5a6m4mCCKttoyW53SbxAi1vF0EbyncpQYFHgWS0u7gzzSccOjRxCX1ow_hVrQ823mb_hQF4FCCyGHUIU32l9peOsSv7cGH_IUQZGXG/s1600-h/IMG_0622.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisO7v-87LOsD-UTAvg_gAp6oWMtYI-Ct9LPZl0Yf5a6m4mCCKttoyW53SbxAi1vF0EbyncpQYFHgWS0u7gzzSccOjRxCX1ow_hVrQ823mb_hQF4FCCyGHUIU32l9peOsSv7cGH_IUQZGXG/s320/IMG_0622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425721153508631474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTcA50rtHbJKGg4tsT7Y8Hh1RKMKf1UQ80Z-RLF1ILFUTUFDgt9YHtSudnUOCBQKTDuLO0HdQWdoh4SVNfIaDBAB9ugqHkNAkBHmzPeZep8gBj7xl8mDoXntHofc-uDqOHnBIpL6FGiWq/s1600-h/IMG_0645.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTcA50rtHbJKGg4tsT7Y8Hh1RKMKf1UQ80Z-RLF1ILFUTUFDgt9YHtSudnUOCBQKTDuLO0HdQWdoh4SVNfIaDBAB9ugqHkNAkBHmzPeZep8gBj7xl8mDoXntHofc-uDqOHnBIpL6FGiWq/s320/IMG_0645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425721002112481874" border="0" /></a>In August while Jeff was <a href="http://www.ultratrailmb.com/page.php?page=parcoursutmb">running around Mt Blanc</a> (see previous posts for further details), I went on a run of my own from Chamonix (only about one millionth of the distance as his though!) with our friend Kate. She is not known for taking breaks but the weather was just so great we did have to take a jumping break...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBULrCt0ivFf7GmRVWPMTSJ8eZcmGfLLCHtMmhqMCZEQdepRj6XnxM6DoNusvIIyeAsDfrYc1WUCLzxLlnmf2FJkEuENe_RILn1qlEt3kVq1nSvejMv7_-DjtGiq810QM5BqnoVG7pbqso/s1600-h/IMG_0771.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBULrCt0ivFf7GmRVWPMTSJ8eZcmGfLLCHtMmhqMCZEQdepRj6XnxM6DoNusvIIyeAsDfrYc1WUCLzxLlnmf2FJkEuENe_RILn1qlEt3kVq1nSvejMv7_-DjtGiq810QM5BqnoVG7pbqso/s320/IMG_0771.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425720887608748754" border="0" /></a>The practice of jumping at the tops of mountains became quite contagious this year! When my cousin Tiffany and her husband Derek came to visit they got into the act as well...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbctHUIdmYhV4XkrzXq6QtNEGjGPRzq6sgPNyxqZItJcAxOCCurUlA_BQdrQU4FzBmnZyawb0kJse3_dnga1hoJ4cQyELd9b0ACbp60cfn44lcudlDD-1qyBI01DWNZYgASaox0SvaYip/s1600-h/IMG_9321.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbctHUIdmYhV4XkrzXq6QtNEGjGPRzq6sgPNyxqZItJcAxOCCurUlA_BQdrQU4FzBmnZyawb0kJse3_dnga1hoJ4cQyELd9b0ACbp60cfn44lcudlDD-1qyBI01DWNZYgASaox0SvaYip/s320/IMG_9321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425720484106933762" border="0" /></a>And Jeff too... Who says Alphorns are just for music playing...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISLMTEp2kpSHqs-_rAava_AxJuWt0Pm0tlXiNnYDGkuEtwkfwk0h5YFz0btVitn-hNK0uPD3-UnxJwybyLoFVnrBkwpaYtEPQ5xKKpuht-GQYrKWUvV2YKC2um_i4RxxHBMAlhHdp50Jm/s1600-h/IMG_9361.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISLMTEp2kpSHqs-_rAava_AxJuWt0Pm0tlXiNnYDGkuEtwkfwk0h5YFz0btVitn-hNK0uPD3-UnxJwybyLoFVnrBkwpaYtEPQ5xKKpuht-GQYrKWUvV2YKC2um_i4RxxHBMAlhHdp50Jm/s320/IMG_9361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425720370511066130" border="0" /></a>But we do take some calm moments to appreciate the nature and scenery as well...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaZIKR5pLg_hFTBBvQD4Q8U22JxvY8zA2ji2MlSIzof05JZPCo8-6zFHYTdrPZvAIEtvvAxJ86mVDyjxuzTwEUCKOIHqF-M8Ea0p7oTn00LmczNSoSIhJvLRRon0WkI94T0vkGCYKW1cD/s1600-h/IMG_9384.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaZIKR5pLg_hFTBBvQD4Q8U22JxvY8zA2ji2MlSIzof05JZPCo8-6zFHYTdrPZvAIEtvvAxJ86mVDyjxuzTwEUCKOIHqF-M8Ea0p7oTn00LmczNSoSIhJvLRRon0WkI94T0vkGCYKW1cD/s320/IMG_9384.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425720055794813378" border="0" /></a>Now back to jumping! When we went to the U.S. to visit family, they all got into it...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVbFsBR0ueQfBnE3uM43phlTaNAExN53ayxsrrOJNTuXpzhn3QbssNKOnll7XEOCyQN2u1SlMpNhfziF1kyd9ImMiJvwQiNoffg8_Z2SqaJO_1YNqqhgU5cxlA_vr_-Q-08fA9HttBzye/s1600-h/IMG_1456.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVbFsBR0ueQfBnE3uM43phlTaNAExN53ayxsrrOJNTuXpzhn3QbssNKOnll7XEOCyQN2u1SlMpNhfziF1kyd9ImMiJvwQiNoffg8_Z2SqaJO_1YNqqhgU5cxlA_vr_-Q-08fA9HttBzye/s320/IMG_1456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425719894960946466" border="0" /></a>Well not my parents yet, but next time we will get them into it too! It was really great to see everybody. And we had some really nice autumn weather with sunny skies and changing leaves to enjoy while we were there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmGcvrapYSGzPp9HMNvT4HZBA26WVo4bzAp1SqQeV2ihCJVl2_q2nfmeXiyMWQW5nEw9pp5-uXKUURlhKD3CEA3o0ng5ifbC87TrW-U0I6ip8PYyuy0QGozwuLvwt0ydP3uk4-d_YB6SF/s1600-h/IMG_1290.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmGcvrapYSGzPp9HMNvT4HZBA26WVo4bzAp1SqQeV2ihCJVl2_q2nfmeXiyMWQW5nEw9pp5-uXKUURlhKD3CEA3o0ng5ifbC87TrW-U0I6ip8PYyuy0QGozwuLvwt0ydP3uk4-d_YB6SF/s320/IMG_1290.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425727336464351810" border="0" /></a>Back to Europe, it was time to run my first marathon since 1999 - This time in <a href="http://212.19.106.232/B3P_FirenzeMarathon/B3PortalConfig/Pubblico/Modules/Common/WF_HomePubblico.aspx">Florence, Italy</a>. A beautiful place to run through, and of course some great pre- and post-race food too!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONLfbAkQuM7OiaNASbroiXuINTPvMJKTOnugu7lciXGyxvHsFIT55LIJxI9P2LD7vpPLgNxVqOlomYeSs4D2nt-eW7h16QXAR4iIDHEBcMvOSOs8BDRDCbZ_Q8p1JvQaw6foDFEdgfKA2/s1600-h/IMG_1549.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONLfbAkQuM7OiaNASbroiXuINTPvMJKTOnugu7lciXGyxvHsFIT55LIJxI9P2LD7vpPLgNxVqOlomYeSs4D2nt-eW7h16QXAR4iIDHEBcMvOSOs8BDRDCbZ_Q8p1JvQaw6foDFEdgfKA2/s320/IMG_1549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425719809087501170" border="0" /></a>Back in Switzerland, and time for skiing again... We kicked off the season with a nighttime uphill ski race called the <a href="http://picasaweb.google.ch/NightAttackFlumserberg/FranzFeldmannWwwSportfotosCh#">Night Attack</a>, with a few of our crazy comrades...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOQGp55vknvzNdvulZnuIoxsKb5lvc36Wnl6kzbSdLF66DtONCpf8Tni82ijFjd6MNo7wSh_Nhcfw9PfojXwlncNRPshn5VSS6k840YTKRm1_fkqPHug71jYH_j7oXDEhGIZJxcjLCX7Y/s1600-h/IMG_1612.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOQGp55vknvzNdvulZnuIoxsKb5lvc36Wnl6kzbSdLF66DtONCpf8Tni82ijFjd6MNo7wSh_Nhcfw9PfojXwlncNRPshn5VSS6k840YTKRm1_fkqPHug71jYH_j7oXDEhGIZJxcjLCX7Y/s320/IMG_1612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425719537976265218" border="0" /></a>Then it was Christmastime already! We were fortunate for the opportunity to spend it with our "Swiss family" - Here they are celebrating the holiday in a traditional way - involving snow, skis, and going uphill, of course...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPoGr4__2mO-PSKnm44QFzcOVH8I1_f-EGk7J7gEHqnPnh2UQgPMVC3T4Nizz111Kxe5B1cRCutMbS9CXFAgk1hvRkEodfKVeC35FJHfimKfdEGOkhPJqG6HlzXPO_EnzxU7DNa82ZoJd/s1600-h/IMG_1701.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPoGr4__2mO-PSKnm44QFzcOVH8I1_f-EGk7J7gEHqnPnh2UQgPMVC3T4Nizz111Kxe5B1cRCutMbS9CXFAgk1hvRkEodfKVeC35FJHfimKfdEGOkhPJqG6HlzXPO_EnzxU7DNa82ZoJd/s320/IMG_1701.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425719375620679090" border="0" /></a>The Christmas tree is first put out on December 24th. That way it is fresh - which is good since REAL candles are placed on the tree and lighted. It is surprising to see the real flames on the candles balancing on the tree branches, but it is also very beautiful and peaceful.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEhqVnva0hIPJtvl6UB66kQ8m3Oy3EvcJGGdkeXhkPMwxSf0WZ65zan-GMTUK1ePzTg4Owr2DwRTVQz7o3JBvfV44lxRMiPax77-fCyae5htJPE0ewhUkRtxCQMuvVA9fQqxt4PFzp1W1/s1600-h/IMG_1712.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEhqVnva0hIPJtvl6UB66kQ8m3Oy3EvcJGGdkeXhkPMwxSf0WZ65zan-GMTUK1ePzTg4Owr2DwRTVQz7o3JBvfV44lxRMiPax77-fCyae5htJPE0ewhUkRtxCQMuvVA9fQqxt4PFzp1W1/s320/IMG_1712.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425719159668994434" border="0" /></a>We are very thankful to have had so many great times in 2009. Of course there was a lot of work and other responsibilities inbetween, but we are happy to have balanced it out with some fun adventures with great friends.<br /><br />We wish you all a very happy 2010 - May it be filled with happiness and new adventures!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPjUqxVQz1motGRpFS0UsCzXLu6_2Wi0yAwdNdPaOmHO59ssqEQsNbfkYIy_Q8PWWDmKi__otn1e14q0WWeprj1xGRNDjvD4plzyUAXf1CV4LU4HLfFsb5o78oVVG_zcj9oESM5eg7rqx/s1600-h/IMG_0004+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPjUqxVQz1motGRpFS0UsCzXLu6_2Wi0yAwdNdPaOmHO59ssqEQsNbfkYIy_Q8PWWDmKi__otn1e14q0WWeprj1xGRNDjvD4plzyUAXf1CV4LU4HLfFsb5o78oVVG_zcj9oESM5eg7rqx/s320/IMG_0004+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425719004185541154" border="0" /></a>Cheers,<br />Becky and Jeff<br /><br />Special thanks to the friends mentioned above who provided some of the photos!Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908341443193323914noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-18499948580009981882009-09-14T23:23:00.020+02:002009-09-20T00:33:05.489+02:00The Mind Trip: UTMB Race Report Part 3<div style="text-align: left;">I feel nauseous and my teeth are chattering uncontrollably. I fight the urge to whine about feeling utterly terrible, but this doesn’t stop me from complaining just a little about being cold. As a serial over-dresser in scenarios like this, I have most of my cold weather gear on already. It’s not dark yet and I’m not at high elevation – this concerns me. Kate tells me to breathe and to lengthen my stride. She and Mark walk beside me and force me to keep moving. I want to turn back for the warmth of the checkpoint, but Kate encourages me to move into a shuffle. It hurts like hell though. It doesn’t help matters that my stomach feels like I just inhaled a pizza in 3 minutes. “It’s worth it Jeff”, I tell myself. “You needed the nutrition to get through this last bit.” We shuffle along heading out of town. I’m still cold, but the shivering quietly fades and I start to feel decent. Kate continues to guide me through ignoring the pain and quickening my stride.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6as0Kidx_VevnjBo8T-F1soXtegKoiQGekrrUJuEvCb9OTMMRfkvXurLtWLVromuX1Z_UOaRBYSZget7AC0JHZAn37jAye98hgKnenzwkfYQrpY1clg1H1Wxmt_snALPpC7CAgmzEKJw/s320/KateJeffchampex" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383238302898921106" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">blurry shot of Kate helping me out of Champex - Kate says it's blurry because we're running so fast!</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div>Soon we’re actually running and passing loads of people who are still stuck in the moment of suffering that Kate is confidently pulling me out of. She offers some final guidance and words of support and we part at the end of the accompaniment zone. She's really saved me here - I feel like a different guy than the mess who shivered his way out of Champex only 10 minutes ago. I run off into the forest with this short episode of suffering behind me and finally start to think of what remains of the course.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I’m struggling with the math, but I seem to recall that when I ran this section of the course semi-fresh a few weeks ago, it took 9-10 hours. In comparison, when totally fresh I’ve run mountainous trail marathons in half that time. This final marathon covers some brutal terrain though – with several very steep and technical sections. With 24 hours of racing in my body, I have no idea how long it will take tonight. Will I have the performance of my life and magically cover the terrain in 8 hours or will this be a 16-hour sufferfest?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I push on driven by Kate’s advice to cover as much ground as possible before darkness arrives. My climbing legs come alive and I move through the early steep sections at a good pace. I deplore my energy drink now – absolutely can’t stand the taste. The energy gels are equally undesirable. The only food I can stomach comes from the bag with peanut butter sandwiches and a big brownie that Kate gave me in Champex. I stuff this bag in my jacket for easy access and graze as often as I can, always feeling like I’ll get busted by Kate at the next checkpoint if I have any food remaining in the bag. The only fluids I’m taking in now are water and <a href="http://nuun.com/">Nuun</a>, which not surprisingly was the only hydration product I could tolerate (and enjoy) through Marathon des Sables as well.</div><div><br /></div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VHUNJHS5D6ooYUqNH01ETPO6jDkFNzLric8zd6GpUakOQd2RhYcMrIRoPBBom8B1hVzJLbduPbHoYpRdIk5fCC3pxFUsQnhzvR1srYUyg1Xha_6rwDwbzmJ4ycztv9dQGmw2YwGlh9s/s320/utmb_parcours_2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383238553073093314" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">course map, the Champex to Chamonix section is at the top</span></i></span></div><br /><div>There are three big climbs remaining: Bovine, Catogne and La Tête aux Vents. These are the most challenging climbs (in steepness and terrain) of the entire race and they’re all stacked at the end when the fatigue is at its greatest.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nightfall flirts about for half an hour and finally moves in for good. I relent and take a moment to put my headlamp on – delaying this action until the last possible moment as if my act of defiance in ignoring darkness will somehow postpone it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I laugh at how ludicrous the climb to Bovine is – rocky sections that require scrambling up using hand-holds and terrain so steep it forms a natural ladder, with giant step-ups on rocks and roots. It’s a ridiculous route for a run. I hate it. I love it.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the descent to Trient, I’m again fighting to get my legs to move. The trail is very rough here – so full of rocks that for the first time in the race I’m super cautious about trying to run downhill in the dark. I think I hear cowbells – yes, definitely cowbells. The rhythm is odd though – not like the pleasant sound when bell-laden cows are grazing in the Swiss countryside -- more like fans ringing bells at a mountaintop finish, but too irregular. Is it a group of kids ringing oversized cowbells to cheer us on? I continue to pick my way carefully down the steep slope when suddenly my eyes meet a giant black cow with horns – directly in front of me covering the entire path! I leap off the trail before careening into this frightening beast that has emerged from the darkness just to absolutely horrify exhausted runners. We exchange stares – with me looking for an escape route and the cow likely wanting me to get than damn light out of its eyes!</div><div><br /></div><div>I stare in disbelief as the cow tries to climb a steep section of rocks that I had so carefully just climbed down. Several other cows fill the trail, all intent on ascending the path us runner types are desperately trying to safely scramble down in the darkness. The lead cow grunts and slips back on the rocks before finally making an aggressive charge up the rocky slope. I’m not quite sure how to handle the cows and those horns – they’re really freaking me out. Why in the world are they out here unescorted and trying to make a midnight ascent of an insanely steep slope? Are they thinking essentially the same thing about us? Wouldn’t it suck to DNF this race because I was gored?</div><div><br /></div><div>One by one these horned cows have a go at the slope, so I slowly pick my way through the forest alongside the trail to bypass the midnight stampede and proceed to argue with my legs for nearly an hour to get them to move for a less painfully slow descent to the beginning of the next climb in Trient.</div><div><br /></div><div>From Trient, I have two major climbs to go –- once I make Valorcine though (start of the last climb) I’m confident that I can finish on adrenaline. The climb back into France scares me. It’s another steep one. It’s very lonely on the long descent into Trient and seems to take forever. After what feels like (and may be) a few hours, I run into the charming village of Trient at a decent clip and suddenly find myself in the bright lights of the checkpoint. Looking around I see lots of people sleeping, resting, and just not moving. The energy here is weird – I don’t like it. I’m afraid that it will suck me in and I’ll never be able to leave. Nearly in a mild panic, I refill one water bottle, grab a handful of food, and bolt. On the way out of the checkpoint I start to doubt myself – thinking that I should take time for some warm soup and perhaps a nature stop, but the fear of getting stuck in Trient overwhelms my thoughts and I’m soon on the trail again starting the climb back to France.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another lonely and difficult climb passes fairly quickly and I’m soon high on a ridge with stunning nighttime views into Switzerland. The lights of the valleys below and the heavens above play tricks with my mind, but I’m so engrossed in the majesty of it all that I lose track of time and purpose and simply follow along on the trail. A cold wind snaps me out of this trance. I stop mid-trail and pull my remaining layers out of my pack. I’m wearing all my clothes and still can’t get warm.</div><div><br /></div><div>I’m greeted by a friendly, but sleepy ‘Bon soir. Ca va?’ upon my arrival at the very tiny checkpoint at Catogne. A fire burns in a ring beside the checkpoint – I stop for 20 seconds to warm my hands and quickly decide that I must flee the seduction of the warm fire. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0f8pSyJKObLYWmAFIWtjM_4eMusZe8I0Wtq7zic_mjjyUjltQqvC4qGRdNhHlVhfK1byL7lbbi1daBco5jWotcZolyBWBQ65aUHn9kvRpdR640mAKaGEGGOhUzsXVL5UMyYhXdj4gjrY/s320/IMG_0858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383237758567321458" border="0" /><div><div>Sleep deprivation finally makes its presence known as I spot what appears to be a dragon on the side of the trail. I don’t react in fear though, as my mind has immediately worked out that this isn’t a real dragon. Oh no, that would be crazy. This is merely an intricate painting of a dragon on a large rock – how odd that someone would paint such a large dragon on a rock in the middle of this Alpine wilderness. As I approach the painting, it vanishes revealing only the underlying rock. So, it was just a plain rock all along. What’s happening to my mind?<i> This is the first of many hallucinations that will occur the next 6 hours.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>The descent into Valorcine feels very lonely. I’m not sure where everyone is and often wonder if I’m still on course. The trail is a bit technical here, especially given the fatigue and darkness. I’m not able to work myself into a run and this really disappoints me. I’m in no mood to walk another descent, but my feet hurt every time I seemingly slam them into the ground.</div><div><br /></div><div>I need to sleep. Ok, I will – I’ll sleep at Valorcine. I’m far enough ahead of the 46-hour time limit that I can sleep a few hours and leave for Chamonix at sunrise. I should call Becky now and tell her not to come to Valorcine. She can just sleep in and meet me in Chamonix at a decent mid-day time on Sunday. No problem – sleep awaits me soon in Valorcine.</div><div><br /></div><div>I now enter a trail section that is covered by … what is this … oh, it’s bratwurst. There are hundreds of them – everywhere I step, I squash a bratwurst. I try to walk to the side of the trail to avoid them, but I can’t seem to escape the bratwurst layer that covers the forest. My eyes refocus and the bratwurst turn into pine cones. Oh, pine cones – so it’s not bratwurst. I should have known that, but my mind is intent on dancing away from reality. </div><div><br /></div><div>I run out of the forest into Valorcine. I forgot to call Becky to update her on my sleep plans earlier – I’ll just talk with her here and decide then about sleeping. Maybe I should just try to continue. There are several bonfires burning just outside the checkpoint. I have no idea what time it is now – not sure I even know the difference between 11PM and 4AM. Becky and Kate are both waiting in Valorcine, along with another friend from Zurich (who makes a surprise middle of the night appearance). It’s 2:30AM.</div><div><br /></div></div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6aIi-U_Ro6iMGF8GbAqvn8YalKF3k0r751-GKk_goRMXViAmnIMgMdQ1BOBngJL1tuuox8sQeadj9A17iR3pqmlYaPHGntdlTfzH_3QWwPvRPeiLmbji2TXFHupbGZxCwDG46hlDrpA/s320/IMG_0866.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383237677265182274" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div>I’m very happy to see them, yet I’m consumed with guilt for making them wait on me. Why couldn’t I run faster? Why did I make them wait until 2am for my arrival?</div><div><br /></div><div>I enter the checkpoint and walk to meet them in the large food tent. I’m in a great mood, but clearly in a fog. They tell me to take some soup and offer me extra warm clothes. It’s freezing cold at this checkpoint, so I’m really worried about the final climb above 2000 meters in the pre-dawn hours above treeline. I take all the warm layers they can offer and change into a dry base layer.</div><div><br /></div></div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsgYmtuFRn5wC4hJGa-zUwCL6aSHa2yiwj44sJNE80XyGCcYqhnXA777n7So5mxhzke-fjerfhK2qsPDLnbpvfoXhQH5WWPmGLS5DcaDSdJ2-lhfWjY8v7yItLU247vevW604Co4HUUc/s320/IMG_0862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383237574774454866" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i>Kate and Becky staying warm in Valorcine</i></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunS2bA09q-qntib6W6bu466PFLb9lY8rm0_jlgSkJAjRmUgDxLDPdsXcmhkh1GVoyiEZ-7QTLc7ZVAHVLiznfFZnPN8tbMXv44KjDTARNOSA4QwEpaaiMFiynPHsmJqSb_jFaPNeGY9A/s320/IMG_0868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383237334389213090" border="0" /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRagELzKc8N55DOK-ZhJQWntI17i_Ph0eB0A95swyYOIS0zr1zKMgR1Nwqf5akfnRNbzQr-8mzkGxhMH_cywVk2TxXDbC82lJB4baa3QzZ5wFp-tKjHF2nTmh9bo-8FK0Sdn0dKIw8WQg/s320/IMG_0870.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383237168086788450" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">in great spirits</span></i></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZgpi9ISpI8adEJ_3jFRqLKWnlCC-bDdZ7WdTEgmClWRt4nZvnI9JSLj7Q0lbpJCVeVJXJMyiFNAORtkYLnlYRY43OzKSQdcG3MhyP9GAXZPywfwfj5qhZh8M5SpUlWhWNijqrkBSGp8/s320/IMG_0872.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383237045461672322" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">enjoying a bowl of soup before setting off into the darkness</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div>Becky tells me it’ll likely take me at least 4 hours to make the last part of the course into Chamonix. Four more hours -- really? What is 4 hours though -- is that a long time or will it pass in a flash? Time no longer makes sense to me. I stock up on food, say my goodbyes and set off on the trail. My mood plummets upon exiting the checkpoint as I’m convinced that I have 8.5 km of gradual uphill before the big climb begins. I start to weave on the trail and nearly fall asleep several times. I strike up a conversation with the runner beside me – hoping that she speaks English and can make enough sense of my multi-lingual nonsensical introductory comment “fall asleep, ich bin … trés fatigue”. Turns out she’s Swiss and speaks perfect English (of course), so we chat for a bit, with me trying a little German – which in my state of mind probably translated to “I am a train with sleepy sausage dragons. Paper plate or toothpaste?”</div><div><br /></div><div>I see Becky one last time at the Col des Montets and then set off on the final climb. It was only a few KM from Valorcine, not 8.5KM – thank goodness! With this positive outcome, I come alive again on the climb and manage to push the pace up an incredibly steep set of switchbacks. My legs are now moving, but my mind checks out by taking a magic carpet ride. I spot a mini-bus parked on a tiny ledge half way up the cliff face. How did it get here? Was it air-lifted in? Why? Why in the world would someone put a mini-bus here? I get closer and realize that it’s not real. It’s just a carving – yes, someone has carved a bus into the rock. What a tremendous effort someone made to carve this giant rock into a mini-bus! No, no. It’s not a carving, it’s a painting – no – not a painting, wait … it’s just a rock.</div><div><br /></div><div>The trail narrows – I choose a line toward the edge because it looks smoother. I look off to my right – it’s a straight drop off the mountain. I should be concerned now. I’m imagining buses parked on a rock face – how is it that I’m staying on the trail? One wrong step … well, just stay awake and that won’t be a problem.</div><div><br /></div><div>I catch up to a long line of runners – the lead guy is really struggling. He loses the route many times and seems to fall asleep and stumble often. I finally work my way past him. All these guys are French. I want to speak with them – to offer an encouraging word, but I let the language barrier get in the way. I regret this. I manage to utter a fairly language-independent “ok?” to several of the guys, but we’ve all resorted to faint grunts at this stage, so I’m not sure if I heard good grunts or bad ones in response. I pass the guys and push on alone toward the high point.</div><div><br /></div><div>I notice a couple of stranded hikers off the trail and my heart races. They are crouched beside a rock using their backpacks as shelter from the cold and wind. I walk off trail toward them thinking that I can offer some water and my foil emergency blanket. I can also call for help. Surely someone in the race crew can get here to help them. As I get closer, I see that it’s just a rock that looks like people – and then, it’s just a rock, that looks nothing like people. I’m losing it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I climb and climb with the stranded hiker scenario repeating itself at least a dozen times. On the bright side, I am thinking more about these poor (imaginary) hikers than about climbing, so time passes quickly. Little reflective markers outline the route. I follow a pattern of making a few steps up the rocky path, looking up until my light catches a sparkle of the reflective tape, adjusting course, and then making a few more steps.</div><div><br /></div><div>At last, I reach the cairn that marks the high point of the final climb. It’s very dark now. The stars, my God, they’re stunning. I start the descent in a hurry – it’s a race after all, but suddenly force myself to come to a complete stop. I recall standing in this same spot 3 weeks ago during my 3-day reccy run of the course and feeling a sadness that my time in the mountains was drawing to an end. I feel the same sadness now. Standing on this spot, I take in my surroundings. This is why I’m here – it’s about the mountains and their immense majesty and power, not about the finish line. Off to my left I can see the faint outline of the jagged peaks comprising the Mont Blanc massif. The longer I gaze, the more detail I can see. A large glacier, a stunning mountain range, the Milky Way. In these pre-dawn moments high above Chamonix and with tears in my eyes, I experience a high point in my 35+ hours on the course so far.</div><div><br /></div><div>I let go of the moment and begin the descent. While I remain in great spirits, I now spiral into a weird state of dreaming while running. My mind is racing, hopping from one random thought to another – not just hopping though, it’s diving deep into these thoughts, so deep that I keep forgetting I’m running and keep waking myself up by tripping over rocks. Too many near misses – this is getting dangerous. Perhaps math will wake me up. I start with 7x7 – then move to more complicated multiplication in my head. I’m somehow nailing every calculation instantly. I’m amazed at myself for correctly calculating 17x13, 24x14, etc. without hesitation. I snap out of this dream state by laughing at the sudden recognition that I have no clue if my answers are really correct! I'm just saying answers immediately and congratulating myself on having the skills of a 12-year old math genius when I answer: 24x14 = plastic bottle cap.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another block of time passes without me noticing and soon the sun rises for the second time of the race. I’m now beginning the final 7KM descent into Chamonix. The skies are clear and Mont Blanc is in full view – it’s hugely motivating and I have brief images of charging hard for the final 7K to the finish, but my legs just won’t go. When I try to run, my feet throb on every single impact. I try and try to move into a shuffle, but I can’t make it stick. The descent to the valley feels extremely long and I’m super nervous on the final single track section as a fall now could snap an ankle and require me to crawl to the finish or abandon the race with the finish in sight. I want the finish now. Don’t blow it Jeff.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_JXV6nuYfk9it0e5dQCjnjXKIzgemcLccamwEm1bebKh5EvS84rM9k5ftwDMg7LXltCkcE8GXE-e05y6w9WIlAmaNtKcb_63Kj2Sp0zGw_JFCfCC6siFPa7ZFgkXm3-rVt_njMYwL74/s320/IMG_0877.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383253611355867618" /></div><div>Once I hit the streets of Chamonix, the pain vanishes. The view of Mont Blanc is so inspiring that it nullifies the intense pain my feet felt only moments ago. I run hard, like I’m sprinting for a 5K finish. A few hundred meters before the finish line I see my crew. They run beside me to celebrate this special moment. I’m overjoyed. A sprint finish is utterly useless in a race this long, but I can’t stop the adrenaline that’s surging through my system. I push hard for the finish line and as I’m passing a fellow runner in sight of the finish line, he turns to me and grabs my shoulder to offer a heartfelt congratulation. I’m dumbfounded. I was so caught up in sprinting for the finish that I wouldn’t have thought to share the moment with another finisher, whom I didn’t even recognize from the course, but just shared an epic journey with. I feel guilty for my selfishness and offer back to him some sincere and positive energy to share the happy moment together.</div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlN8F6oB-Iq9oCZY-mFjhsE0sadlPmI7jpu79UkotqH_zpKF63eKGLp4Kn0CMqqVvhsuOnB2zYIpxMVnp2PR-dWRfOTvUIWXy0MrYKeWyvvQ4yyIR8RFvYCYvKIX8WID0UcfTuLRL9-zQ/s320/7683190.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383236492395517282" border="0" /><div>I cross the finish line and expect a huge emotional release, but it doesn’t happen. I’m so depleted, so emotionally spent that there’s simply nothing left to give. I left all my emotions on the course. Now, I’m just … finished with a run. It’s weird – I want to shout in joy – I want to cry – but nothing happens. I do smile though. I smile a lot. In hindsight my goodbye to the course happened in those pre-dawn moments at the top of the last climb, not at the finish line. This emotional farewell to the UTMB wasn’t the one I envisioned, but it’s oh, so appropriate.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKKgCjsVF7QIcOkiV24In3m_HkY0dk3gJ_mS6M-Jd61kQL2sXBBRlIYGeTtKXI8R9Jj7n1HEyPHRJi9ojDe9q9MWUqbnGvuvR-UJll7wzzFlDzpZejZ5f4UpRv0oAbKTJgicgEdHcUWk/s1600-h/IMG_0887.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKKgCjsVF7QIcOkiV24In3m_HkY0dk3gJ_mS6M-Jd61kQL2sXBBRlIYGeTtKXI8R9Jj7n1HEyPHRJi9ojDe9q9MWUqbnGvuvR-UJll7wzzFlDzpZejZ5f4UpRv0oAbKTJgicgEdHcUWk/s320/IMG_0887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383236341173047442" border="0" /></a><div>In the end, it was a lot less about crossing the finish line in Chamonix than it was about the surreal journey. When I think back about the experience, my fondest memories are the moments that seemed the most dire at the time, the moments where I thought of quitting but pushed on, the moments when my crew was there for me, and those special moments of camaraderie with fellow runners and supporters along the way. These were the moments that transcended language, culture, and nationality -- moments you really have to cherish in life.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IKEi3DQEm_r_Kc3kOv57_5vcaZhoRxm77pM2NS2rv6bK3YE30io0L0QZBGdUhMIqW0UF8mDswiqbQ6_WWFRkgyhqWD77UkHb_XKA65v3Algx3zrqLHV2oVMT_6MW_W2ghA7lAB-ZMd8/s320/IMG_0896.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381437181482872018" border="0" /></div><div>My sincere thanks for those who read this story and those who offered such wonderful support along the way. You’re the best, folks and you have my deepest respect! Huge thanks also to Becky and <a href="http://www.peakfitness.ch/">Kate</a> for excellent crewing and sacrifice of sleep and to my coach <a href="http://coachingendurance.com/index.shtml/">Matt Hart</a>, who helped me immensely in realizing my dream of finishing the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc and dramatically improving my overall performance and fitness this year.</div><div><br /></div><div>-- Jeff</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh yeah, as for stats: I finished at 7:40 AM on Sunday in 363rd place after having a journey of a lifetime out on the course for 37 hours and 10 minutes. 2300 people started the race and over 800 weren't fortunate enough to reach the finish with the 46-hour cut-off.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg55z7k-9uayTO16Ee4t4aM08j-UA-eZdfkgtFJsSUq0LBYMZOK-qDaAfNvyP8fK6-65U1AJQpkVuGRuLyDC4D53J3aXLF7I3S5VOl14Eh-pW5wJ_iE22M6sezN3jLxQnEc7G9VTrfuo/s1600-h/utmb_parcours_2009.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Jeff Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10046883456301015459noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-23764591740352525152009-09-12T13:13:00.019+02:002009-09-13T20:37:15.407+02:00The Brochure Didn’t Lie: UTMB Race Report Part 2<div>Courmayeur to Champex</div><div>Distance covered upon Champex Arrival: 123km (76 miles)</div><div>Elevation gained: +6,899 meters (+22,634 feet)</div><div><br /></div><div>My time in Courmayeur refuels my body and mind. In the warm sunshine awakening this Italian alpine village, I try not to think about the fact that I have 20+ hours of running to go. Sure, the thought enters my mind, but it simply doesn’t compute. I’m still coming to grips with running the 14 hours I just finished, which is my longest run ever. Another sunset and sunrise while still running is just so mind-boggling that it makes me dizzy to even give it a moment’s thought.</div><div><br /></div><div>Head in full spin, I head off into the streets of Courmayeur toward a climb that I know to be surprisingly tough. Steep, forested climbs are always so much more challenging for me than their high alpine counterparts that soar high above tree line. It’s amazing how much energy stunning mountain views provide on a climb – energy that must be mustered internally when you’re stuck in the trees working through an endless procession of switchbacks.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3V9mUgcd20Z3yu_CH8Ov2nMt_Hn6Hd9PxHUUBzJMC_QVgX2UvQxTnc2GssiswLzPmfhg4qM2knuzjxzPXCP2J-fbEBepF-nB_mYKD_TyBc0Mc5aNz_Uo_PNM7lQO44VjY4Ly5TZf_HQA/s320/IMG_0046.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380539640344501666" /></div><div>To my pleasant surprise, I feel fairly good on this climb – certainly stronger than my climb into Italy in the dark pre-dawn hours of the early morning today. I push my way up through numerous rocky switchbacks and finally top out on a breathtakingly scenic section of the course. A flat, grassy area appears to my left and tries to seduce me to be unfaithful to my race plan. Oh, how strong the urge is to lie down in the grass, feel the sun on my face, and take a nap!</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">I resist this sultry temptation and shuffle onward. After 15 hours on my feet, it’s now taking more effort to get my legs moving into full-on running mode when on the flats and descents. I’m on high ridge that offers dreamy trail running – dreamy as in awesome singletrack, fields of wildflowers, and endless views of the Mont Blanc massive. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjskKht2AOZeCNR9x2roaclM23reozG6qAVm9VKo6C3IQp4PkI4E7zLCnnj5Zs4fXAwqVdeeckMfLhrnv05ATZBtcoUFmh74GeefF-_FNKxjlwpC69bBrOTSQKJbQ8vGaHryklwcBoSt0/s320/IMG_0048.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380538635641638690" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Far to the south, you can see the pass from where we entered Italy at sunrise and to the north, the pass we’ll soon climb to enter Switzerland. The surrounding jagged peaks and massive glaciers epitomize how I’d always imagined the Alps in the days before I was lucky enough to have them as a playground. I’m in heaven on this part of the course. Lifted by majestic scenery, my legs come alive again -- running suddenly seems secondary and my mind dances high in the peaks above.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQKAlsmNpXKjWwGD769D4Uuh15_8vTOeqqycS6YA6KLQxHKBZ_e5VV-ulXzvCbB_ov4Rdg-FLANmEh4c41cBN5krnhpXyNZT9W_CwAef_g2GucynjV8Kp-Rj8ZM9l1rhr7XwpXOh1ZjY/s320/7657905.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380537911580492546" /><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Quite high on life mixed with a heavy dose of endorphins, I make a quick descent into Arnuva. This is the last place I’ll see Becky until I’ve run through the Swiss section of the course and re-entered France – probably 10 or more hours from now. I’m quite happy to see my smiling wife. She has a great selection of food and drink for me, so I have a quick mini-lunch. I know I can’t linger at this checkpoint though. This doesn’t change the temptation – just a little more food, a little more conversation, perhaps a tiny nap. I fight these urges, say bye to Becky, and then set off for the Grand Col Ferret – the high pass that marks the Italian-Swiss border.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HfouwZcEqP4aNDn3CD_9AZA9CO_SH7F7fVbxtCutoY0TbhoSKWVHn8hHq7oveeM4iUkkUis7D9jDEIfAdAFIa0iUO4YPRfy55zWjnVkBJrWyb9wnXcSE-IOYNLmiDKEDIVwKO9RNcmY/s320/IMG_0841.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380539768335333458" /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">a short break in Arnuva</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPokGmSAnr_RfH1ReuYtD7ugvR2M4LX8V14rROuCi55LZu37Y9ZvctPKV3tF4wu_K6Cbeg1kwX8BLZqJf0HKZRDqAWksJr3DXOWwnwrXM9cDW_NZ1YFAzjqPFT3fWbBQb8rxzertrhxs/s1600-h/IMG_0847.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPokGmSAnr_RfH1ReuYtD7ugvR2M4LX8V14rROuCi55LZu37Y9ZvctPKV3tF4wu_K6Cbeg1kwX8BLZqJf0HKZRDqAWksJr3DXOWwnwrXM9cDW_NZ1YFAzjqPFT3fWbBQb8rxzertrhxs/s320/IMG_0847.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380538936252417106" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: center;">looking up to the Grand Col Ferret</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div>Halfway to the pass I make a quick medical stop to self-treat a blister before it turns into a big problem. I lose nearly 10-minutes here, but with my coach’s guidance in mind, I figure it’s far better than losing a few hours or having to abandon the race later. I continue on and feel really good about my pace up to the pass.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9F6l3x3bZPiIhSkeFvIywmBUYlbA-ixJ4xReIj2e4GyqhrcajuqRtZywSgbmrcJ6dlJ51WFMXsegTqrLGjXH43wZS5vFGC5rQX7lFK7Dniwv2xHCzcT9Q8rwyUJvJWGZw7_oYp2bfj0/s320/7687827.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380538794600005778" /></div><div>At the top, it’s very cold with high winds blasting across the border. I desperately need water now – I left Arnuva with a full load of water and drink mix, but I consumed it all on the climb and need a refill for the long descent. The checkpoint at the pass is tiny and appears to only have an emergency shelter tent. Several runners enter for warmth, but the last thing I want is a false respite from the weather – I want to get down the pass quickly, where I know I’ll find warmth in the valley floor! I skip the break and subsequently the water re-supply. I proceed to hammer the descent into Switzerland, running strong fueled by the great views as well as fond memories of running this section hard a few months ago. My feet are light and somehow fall exactly where needed to support a quick descent to warmth and easier terrain. I re-pass the dozens of runners who had passed me on the climb during my blister repair break.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4POh-tzWlHkJjHhOX-_sBrxqAXrW3f3YS2j-I37tfLhQ9Jxyb2lcHh5bAA_upJen5bCtKermD7yjoxpYkX16NDu-PjLpWtegIsg0P02MSF5hr59i05A4bp7Or_EYtZ1yUZF-WwjJQ0fM/s320/IMG_0049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380538544649190674" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I buzz through the very tiny village of Le Peule, disappointed to still not find an aid station with water, but with a good enough pace going that I don’t want to stop for a water search. I run hard all the way into La Fouly (10KM from the pass). I’m driven by Becky telling me in Arnuva that my friends online had been commenting on my position and movement up in the field. While I really don’t care much about my overall position, I want to run this section to La Fouly hard as a tribute to those who are following along and sending in notes of support. <i>(In hindsight I probably ran this section much too hard, but at the time it was hugely motivational to lay down a blistering pace as a tribute to my friends!)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Still behind on my planned caloric intake and now dehydrated after a hard hour of running with no water from the pass, I take some extra time in La Fouly to rehydrate, refill my bottle and camelback, and eat. I shift from cookies and cakes to sausage and chocolate – odd, but it is the one combination I can tolerate and it helps get calories back into my depleted system. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The afternoon sun in La Fouly makes another effort at seduction: “Just take a small nap Jeff. You can doze right here on this bench and no one will know.” I fight this recurring urge to sleep and once again win – but just barely.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The La Fouly to Champex section is the one I’ve been dreading. It’s 21KM, rolling along a valley and then climbing to reach Champex. Doing math in my head, I realize now that I’ll be hard-pressed to finish in under 40 hours. That would be 6 hours before the cut-off, but not as close to the 30 hours as I’d envisioned as a target in the days leading up to the race. I told myself last night that it would be my last full night of running through the darkness, thinking I’d only have a few hours in the dark Saturday night – now it looks like I’ll have a full night out and will likely finish the race in the early morning light of Sunday.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It takes a long time to transition back to running coming out of La Fouly – and this is over relatively easy terrain. It’s after 4PM now – I’ve been out for 22 hours and my legs are starting to protest. I give all my efforts to force a slow shuffle and I’m surprised at how hard it is to make this shuffle work. I alternate between walking and very slow shuffle running. This is extremely frustrating – I should be able to cover 21 rolling kilometers in less than 2 hours, but my legs just won’t move. I stick with the repeated attempts at running and finally after 45 minutes my legs loosen and I’m running again. Right as I’m finally getting control of my legs, I feel myself getting seriously sleepy for the first time in the race. I wonder if it would be possible to doze just a little bit while continuing to run. I pass lots of runners on a singletrack section through the forest. I’m very happy that my legs have loosened up, so I push the pace a little. My legs are cooperating now, but I’m getting more and more sleepy as time passes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Suddenly I’m airborne. I thrust my left hand to the ground just before impact and take the brunt of the fall on my hand and left leg. I roll a couple times and lie for a moment on the side of the trail hoping that nothing is broken. My hand and leg are bleeding and starting to throb with pain, but nothing feels like serious damage. All the runners I passed in the section where my legs came back to life now pass me. They ask in French if I need help. I tell them I’m fine, although I really don’t know if I’m fine. What I do know is that I’m frustrated – I’m frustrated about falling, frustrated that it took so long for my legs to wake up after the last checkpoint, and frustrated at this stupid 21KM section that isn’t high in the mountains where I’m the happiest. I want this section over and done with – I want to be in Champex NOW!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I limp for 10 minutes or so -- my lower left leg hurts, but I think it will be ok. I’m disappointed to be passed by others whom I passed before the fall. I try to clean out my hand wound on the go, but decide it’s too much trouble. I’ll deal with it in Champex.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It’s at this moment that I recall the often brutal directness of the UTMB race guide – with statements such as: DON’T FORGET: IT’S HARD! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The guide goes on to state:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The regulations are specific in all imaginable dimensions: mountain ultra-trails are difficult races. You must be fully aware of the difficulties of the event before leaving, to be autonomous, to know how to manage difficult climatic conditions, not to cry if you fall, and to understand that this is not the role of the organization to treat muscular pain, digestive problems and other aches. One could say that this is ‘adventure’. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, the brochure said it would be hard. That’s the point – it’s supposed to be an epic challenge, an adventure, a ridiculous test of human endurance. With this in mind, I decide not to cry about my fall and that I must simply forget about it. My attitude improves and the pain goes away. I somehow manage to run and climb the rest of the way into Champex at a decent clip. On the outskirts of the village, I see my crew of Kate and Mark. They escort me into the checkpoint, offering encouraging words the whole way. I’m so happy to see them – friends at a time like this are priceless. Kate immediately takes charge of her inaugural crewing experience with the confidence and skill of a seasoned professional. At this stage of the race, this is exactly what I need and she knew it more than I did.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Champex checkpoint is a major one, second only to the halfway stop at Courmayeur, but much more critical to one’s success in this race. Champex is the breaking point of the course – the checkpoint where many runners exit the race or succumb to fatigue, sleep for several hours, and then make a desperate race for the 46-hour cut-off for an official finish. I’ve figured all along if I could just make Champex, I’d be able to tough it through the final 43 mountainous kilometers to the finish. I never put much thought into how I would feel in Champex – 24 hours into the race – or what I’d need to do in Champex to 1) make it out of the checkpoint and 2) refuel for the last 8-12+ hours of the race. Fortunately for me, Kate thought about all of this in advance. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">She instructs me to get a plate of pasta, hands me a bag of other food items she brought, and makes me eat. Aside from small bowls of bouillon, this is the first warm food I’ve eaten in well over 24 hours. While I’m eating, she tends to my gear, treats an annoying blister, reminds me to continue eating when my mind starts to drift, and constantly fills my mind with motivational and positive thoughts. She tells me that she’s loaning me her energy for the next section of the course. She also tells me that it’s important I keep moving quickly to make as much progress as possible before darkness arrives. I’m in great spirits, but definitely in a fog at this moment. From eating to changing into warm layers, I’m moving in slow motion. Without Kate prompting me to take actions, I think I'd sit here for an hour just contemplating putting my shoes back on or how to pack away my blister kit.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the 100-mile races in North America, it’s common to have a pacer after the halfway point. This isn’t allowed at UTMB though. The only time you can have anyone join you is in a designated area before and after the major checkpoints. At Champex, the accompaniment zone was surprisingly several kilometers long. This allowed Kate to escort me out of the village back onto the trails. I exit the checkpoint after 7PM. The cool evening air is a shock and with blood shifted to my stomach, my body reacts by shaking and bring on waves of nausea. My teeth chatter and my legs feel really stiff. I want to turn around and walk back to the warmth of the checkpoint – perhaps some hot tea or bouillon will help me get through this. Maybe another 30 minutes at the checkpoint will help turn things around and better set me up for the long night ahead.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To be continued ...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Stay tuned for the final chapter “The Mind Trip” – it’s on the way real soon!</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Jeff Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10046883456301015459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-88185647369688541782009-09-08T16:00:00.020+02:002009-09-08T23:39:04.861+02:00The Parade: UTMB 2009 Race Report Part 1Chamonix to Courmayeur<br />Distance: 0-78KM / 0-48 miles<br />Elevation: +4200 meters / +13,800 feet<br /><br />In the hours leading up to the 6:30pm start of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB), I find myself in an uncommon state of pre-race anxiety. After countless sacrifices and over 250 hours of training the past 4 months with UTMB as my main goal, this week has brought out what feels link a chink in my armor. My body just hasn’t felt right: stomach problems, cold symptoms, an underlying fatigue, etc. Logic tells me that this is all driven by my body’s response to a break in the heavy training cycle and to the stress of putting it all on the line for a race so epic that my mind fails to comprehend the undertaking. Logic doesn’t always win though, so I’m constantly thinking: “What if this gets worse? What if I’m sick during the race? What if the sickness results in a failure to finish?” I’m also constantly kicking these thoughts out because I know better. Nonetheless, they continue to return – to haunt me in these waning moments before the race starts.<br /><br />I pack and re-pack my backpack a dozen times, worrying that it’s much too heavy. I can’t find anything to jettison though – all the mandatory gear is there: headlamp, extra batteries, waterproof shell, whistle, and emergency blanket. The other items seem necessary too: gloves, food, long-sleeve layer, phone. My biggest fear gear-wise: getting too cold high on a windy pass in the middle of the night. I can’t toss out more clothes and I can’t find any other items to leave behind, so my pack will weigh what it weighs and I’ll have to deal with it.<br /><br />After time moved so slowly all day, it’s moving quickly now and I must hurry off to hand over my Courmayeur drop-bag. Courmayeur is roughly the halfway point and the items in my drop-bag, food and clothing, will be very useful for the second half of the course.<br /><br />I make one last check online where messages of support are still coming in – I don’t want to let my friends down -- these messages of support are so powerful and will give me much fuel late in the race. I post a final message on Twitter -- “heading to the start now -- it's time to chase a dream! Thanks all for your rockin' support!” – and exit the hotel with both an intense focus and a fear like I’m heading off on a war march.<br /><br />Chamonix is in party mode, full of festive energy that's stacked uneasily on an undercurrent of tension. Spectators and music fill the streets, smiles and cheers abound, and ultra runners silently freak out. While the friends, family, and tourists are cheering and dancing in the streets, you can see a special look on the runner’s faces. We’re at the precipice of a challenge that few, including ourselves, can comprehend. We're battling with anxiety, with self-doubt, with countless mental checklists. Will we be strong enough? Can we control our bodies and minds? Are we blind to the danger and risk we’ll be tackling in the mountains? Will we exit the course under our own power by crossing the finish line in Chamonix or will we exit via a helicopter rescue? Will all of our intensive training lead to the self-fulfillment and joy we desire or will we fail and struggle with regret for a year until we can attempt this again?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf84NHEeWcMgu9-aPhR7PJiahNqfvSXFSIacP6O4oc8ijFTenxKjKCc5zbzN7NvZXQ3QRYDhAXKbSPOf02UpGLZ9U64-X0wnLo1Y8FFywXKs2MXNAiUxjugsbywOB6RUQyb7gyARJjuDk/s1600-h/IMG_0795.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf84NHEeWcMgu9-aPhR7PJiahNqfvSXFSIacP6O4oc8ijFTenxKjKCc5zbzN7NvZXQ3QRYDhAXKbSPOf02UpGLZ9U64-X0wnLo1Y8FFywXKs2MXNAiUxjugsbywOB6RUQyb7gyARJjuDk/s320/IMG_0795.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379120300330696450" border="0" /></a>My crew, wife Becky and friend Kate, manage to locate me in the moments before the start. We trade hugs and they do their best to keep me calm and charged with positive energy. I drift away to the start line, where my mind had already drifted an hour ago. The race announcer asks all runners to close their eyes for a few minutes. The race theme, Conquest of Paradise, loudly fills the streets of Chamonix during these moments.<br /><br /><embed src="http://hillseekers.com/audio/conquest.mp3" autostart="false" loop="false" controls="console" width="144" height="62"></embed><br /><br />(If you really want to get a sense for the moment, click the audio link above, close your eyes, and imagine yourself there -- ready to embark on this epic journey, full of both excitement and fear. Imagine seeing the majestic Mont Blanc and a spectacular glacier flowing down the mountainside into this charming Alpine village. Feel the warm sunshine on your face and see yourself staring down a challenge that you've put your heart and soul into, but don't know for certain if you're up to it. Soak in life, soak in the sounds, and then re-enter the rest of the story with a taste of what it was like to live in this moment.)<br /><br />I stand facing Mont Blanc with my eyes closed. The emotion of it all grabs my soul. Surrounded by 2400 like-minded ultrarunners and thousands of supporters in stunning mountain scenery with heroic music piped in during the closing minutes before starting this epic race -- it is too much. Tears stream down my face. I feel so alive, so happy, so fulfilled.<o:p></o:p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaT6G914rGa5P1hzGLRztdAKZ5YL5Pooc3L8eQEySz2i4Ye2Y0XE3HfBixXQP-zY2_zDt3B-RvgogCYY4pHpO-L3S-19Y1Zwf6odR9jxBMr-6u27ToE75SyX4FxqS3NryUVI6tCGjZ6xM/s1600-h/7634194.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaT6G914rGa5P1hzGLRztdAKZ5YL5Pooc3L8eQEySz2i4Ye2Y0XE3HfBixXQP-zY2_zDt3B-RvgogCYY4pHpO-L3S-19Y1Zwf6odR9jxBMr-6u27ToE75SyX4FxqS3NryUVI6tCGjZ6xM/s320/7634194.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379119118889815954" border="0" /></a>Announcers are carrying on in French and English and thousands of people are cheering. Suddenly, there’s a countdown from 10 and we are off and running through Chamonix. I choke back tears during these opening moments of the race. The streets are packed 5-deep with cheering fans. I’ve never experienced anything like this – it’s the crazy atmosphere of the Tour de France, except this time I’m inside the barriers with my comrades and we’re the ones receiving the cheers. The UTMB start is energized with such a spectacular surrounding mountain landscape and such a huge crowd, it’s just hard to beat. It’s surreal. I’ll never forget this incredible energy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4K6X8A-3dwUYl2_rW3AiIo8hCr9qgQ89IGs7c_FYW9jFrmv3RaLbWynYMquYsByQLdGpNZNFX9cAFIGa6BgIKohiDjmrOLFvGNyD5jxHfQFyN40BlkfmY6v2Qka8-Tv8czw9Nf_aj_w/s1600-h/IMG_0801.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4K6X8A-3dwUYl2_rW3AiIo8hCr9qgQ89IGs7c_FYW9jFrmv3RaLbWynYMquYsByQLdGpNZNFX9cAFIGa6BgIKohiDjmrOLFvGNyD5jxHfQFyN40BlkfmY6v2Qka8-Tv8czw9Nf_aj_w/s320/IMG_0801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379124853410830354" border="0" /></a>The buzz of the Chamonix<span style="" lang="EN-GB"> start begins to fade. Now it’s time to run. I pass hundreds of people and realize that I’ve seeded myself too far back. On the small climbs heading to Les Houches, it gets a little frustrating as the trail is often narrow and many long conga lines form that seem to constrict progress. I try to balance my desire to get moving and pass people with the need for self-control to prevent going out too strong. “Am I running too slow? Too fast? Am I strong? Am I weak? Remember to drink. Remember to eat.”<br /></span><br /><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJ_XwJSf9OVpGhgV3bh6Gb6zAAdaI1lLXKddydGQh44hAGAXoPRb9V8PUnKm9q_BoJkT8atfw1CChE1dFOlpZuNGiIbbU6B63rpwm9bw8AAWacS_BfWR4BF-lAZgGrJHDLndO6sOjbCs/s1600-h/7677053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJ_XwJSf9OVpGhgV3bh6Gb6zAAdaI1lLXKddydGQh44hAGAXoPRb9V8PUnKm9q_BoJkT8atfw1CChE1dFOlpZuNGiIbbU6B63rpwm9bw8AAWacS_BfWR4BF-lAZgGrJHDLndO6sOjbCs/s320/7677053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379118551591683026" border="0" /></a></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">We reach the first big climb and I settle in to my climbing routine – using my trekking poles to rhythmically punch my way up the mountain. Fellow runners surround me as far as I can see in both directions. It feels too close at times as people are on my heels. “Am I going to slowly? Why don’t they just pass me?”<br /><br />Toward the top of the first climb, the glaciated summit of Mont Blanc, glowing a soft pink from the evening sun, unveils herself through the clouds. It’s so breathtaking that I stop for a moment to soak it in. I think to myself “This is why I’m here, pushing </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">myself in the mountains – to experience a view so magical that it awakens my soul”. A huge smile opens my heart and I push on to the top.</span><br /><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><br />Darkness arrives as I start the long descent into St. Gervais. I make a quick stop to put on the headlamp that will guide me through the darkness for the next 9 hours. I’m feeling great running this descent, but I have this nagging weak sensation and no appetite. My energy drink (which was my planned main calorie source) tastes awful to me. It’s too warm and while I had no problems with it in training, in a race setting it’s just not working. I must stay on top of this, as little problems can become very big problems quickly in an ultra marathon.<br /></span><br /><span style="" lang="EN-GB">I’m feeling strong on the descent, passing many people. Just as I think my eyes are adjusting to the darkness and body is adjusting to running a fast descent inste</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">ad of speed-hiking a climb, I’m airborne. My right shoe has clipped a rock and I’m now off-balance and headed over the edge of the trail into the thick forest. I manage to awkwardly plant my left foot and then I grab the runner in front of me with both hands on his backpack, trying to brace my fall while not taking him out at the same time. I feel terrible that my lapse of attention has inconvenienced this guy, but it was either grab him to slow the fall or go over the edge into the forest. After several off-balance strides with me hanging on this guy’s back steering both of us with my hands on his backpack, we come to a stop – still upright. I have no idea how this didn’t turn into a multi-runner pile-up! I apologize to him in a bizarre mix of French, English, and German and with a much-elevated heart rate, continue on the descent, albeit a bit slower and more focused. That was a close one and could have ended my race in the earliest of hours.<br /><br />We arrive in St. Gervais to a Hero’s Welcome. This little French village is packed with enthusiastic fans. The streets are barricaded with special chutes for us. Kids are lining the barriers with their arms outstretched for hand slaps. I slap every hand I can find, super-charged by the energy of this atmosphere, which feels more like a rock concert than a race.<br /><br />At the checkpoint, I eat a couple hundred calories and refill my bottles. I run out of St. Gervais into the darkness feeling energized and strong. Hours pass quickly – I run the flat sections and descents and walk the climbs as we roll our way to the Col du Bonhomme. Shouts of ‘Bon Courage’ or simply “Courage” – especially on the lonely sections of the trail, always shoot chills up my spine. I’m shocked by the people who are out in the middle of the night to offer a friendly “Bon Courage” to every runner who passes by. I offer a heartfelt “merci” to each and every supporter. On the final ascent to Col du Bonhomme, the fog rolls in and winds pick up. I fall into a trancelike state as I watch the circle of my headlamp bounce up and down and side to side as I shove one pole after the other into the mountainside on an endless march upward. I don’t feel fast and I’m getting passed by many people in the final kilometers of the climb. This is disheartening. My energy drink still tastes awful and I’m getting behind on calories because of it. “Why am I not stronger? Am I getting weaker?” Heavy fog and high winds lead to surreal moments where visibility is near zero and all I can see is the next step or two in front. The thick fog plays tricks with the headlamp beam – it can really freak you out if you try too hard to make sense of your surroundings. I try to just let go of my mind’s desire to make sense out of anything and instead just put one foot in front of the other.<br /><br />I’m cold now and prior to reaching the pass, where the winds will certainly be more intense, I stop to put on the rest of my clothes, including hat and gloves. It’s midnight now. I try to comprehend that I’ll be running for at least another 24 hours, but I just can’t get my mind around that thought. Thoughts of quitting enter my mind. “Why am I doing this? Is this really fun?” Whenever these thoughts appear, I think of it as a game with the little devil on my shoulder randomly appearing to talk me into taking the easy way out, into giving up my dream. I laugh at the little devil and push onward. (The little devil goes away, but visits often throughout the race.)<br /><br />After cresting the Croix du Bonhomme, I run hard into Les Chapieux, surprised at how well I remember this descent after running it only once a few weeks ago. The fog dissipates the further down the mountain I go. I pass all the people who passed me on the climb and experience a trail runner’s bliss of flying down a mountain while picking the landing spot for each foot only micro-seconds before my shoe meets the earth. I’m not bothered by the darkness or fatigue – it’s clear that endorphins are driving me through this section. At the checkpoint in Les Chapieux, I make an important change in my hydration system by swapping the energy drink mix for the bottle on my shoulder strap and moving my Nuun mix into the larger hydration bladder in my pack. I’m so far behind on calories at this point that I need a different approach else I’ll blow this race with a nutritional failure and that’s just unacceptable. Hopefully this change will pay off.<br /><br />Prior to leaving Les Chapieux, I take stock of everything: Feet are good – no hot spots, no pains anywhere. Mind is good too. I’m happy, coherent, and surprisingly not sleepy. I set off into the darkness again, on the march up to Col de la Seigne. A few weeks ago I ran this section at night into an approaching storm. I was borderline hypothermic that night once I reached the safety of the hut an hour from the pass. Tonight, the wind is ripping, but I’m not as cold and I’m better hydrated. I must take care of myself – it’s dark and now a bit lonely out here. A series of small errors could lead to disaster. "Stay focused and in control Jeff", I tell myself. Once above 2000 meters, the fog rolls in again, severely limiting visibility. I throw in my ear buds and listen to some Romantic era classical music – triumphant, powerful, and emotional music from Mahler, Tchaikovsky, and Bruckner. This music drives me higher and higher up to the Italian border. I feel good topping out at the pass and stare at my watch stunned at how quickly the past 3 hours have passed. I’ve now completely lost my sense of time -- I'm nearly 11 hours into the race. My hydration and calorie consumption is going much better since the change in Les Chapieux, but my sense of time has clearly (and fortunately) vanished at this point. I run hard into Italy, happy that I recall this descent so well and can manage to run fast down a mountain in the darkness.<br /><br />After a quick stop at the Lac Combal checkpoint, I set off for the final climb before Courmayeur. I am charged to see the sky lighten. I’ve been thinking for a couple hours now that if I can just make sunrise, I’ll be home free. The awe-inspiring jagged peaks of the Italian side of the Mont Blanc massive come into view. I stare at them for energy – the more their shapes come to life in the morning light, the higher my energy level rises. I stop to take a photo before beginning the descent to Courmayeur – it’s just too beautiful to pass up. I’m so happy to see the light and the beauty of the mountains at dawn.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68cgIZhWQDJhJBuITv4Un_fOouoXNNPfD_75aYbtlUqX2if1H5tAvTMrLLbB_h9ia6fXUUON5A-Et_f64zzMAgq4iD6pHf__qGNXWcJBIqB-wQPW6__1szCoRl_Em6PIepCJmmEO_tH8/s1600-h/IMG_0042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68cgIZhWQDJhJBuITv4Un_fOouoXNNPfD_75aYbtlUqX2if1H5tAvTMrLLbB_h9ia6fXUUON5A-Et_f64zzMAgq4iD6pHf__qGNXWcJBIqB-wQPW6__1szCoRl_Em6PIepCJmmEO_tH8/s320/IMG_0042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379193740669747202" border="0" /></a>I run very hard into Courmayeur, stripping layers as the sun warms my body. I’m surprised by the energy in my legs after 14 hours on the go. I’m excited about reaching Courmayeur, where my wife awaits. Seeing her will be a huge boost. This stop will also allow me to change into better clothes for what will likely be a warm day and take on some fuel to make up for under-consuming for the past 14 hours.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5NnReI_XfrpbNnh7Ee-QcKclVPpLgR3Y3gCsjHdm_xFJNH1K7HY5N7mGKrT4dl0CNkTTxfqrg8bg9Gs23qzi2xzTcnhpyXaYypH7k_0YrpfVOaZlur5ehGsyKlnNjpewoXMOA7HWRSE/s1600-h/IMG_0043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5NnReI_XfrpbNnh7Ee-QcKclVPpLgR3Y3gCsjHdm_xFJNH1K7HY5N7mGKrT4dl0CNkTTxfqrg8bg9Gs23qzi2xzTcnhpyXaYypH7k_0YrpfVOaZlur5ehGsyKlnNjpewoXMOA7HWRSE/s320/IMG_0043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379194230517830322" border="0" /> </a>I enter the Courmayeur checkpoint not really concerned about my position in the race, but guessing that I am probably in the bottom third. While I’ve run all the descents fairly fast, I am struggling on all the climbs to go the pace I want to go. In training I was climbing much faster – I just can’t make it happen in the race though. Whenever I try to push harder, I get so nauseas that I feel like sustaining that pace could put me at risk of not finishing the race. I know I can finish, but it will have to be at a pace slower than I had envisioned. With these thoughts in my mind, I’m shocked when Becky tells me that I’m in the top third of the field. She mentions that I’ve been moving up in the field as I go through each checkpoint and that my friends are posting replies to her online updates in recognition of this. This is a HUGE boost to my spirits – more that my friends are watching and cheering me on based on my position in the race than about my own care for position. My position in the field does make me feel that maybe I’m not struggling as much on the climbs as my mind is telling me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXSigMuiI96IfWqQ3ufwTTrrItJxCqsHJ5zDSHZNkBIfJF_Uyi3vtsQQ169Ko5hOuKR8-AwQXkVsm1ipSyttBjQLhluWVDnMISXuKjqoLDkPzPvhMBz9ombl3jqJD8yi-R8_uOlfajcs/s1600-h/IMG_0821.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXSigMuiI96IfWqQ3ufwTTrrItJxCqsHJ5zDSHZNkBIfJF_Uyi3vtsQQ169Ko5hOuKR8-AwQXkVsm1ipSyttBjQLhluWVDnMISXuKjqoLDkPzPvhMBz9ombl3jqJD8yi-R8_uOlfajcs/s320/IMG_0821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379117865128129266" border="0" /></a>I want to stay and enjoy Becky’s warm smile and support forever, but I have to motivate myself to give up the comfort of this checkpoint and get moving. I change socks and shoes and ditch the tights for shorts. I find a note I left for myself in my drop-bag – it tells me to hug my wife, to smile and stay positive, and to remember that “Life is short, make the 2nd half of the race an experience you’ll never forget and never regret”. I take care of the first two of my self-given tasks and not once have to force myself to smile. As for the 3rd, I simply hope for the best as I set out for Champex.<br /><br />Thanks for reading and please stay tuned for Part 2 "The brochure didn’t lie" - Courmayeur to Champex<br /><p></p>Jeff Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10046883456301015459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-14813242960965661802009-08-14T08:54:00.001+02:002009-08-14T12:54:41.857+02:00The Power of Visualization<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYbfXWnvdkpWh4Vm9tz7P9tWXhMuZ6kuQSc-4W7u9Pwbvgf9qCcbqfwGmafUliLbygarKmdQIDQU6NSplythCMOwWOTv7ZJPRQ3ZNAe35V-h-PpJyz2Ox0SBSM55z1Xq6-OsmFbz1YGg/s1600-h/CIMG2268.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYbfXWnvdkpWh4Vm9tz7P9tWXhMuZ6kuQSc-4W7u9Pwbvgf9qCcbqfwGmafUliLbygarKmdQIDQU6NSplythCMOwWOTv7ZJPRQ3ZNAe35V-h-PpJyz2Ox0SBSM55z1Xq6-OsmFbz1YGg/s320/CIMG2268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369751603223653570" border="0" /></a>V I S U A L I Z A T I O N<br /><br /></div>During a track session this week, I was just about to start my 3rd mile repeat and felt the need for an extra push. I was really having to work on the first two repeats to get my legs spinning the first 800 meters, so I was looking for that little bit of extra motivation to bring home the last mile with a good time. I was right on 6:33s the first 2 miles, which for me is pretty darn quick. I wanted to go sub-6:30 on the last one. As I readied myself for the start, I drew on some visualization experiences from Marathon des Sables that made a huge difference in that race. I've included some quick excerpts at the bottom of this message if you'd like to get a taste and perhaps consider some ideas that may help you some day.<br /><br />Back to the track and remembering this experience in Morocco, I visualized friends from all walks of my life lining up beside me. Friends from Colorado, Atlanta, Seattle, Zurich, and the Twitterverse/FB-osphere took their places and then surrounded me in a peleton as I started what I had hoped would be a fast 1600 meters.<br /><br />Through the first 2 laps I sat comfortably in this virtual pack -- visualizing faces, visualizing cheers and words of support. For 800 meters I didn't feel like I was running. I literally felt pushed -- pushed by this imaginary force. I'm not talking a figurative push here -- <span style="font-weight: bold;">physically</span> I felt stronger, faster, and less tired than I should have at the pace I was running. My stride felt lighter and I didn't notice the lactic acid that was certainly building up. Different people rotated to the front -- blocking the wind and cutting a path through the track.<br /><br />At the start of the final 800, I visualized that some friends were dropping off -- their job finished. I ran harder now for them -- for their efforts to help me. Lap 3 brought a small group to the front. They fought the wind with all their might -- I fought just to stay on. I visualized hearing words of encouragement shouted from each one -- seeing actual faces in my mind. "I've got your back! I'm on your side! Stay on my wheel!".<br /><br />I hit lap 4 -- my face showing pain and my lungs bursting. I visualized my best friend, my lieutenant, my Hincapie, take the lead. Everyone else was off at this point. He charged that last 400 meters just like Hincapie's lead-out for Cavendish in this year's Tour de France. I chased to hold on not for me -- but for his sacrifice. We laid it all on the line -- working as a team for a final push around the track. On the final turn he pulled off allowing me to slingshot past. Sweat stung my eyes -- the pain was now too much to ignore. I raced for the finish though -- running hard more for my helpers than for any other reason.<br /><br />I crossed the finish line like 8 massive Rolls-Royce jet engine were strapped to my back and stuck at full throttle. My heart rate was nearly at 200 BPM and my vision was in a fog. My legs finally slowed down, the jet engines vanished, and I snapped out of my visualization to realize that I was all alone -- on a track outside of Zurich -- on a sunny morning with no one else in sight. My watch read 6 minutes, 8 seconds. I dropped nearly 30 seconds off my mile pace just through the power of visualization and the power of having some awesome friends from around the world whose energy and support I can tap into as an enormously powerful source of fuel and motivation.<br /><br />Visualization is an awesome tool for the endurance athlete -- for anyone really. Give it a try and please let me know how it works for you!<br /><br />In closing, here are a couple of visualization excerpts from my <a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/">MDS posts</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My knee is hurting again and I'm slightly dizzy. The hours of running alone and the intense heat are getting to me. I need strength -- I need support. I begin a series of visualizations -- not quite hallucinations, but not far off either! I see my friend Sean directly in front of me, turning around to look me in the eye every 30 seconds to tell me to stay strong and stay with him. I then see my family off to one side and my friends off to the other. They form a long line, reaching the way out into the desert. They take turns running by my side, telling me to keep pushing hard for the finish line. My wife, my parents and in-laws, my grandmothers, my sister --my coach, my colleagues, my friends, my boss -- they all have a moment to share a cheer or a look of encouragement. My late granddad appears to tell me to "stay tough, boy - stay tough". My body is spent and my mind is at its limit. Everything hurts, but I'm filled with an enormous energy and waves of emotion that are surging me to the finish.</span><br /><br />and (from the following stage) ...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">As I enter the final 11K, I feel utterly exhausted and still mentally tapped-out from the long stage. The strength of my grandmothers has powered me through most of today's stage. During this last stretch, the winds pickup -- headwinds. I need help - I need support. Suddenly I begin to envision my cyclist friends from the U.S. appear across the desert. They are riding in two large packs, coming from both sides. They swoop in front and beside me, forming a peleton to shield me from the wind. They take turns pulling and each drops back to ride right in front of me -- offering an encouraging word along the way. I see their faces and hear them shout "stay on my wheel Jeff, stay on my wheel!". They are working hard and taking this very seriously - sacrificing themselves to take the wind for me. All kitted out in cycling gear, they are putting in a maximum effort to pull me through the most challenging of moments. I can see them suffering -- riding at their limits and working as a team to aid me at what's nearly my breaking point. The strength I feel from this visualization is surreal. Whenever my mind starts to wander and starts to think about the pain, the lack of a visible finish line in the distance, the headwind, the heat, the hills -- I refocus on my peleton of friends and my energy level surges.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">An hour passes and the finish line finally comes into view. The peleton quietly peels off to the side and disappears into the desert, leaving me to finish alone.</span><br /><br />Happy outdoor play!<br /><br />JeffJeff Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10046883456301015459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-57123643370546364992009-08-08T23:37:00.001+02:002009-08-08T11:52:25.118+02:00UTMB Course Preview Weekend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqwOfB3ArtlE4MD1wclAMWQa3VYGGYBbQ9GeKtBFC3ng_bIstnzIlJQd7JtBHnN8wSF00wcClL97OpiG_WqEiD7Q0UTy3f72t-WyGdi44rd_i_2MOB8rzuwZ609eFJgGHoevlt7-psag/s1600-h/CIMG2058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqwOfB3ArtlE4MD1wclAMWQa3VYGGYBbQ9GeKtBFC3ng_bIstnzIlJQd7JtBHnN8wSF00wcClL97OpiG_WqEiD7Q0UTy3f72t-WyGdi44rd_i_2MOB8rzuwZ609eFJgGHoevlt7-psag/s320/CIMG2058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367492428802629762" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.ultratrailmb.com/accueil.php">UTMB</a> has been my focus race for the past 6 months and with it just over a month away, it suddenly entered the realm of possibility that I could actually journey over to Chamonix by train and run the course in advance. I received encouragement for this option from my <a href="http://coachingendurance.com/index.shtml/">coach</a> and one of my great mountain running <a href="http://www.peakfitness.ch/">friends</a> so I took an extra day off from work and enjoyed an easy 5-hour train ride through Switzerland and across the border into France.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nHC8HIXmNie2A4JOmoErOS85V3xXkEXkXJJXS3lz__j7ZzhbegHaOtGNDlynSJU8G1N58_s8hLmoX6XkpUj3I2PV1kkWzs5XQjWnX3XqjRopOSsOvrHmxSZjV6NgHPqd2uiuOE3Z3bE/s1600-h/CIMG2070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nHC8HIXmNie2A4JOmoErOS85V3xXkEXkXJJXS3lz__j7ZzhbegHaOtGNDlynSJU8G1N58_s8hLmoX6XkpUj3I2PV1kkWzs5XQjWnX3XqjRopOSsOvrHmxSZjV6NgHPqd2uiuOE3Z3bE/s320/CIMG2070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367503234473361170" border="0" /></a><br />Plans called for running the full <a href="http://www.ultratrailmb.com/page.php?page=parcoursutmb">103-mile course</a> over 3 days. This is a very popular 9-11 day hiking circuit, so I knew I wouldn't be alone and shouldn't have too much of a problem finding a refuge to sleep in during my two nights out. Unlike the race, where I'll have access to support stops and at least one drop-bag at the half-way point, this dress rehearsal would require me to carry all the sports food and drink needed for 3 days, some extra clothing & survival gear, and basic stuff for staying in a hut, like a sleeping bag liner, ear plugs, and a tolerance for being super-close to lots of fellow stinky trail companions. The weight added up and my pack felt a bit more like a <a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/">Marathon des Sables</a> race pack than a UTMB pack. With no real worries but feeling a little bit bogged down, I set off from Chamonix at nearly mid-day on a Saturday -- destination, le Ville des Glacier, half way up the Col de la Seigne, which marks the French-Italian border and sits about 35 miles away from Chamonix.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVWFnoXS1M6CjTaB9AmGGaMF-5NeS0Gc_UJJkYhzXORMQHgT4U7SEQihzoXYFBvHc9DgSdR2n8SXCQEVFXZnrFBVDx4arUOPQTR-SeJsgjNbIs7wEWa1TpncTRJykm4iuM8mvxLfIo8o/s1600-h/CIMG2101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVWFnoXS1M6CjTaB9AmGGaMF-5NeS0Gc_UJJkYhzXORMQHgT4U7SEQihzoXYFBvHc9DgSdR2n8SXCQEVFXZnrFBVDx4arUOPQTR-SeJsgjNbIs7wEWa1TpncTRJykm4iuM8mvxLfIo8o/s320/CIMG2101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367499862462452674" border="0" /></a>Day 1 brought fantastic weather, stunning views of the Mont Blanc massive, and some unexpected gear and water-finding challenges. I managed to work through these challenges, actually replacing my backpack 3-hours in -- trading my old pack for sunscreen and a few gels, but certainly got behind on hydration and nutrition throughout the day. I paid for it later, but for most of the day the running was excellent and I was happy in my element.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XyMUb9xxS1yUfynbt_kYsdUiQVc1krTYaxYvvKZVcj7Fy61PBHiKpTI9LpQtYSWfilI58UI_zB-S6gHqY7QLEf_cZ82s83TIWFS4D_JwYpEJNLtRDlCLe2vk_darCVOAhkaY1fsCoxg/s1600-h/CIMG2100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XyMUb9xxS1yUfynbt_kYsdUiQVc1krTYaxYvvKZVcj7Fy61PBHiKpTI9LpQtYSWfilI58UI_zB-S6gHqY7QLEf_cZ82s83TIWFS4D_JwYpEJNLtRDlCLe2vk_darCVOAhkaY1fsCoxg/s320/CIMG2100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367497018050438914" border="0" /></a><br />I topped out on what I thought were the final climbs of the day (Col du Bonhomme and Croix du Bonhomme) and started my journey down the valley, where I expected to find the hut I had booked for the night. Soon the sun had set and I was still descending, now in full darkness. I popped on my headlamp, which will be mandatory at UTMB where I'll run through 1, perhaps 2 nights. The descent ended and I discovered that my downhill finish actually included quite a long slog up another valley to reach the hut. As I ran up that valley, the weather changed, bringing me a taste of the storms to come the following day. I reached the hut at 10:30PM wearing all my foul weather gear, but still shivering. I was near delirious and briefly considered just running through the night. Crossing a high pass in an approaching storm without a tent and already cold and dehydrated -- well, these thoughts finally penetrated my senses so I stopped at the hut and barged in at a very improper time for hut arrival. I begged the hut warden to find some food for me and desperately tried to rehydrate to stop the queasiness and shaking. With a bowl of soup in me, I tiptoed into a room full of sleeping hikers, found the last remaining bed, and proceeded to lie awake for 7 hours while 29 people snored, coughed, tossed, and turned their way to a decent night of sleep. I looked at the ceiling all night -- listened to the wind roar -- thought about everything, from 1,000 things to worry about to 1,000 things to be super happy about.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9k1A7uOvlnQJU14ZobjIvYFbhMZuPL59Ku0tzyjYcJm-4hJ5jfoePuDeRCFAsMsxpNti_YB2UQs7wvzeA6TJjQMLPGNTB9EnV3IRt33mvzBHD4ataeYOumk4ulhGrTV2gEA6KRhk9VE/s1600-h/CIMG2120.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9k1A7uOvlnQJU14ZobjIvYFbhMZuPL59Ku0tzyjYcJm-4hJ5jfoePuDeRCFAsMsxpNti_YB2UQs7wvzeA6TJjQMLPGNTB9EnV3IRt33mvzBHD4ataeYOumk4ulhGrTV2gEA6KRhk9VE/s320/CIMG2120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367508444699129906" border="0" /></a>Right as I decided to crawl out of bed after sunrise, the storm started in full -- considering that Objective 1 of the day was to cross a 2500 meter pass, I opted to stay in bed for a bit, where I managed to sleep about an hour -- finally. I then set off for the pass, running until it got too steep and then speed hiking with trekking poles. The day was cold, drizzly, and often full-on rainy. I was running in all the clothing I brought, so I had few options to stop or slow down, else I'd get cold fast. This part of the course, aside from the mid-way visit to Courmayeur, felt remote and raw. Awesome glacier views, trails made for mountain running, and epic scenic beauty that really lifts your soul.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituBatR7UUCDB0YsWvhOzEadSzKaZn5XgEvOzQiLu73aUJk71PJ-JwfLxvu9ZTwp4eq1gPR5Xa5RUKPZQZoilDSQxJLn3cA5IsoQP3cxq3uAY18EhYurPtjTTsLE8wECk082pcOHi_Oxs/s1600-h/CIMG2163.JPG"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw5_CCjcsEOF3CFLRvArydfR5H-lAqqTdvHSi59ai5ehikzGbrFnJLhIKGWT9tnhJdwmY_0H11YeePMGrs1Wg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituBatR7UUCDB0YsWvhOzEadSzKaZn5XgEvOzQiLu73aUJk71PJ-JwfLxvu9ZTwp4eq1gPR5Xa5RUKPZQZoilDSQxJLn3cA5IsoQP3cxq3uAY18EhYurPtjTTsLE8wECk082pcOHi_Oxs/s1600-h/CIMG2163.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituBatR7UUCDB0YsWvhOzEadSzKaZn5XgEvOzQiLu73aUJk71PJ-JwfLxvu9ZTwp4eq1gPR5Xa5RUKPZQZoilDSQxJLn3cA5IsoQP3cxq3uAY18EhYurPtjTTsLE8wECk082pcOHi_Oxs/s320/CIMG2163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367499529734469058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwAObEk7hA8YXPAHk16lchsmdnGJpRtTVZ79jjHch0jDykDGJnsXz7WgXfxhScA3qkkFZcvyNrTx-qhKG1fr14t8XF8tI4YxuV5KuqCXle6UYQ-wC4XXlvGjg7YIustFlASs2CXtWXXw/s1600-h/CIMG2179.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwAObEk7hA8YXPAHk16lchsmdnGJpRtTVZ79jjHch0jDykDGJnsXz7WgXfxhScA3qkkFZcvyNrTx-qhKG1fr14t8XF8tI4YxuV5KuqCXle6UYQ-wC4XXlvGjg7YIustFlASs2CXtWXXw/s320/CIMG2179.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367499194415959842" border="0" /></a>Day 2 was a very long day, so long that I ran out of daylight and lodging options before my planned stopover in Champex. I opted instead to stay in La Peule, a village of one building, which had thankfully just been turned into a mountain refuge. This great little stopover spot is just inside the Swiss border after the big climb over the Grand Col Ferret. I later realized that with my first night's stopover in France and second night in Switzerland, I had run through the Italian section of the route all in one day. Ciao, ciao Italia!<br /><br />The super-friendly La Peule Swiss hut keeper took care of me with a late night Omelet and my choice of any of the 30 beds (I was the only guest that night). Physically, I was tired, but not wrecked. I managed nutrition and hydration a bit better on day 2, but remained colder than I would have liked. I set off on day 3 with a nearly 10km sprint to the nearest village with a bus station. The section between la Fouly and Champex (about 20km) is in a valley with no serious climbs, which makes it a good candidate to skip on this circuit. I opted to cut out this section to get me on the original route plan for the day and to make it to Chamonix before midnight. As the visibility was terrible (I was in a cloud nearly all day) and the rain continued, I felt ok skipping this valley in favor of my daylight time on the big climbs ahead. Soon I was running again, up the surprisingly steep routes up to Bovine and Catogne to the final climb up from Col du Montets. I began to think in terms of climbs and meters of elevation gain rather than in terms of distance or time. It was an odd sensation as a runner to think ("ok, 2 climbs to go: 800 meters, then 1200 meters -- with the descents, that'll be something like 4 hours" over a distance that would take less than 2 hours when not in the mountains).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXooZbPmSoyP_y8CVSOltxvi4BqZp7mXYLgaK3imLZbj1IfxgL95J0jyNh8NVDwHulhWYa3WpNS8E6iHInTXqcGXfDRjiQqlKNltplkFf5XFGdJGsratTw6zAZiY06d_qVu9B3UIIJo8/s1600-h/CIMG2229.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXooZbPmSoyP_y8CVSOltxvi4BqZp7mXYLgaK3imLZbj1IfxgL95J0jyNh8NVDwHulhWYa3WpNS8E6iHInTXqcGXfDRjiQqlKNltplkFf5XFGdJGsratTw6zAZiY06d_qVu9B3UIIJo8/s320/CIMG2229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367497930285445522" border="0" /></a>The bad weather finally broke its stranglehold on the region during my last hour of running back in to Chamonix. I was ecstatic and suddenly sad about the end of this odyssey.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwgNXYmRRqYkFpTHsHgsJYxV718hbrpdrlEzROow-6poG083MuzevLZIMHaZrdozYlVamMY_JZBCYBetmAiIA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I ran a strong final hour, really shocked at how good the legs felt, but realizing that it was the mountain views that were powering me -- shutting off all signals of fatigue and pain. Mont Blanc came out of the clouds and welcomed me with open arms into Chamonix. The closer I got to town, the more clouds would lift from the surrounding peaks. A late evening sun lit up Mont Blanc right as I entered the streets of Chamonix. I was on fire -- so incredibly overjoyed. I sprinted my heart out like I was racing for first place in the real race. Tourists stepped aside as I ran at top speed through the streets of Chamonix, backpack swinging back and forth, smile beaming wide. I reached the center of town and suddenly stopped -- hands down on knees, bent over, tears in my eyes. I looked up at the awesome glaciers flowing nearly into town, looked at the final moments of sun on the top of Mont Blanc, and listened to the raging glacial river off to my side. At that moment, the numbers didn't matter -- the run was some distance, with some amount of climbing and descent, for some number of hours. All those 'somes' didn't really matter. What mattered was that feeling in Chamonix, that feeling on Col du Bonhomme, that feeling on Grand Col Ferret, that feeling on every climb, every scenic vista, every ridgeline -- that feeling of love for nature, for the mountains, for the glaciers and rivers -- that feeling that boils up inside you and calls you to these special places to savor life. Oh, how sweet it was -- how sweet it is!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSuii2cchf3w3uX6xo_MFdhiu9FGDUtT4OVLhQMNy8H73AP6YQAQoAZsAnzHddiEptPtgLoBQIHPE4e_W7oxV6GoVCSKLPP-DheLTQ5i3aS4TyDdSGBzyFY6FDqNJV6xJB9jzfMpgAxk/s1600-h/CIMG2251.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSuii2cchf3w3uX6xo_MFdhiu9FGDUtT4OVLhQMNy8H73AP6YQAQoAZsAnzHddiEptPtgLoBQIHPE4e_W7oxV6GoVCSKLPP-DheLTQ5i3aS4TyDdSGBzyFY6FDqNJV6xJB9jzfMpgAxk/s320/CIMG2251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367520830325391474" border="0" /></a><br />More photos on <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffsgrant/UTMBCoursePreviewRun#">Picasa</a> here.<br /><br />Reflections on the course (for those considering UTMB): it's big, it's stunning, and it's seriously mountainous. There are few sections where you can get into a normal running rhythm for more than 30 minutes -- the course feels like it's either going straight up or straight down, with only a few transition bits thrown in. I highly recommend trekking poles -- real ones, not the super-light racing poles. 31K feet of climbing and descending is only runnable for the very elite and much of the time I found myself speed-hiking the climbs, using my trekking poles to power me along, set pace, put me in a rhythm, and keep me upright. I've done mountain marathons where you can run most of the ascent -- that's just not the case for the UTMB route. Lots of the steep climbs seemed in the 1 hour to 90-minute range, so it felt like cycling high passes -- just set a rhythm and stay on it until the top. I tossed the poles in my backpack for the descents and ran all of them but one steep, technical descent late in the course. If you run it outside of the race itself, bring water purification stuff, because it's rarely easy to find clean water as often as you need it. Final thought -- it's the Alps, so despite the season, bring sufficient warm/dry gear. Despite having gloves, hat, shell, two wool shirts, etc., I still got really cold and would have been in trouble had I been injured on the trail. Lesson learned!<br /><br />Thanks for reading!<br /><br />Jeff<br /></div></div>Jeff Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10046883456301015459noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-30402003466397698892009-08-07T23:33:00.002+02:002009-08-07T23:35:47.330+02:00Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc -- a journey starts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZzUnCFOnj5bRdWNK_kpW-KliQUurTkiQVbvz344wzvKYqYh_TtuFdQUFvKUslz25vjgTMsS_hs6hioKmpfs90vlf1hbVGYdDrOVOeW6SSYJSaVpgcgQNCSOYuie-nAIel5U1ZnELsEQ/s1600-h/Jeff-water!.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZzUnCFOnj5bRdWNK_kpW-KliQUurTkiQVbvz344wzvKYqYh_TtuFdQUFvKUslz25vjgTMsS_hs6hioKmpfs90vlf1hbVGYdDrOVOeW6SSYJSaVpgcgQNCSOYuie-nAIel5U1ZnELsEQ/s320/Jeff-water!.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360525725936727874" border="0" /></a>Like I was a starving and half-crazed fish in search of food after days of roaming an empty ocean only to find a juicy meal perched on a shiny, barbed piece of steel, my <a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/">journey</a> to prepare for and race the Marathon des Sables in 2008 hooked me on ultra running and has tugged me along ever since deeper into the amazing world of ultra running.<br /><br />That journey into the unknown introduced me to a wonderful mix of camaraderie, self-drive, and awe-inspiring beauty that is at the heart of the ultra running culture. After each stage of MDS I would sit in the Berber tent with my mates, covered in dust and sweat with an aching body, listening to their tales of 50 and 100 mile running races thinking "I wish I could do that." I know -- a bit odd to be in the middle of a stage race in the desert, a significant ultra race in its own right, dreaming of running ultras in other parts of the world -- but that's how it is.<br /><br />MDS was my first ultra -- and everyone around me seemed such the veteran ultrarunner. I felt privileged to join this community and honored that these vets would treat me like one of their own.<br /><br />The long stage of MDS served as an awakening for my ultra running soul. I'll never forget the feeling of <a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/2008/05/stretching-of-limits-surreal-long-stage.html">running alone</a> near the front for that 50-mile stage, powered by the vastness, surreality, and intense heat of the desert and a mind that grabbed hold of the spirit of all the wonderful friends and family in my life to carry me to the finish line. This was my spirit walk, my walkabout, my journey into the land where the mind is freed and the feet move on their own -- where human flight seems possible and a natural high abounds. Sadly, that event eventually drew to and end, but the spirit drove onward and opened new doors.<br /><br />After MDS, I worked through a period of post-race blues and then snapped out of it with a commitment to tackle as my first 100-miler the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). While there are lots of great 100-mile runs in the States that I'd love to go for, UTMB is just a few hours from our home in Switzerland and has a monster course appeal and stunning Alpine scenery that begs me to make the starting line in Chamonix for my first 100. UTMB covers a ridiculous 31K feet (9400 meters) of elevation gain over stunningly beautiful terrain in France, Switzerland, and Italy. I experience a mixture of excitement and fear just watching the Google Earth flyover!<br /><br />The race is set to start in Chamonix at 6:30pm on August 28th and it has a 46-hour time limit.<br /><br />Stay tuned to the blog for a glimpse of what it's like to train for UTMB and if all goes as planned, toe the starting line in Chamonix at the end of August.<br /><br />Cheers from Zuri,<br />JeffJeff Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10046883456301015459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-82661328415163271092009-06-07T23:21:00.002+02:002009-06-08T00:13:15.187+02:00Mountain Marathoning in LichtensteinJune 6, 2009 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liechtenstein">Lichtenstein</a> - <a href="http://www.lgt-alpin-marathon.li/">LGT Alpin Marathon</a><br /><br />1800M elevation gain and 42KM: Trail Running<br /><br />The LGT Alpin Marathon is held on a beautiful and sometimes brutally challenging course in the tiny and scenic country of Lichtenstein. This wealthy nation is nestled between Switzerland and Austria and contains some stunning alpine terrain, breathtaking views, super nice people, and even a handful of interesting castles to catch the eye. This race takes the standard marathon distance of 42KM(26 miles) and sends most of it uphill. Only the first 10km is comfy and flat - the rest tackles the mountainous terrain that's home to the beauty of Lichtenstein.<br /><br />We weren't so lucky with the weather gods this year as the race turned into a real soak-fest! The rain never seemed to stop and it got colder as we climbed and the day progressed. I feel for the people who didn't bring a shell or hat. Even with my shell and gloves on, I was soaked and shivering by the time I crossed the finish.<br /><br />The race opened with a nice and easy flat 10K and then the first big climb (10km itself), which was sometimes runnable but often so steep that walking was in order for all but the elite. I ran the first 10k at an easy pace and just enjoyed the view of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhine">Rhine</a>. Once we started heading up the mountain, I ran until my heart rate was too high (in the 170s) and then switched to a power walk. The rain was at its heaviest at this point, so I just smiled at the appeal of running a marathon up hill in a cold rain and powered on, alternating beween running and walked. Before too long (well, about an hour of climbing), we crossed over a mountain and entered a quick and muddy descent down to Steg to close out the 1/2 marathon section. I love running fast down hills, so I opened it up on the descent, leaping over small stream crossings and smacking my shoes straight into and through endless goopy mud puddles. As I finished out a rippin' descent into Steg, I had it in my mind that the bulk of the climbing was in the bag by this point -- which I later learned is entirely the wrong thing to have in your mind when you reach the half way point in Steg!<br /><br />The photo below shows the border in yellow. Austria is to the left, Switzerland to the right/bottom. Licthenstein lies in between (and is nearly covered by the race course!).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_UymvLObt-eU/Sit40rkrsmI/AAAAAAAACZI/JP5DZSMQwvk/LGT1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 335px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_UymvLObt-eU/Sit40rkrsmI/AAAAAAAACZI/JP5DZSMQwvk/LGT1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />From Steg (center-right in the photo below), it's a long, long climb (partly runnable with some rolling sections early on) toward the ski town of <a href="http://www.myswitzerland.com/en.cfm/destinations/resorts/offer-Destinations_Resorts-General-305085.html">Malbun</a>. This part of the course is very scenic (especially, I can imagine, when the weather is clear!). The views open up quite nicely as you wind your way around the mountain, into the forest, and then back out for the final upward march of this section. There are some very steep bits, especially the end push to the pass that overlooks Malbun (top of photo just left of center). 30km+ into the race -- this climb hurts and seems to never end. The higher we climbed, the less runnable parts I could find, so I resorted to as fast a hiking pace as I could muster. I really had to deep dig in this section to keep the pace going.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_UymvLObt-eU/Sit-SEbrqZI/AAAAAAAACZk/yCJ5wGSH3Mg/s576/LGT2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 576px; height: 388px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_UymvLObt-eU/Sit-SEbrqZI/AAAAAAAACZk/yCJ5wGSH3Mg/s576/LGT2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />After topping out on the 2nd big climb of the day, the reward is a great view and the feeling that this is the home stretch -- you can see Malbun and soon even hear the Finish Line announcer. This is a cruel joke though. After descending to the edge of town (and I again ran the descent very hard as I raced to the joy, dryness, and warmth of the finish line), you climb back up again high above Malbun and take on a 5km tour of the town that packs a huge punch in tired legs that were expecting an easy push down (and only down!) to the Finish Line. Halfway through this tour, you drop back down toward Malbun and climb up <span style="font-weight: bold;">again</span> (toward the top of the Malbun ski lifts).<br /><br />Finally the climbing ends and you have a rippin' descent to the Finish Line. Good SWAG at the finish (nice technical shirt plus a nice Swarovski wine bottle stopper). Even with my dry post-race clothes on, it took me half an hour to stop shivering. I saw people being treated for hypothermia -- which reinforces the need to take mountain weather seriously.<br /><br />With the big day of rain, we made countless crossings of small streams and splashed through endless mud. It was a cold, wet, and dirty day of racing and a hell of a great day in the mountains!<br /><br />I'm looking forward to next year's race, when the weather will hopefully cooperate! Next up, the Graubünden Marathon -- which I just noticed has nearly 900 additional meters of elevation gain over the LGT. Doh!Jeff Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10046883456301015459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-54582059157144870212009-06-05T20:46:00.001+02:002009-06-05T18:29:19.068+02:00Making people smile: Running the Zürich Marathon with an AlphornRace Date: April 26, 2009<br />Road Marathon ... and Smile Day<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YNPOkXUsztRprXwwB6sNt1gIRFesPdFJgQrfEOJc2wU_P514gtTQJxak01lYKgUjtaWIfQAaEkLBKuJ3ji28Wq1QZvySsuOfGGmgw2AY_lpSyA9hMuUunEOTl4JFOSAKvH_TFJhWdsc/s1600-h/DigitalFlat-zur09-3272_start1_e.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YNPOkXUsztRprXwwB6sNt1gIRFesPdFJgQrfEOJc2wU_P514gtTQJxak01lYKgUjtaWIfQAaEkLBKuJ3ji28Wq1QZvySsuOfGGmgw2AY_lpSyA9hMuUunEOTl4JFOSAKvH_TFJhWdsc/s320/DigitalFlat-zur09-3272_start1_e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332438432143789922" border="0" /></a>A new Swiss tunnel has opened this year and it goes right under one of my favorite local mountains for biking and running, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uetliberg">Üetliberg</a>. As a part of the tunnel opening ceremony, this year's Zurich Marathon started with a little underground jaunt. Once I heard about this I thought, hey -- I've never ran a marathon that starts with nearly 10KM of tunnel running, so why not give it a go? I signed up several months ago and at Becky's urging finally did a couple long runs to prep for the race. I've been in ski mode since November and aside from the <a href="http://hillseekers.blogspot.com/2009/05/otzi-alpine-marathon.html">Ötzi race</a> have only been maintenance running since my last ultra toward the end of summer. The couple of long training runs I did for the Zurich Marathon went just fine -- which made me happy because it took several months for my ligament tear from an October running injury to heal. I've done lots of road marathons and really favor trail races now, so I decided that instead of running Zurich for a fast time, I'd run it to entertain people -- with a singular mission: <span style="font-weight: bold;">make</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">as many people smile as possible</span>.<br /><br />I also wanted to pay tribute to the Swiss for having such a wonderful country and allowing me the privilege of living in it. So, in <span style="font-style: italic;">Jeff-land</span>, this all translated into me running the marathon while carrying a 3-meter long <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphorn">alphorn</a> -- and not just running with it -- but playing mini-concerts for people along the way.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKXqzWygcIlIUDejnxoni4w8kXHhv3m03C0nHVX6LKZ38eKIZo8yScpn1X86vnKG4TSyKrTkwRORgGVxGwr2-CxdIlbJaofHrpH7ImS7cMN4jecRXe4k8r9qAzgL9CJJvbDtLzBBFqjY/s1600-h/_HAB7966.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKXqzWygcIlIUDejnxoni4w8kXHhv3m03C0nHVX6LKZ38eKIZo8yScpn1X86vnKG4TSyKrTkwRORgGVxGwr2-CxdIlbJaofHrpH7ImS7cMN4jecRXe4k8r9qAzgL9CJJvbDtLzBBFqjY/s320/_HAB7966.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334305830384407234" border="0" /></a>To make things interesting, I decided also run from home to the race start and another hour back home after the race -- for a nice 60km+ day of running. I arrived at the race start happy to be warmed up after an hour of running and bumped into an English mate, Mike, who was running the marathon dressed as the Pink Panther. Mike and I were apparently the only people stepping outside the box into creative/wacky-land as everyone else looked the part of serious runner. It's fun to shake things up. On the way to the race start I found a hill to play on and started what would be an endless series of mini-concerts. Every time the alphorn was spotted, people smiled and cheered -- awesome, it's working.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPIbvP-WAbbVJSxCNTWjsJXbCWOEw2xi-fB-pyz-lA4mvCLmF2d7xyOZBw9-bU-VCpJ702FYBsp3Eabq7lziSf-7m97ZQpbmJP3boVhXsRkPjiS1hfQ2vzngEVGC5kLaAAclOqWhkCrw/s1600-h/CIMG0866.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPIbvP-WAbbVJSxCNTWjsJXbCWOEw2xi-fB-pyz-lA4mvCLmF2d7xyOZBw9-bU-VCpJ702FYBsp3Eabq7lziSf-7m97ZQpbmJP3boVhXsRkPjiS1hfQ2vzngEVGC5kLaAAclOqWhkCrw/s320/CIMG0866.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332441992825913410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9xSCJmCSrS8faMhgNe3Z1QbyiHzmqvAIZJd6vwbRhV8iLD4hYQcG-LIemHimPGD82DbVYDtkIEuZ1FulLxQsnSD4Ueu8h7oPFK3S9UjTndxcxiS9zOrtdpyVgJtkhOO2b3cg4dlhNi0/s1600-h/DigitalFlat-zur09-3272_19867.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9xSCJmCSrS8faMhgNe3Z1QbyiHzmqvAIZJd6vwbRhV8iLD4hYQcG-LIemHimPGD82DbVYDtkIEuZ1FulLxQsnSD4Ueu8h7oPFK3S9UjTndxcxiS9zOrtdpyVgJtkhOO2b3cg4dlhNi0/s320/DigitalFlat-zur09-3272_19867.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332439431805534754" border="0" /></a>I fired up the crowd with mini concerts at the tunnel entrance and exits, in the tunnel, and for 4 1/2 hours along the race course. Highlights included passing the various musicians performing for the marathon (there's a great common brotherhood that works quite well only on the connection of music), playing a bit for a quartet of alphorn players performing for the race, and seeing the great reactions of the young and old when I would stop to play for them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgJP45QsPMI0uLaPpjcgqOvsQp7upO7ksFmDYIDUznq7x9OLGaKTQ_jH4vuVShvGSSXW0mKOZrODDdo5KpO-F-jU8quvBsKURDBxWhUT25z0zctqnUkIqVwg4b_dP_mDJfGo1DzYtMi8/s1600-h/DigitalFlat-zur09-3272_31862.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgJP45QsPMI0uLaPpjcgqOvsQp7upO7ksFmDYIDUznq7x9OLGaKTQ_jH4vuVShvGSSXW0mKOZrODDdo5KpO-F-jU8quvBsKURDBxWhUT25z0zctqnUkIqVwg4b_dP_mDJfGo1DzYtMi8/s320/DigitalFlat-zur09-3272_31862.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334308442026065138" border="0" /></a>As for running with such an instrument, while it looks super heavy, it weighs only 1kg (2.2 pounds), so the weight wasn't much of a problem. Although, a few hours in and I could definitely feel it! My biggest concern was that I didn't hit anyone!<br /><br />By the way, I've had this wonderful instrument for a year now and have run, biked, and hiked with it all over Switzerland. A carbon fiber alphorn is a great idea and is custom-made by a very interesting and entertaining gentleman in western (French-Speaking) Switzerland, (<a href="http://www.swisscarbonalphorn.ch/">Roger Zanetti</a>).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpm2g2ezhqErNBPCtBMxge4WJWCZ3kTpDv_7PBCVNulbZhAOAWxiCKQ-Fv81WVSmHE0I-IJbOuihpfIsx6-5aMw51CnCoGEj6Oy35r12q-hwEIaeOsMDHmXI9zX_x_D9Cxpc_6o05l3k/s1600-h/_HAB7958.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpm2g2ezhqErNBPCtBMxge4WJWCZ3kTpDv_7PBCVNulbZhAOAWxiCKQ-Fv81WVSmHE0I-IJbOuihpfIsx6-5aMw51CnCoGEj6Oy35r12q-hwEIaeOsMDHmXI9zX_x_D9Cxpc_6o05l3k/s320/_HAB7958.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334304157151011090" border="0" /></a>My good friend Kate showed up on a bike to cheer and motivate me on a later section of the race, prompting a great observation from another friend's parent (who didn't know me): "I saw some poor chap running with an alphorn while some girl on a bike yelled at him." Ah, perfect -- that's about it -- her "yelling" was very helpful though, because whenever the crowds thinned out I would lose an audience to bring to smiles and my energy would begin to fade.<br /><br />I had lots of conversations in Swiss German throughout the race -- well, semi-conversations, especially after I learned all the standard questions and practiced my responses in my broken Swiss dialect. People were always quite a bit shocked that I was 1) not Swiss 2) an American, and 3) can actually play the alphorn. They always smiled when we talked and that rocked.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-BdMwHiUKHGKFKKB7W5ij1IKWhkb534jucuGqgdEjbHeBXUM2lbtqrB88zVmJoCSaCGL_IUikh0hxmzl6IshORySsmwbMbVh1RniqmzetIhzfRk3mVBSbGD36u-euvwJv_cLYOsP1vE/s1600-h/DigitalFlat-zur09-3272_05569.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-BdMwHiUKHGKFKKB7W5ij1IKWhkb534jucuGqgdEjbHeBXUM2lbtqrB88zVmJoCSaCGL_IUikh0hxmzl6IshORySsmwbMbVh1RniqmzetIhzfRk3mVBSbGD36u-euvwJv_cLYOsP1vE/s320/DigitalFlat-zur09-3272_05569.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334302990499576290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeRxfbbWiyeNGlEeeQfVo5O5-l2CBC1fFB-A1t5ItPXDIkYdlT6GHW7PNvZz_VBdUljLKs-5Pf3YOFjzXJGnGMGFpiyw_-VMR_k4kQliWEW0E1L68ZCItPzDgJRbrJTThZhFt2vzlDeQ/s1600-h/DigitalFlat-zur09-3272_27009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeRxfbbWiyeNGlEeeQfVo5O5-l2CBC1fFB-A1t5ItPXDIkYdlT6GHW7PNvZz_VBdUljLKs-5Pf3YOFjzXJGnGMGFpiyw_-VMR_k4kQliWEW0E1L68ZCItPzDgJRbrJTThZhFt2vzlDeQ/s320/DigitalFlat-zur09-3272_27009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335426178827144466" border="0" /></a>It was a real joy on the finishing straight -- I stopped and played for the large crowd and then crossed the finish line with the alphorn high in the air (a celebration of Switzerland and this great mountain musical instrument, not me). A volunteer at the finish asked me to play for her before she'd give me water -- which I did of course -- and then I walked to cool down playing for people along the lake. One woman was insistent on paying me -- after refusing several times, I finally accepted the money when her gent suggested that it was to buy me a beer. Playing alphorn for a post-race beer -- well, ok.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkrH5-0o1_RGvwzyXT8M0mF0c1EvkJPFWm7TiqHbJXAs1YU7c9jDbGgzFVkSF1ngDKrExrC1a7DfkKYD7iVZeNvJyHaSrP9XT8ZxEHn9p5I0A7Cq5YJr7JY3WnNS9x-W0FTEVRyqsrFM/s1600-h/IMGP1360.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkrH5-0o1_RGvwzyXT8M0mF0c1EvkJPFWm7TiqHbJXAs1YU7c9jDbGgzFVkSF1ngDKrExrC1a7DfkKYD7iVZeNvJyHaSrP9XT8ZxEHn9p5I0A7Cq5YJr7JY3WnNS9x-W0FTEVRyqsrFM/s320/IMGP1360.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343870643769557858" border="0" /></a>After enjoying some post-race time with my friends, I got back on my feet and ran another hour home -- with the alphorn on my shoulder the whole time -- getting waves, honks, and smiles from passerbys. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Yes, smiles -- it was free to give them and I got such warmth back in return. What a brilliant day!</span><br /><br />p.s. Thanks for the photos <a href="http://www.howardbrundrett.com/">Howard Brundrett</a> (2nd, 6th, and last from the top)!Jeff Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10046883456301015459noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-2721074090416365252009-05-04T14:17:00.018+02:002009-05-05T00:15:48.955+02:00Ötzi Alpine MarathonApril 18, 2009 - South Tirol (<a href="http://maps.google.ch/maps?q=naturno+italy&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&gl=ch&ei=mVH_Sf6iBoXB-AbDzMmZAg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1">Naturno</a>, Italy) - <a href="http://www.oetzi-alpin-marathon.com/default.asp?sprache=en">Ötzi Alpine Marathon</a><br /><br />42km & 3200M elevation gain: Mountain Biking, Trail Running, and Ski Mountaineering Race<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqVkiQMcUS3Ej0sII0R3jTfUeR_WeXNYSrO6dbwtl4FkE4Ftf7LRvv6Y461GyGZVGvLytkLG2DVF8SGkY_DnfXGDHu_p2k6QyjTgHKAeiAFD929sS1fnUFe7nZ41hCeFQHJTLtEpiOGk/s1600-h/IMG_0165.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqVkiQMcUS3Ej0sII0R3jTfUeR_WeXNYSrO6dbwtl4FkE4Ftf7LRvv6Y461GyGZVGvLytkLG2DVF8SGkY_DnfXGDHu_p2k6QyjTgHKAeiAFD929sS1fnUFe7nZ41hCeFQHJTLtEpiOGk/s320/IMG_0165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331951593115904962" border="0" /></a><br />I can clearly blame (or credit) Becky on this one as a couple months ago she sent me a link for a video of an alpine triathlon that she thought would be a perfect fit for capturing my imagination and creating yet another mini-obsession. Late one evening I decided to check out the video -- which went something like this ... starts with mountain bike racers (in what looks like the middle of summer) racing away from a picturesque village surrounded by vineyards, cycling up a mountain, shouldering their bikes in a steep technical section, and then racing into another village. Cool -- looks like a fun bike race -- but next you see them trail running up a gorgeous valley, around a lake, and up, up, up. Wow, great duathlon in a mountain setting. That's not all though. Next -- in one of the oddest triathlon transitions I've ever seen -- they run into the second transition zone and trade the trail running shoes for ski boots and Randonee (touring) skis. Next shot has them skiing uphill still wearing summer bike clothes -- now in a full-on winter setting right up to the top of a glacier. 10 seconds into the video and I was already hooked -- once I saw them ski racing up a mountain in bike clothes, I was as good as in South Tirol already.<br /><br />Becky got in on the action too, quickly forming Team Abenteur (German for 'Adventure') with our friends Kate and Kat, while I decided that I wouldn't let a lack of specific training get in the way of going for the solo category. I managed to squeeze in a few ski tours to prep for the ski part, including my most awesome Swiss April Sunday training day ever (road cycling in the morning, kayaking over lunch, running, and then skiing up and down a mountain at sunset). We dusted our bikes off in early April and did a few rides to start the transition from ski season to bike season fitness. Breaking all the rules, I also switched equipment the day before the race as I decided to buy some used ski mountaineering racing skis as I was panicking a bit from checking out the photo gallery from last year's race and seeing everybody in super light race kit! I would be racing on these skis before ever trying them out - cool!<br /><br />We enjoyed a very scenic 4 hour drive through the Engadine into Italy, passing <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/BikingInEurope2007#5153470672584066226">Stelvio Pass</a> (one of our favorite road bike climbs) and finally arriving in Naturno to find our hotel in the middle of a vineryard in full bloom. Just stunning.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP53331Zonbg3aLoEsJERimdjCCKMUgyYgVpbpJhSCHCPuKx3e51ZKe0YVx9eJTY0lTzrxV_2gsmXlaeCQXuZTw81uoaSyyvmV0VXOY7J_eKuzy4BC9-2vETWxcaCHqedP2plO2DTa6YU/s1600-h/IMG_0191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP53331Zonbg3aLoEsJERimdjCCKMUgyYgVpbpJhSCHCPuKx3e51ZKe0YVx9eJTY0lTzrxV_2gsmXlaeCQXuZTw81uoaSyyvmV0VXOY7J_eKuzy4BC9-2vETWxcaCHqedP2plO2DTa6YU/s320/IMG_0191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331949925424560466" border="0" /></a><br />The race briefing was in German and Italian (reminds me of the Blues Brothers line "we got both kinds -- country ... and western", so we caught only bits and pieces here and there, but missed the important stuff like "how do Jeff's skis make it to the start of the ski section and how do the relay members make it up the mountain?". We sorted this out in a mix of English and German with the race organizers after the meeting and enjoyed a free pre-race buffet of -- get this, and I'm not kidding -- local cheeses, sausage, a delicious soup, fruits and red wine. Ah -- racing in Italy -- gotta love it. No paper plates collapsing under the weight of a blob of spaghetti and adorned with stale bread, but nice cheeses, fruits, and endless bottles of wine. And yes, it was only after filling up on cheese, soup, and sausage and a few glasses of wine that I somehow still craved (and ate) a whole pizza with the girls at a local pizzeria and then (and only then) thought that I should take pre-race nutrition more seriously!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9HLwSe9z3tvUffLVKfkV0tk5PVJ7wCiUdQhDv89_DsNyLKihzG8agnQQqjt7BQiuAvlKFjpp8ySVG9caEOsIBY8PwtT2z7_BE7DmVmgC3exr_SzpL7U1WQccsFk-vUbDGpE_NKcrBIQ/s1600-h/IMG_0169.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9HLwSe9z3tvUffLVKfkV0tk5PVJ7wCiUdQhDv89_DsNyLKihzG8agnQQqjt7BQiuAvlKFjpp8ySVG9caEOsIBY8PwtT2z7_BE7DmVmgC3exr_SzpL7U1WQccsFk-vUbDGpE_NKcrBIQ/s320/IMG_0169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331951230343179618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfHPP9y77idbCdTiQwk6SFXw37ETarNAHovQDGhSyCr7Wuk1RqTG5oz9oogRPJkwjYuq-2wYKVXElJakIEPKjBqfD8vBWr455SWKcsvcJKNATzfl5NHPpQBZFKUBgRM9LLKfral7OYmk/s1600-h/IMG_0172.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfHPP9y77idbCdTiQwk6SFXw37ETarNAHovQDGhSyCr7Wuk1RqTG5oz9oogRPJkwjYuq-2wYKVXElJakIEPKjBqfD8vBWr455SWKcsvcJKNATzfl5NHPpQBZFKUBgRM9LLKfral7OYmk/s320/IMG_0172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331950859593970226" border="0" /></a>By the way, the race organizers were quite surprised to see our group representing the U.S. and U.K. in a race dominated by (well, pretty much solely attended by) Italians, Germans, Austrians, and Swiss.<br /><br />Morning arrived and I managed to successfully drop off my ski and running gear at what I hoped was the place where it would all get transported for me. I did a little bike warm-up trying to shake off the nerves and settle a stomach that was quite unhappy with the previous evening's gorge-fest. I know better -- I really do -- or I should.<br /><br />We were racing by 9AM -- during a lap through the village I got my legs spinning, felt ok, and decided to move up through the pack. At 9:05 I was nearly in the lead pack as we approached the start line again and then STOPPED. A full-on STOP. I looked around and quickly noticed that I was the only one surprised that we were coming to a complete stop five minutes into a race.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEb0dT8UuTYKUg8X-7vBb5ZoIY3LFk-gYbNgEySMxFzNiVhe-h5TccaGlpRa09ins05G_w5Bt6WfM0boE3vMXEWdTMZcqKVhfq-P38mJPHYf8cNEZe8n5Bd-bynEJ-SWoMx1oeczCwEg/s1600-h/IMG_0192.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEb0dT8UuTYKUg8X-7vBb5ZoIY3LFk-gYbNgEySMxFzNiVhe-h5TccaGlpRa09ins05G_w5Bt6WfM0boE3vMXEWdTMZcqKVhfq-P38mJPHYf8cNEZe8n5Bd-bynEJ-SWoMx1oeczCwEg/s320/IMG_0192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331950446768068242" border="0" /></a><br />Ah, the joys of language and me not knowing enough of the one in the part of world I'm living -- apparently this was a warm-up lap. That five minute speech before the warm-up lap (in both German and Italian) probably went something like this: "alright folks, we're gonna do the warm-up lap that you all know about because you've done this before and know what you're doing, but see that poor chap with the stupid grin over there. You know, the one who laughs when we all do but doesn't have a clue why he's laughing or what we're saying. Wait, everyone laugh on 3. 1-2-3 ... ok, now you see him. So that guy will think we're racing during the warm-up lap, so let him pass you, it'll really boost his confidence which we'll later tear apart, and then watch his face when we all get back to the starting line and stop to await the real start."<br /><br />I grin and bear it and start the 2nd time hoping that this is the real start and not another warm-up/laugh-at-Jeff lap. We skip the village tour part this time and head straight UP (within 2 minutes). Now that I've positioned myself in the front during the warm-up lap, I'm quickly passed by ... well seemingly everyone .. on the climb. I'm stunned at how fast these guys and gals are climbing right from the start -- well, the 2nd start. I also notice that most of them switched out normal mountain bike tires for narrow slicks or semi-slicks and most were on hard-tails, not full suspension rigs (like I was). Now I know -- and yes, I am blatantly throwing excuses out before I even finish telling the story! Anyway, we climb and climb for over an hour - the views rocked. This is wine country and the vines were all in full bloom. It was also a very hot climb -- felt like mid-summer.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT5y7WgFtNxz06jMSnLJuZpt1uchigKVM6qJ5VUuygRZQUaKfh_vrKea92uYgWnbFwjzEy4rbAvRsd7SrTeIT5CQpdF5P8Tb2jAuK6lSoMSR8llHTR-UvQkfDmXUsrnEyONMoIx3fi7U/s1600-h/IMG_0194.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT5y7WgFtNxz06jMSnLJuZpt1uchigKVM6qJ5VUuygRZQUaKfh_vrKea92uYgWnbFwjzEy4rbAvRsd7SrTeIT5CQpdF5P8Tb2jAuK6lSoMSR8llHTR-UvQkfDmXUsrnEyONMoIx3fi7U/s320/IMG_0194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331949414499746930" border="0" /></a>I climbed my heart out, redlining the whole way and wishing I had actually trained on the bike for this race (as I knew I was near the back of the pack). The scenery couldn't be beat though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5cc78P9T8krPrWfEV1WCxsE-70JBmj4uSFzyEicbj49kN0VGdmk56VhCpmYRNaCWsVXCPwuCrTspJVjW2nWyFqTdFVRlr7vqFwvaX7tGWdO0Lw6nRHVXdPZzYOjynMz7mHBO39pZJE8/s1600-h/Bike_1173.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5cc78P9T8krPrWfEV1WCxsE-70JBmj4uSFzyEicbj49kN0VGdmk56VhCpmYRNaCWsVXCPwuCrTspJVjW2nWyFqTdFVRlr7vqFwvaX7tGWdO0Lw6nRHVXdPZzYOjynMz7mHBO39pZJE8/s320/Bike_1173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331949014993202178" border="0" /></a>I kept thinking "my god there are super fit people doing this race." The climb transitioned into a single-track section that involved carrying the bike up some non-rideable sections.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLygqUfNh7Hgjlp5Mquw0aWwU6qdjxQ49mNLjR7_ZvOvCt6QQd9hZTBMSgFi6xQFNfLK06eDfNaF6ppefSrCjiTqgwSkdCgYFQA_xsg2iYalI0BQMpA9YosGtEAM02vlIxo2yp5XQWfA/s1600-h/IMG_0195.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLygqUfNh7Hgjlp5Mquw0aWwU6qdjxQ49mNLjR7_ZvOvCt6QQd9hZTBMSgFi6xQFNfLK06eDfNaF6ppefSrCjiTqgwSkdCgYFQA_xsg2iYalI0BQMpA9YosGtEAM02vlIxo2yp5XQWfA/s320/IMG_0195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331948598493254818" border="0" /></a> After the single-track, I tried to gain some time by pushing it on the descent, but suffered again on the last long climb to the first transition area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv20XAHGGhj_rOu0gRJbv56NEwy6KL3WfOrpYwDbwJF12s85d-N2UJmsA9-x4FJItw73xeGZ1PMjA6ZJEeV9Zj8VgmTB8wGz0GxF36IoZZaAs1AO33W9-jKIkvkYCSQHgKA4wkf-SXY5I/s1600-h/CIMG0661.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv20XAHGGhj_rOu0gRJbv56NEwy6KL3WfOrpYwDbwJF12s85d-N2UJmsA9-x4FJItw73xeGZ1PMjA6ZJEeV9Zj8VgmTB8wGz0GxF36IoZZaAs1AO33W9-jKIkvkYCSQHgKA4wkf-SXY5I/s320/CIMG0661.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331947912459775906" border="0" /></a>After a tough 2 hours on the bike I wheeled into the transition zone (right past a cool bell tower) and was happy to hear Kat's cheers as she waited for Becky to hand off the baton in the relay. I managed a quick transition and ran off toward a steep slope to start the run segment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4P7v8UDEVKNml2rrHN5Mnz7p8afYbpcGo-4LAgfi1e4psklHX_KDuo4HfL98yhieEmEujOhoVlSZwuGLN3UBCpWcSdUy6TuFbs9rpwTbC7lvKTAHFZxo-D52OY8lc2KND9B5wiZDJWiw/s1600-h/Laufen_2314.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4P7v8UDEVKNml2rrHN5Mnz7p8afYbpcGo-4LAgfi1e4psklHX_KDuo4HfL98yhieEmEujOhoVlSZwuGLN3UBCpWcSdUy6TuFbs9rpwTbC7lvKTAHFZxo-D52OY8lc2KND9B5wiZDJWiw/s320/Laufen_2314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331947196008524642" border="0" /></a>During the run I was passed by the lead runners in the relay division. The relay teams started an hour behind the soloists and I was floored by how fast the lead runners blew past me. To my defense though, these guys just had to run 12KM and they were done for the day. I had to do the run and still ski up a mountain that looked really far away from the run start.<br /><br />Aside from a really annoying quad cramp, the run felt fine and at just over an hour, wasn't a big deal. I did have to walk the steep parts though and definitely didn't feel like I had my summer legs. Before long I was running into T2 and searching for my skis. It was a very odd feeling to run out of that transition area in ski boots and biking clothes! I relaxed a bit when my never-tested new skis grabbed into the snow and climbed just fine. The ski course covered 10KM and 1200 meters (3700 feet) of elevation. I was again stunned at how fast so many people were skiing -- especially the relay skiers who zoomed past me like I had my skis on backwards! (come to think of it, maybe I did!).<br /><br />I did perk up when one of the fast relay guys noticed I was a soloist (and suffering a bit) and said "bravissimo". Hearing the athlete-to-athlete motivation in a mix of languages is one of the wonderful things about living and racing in Europe. This and some other camaraderie banter fed me energy to keep sliding one ski boot in front of the other -- up, up, up.<br /><br />It was quite a sight to see recreational downhill skiers and boarders zooming down the mountain beside the race course wearing their full winter gear. They stared at us like we were aliens -- cold aliens in funny clothes who didn't quite have the direction of travel on a ski slope figured out.<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKT2RhwcUJoy3CNCD89KkL813-W2IQ8BV8ijGztDnGJjKSbQUunBD0jWyJIUdBmcb6BicetliqBtFhyAt5P1vZkKyU7jH2Yz86oyCbfG5u97ARAoYhtrya7G1xlxrkF_5F9nBxc9-uTI/s1600-h/Sci_3503.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKT2RhwcUJoy3CNCD89KkL813-W2IQ8BV8ijGztDnGJjKSbQUunBD0jWyJIUdBmcb6BicetliqBtFhyAt5P1vZkKyU7jH2Yz86oyCbfG5u97ARAoYhtrya7G1xlxrkF_5F9nBxc9-uTI/s320/Sci_3503.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331946595910392002" border="0" /></a>The higher on the mountain I climbed, the worst the weather got. What started as a sunny day turned into a foggy, snowy mist toward the top. Plus, I could feel the altitude (3000+ meters/9800+feet) making me light-headed and a dull headache. The photographer had camped out on a particularly steep and narrow section near the top. It was so steep that I could barely get my skis to stick. I had to take tiny steps, else I would slide backwards. It was grueling, but an awesome challenge at the same time. I started to get cold and snow was sticking to my arms, but soon I heard the finish line announcer. I pushed on and finally sighted the finish line. I vaguely remember them announcing my arrival in Italian. I saw Becky and Kat and felt a surge of energy that drove me to my first sprint finish on skis. I crossed the finish line and fell to my knees in exhaustion and an emotional release. 5 1/2 hours of hard effort -- in stunningly beautiful mountains -- both of which enrich my soul. Someone threw a blanket on me -- I looked up and saw smiles from Becky and Kat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BQy8Bi19sBxx3rT20avNdOK1gvj03IdEBCpTBKoYC4HOVSyXu93BvzjAQ480Fkoo7xrFo8iHJTBpHmKMnX7zxrjcPm3pfX1hQru3LI7qdsenqcoJELWDbZ3ogm1akHRFQIHQPgCwkzA/s1600-h/IMG_0215.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BQy8Bi19sBxx3rT20avNdOK1gvj03IdEBCpTBKoYC4HOVSyXu93BvzjAQ480Fkoo7xrFo8iHJTBpHmKMnX7zxrjcPm3pfX1hQru3LI7qdsenqcoJELWDbZ3ogm1akHRFQIHQPgCwkzA/s320/IMG_0215.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331945326042752770" border="0" /></a>I grabbed a shower at the mountaintop hotel where the race finished and made it back outside (this time in proper winter clothes) just in time to cheer Kate on as she finished Team Abenteur's final leg of the relay. The girls did great and had a wonderful time taking on the profi Italians and Austrians. We caught the cable car down to a rockin' post-race party, enjoyed some food, and then drove back down the valley to warmth and a treat of gelado in Naturno.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJCRudLvC0l4iESQEBMH1o6okgIh3OiVcnhLy8c1ldjZ1q1qqNnnLs0jg8MLAruuy3xcrqyfg56ri94yz4IPNDpxWOuW6E08qTCQsWRJLoHitrdzgIXbv8W2Q4MBn5iWpD9rq40lvR3w/s1600-h/IMG_0224.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJCRudLvC0l4iESQEBMH1o6okgIh3OiVcnhLy8c1ldjZ1q1qqNnnLs0jg8MLAruuy3xcrqyfg56ri94yz4IPNDpxWOuW6E08qTCQsWRJLoHitrdzgIXbv8W2Q4MBn5iWpD9rq40lvR3w/s320/IMG_0224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331944567867814450" border="0" /></a>The race was a super experience -- a perfect event for a multi-sport mountain lover. Now that I've tasted it, I can't wait to go back next year with some proper training under my belt and give it a go again. This time though, I know the trick about the warm-up lap and will be on the lookout for a fellow English speaker to give me some laughs this time!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNcOIQ_WM_T6qlI0pfMMuDVldWaN0w-HncDqSn6BPJQHv8qkzbq3_WBSSnRwm5_m3ZYgnWyjRZGayad4szer9iXQ1jj2VVRGz9-YZ3fd8FTgLKmDCGFEgym7XYN36bhsSOBZWBSxtiBQ/s1600-h/IMG_0226.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNcOIQ_WM_T6qlI0pfMMuDVldWaN0w-HncDqSn6BPJQHv8qkzbq3_WBSSnRwm5_m3ZYgnWyjRZGayad4szer9iXQ1jj2VVRGz9-YZ3fd8FTgLKmDCGFEgym7XYN36bhsSOBZWBSxtiBQ/s320/IMG_0226.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331942520288826706" border="0" /></a>Thanks for reading!<br /><br />JeffJeff Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10046883456301015459noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-38005235147627393862009-01-06T17:05:00.000+01:002009-01-06T17:03:10.556+01:00Wrapping up a great year...After an incredibly fun summer full of exploring all over Switzerland and northern Italy with visitors, it was time to take a break and have some "us" time, so on a beautiful weekend in October we took our first backpacking trip since we've been living in Europe.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHUl0FpqInSqbWRd6z4y8uUWM93Nc3kI6or7kz6FJO0gKu0WSsFJM3S86lCcRg4U8T53GxiBpfS8RgN-OyiftYu4FAwxX7wstVv0loyE4Qj3B42RHkb2QctvRnUJCenYDw-C56D1VL1m0/s1600-h/IMG_0068.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHUl0FpqInSqbWRd6z4y8uUWM93Nc3kI6or7kz6FJO0gKu0WSsFJM3S86lCcRg4U8T53GxiBpfS8RgN-OyiftYu4FAwxX7wstVv0loyE4Qj3B42RHkb2QctvRnUJCenYDw-C56D1VL1m0/s320/IMG_0068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287301312482745378" border="0" /></a>The good thing about backpacking in Switzerland is you can pretty much guarantee you'll be alone once the sun starts going down, since the locals tend to not sleep outside (which I must admit is understandable since there are so many charming little hotels and guesthouses all around).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaWuJSOkmt9tP0Zo_sJb9LtNzusXwyQ9BeU3RYqLTHLaUpcoiQ-3xpz1rLdhiHjmGmPSETiJyCx-LYPbl3x7Ut_p3M_5JRIIAaNn7OawkZeaPMnFAbVgrQOqVIDmr551_eWAOR42Pyl1T/s1600-h/IMG_0079.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaWuJSOkmt9tP0Zo_sJb9LtNzusXwyQ9BeU3RYqLTHLaUpcoiQ-3xpz1rLdhiHjmGmPSETiJyCx-LYPbl3x7Ut_p3M_5JRIIAaNn7OawkZeaPMnFAbVgrQOqVIDmr551_eWAOR42Pyl1T/s320/IMG_0079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287301244804465138" border="0" /></a>But to us nothing can beat having our little tent perched on the side of a hill with a gorgeous view and surrounded by nothing but nature. We enjoyed some wine-from-a-box (easier to carry in the backpack) in our REI Lexan wine glasses as we watched the moon rise over the mountain. Dinner was Raclette on our new candle-lit Swiss set. What a great evening in the backcountry!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjculgAkJ9mBFJWa7t9UK2uo1SeRpcT0SlqwHNVf6C9rBhWJ_e-PaKI0DzWnYeLehlNQqobuXg6ee7rie_G48bh2IJIP_laj62vCDmEEtlqDD-bEa2DqTkNe9g-nehI_0dn9jnFimNFEsmo/s1600-h/IMG_0107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjculgAkJ9mBFJWa7t9UK2uo1SeRpcT0SlqwHNVf6C9rBhWJ_e-PaKI0DzWnYeLehlNQqobuXg6ee7rie_G48bh2IJIP_laj62vCDmEEtlqDD-bEa2DqTkNe9g-nehI_0dn9jnFimNFEsmo/s320/IMG_0107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287301176647126386" border="0" /></a>Soon thereafter we travelled back to the U.S. for a visit - I (Buggie) went a little early and as luck would have it I got the chance to fit in a visit to our good Swiss friend there. Of course it was a very active visit including a cycling event through the horse country south of Gainesville. I brought the Alphorn from Switzerland and we used it to help cheer on other riders while taking a break...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QecrF-LU4wFLWYXANz4LeVlVM9_9iIf_-TBJOmxgImHYb3ThgedfUK_kuBhmeIzF47Rl-OnWp3J9EYgam3R0cydnO6pWyJ-FSc4Xl4U_sngTurh_G7Ths0TaB7eNGxRF9UBUQC8xd6sO/s1600-h/IMG_4286.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QecrF-LU4wFLWYXANz4LeVlVM9_9iIf_-TBJOmxgImHYb3ThgedfUK_kuBhmeIzF47Rl-OnWp3J9EYgam3R0cydnO6pWyJ-FSc4Xl4U_sngTurh_G7Ths0TaB7eNGxRF9UBUQC8xd6sO/s320/IMG_4286.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287301110464907938" border="0" /></a>I had no idea how beautiful the area near Gainesville is, especially with the moss hanging from the trees...and there actually were some hills there too - a nice surprise!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWnM351iakPdMSfmTKPQa0ae0qpHQPEkAlJeslWoCU-CU5CLOhIAvjFwUqf8HZfOcfwcV7TfRCf6sfeOFbGQ9cOh8RPfu8Gud7ay0DIkPw3IA12Fjl5xqNkGiHzKOCqFQt0tULpKL-9av/s1600-h/IMG_0175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWnM351iakPdMSfmTKPQa0ae0qpHQPEkAlJeslWoCU-CU5CLOhIAvjFwUqf8HZfOcfwcV7TfRCf6sfeOFbGQ9cOh8RPfu8Gud7ay0DIkPw3IA12Fjl5xqNkGiHzKOCqFQt0tULpKL-9av/s320/IMG_0175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287301043241612018" border="0" /></a>It was really great to see her and experience a small part of her new life there. We really miss you Martina! But we are happy that you are in such a good PhD program and look forward to your return to Switzerland when you're finished!<br /><br />Next stop was the beautiful hills of north Georgia. I wonder if this is the first time a Swiss Alphorn has been heard here...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDguD4VvKkUT7vq5Gd9aNB_akj9c3UJeUqRmzZb2nSvGO_tLWlfdEufGyz5xVGQyAuzZUz1OTogIFXa8m0sIyrQHp9l_Z4VkSkElq3H8BEKXGnXe59X6bUi5GonFgDqKwXSqn5GU5zmup/s1600-h/IMG_0234.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDguD4VvKkUT7vq5Gd9aNB_akj9c3UJeUqRmzZb2nSvGO_tLWlfdEufGyz5xVGQyAuzZUz1OTogIFXa8m0sIyrQHp9l_Z4VkSkElq3H8BEKXGnXe59X6bUi5GonFgDqKwXSqn5GU5zmup/s320/IMG_0234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287300032338697634" border="0" /></a>I always enjoy visiting my parents and their place in the mountains there. The house may be old and just has a few rooms, but it is very cozy. I think this sign says it all...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYzezCY1KfLR6Gl5Loiwkl3uQx-fHX0vM3_v8mB95xSqJ9uuTrX5RpjFf44lTH2kicyJAHZqWGTB4eC611LWjbzuIULvrjYQfLIkZslP12mCrAy3vO0cwA6ny-6YlzqOnCv1XmaczcKvF/s1600-h/IMG_0231.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYzezCY1KfLR6Gl5Loiwkl3uQx-fHX0vM3_v8mB95xSqJ9uuTrX5RpjFf44lTH2kicyJAHZqWGTB4eC611LWjbzuIULvrjYQfLIkZslP12mCrAy3vO0cwA6ny-6YlzqOnCv1XmaczcKvF/s320/IMG_0231.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287299954403998850" border="0" /></a>It was a very nice time together. That weekend, Gustav and I were lucky that a <span style="font-style: italic;">few </span>friends could join us in the mountains for a bike ride...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShpRTFcySca1moBtC2CuHM73_hQzJbRCPQq8Dnsgfvru_SPvxbSlsD9WF57Qax56tg2tQMAuXzA3nisfmRjkLGvDyZOYUulC9pgT6T8BDCDkGhpb2nQPu2puWUPu8d6ZmwycxLGzklaew/s1600-h/Gaptoberfest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShpRTFcySca1moBtC2CuHM73_hQzJbRCPQq8Dnsgfvru_SPvxbSlsD9WF57Qax56tg2tQMAuXzA3nisfmRjkLGvDyZOYUulC9pgT6T8BDCDkGhpb2nQPu2puWUPu8d6ZmwycxLGzklaew/s320/Gaptoberfest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287299794755816050" border="0" /></a>Actually it was not just <span style="font-style: italic;">any </span>bike ride -- It was the Fourth (almost-)Annual Gaptoberfest! That is: Biking in the Gaps + Oktoberfest in Helen = Great times with great friends :-)<br /><br />After biking up and down a few of Georgia's famous hills (including our fave, Hawgpain!), we used up any breath we had leftover to share some of the sounds of the Swiss Alps with the Oktoberfest'ers...in the appropriate plaza no less...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuMC9bg2hsy2i0VVXFJYGvq-YtfFBaSWtNCrJcOk2COCzE4gPSsTsO4wDeZS0B2MgJS2hQNKaQb8s4-YD1aoqcsl5OxqnaoGb8KQclmTH8FYiyG7iwbrMemK4M7N4fqIINLu16YJrVtdu/s1600-h/IMG_0368.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuMC9bg2hsy2i0VVXFJYGvq-YtfFBaSWtNCrJcOk2COCzE4gPSsTsO4wDeZS0B2MgJS2hQNKaQb8s4-YD1aoqcsl5OxqnaoGb8KQclmTH8FYiyG7iwbrMemK4M7N4fqIINLu16YJrVtdu/s320/IMG_0368.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287299867750767330" border="0" /></a>It was a really fun time and I hope we can continue to keep the tradition of Gaptoberfest going on every year, as long as we all can continue to ride bikes (which will be forever as long as we can help it!).<br /><br />Moving on... Every visit to the U.S. tends to include some shopping since you just can't get some "important" items in Switzerland (now you all know what to bring me next time you visit!):<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDguD4VvKkUT7vq5Gd9aNB_akj9c3UJeUqRmzZb2nSvGO_tLWlfdEufGyz5xVGQyAuzZUz1OTogIFXa8m0sIyrQHp9l_Z4VkSkElq3H8BEKXGnXe59X6bUi5GonFgDqKwXSqn5GU5zmup/s1600-h/IMG_0234.JPG"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsd-GrOVWfVckMD9-AbTaS5hVRXLTm7KPfBtIlNyh3tCD-vvG9XoKRxAiveK3eVD2-SB71Rem8GiHEEdCjjadYN36L0gQSlm5F6VLTHLLBNrdq-IQAFDJSUbFtEaqlhonjZ9Zblw-j6lh/s1600-h/IMG_0467.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsd-GrOVWfVckMD9-AbTaS5hVRXLTm7KPfBtIlNyh3tCD-vvG9XoKRxAiveK3eVD2-SB71Rem8GiHEEdCjjadYN36L0gQSlm5F6VLTHLLBNrdq-IQAFDJSUbFtEaqlhonjZ9Zblw-j6lh/s320/IMG_0467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287300950103318738" border="0" /></a>We visited Sam's Club since Mom has a membership, and couldn't get over how huge the store is (you could fit about a thousand European stores in it). The aisles were wide, the selection was overwhelmingly vast... Even the playing cards were oversized!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUVFxmpaH48ofETQZ05aK8nmWt525OHJ9m5BCfwMEGJ5JAyv7KhjBbleXOOydE-XRiYzTJpsQtkQ65zrM3VkzC5O3gRWWKzqNaF998KiYgwPvA6tviiTtG_-Ad_8N-RsKSbQh8PwnShIS/s1600-h/IMG_0469.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUVFxmpaH48ofETQZ05aK8nmWt525OHJ9m5BCfwMEGJ5JAyv7KhjBbleXOOydE-XRiYzTJpsQtkQ65zrM3VkzC5O3gRWWKzqNaF998KiYgwPvA6tviiTtG_-Ad_8N-RsKSbQh8PwnShIS/s320/IMG_0469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287300894169693506" border="0" /></a>So to keep the theme we did some post-shopping refreshing with some over-sized beverages :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDVzi3raqQqA_Tl0v0SxDT6SU4dNgp91sQSXb2m78T4VSip7a4vioYCLdWya_b4essaw4DybfD4hC-PICEUCqV_Qkje1r6S-GUalWylIX5D3fB-JET-ffufKE9Qz2Kr5eVBHGyebypZ4n/s1600-h/IMG_0473.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDVzi3raqQqA_Tl0v0SxDT6SU4dNgp91sQSXb2m78T4VSip7a4vioYCLdWya_b4essaw4DybfD4hC-PICEUCqV_Qkje1r6S-GUalWylIX5D3fB-JET-ffufKE9Qz2Kr5eVBHGyebypZ4n/s320/IMG_0473.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287300179383874034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrrP7NDXH2slKQOdyM2fs4aJc53U-uHXqRfMkgGkPxkIso5SVucPHEVgy09XngtHX6vbAfHFEGVNYK6I3JMTXJAsADPtPtlvLErco03HAb8SBj0sqtABTDN2gJGLruA1jGkGwlBsYFm7s/s1600-h/IMG_0545.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrrP7NDXH2slKQOdyM2fs4aJc53U-uHXqRfMkgGkPxkIso5SVucPHEVgy09XngtHX6vbAfHFEGVNYK6I3JMTXJAsADPtPtlvLErco03HAb8SBj0sqtABTDN2gJGLruA1jGkGwlBsYFm7s/s320/IMG_0545.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287891996123841330" border="0" /></a>The next day was Halloween, which we couldn't wait to share with Gustav's sis and our neice and nephew. Plus it means getting dressed up and forcing strangers to give you candy - so much fun! (the Europeans don't know what they're missing)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_3W4Q6bn6d5AeLfyM3ojukORWjU7wgeXUG5SmhQIp_UtTUo1p8gDOww_nrm4z24Lfr2gbHd1f_gAqT6c6vAJRyugsfY5ZCSEIdolEXIfpTYejmq1T7Gi6qC-OddBNwKOKEGukyV1tRvy/s1600-h/IMG_0514.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_3W4Q6bn6d5AeLfyM3ojukORWjU7wgeXUG5SmhQIp_UtTUo1p8gDOww_nrm4z24Lfr2gbHd1f_gAqT6c6vAJRyugsfY5ZCSEIdolEXIfpTYejmq1T7Gi6qC-OddBNwKOKEGukyV1tRvy/s320/IMG_0514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287299741601563538" border="0" /></a>As always we really enjoyed seeing everyone and getting to spend some time together. That includes our "furry child"- You'd never guess she is over 15 years old from this picture would you? Playing on the rocks by the river...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXKd6IcppI5oAsCb2WNOmJ6C_3JJqRUkHfBkDAbweGQAtINfq48wlBCEPYvB8RJNNYfJ5S7a_xKQdn3WsTNojQIAdzaISnEZmvokfXfeQsVH5-MmJcgiJxs4ULrKi30RX1L5h3Dsg-FAz/s1600-h/IMG_0581.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXKd6IcppI5oAsCb2WNOmJ6C_3JJqRUkHfBkDAbweGQAtINfq48wlBCEPYvB8RJNNYfJ5S7a_xKQdn3WsTNojQIAdzaISnEZmvokfXfeQsVH5-MmJcgiJxs4ULrKi30RX1L5h3Dsg-FAz/s320/IMG_0581.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287299622707176242" border="0" /></a>There just never seems to be enough time to do everything we want during our visits, but still we enjoyed the time that we did have with you all, and we're glad we can all stay in touch at least "virtually" when we're not in the same country.<br /><br />Soon after we got back to Zurich, lots of "white stuff" started falling from the sky, and overnight it transformed the area into a winter wonderland... So our friend who is from northern Canada showed me the proper way to make a snowman (we didn't get quite so many chances to practice while growing up in TN!)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWaENDEx40UgybAf46exgfBma_hS5vOMuNCRTF5z4A1s15mocClImTC2cH21jngRJHOWhyphenhyphenuXEJSzju-D1l073Zf8NyuLch2EZODpjMhujjPg6hpKG7fSRU3U4VncjnSrmgMbjLalYjhEz/s1600-h/HeatherAndFrosty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWaENDEx40UgybAf46exgfBma_hS5vOMuNCRTF5z4A1s15mocClImTC2cH21jngRJHOWhyphenhyphenuXEJSzju-D1l073Zf8NyuLch2EZODpjMhujjPg6hpKG7fSRU3U4VncjnSrmgMbjLalYjhEz/s320/HeatherAndFrosty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287299569081998338" border="0" /></a>Gustav and I decided at the last minute to take a long weekend trip to Vienna, to take advantage of the fact that we can do just that! It was our first experience on an overnight train, which was great (although a bit cramped!). We really enjoyed checking out the city and its incredibly beautiful buildings, as well as a couple friends we know living there. It was great timing with all the Christmas markets and decorations all around the city, really festive...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie66vqviO8j4pdicZuxJNUbqtVEHQHwOY0rV8Lf12yj7AbaitRRnb_Psq5AqeYAguutcCEiH6_ytheS7W1zlve4s-JNbQ7oI5ZoVCAR6VH328o4b7dNQBgJJDEn9o5cp-Wg-fv4Amftc6T/s1600-h/IMG_0178.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie66vqviO8j4pdicZuxJNUbqtVEHQHwOY0rV8Lf12yj7AbaitRRnb_Psq5AqeYAguutcCEiH6_ytheS7W1zlve4s-JNbQ7oI5ZoVCAR6VH328o4b7dNQBgJJDEn9o5cp-Wg-fv4Amftc6T/s320/IMG_0178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287299522577241554" border="0" /></a>When we got back to Zurich it was holiday party time, and we hosted a few of those ourselves, including some Christmas caroling as well as some jazz improv by Jeff and one of the younger guests...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILHxs78hvBuzr7g9PchYaOVSuKUicQCgn75S_P5MYLBxZGzlmYsLShrs0Sr4F1aIeN56z35cQ9WUIXbpD86pRGwMUTlPvR0ivi4Btlc51t5KVja1eqZJ_JOZlZ5ukMrwnXIABruPzOGhb/s1600-h/IMG_0037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILHxs78hvBuzr7g9PchYaOVSuKUicQCgn75S_P5MYLBxZGzlmYsLShrs0Sr4F1aIeN56z35cQ9WUIXbpD86pRGwMUTlPvR0ivi4Btlc51t5KVja1eqZJ_JOZlZ5ukMrwnXIABruPzOGhb/s320/IMG_0037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287299452119603570" border="0" /></a>Soon thereafter we got hit by even MORE of that white stuff! It's so different from last year when it didn't snow here all winter (until once in March)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBoTbOTwdD2_Y49b92pBkxaS9_PeDFTjcQLL3T2I5tLruZP9TZ1fJiumxLtaTACSi5iHZXq96Z7rXcoL0hijJipFVc98hn3bI0enA7TQLGt3gkQSzenTFciQzp2sL8t0AQnvzYZzia42L/s1600-h/CIMG0243.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBoTbOTwdD2_Y49b92pBkxaS9_PeDFTjcQLL3T2I5tLruZP9TZ1fJiumxLtaTACSi5iHZXq96Z7rXcoL0hijJipFVc98hn3bI0enA7TQLGt3gkQSzenTFciQzp2sL8t0AQnvzYZzia42L/s320/CIMG0243.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287299380817585554" border="0" /></a>The good thing was that the white stuff fell in the mountains to, so that meant one thing - It's time to SKI!! So our first day out on the sl0pes was with our good friend from Colorado...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrblUaXpghyKscbkko1LsXNoYu1jZnxXDoBbYrUW_1i21CwzxdieFb2u5JwL4BBY1VYZyZ01eEWoEm8GyQohikKQU3hUHdbjOIp4sm_n9cdNI3JM0IxXfiA9xZNVCv3lNB9cZICTJnfTo/s1600-h/IMG_0012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrblUaXpghyKscbkko1LsXNoYu1jZnxXDoBbYrUW_1i21CwzxdieFb2u5JwL4BBY1VYZyZ01eEWoEm8GyQohikKQU3hUHdbjOIp4sm_n9cdNI3JM0IxXfiA9xZNVCv3lNB9cZICTJnfTo/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287299296895766850" border="0" /></a>One thing we still can't get over is how people here seem to really appreciate having a good meal. Even if you're at a tiny eatery on the ski slope, they still make your lunch special...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4KtJcppHYEz7wpUmlMrbTJpWAMrANqNG3STCviwzog5jRXKP0hSpMcrEfI_ichJhD2DaiY138_TS-bnMteplnR2VehNTJgPEHJMY-eOpfh9bc-so53GN3ClTNqFofg-cdeJCKQz3elKF/s1600-h/IMG_0020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4KtJcppHYEz7wpUmlMrbTJpWAMrANqNG3STCviwzog5jRXKP0hSpMcrEfI_ichJhD2DaiY138_TS-bnMteplnR2VehNTJgPEHJMY-eOpfh9bc-so53GN3ClTNqFofg-cdeJCKQz3elKF/s320/IMG_0020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287299241261194130" border="0" /></a>This lunch above is Alpen Macaroni, served with apple sauce, mmm-mmmmm. And topped off with a Carlsberg beer - Their advertising slogan always cracks us up: "<span style="font-style: italic;">Probably </span>the best beer in the world" (well if they're not totally sure, at least they're honest about it!)<br /><br />Suddenly Christmastime was upon us... We were lucky enough to receive an invitation from our Swiss friend to join her and her parents at their mountain chalet for the holiday. This was our first chance to experience a true Swiss Christmas! We had always heard about how real candles are lit on the Christmas tree, but it was even more amazing to experience it in person...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSWfPzOxvvINLelTN1eEpJeH_9Taz_f4ZpYUJtJDPt7OYEhaqIZ3Cj1J97k3KVlrM-99HFF4FW07qnI5zdLJW0J3I-oSGyOwQRU0prJ-vHJqNPowIXgEzUWutl5jkTiMdsJhKNbOA-v-r/s1600-h/CIMG0286.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSWfPzOxvvINLelTN1eEpJeH_9Taz_f4ZpYUJtJDPt7OYEhaqIZ3Cj1J97k3KVlrM-99HFF4FW07qnI5zdLJW0J3I-oSGyOwQRU0prJ-vHJqNPowIXgEzUWutl5jkTiMdsJhKNbOA-v-r/s320/CIMG0286.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287299105321325986" border="0" /></a>It was a really special time with our Swiss family who has "adopted" us. We all celebrated on Christmas Eve together with some Fondue Chinoise, which involves cooking your own thinly sliced meats in a buillion, and is the traditional Swiss meal for Christmas Eve.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFzo19xGiFhPFh9gww_WtfAjfmaBi6P-i70jrb_ZX4YWqdTSGuIWLjUY6GI66VT5ISzWw-Xb9UdDFjhelVp9a77UCqgRQPPgNd7HuCzLmzbhoyn0NbZFhItLMQeB_yO5hUw7SS9SkFjiP/s1600-h/IMG_0076.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFzo19xGiFhPFh9gww_WtfAjfmaBi6P-i70jrb_ZX4YWqdTSGuIWLjUY6GI66VT5ISzWw-Xb9UdDFjhelVp9a77UCqgRQPPgNd7HuCzLmzbhoyn0NbZFhItLMQeB_yO5hUw7SS9SkFjiP/s320/IMG_0076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287298933487612626" border="0" /></a>After the Fondue, the Christmas gifts are opened (on Christmas Eve - typically a single gift per person, usually something hand-made, and specially wrapped with lots of care), then a story is read, sometimes songs are sung around the tree (as you make sure no needles are burning from the candles on it!), and then we all walk through the snow to the village church for the service that ends right at midnight. Christmas Day is then usually spent out in the snow and sunshine, walking or skiing with the family.<br /><br />The view from the chalet is difficult to describe in words, it's so beautiful...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVaLvfaTQSa1U3D4Gs2_GZ97WabOQlSunRpcNafPKmocOC6gb_2MnRR99DstedIU7IAjnSASPcwb5dF2qx-x5jmBe-ZRazQEf55dgq6r-Kahao_c4k7zvTKzg7f7hooxciq8s8GaBS2Z2/s1600-h/IMG_8966.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVaLvfaTQSa1U3D4Gs2_GZ97WabOQlSunRpcNafPKmocOC6gb_2MnRR99DstedIU7IAjnSASPcwb5dF2qx-x5jmBe-ZRazQEf55dgq6r-Kahao_c4k7zvTKzg7f7hooxciq8s8GaBS2Z2/s320/IMG_8966.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287299056527136242" border="0" /></a>Thank you so much,<span style="font-style: italic;"> unsere Schweizer Mami und Papi</span>, for sharing your holiday time and traditions with us!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAz8potk2RDKHZdVR-nGRBST8lMo4ycwt_NvgpoEZHUZaiKBcY2LZSI7As4zwNZcSyev57a3tk9ayXmWO-j3tcYhgFREFVFiLD3W9_THPLBiBi84go4cR_mhS9zYbjAcUkNXKH8TdsSsoP/s1600-h/IMG_0111.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAz8potk2RDKHZdVR-nGRBST8lMo4ycwt_NvgpoEZHUZaiKBcY2LZSI7As4zwNZcSyev57a3tk9ayXmWO-j3tcYhgFREFVFiLD3W9_THPLBiBi84go4cR_mhS9zYbjAcUkNXKH8TdsSsoP/s320/IMG_0111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287298886957384146" border="0" /></a>After Christmas we met up with our "Abenteuer" (adventure) friends to do some more ski-touring (better described in our opinion as "ski mountaineering", since after all it usually involves climbing to the top of a mountain, or sometimes more than one, and often has its epic nail-biting moments!). This trip ended up being a great adventure without any problems (nor any <a href="http://hillseekers.blogspot.com/2008/02/ski-tour-with-unusual-ending.html">helicopter rescues</a>).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2h4DrGDja3p0zya9hZ2PCLkXy5bm9lB1uEH3WAQ0po8GwEsOOhYzdrx2FGKWajVUnoM0qUv5g2bklT4oQDjsdYsSIC1FDJMvsN0xnzXgxmDZmoiW0Fq5Q8WJnF4TB7xTLiOqmhyq-rsrR/s1600-h/IMG_0030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2h4DrGDja3p0zya9hZ2PCLkXy5bm9lB1uEH3WAQ0po8GwEsOOhYzdrx2FGKWajVUnoM0qUv5g2bklT4oQDjsdYsSIC1FDJMvsN0xnzXgxmDZmoiW0Fq5Q8WJnF4TB7xTLiOqmhyq-rsrR/s320/IMG_0030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287298807398207794" border="0" /></a>We took advantage of the extra holidays to do some version of skiing every day -- ski-touring, skate-skiing, alpine skiing... No matter what the activity, it is always worth travelling the 45 minutes or so from Zurich to the mountains to enjoy the <span style="font-style: italic;">wunderschön </span>views and sunshine...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdq2WNXyH-6vz-uzFlwP-daj1NsTErzBCH56vrGXulKbYkMdpgrowgbjxO0TUbT5Eo6vuFcXSScGizaz6qzEBVy84hpz6j4ygDZaak33xskeXFlWoGdEXPiX_eo8_YU52Bg4z2h2lW9mro/s1600-h/IMG_0013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdq2WNXyH-6vz-uzFlwP-daj1NsTErzBCH56vrGXulKbYkMdpgrowgbjxO0TUbT5Eo6vuFcXSScGizaz6qzEBVy84hpz6j4ygDZaak33xskeXFlWoGdEXPiX_eo8_YU52Bg4z2h2lW9mro/s320/IMG_0013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287298343773533778" border="0" /></a>We especially appreciate the sunshine since it tends to be <span style="font-style: italic;">very </span>foggy in Zurich this time of year. Just another reason to get out and enjoy the beautiful mountains...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydRT5I-aUKxaSM6Kkn4oTu40vdNcdPuVJacl_9psbpSwGv_uz5FvAkmISlmwB8GZNxORZY7LziYiluozjDGZVDYgC45xOjG0FAlFo2pwDoM2Du9D-6nO7m-zMhY9_U3u7-g2Yb0ZRLyBu/s1600-h/IMG_0027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydRT5I-aUKxaSM6Kkn4oTu40vdNcdPuVJacl_9psbpSwGv_uz5FvAkmISlmwB8GZNxORZY7LziYiluozjDGZVDYgC45xOjG0FAlFo2pwDoM2Du9D-6nO7m-zMhY9_U3u7-g2Yb0ZRLyBu/s320/IMG_0027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287298185383214018" border="0" /></a><br />It has been a great year. We really enjoyed getting to share some of our life in Switzerland with you, either in person for those of you who came to visit, or at least on here "virtually".<br /><br />We hope you all had a good year as well, and we wish you all a very<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Happy and Healthy New Year!!!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_hxZn4fIBY3sk5ZQykAGT2NkIA-jckct-U19VbNRufJEZ_6wVNsAbDfM46QczjCYPpz5Ttm4Ih5LHjJvYhIZrmjl35ORmwB8WqEUwwQlZ0J___KcPw3MJyZgQXJhzqtYW_o4hO7bn5CM/s1600-h/IMG_0200.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_hxZn4fIBY3sk5ZQykAGT2NkIA-jckct-U19VbNRufJEZ_6wVNsAbDfM46QczjCYPpz5Ttm4Ih5LHjJvYhIZrmjl35ORmwB8WqEUwwQlZ0J___KcPw3MJyZgQXJhzqtYW_o4hO7bn5CM/s320/IMG_0200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287298012888502242" border="0" /></a><br />Cheers,<br />Buggie and GustavBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908341443193323914noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-10484321309169933892008-10-16T18:03:00.020+02:002008-10-16T18:44:09.518+02:00Oktoberfest!To top off all the biking and hill-climbing we'd done over the previous two weeks with our friends visiting from Colorado, not to mention replace all the calories and "re-hydrate" ourselves, it was time to head to Munich for the annual <a href="http://www.oktoberfest.de/en/index.php">Oktoberfest</a>. Our friend Thomas, also from Colorado but now living in Zurich too, joined us as well.<br /><br />The festive mood started right away when we arrived at the hotel and were offered Bavarian pretzels, mmmm....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxpsFnzyesBTdkcGqH942xJYXOQcIHjfBnoB75gIwDXfJ2-uqigAVwZtED_nflEjwFdMnUV_narohyphenhyphenQ4rXQ_mP_LlT4OxU1lZeejsnw4rxiYbWP1woFoxljYyIWuqdZrcLiNwK-mixvgF/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxpsFnzyesBTdkcGqH942xJYXOQcIHjfBnoB75gIwDXfJ2-uqigAVwZtED_nflEjwFdMnUV_narohyphenhyphenQ4rXQ_mP_LlT4OxU1lZeejsnw4rxiYbWP1woFoxljYyIWuqdZrcLiNwK-mixvgF/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257784490766399218" border="0" /></a>We took the subway right from our hotel to Marienplatz, in the main part of Munich. It was a gorgeous blue-sky day...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_DlkbRy80eEpH5qgYsj9fa4fzFfSJZmBgIN962uhLFmJaWviW649mb_HXJSKkLh5CAP4Ncg7I_KnH6nFXMjV6YrGcJpTPyXbYuTtNgsS5laAq_WXuYx-dLcgwvY4wJyv811X6Sb9f_C0/s1600-h/IMG_0058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_DlkbRy80eEpH5qgYsj9fa4fzFfSJZmBgIN962uhLFmJaWviW649mb_HXJSKkLh5CAP4Ncg7I_KnH6nFXMjV6YrGcJpTPyXbYuTtNgsS5laAq_WXuYx-dLcgwvY4wJyv811X6Sb9f_C0/s320/IMG_0058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257784440539147954" border="0" /></a>Since it was such a clear day, we decided to take in some views from a higher point - at the top of a tower in one of the churches... 350 stairs - up, uP, UP - climb, climb, climb! We're never done with climbing!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKQ08vLo1DgR8u2ZzneU_HR2Rn7oMk0UHUH95CmE7nHwIIDqIrqWNNtuDZQOWlXEvkoqWkOGU6UFNdJSpxl8-0DqKLc9ZEkol2ufSnIqt3qBsBkIYHfzeFcT2c84WeIjpqRCOG_dXP8Gv/s1600-h/IMG_0041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKQ08vLo1DgR8u2ZzneU_HR2Rn7oMk0UHUH95CmE7nHwIIDqIrqWNNtuDZQOWlXEvkoqWkOGU6UFNdJSpxl8-0DqKLc9ZEkol2ufSnIqt3qBsBkIYHfzeFcT2c84WeIjpqRCOG_dXP8Gv/s320/IMG_0041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257784238556956914" border="0" /></a>After we survived the crowded viewing tower, we headed on to the even more crowded Oktoberfest grounds. I couldn't believe how many people were walking around outside, it was jam-packed...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaK6cW-c4utFIEPoUPkX5C-nnDZDWh824UNMRFyyI45Ac_XNl8KhDLmbqlcmKgDtUIYLCfdweKWOLssx5duST2Lj6Xu7Teo5ONY_RU_GWiWZAYDFUVLUdtWsgrnn-kq0qjLNGrX6fgb4ul/s1600-h/IMG_0077.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaK6cW-c4utFIEPoUPkX5C-nnDZDWh824UNMRFyyI45Ac_XNl8KhDLmbqlcmKgDtUIYLCfdweKWOLssx5duST2Lj6Xu7Teo5ONY_RU_GWiWZAYDFUVLUdtWsgrnn-kq0qjLNGrX6fgb4ul/s320/IMG_0077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257784379962904770" border="0" /></a>We checked out a few of the tents just to see what it's all about. Those tents are HUGE, and quite festive, with live music, and some have people dancing on tables (already, and it's only noon!).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyvxo1VEJnok2W4ro0I1WgXPzyT7zIKBbFC0iIeieOzhRQ9I06Wz94S4kjYwK44_j6doU7ss73lCpKQibSb-V9E-wrB1b4_grvHCZFcJr6r8aBzoHTRitAJSmXQkW2y2gZ10X4FBHRQwW/s1600-h/IMG_0086.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyvxo1VEJnok2W4ro0I1WgXPzyT7zIKBbFC0iIeieOzhRQ9I06Wz94S4kjYwK44_j6doU7ss73lCpKQibSb-V9E-wrB1b4_grvHCZFcJr6r8aBzoHTRitAJSmXQkW2y2gZ10X4FBHRQwW/s320/IMG_0086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257784157751983794" border="0" /></a>We escaped back out into the sunshine - It was such a beautiful day to be outside. Plus it was entertaining to see all the different things people wear to this...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLAh0rkSoVL0kriIDoH9d_Uwpw5NjF5PiggPbNAK71FQZorGnU0DNcRPn1JMeab9pdgZEDgKCBX1KcAEmrhgVUmtcNJoyIs8lQHQU0RJ879zEKK7lbrsnOEdXAwxDGauGnmYaOEJg3Di0/s1600-h/IMG_0172.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLAh0rkSoVL0kriIDoH9d_Uwpw5NjF5PiggPbNAK71FQZorGnU0DNcRPn1JMeab9pdgZEDgKCBX1KcAEmrhgVUmtcNJoyIs8lQHQU0RJ879zEKK7lbrsnOEdXAwxDGauGnmYaOEJg3Di0/s320/IMG_0172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257783946798357858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidW0qWQt49vaZBF9LGSI3o5Wx2Jy6z2mNfl3SUkY7k-ctHaLsfpTBF7iTuocOGbQEAWhcb5h4bO5WBNxWj8Hua3WpUFuGhgwnPXWMxf7esh4iBt0TipJIGu3_X46rsWXjRLCKlMUTuItLL/s1600-h/IMG_0173.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidW0qWQt49vaZBF9LGSI3o5Wx2Jy6z2mNfl3SUkY7k-ctHaLsfpTBF7iTuocOGbQEAWhcb5h4bO5WBNxWj8Hua3WpUFuGhgwnPXWMxf7esh4iBt0TipJIGu3_X46rsWXjRLCKlMUTuItLL/s320/IMG_0173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257783894298514530" border="0" /></a>Finally we decided we had been at Oktoberfest way too long without having any beer - That's what it's all about after all, right? So we snagged a table for 6 outside and enjoyed our first round. They sell nothing smaller than a liter (called a Mass), so hope you're thirsty...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMK27qqrLrdNWZl-h7WH9XMFoQeBr42GHy3AkzNJZ0cC7N0JFUoN3jipUOqhzznvS6v-sSjuF00Eq5uiRhHFqSFB_9ZGH1set1uT-KyxWdFINHCokBBpy2_ssaXBzbEdqsFZywx9plt-wI/s1600-h/IMG_0132.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMK27qqrLrdNWZl-h7WH9XMFoQeBr42GHy3AkzNJZ0cC7N0JFUoN3jipUOqhzznvS6v-sSjuF00Eq5uiRhHFqSFB_9ZGH1set1uT-KyxWdFINHCokBBpy2_ssaXBzbEdqsFZywx9plt-wI/s320/IMG_0132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257784014091082642" border="0" /></a>Prost!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGIWuIsGsVFx5RGH7kx_zbJrtdCMBtSL2mwiZ8D2SIpz2B2EDr3NvglVK6SjkCPivxnCi08PJXHnt8m85Q77JRp920cxdZZVyyN8HHz6a9OCHWhnCtJKuPj0GtpmRXHmC_s5gJCDLhK7y/s1600-h/IMG_0099.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGIWuIsGsVFx5RGH7kx_zbJrtdCMBtSL2mwiZ8D2SIpz2B2EDr3NvglVK6SjkCPivxnCi08PJXHnt8m85Q77JRp920cxdZZVyyN8HHz6a9OCHWhnCtJKuPj0GtpmRXHmC_s5gJCDLhK7y/s320/IMG_0099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257784107205580722" border="0" /></a>These liters are tough to hold up with one hand, they're so heavy, especially when full. While we struggled holding up our one, we were even more impressed by the beer-server ladies who carry 3-5 in <span style="font-style: italic;">each </span>hand...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3r7ux6-LA7AXI5_UVrCduZZBcS6GiDHldUpzaD1gVpBlEg6LX_bEAaA3onqvCKLXleJEBWrLFouaG3jIRJk2iWQfUv7Yv9qvbiS4cEvk8xKzGlQGet-3Qyo10oXijqZayvPamMvamJrM/s1600-h/IMG_0137.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3r7ux6-LA7AXI5_UVrCduZZBcS6GiDHldUpzaD1gVpBlEg6LX_bEAaA3onqvCKLXleJEBWrLFouaG3jIRJk2iWQfUv7Yv9qvbiS4cEvk8xKzGlQGet-3Qyo10oXijqZayvPamMvamJrM/s320/IMG_0137.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257788638856962626" border="0" /></a>As it got dark we ventured on, and happened upon Paula's own beer...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI1kK1iX4xNUpeceVD5DJ2F_BmZQhcavnudl46iQEX2JPjphAKRtdSr1ECcjbql6EXK8Yck8lxgrqGPqV35M2umb8FTNIjqBzSIWZXS2EV6WaD3b1l0zMH-EuW-NE902b-5H_Q8_vxdDz/s1600-h/IMG_0206.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI1kK1iX4xNUpeceVD5DJ2F_BmZQhcavnudl46iQEX2JPjphAKRtdSr1ECcjbql6EXK8Yck8lxgrqGPqV35M2umb8FTNIjqBzSIWZXS2EV6WaD3b1l0zMH-EuW-NE902b-5H_Q8_vxdDz/s320/IMG_0206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257783796988665794" border="0" /></a>One great thing about Oktoberfest is everyone is so friendly - You can become instant friends with strangers. People will just sit down beside you and start talking and laughing right along with you, like this lady did with us...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpvKH4V6bBpwXo-621sJgOFHGOFsQINMdlUpzVI4Pto82-6C2vC2GRw7MZzzwRZw_Y-oLzSdhcQ272CLdndgCbNQX_T7voqvhEeMHVzdpgdUUwDiK2pGXCZfUX7Esvt4_YILbUhzJSjw-/s1600-h/IMG_0217.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpvKH4V6bBpwXo-621sJgOFHGOFsQINMdlUpzVI4Pto82-6C2vC2GRw7MZzzwRZw_Y-oLzSdhcQ272CLdndgCbNQX_T7voqvhEeMHVzdpgdUUwDiK2pGXCZfUX7Esvt4_YILbUhzJSjw-/s320/IMG_0217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257783720346478274" border="0" /></a>And before you know it you're all standing on the tables singing old German folk songs together :)<br />Next the silly hats came out...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqngXq9eEn30cfbH8yqeVHzoMahrusnnOHSKmPtOs4XmEdu5Oui3_Fg18uv7amSUKBkGS078Khk34oBFNbntVM0WlP3qBi-yV36W55kd08fdrt7vGzLma7X0tPl8jVgkLgG5k9CcybWQgg/s1600-h/IMG_0221.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqngXq9eEn30cfbH8yqeVHzoMahrusnnOHSKmPtOs4XmEdu5Oui3_Fg18uv7amSUKBkGS078Khk34oBFNbntVM0WlP3qBi-yV36W55kd08fdrt7vGzLma7X0tPl8jVgkLgG5k9CcybWQgg/s320/IMG_0221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257783650104923346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCxH6q5v8vcoLfZHSasuuMmnBnu1Hgg2Xy2kajMCdQmfRqRsRxLZraUYgCLfy_spDSVX0yn21ZKqyYHeT-M5bFyG3yk1zxgYs3g0dLMpjB9TwOfl9i-870viqaEkYg2LFXd5bLrcujJGx/s1600-h/IMG_0247.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCxH6q5v8vcoLfZHSasuuMmnBnu1Hgg2Xy2kajMCdQmfRqRsRxLZraUYgCLfy_spDSVX0yn21ZKqyYHeT-M5bFyG3yk1zxgYs3g0dLMpjB9TwOfl9i-870viqaEkYg2LFXd5bLrcujJGx/s320/IMG_0247.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257783438408078946" border="0" /></a>At one point they took a break from the ooom-pah music to play some swing music, so we took advantage of the chance to try a little dancing...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MTOfs1q1OJEqqrXRvCfUw9vIQ42JvGS3XW3ftT2x9Y4Q6MjoczxwqAL6Wm6wcpYT-mg5TKnJs1lMK-PSWkxN4WyuA7Q6ZSHNGd_6Xdrn-VBupZW7PzKtbSaR0ht-5BNqXddtAAl42ICj/s1600-h/IMG_0228.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MTOfs1q1OJEqqrXRvCfUw9vIQ42JvGS3XW3ftT2x9Y4Q6MjoczxwqAL6Wm6wcpYT-mg5TKnJs1lMK-PSWkxN4WyuA7Q6ZSHNGd_6Xdrn-VBupZW7PzKtbSaR0ht-5BNqXddtAAl42ICj/s320/IMG_0228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257783596002480258" border="0" /></a>With all that beer around (not to mention glühwein), I still had my trusty "climb climb climb" bike water bottle with me at all times (yes with water in it!)... Cheers!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8GuBmUSgRQ48ESyBwhlN-1Z35eN3RVv4OqEMN2Mcb1GcrEIkEtykqI-wzYVry_h0Dnhk-J_Bl5LbjVzxnZOySfZ1ThYghfQWAIg5FCHAnqvllsY3VBjexkaIp3-r5gdhPeBytfhI3rGi/s1600-h/IMG_0229.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8GuBmUSgRQ48ESyBwhlN-1Z35eN3RVv4OqEMN2Mcb1GcrEIkEtykqI-wzYVry_h0Dnhk-J_Bl5LbjVzxnZOySfZ1ThYghfQWAIg5FCHAnqvllsY3VBjexkaIp3-r5gdhPeBytfhI3rGi/s320/IMG_0229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257783530735652850" border="0" /></a>What a fun day with great friends. And a great way to top off their visit here.<br />Y'all come back anytime!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRQUI_HCBl554fppMkMqOxaf_4pFE6r7P45X6yOlBHHmBZ5sJ_iadMHeBxQPDIU86nznfRjY50Rg3EGHYuFsqWpDmU8fkbyTHedxhG2STuNI6Y71tq2id2Rq3c9tObvlk0tS_V3Gy1moY/s1600-h/IMG_0208.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRQUI_HCBl554fppMkMqOxaf_4pFE6r7P45X6yOlBHHmBZ5sJ_iadMHeBxQPDIU86nznfRjY50Rg3EGHYuFsqWpDmU8fkbyTHedxhG2STuNI6Y71tq2id2Rq3c9tObvlk0tS_V3Gy1moY/s320/IMG_0208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257783322830921746" border="0" /></a>Prost!<br />BeckyBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908341443193323914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-19678984699079079592008-10-08T06:39:00.031+02:002008-10-08T22:35:50.985+02:00Italian Adventure - "Not for Girls"To make sure our friends visiting from Colorado remained "happy campers", we decided to pick up and move camp down to Italy for a few days with hopes of some sunshine and warmer temperatures... and luckily we got just that! We headed toward <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Como">Lake Como</a>, with destination <a href="http://www.bellagiolakecomo.com/inglese/italiano.html">Bellagio</a> - No, not Las Vegas, and no dancing fountains here, just some beautiful old Italian buildings overlooking the lake and the mountains beyond, which were calling our name...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EefbNLkBCbcLaSdK1G8_9JANkZC2SPH0RIi6Fbg_B6H9bdWNZHUi8V7IDwPCeckwJDlLXACG6VZOGxLLgkKvKxKJO-ZPPvItE-hkcAspvNxxgwp-Nh61mXQkoccUSp_yNWiH-IBd8Psu/s1600-h/IMG_0270.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EefbNLkBCbcLaSdK1G8_9JANkZC2SPH0RIi6Fbg_B6H9bdWNZHUi8V7IDwPCeckwJDlLXACG6VZOGxLLgkKvKxKJO-ZPPvItE-hkcAspvNxxgwp-Nh61mXQkoccUSp_yNWiH-IBd8Psu/s320/IMG_0270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254639744466909554" border="0" /></a>As always in Italy, the drive to get there was pretty crazy. At times it didn't seem like we could all fit on the tiny road at the same time - somethin's gotta give...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EuEPsMbvh0iXyk_SpOg3PsgbsKHYpAZpVHHq6EYzbvT2PzMepMBEEDvpgwOQVQrAqN2fw9J9FtU0CUPF7rJM_dhHaxfE9bwlOpsMLxW2xbh0qjnQJ5sMVc2kF75y3tS8e_CORmdC9meF/s1600-h/IMG_0264.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EuEPsMbvh0iXyk_SpOg3PsgbsKHYpAZpVHHq6EYzbvT2PzMepMBEEDvpgwOQVQrAqN2fw9J9FtU0CUPF7rJM_dhHaxfE9bwlOpsMLxW2xbh0qjnQJ5sMVc2kF75y3tS8e_CORmdC9meF/s320/IMG_0264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254639806958320450" border="0" /></a>We were relieved to make it there in one piece, and the car too - actually <span style="font-style: italic;">especially </span>the car, since it was brand-new! (our friends bought it through the <a href="http://www.flyvolvo.com/msg1.htm">overseas delivery program</a>)<br /><br />After we arrived and checked in to our hotel, we threw our stuff into the rooms and immediately headed out to the local bike shop to ask for suggestions on local biking routes. The little cobblestone streets in this town are gorgeous...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQYYK47FmOxhkS9Dd1DEpWxiQBxxaeLpNTQM6fw34l2v1E_TLSYNT6nsVeTw2AOlJCuPLGLCMbYiwzCi1ev-BV6UbnukIQkQEZxi1EQUtiDgtIz9HTtZ3SMOYKEP68UgE9YM4PHDSb1xv/s1600-h/IMG_0300.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQYYK47FmOxhkS9Dd1DEpWxiQBxxaeLpNTQM6fw34l2v1E_TLSYNT6nsVeTw2AOlJCuPLGLCMbYiwzCi1ev-BV6UbnukIQkQEZxi1EQUtiDgtIz9HTtZ3SMOYKEP68UgE9YM4PHDSb1xv/s320/IMG_0300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254639690893830050" border="0" /></a>The local bike shop owner was very nice and helpful, and immediately got out several maps to show us the local training routes. The landscape around Lake Como is obviously hilly and the best places to ride are away from the busy road that goes around the lake, so of course that meant the best routes involved going uphill (as always!). As he thought about what route would be best to suggest to us, he pondered for a minute, as if trying to decide whether or not to tell us something...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNm_5SqWfLRJ1JNyu5xAIr6BiN2wQ9SSYEYzzOgu_5Jehdu4uGcV4qIZisvQEYfDAItj21LcZzFMDeZNJgCzNBqgQhshLcpVi3q6lyMdlHzwcCBrp0bjkr7b4eIvXOotkq4RilRrbdugo/s1600-h/IMG_0281.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNm_5SqWfLRJ1JNyu5xAIr6BiN2wQ9SSYEYzzOgu_5Jehdu4uGcV4qIZisvQEYfDAItj21LcZzFMDeZNJgCzNBqgQhshLcpVi3q6lyMdlHzwcCBrp0bjkr7b4eIvXOotkq4RilRrbdugo/s320/IMG_0281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254639649243011218" border="0" /></a>Then he pointed out - "Well, this is the best route, but it's not for girls. It's too hilly and steep. The girls do a different route because this classic one is only for boys. It has a section that is 3km long with an average grade of 23%, so girls can't do it."<br /><br />Whaaa?? "Not for girls"?? Of course this just made us want to do it more!! (although that does sound pretty tough - 23%? for 3k??)<br /><br />So the plan was set (even though he kept telling us it was impossible). Paula bought a commemorative jersey for the ride with the assumption that the impossible would be done.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDD-vbCRATUVQzZOBHEIC0OyZbnVRWN-dzS-Ap1bCeSNbYl0jqSsrZQmWIDFlpIQsbUSKudUZhoW9SBM1bNk1Ijpe7f5RnEQDeuap57XWXRIsGO9jlRiiMbJ8QjECVSyaQpoUAvAmp9F2/s1600-h/IMG_0285.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDD-vbCRATUVQzZOBHEIC0OyZbnVRWN-dzS-Ap1bCeSNbYl0jqSsrZQmWIDFlpIQsbUSKudUZhoW9SBM1bNk1Ijpe7f5RnEQDeuap57XWXRIsGO9jlRiiMbJ8QjECVSyaQpoUAvAmp9F2/s320/IMG_0285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254639598418395042" border="0" /></a>We figured some quality carbo-loading was in order in preparation for tomorrow's "impossible" ride, Italian style (or is it Coloradan-style)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoLfndr1mrN2uMEzKOQ9S5kwR_kZwK-VVLQA8f4LgMy0neQ3S3Y222V_hBZgWsICjfZiSduMqn9rtYQEum0mP7v98utX_m68ChwDVGVlXiFIcbjVD468c-ex2Cwc1siyrFvH3_eGY9XZv/s1600-h/IMG_0311.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoLfndr1mrN2uMEzKOQ9S5kwR_kZwK-VVLQA8f4LgMy0neQ3S3Y222V_hBZgWsICjfZiSduMqn9rtYQEum0mP7v98utX_m68ChwDVGVlXiFIcbjVD468c-ex2Cwc1siyrFvH3_eGY9XZv/s320/IMG_0311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254639532201952322" border="0" /></a>The next day Kelly (on the left below) kept reminding us girls how we'd better not try to follow him on the "boys route", or else...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuX76YbFg6h92vCCIn4RWOQPF_QPH0TYECGgV8SSrGImLQwwXBzqlh2FCxvQUfzV7_NnVXHLrugb8SfOYDweidaTN_U_kZ40ag296V7y04o2wOGcCyQutG0DAwxNSZNkl6T07QZ_ZMArb/s1600-h/IMG_0333.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuX76YbFg6h92vCCIn4RWOQPF_QPH0TYECGgV8SSrGImLQwwXBzqlh2FCxvQUfzV7_NnVXHLrugb8SfOYDweidaTN_U_kZ40ag296V7y04o2wOGcCyQutG0DAwxNSZNkl6T07QZ_ZMArb/s320/IMG_0333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254639475404090082" border="0" /></a>The good thing is that both the girls' and the boys' route pass by the famous "cycling church" - That is, the <a href="http://home-1.tiscali.nl/%7Eedwinsel/misc_religie.htm">shrine of Madonna del Ghisallo</a>, the known as the patroness of cyclists. The tiny church is located at the top of a hill which was made part of the Giro di Lombardia bike race.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmGpoQhohwdZi13_QqWcKKNFZUQvCM-0xPZHLcZywmyO9e1AOaaJW59HKPiNOsnHqq-eRGG1kfuLNjRCiaEZKMdCl0WdsmGiMRE-bC80qnC48kyMRwcy2W9UFm44KCvrOYnv575t7pCh-/s1600-h/IMG_0341.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmGpoQhohwdZi13_QqWcKKNFZUQvCM-0xPZHLcZywmyO9e1AOaaJW59HKPiNOsnHqq-eRGG1kfuLNjRCiaEZKMdCl0WdsmGiMRE-bC80qnC48kyMRwcy2W9UFm44KCvrOYnv575t7pCh-/s320/IMG_0341.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254639426861057058" border="0" /></a>Inside there burns an eternal flame for cyclists who have died.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcZbBZSwhZ3PXX7HMqzT9jnCq6b7XcOui0u3EDXvLlMzJupLkFccNqipujPB-MBeYOKvkjWanBODc4aWVT9gJfx9UwL3LsQB2ipLf6IYlRh_vMwOFusOQdOITHXczE94-LTOrjxJWVyJG/s1600-h/IMG_0348.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcZbBZSwhZ3PXX7HMqzT9jnCq6b7XcOui0u3EDXvLlMzJupLkFccNqipujPB-MBeYOKvkjWanBODc4aWVT9gJfx9UwL3LsQB2ipLf6IYlRh_vMwOFusOQdOITHXczE94-LTOrjxJWVyJG/s320/IMG_0348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254639364037392466" border="0" /></a>Kelly seemed to think this was a kind of church he could really get into (especially since the "proper" way to get there is by biking up the 10km, 14% hill to it).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYVjuVdOtMPdh3O70UVI7CEw1neNlzmhFBErxsC3BnZ8GkW2t2LGFm7Us1AmxvPTkB1l44c4i4jlpTRGxrWbLmzYVxdyHc7rjj1nSOKSgD9L_StHkHQf7Wkt8gOXFq5sCTbuDO7bIx9Sr/s1600-h/IMG_0361.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYVjuVdOtMPdh3O70UVI7CEw1neNlzmhFBErxsC3BnZ8GkW2t2LGFm7Us1AmxvPTkB1l44c4i4jlpTRGxrWbLmzYVxdyHc7rjj1nSOKSgD9L_StHkHQf7Wkt8gOXFq5sCTbuDO7bIx9Sr/s320/IMG_0361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254639316904237250" border="0" /></a>It was quite interesting and something I think every cyclist would be interested in experiencing if you come out to cycle in Europe.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzMA3ymjwWLutwHWz_tTNTozjtpFN3ygE7OUmFQY6k9i-8y-ozTZvRvKUWk-gbbgfNdrKZsyvPk4fsNx0pyiSU7Bl4nFrH8MsERbsQAZF6di9yPLz5mDOxSpuajUTYhRo9-ClagteK3vQ/s1600-h/IMG_0352.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzMA3ymjwWLutwHWz_tTNTozjtpFN3ygE7OUmFQY6k9i-8y-ozTZvRvKUWk-gbbgfNdrKZsyvPk4fsNx0pyiSU7Bl4nFrH8MsERbsQAZF6di9yPLz5mDOxSpuajUTYhRo9-ClagteK3vQ/s320/IMG_0352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254639266218110402" border="0" /></a>After "church" we continued biking, down the hill and making the turn TOWARD the "boys" route - That's right, we're ready to tackle the impossible. We passed the van for the Professional Women Cycling parked on the side of the road - Guess they couldn't go any farther. But that's still no deterrent to us -- On, on, on!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZoBW7CHW44VhT05usVNrW-RSp_sx0PPuWyjhNjucs1aBKBInLcA0CjCCoA3xzcDn5Tj3c9sjYWkIS6pyUSuKUagborwRpb4bMDxrZqq7xRbPhu80zZNbsDEpWfXs5X6Mq7l2VTpQwhJm/s1600-h/IMG_0371.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZoBW7CHW44VhT05usVNrW-RSp_sx0PPuWyjhNjucs1aBKBInLcA0CjCCoA3xzcDn5Tj3c9sjYWkIS6pyUSuKUagborwRpb4bMDxrZqq7xRbPhu80zZNbsDEpWfXs5X6Mq7l2VTpQwhJm/s320/IMG_0371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254639113433805794" border="0" /></a>Finally we crossed over some writing on the pavement with the name of the climb: "<a href="http://www.beginningwithi.com/italy/travel/sormano.html">Muro di Sormano</a>". We must be at the impossible part! But it wasn't steep yet, so we kept going, thinking it must be around the next corner...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGyppbFU0RL9nQ2pF3a4JiClpC7BsTcVRsJKI9KsvqZXEYgp8iwfV-WY5CaFguHXQbYTUzwZEHsSHWIN2nasnXqvEovAnKaJJjy6eO_FZd2AvcRDPQDxzD3nNjIibY8GCvw7OWx3T-Ktw/s1600-h/IMG_0376.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGyppbFU0RL9nQ2pF3a4JiClpC7BsTcVRsJKI9KsvqZXEYgp8iwfV-WY5CaFguHXQbYTUzwZEHsSHWIN2nasnXqvEovAnKaJJjy6eO_FZd2AvcRDPQDxzD3nNjIibY8GCvw7OWx3T-Ktw/s320/IMG_0376.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254639051166067250" border="0" /></a>On and on we went, looking for the 3k/23% section, thinking it must coming up any minute, trying to save our energy as much as possible but with our heartrates sky-high with the anticipation...<br /><br />Then after about 5k of this, we got to the top of the road and realized we were on the wrong one! We saw the "real" climb down to the side, with painting all over it... Darn!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qWH_VS4128GGjOC8lfah2AWf3kUmB1Vru2ANmejenAW8nuFJ-0jblZleR1g3OpuJ87vXgN8Mv2KbDeG4JVK3a-WKMVexlIyc-xaw6IYjGmBcut6uxZHG19boRzX5qxHtiBLMtqpve42w/s1600-h/IMG_0379.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qWH_VS4128GGjOC8lfah2AWf3kUmB1Vru2ANmejenAW8nuFJ-0jblZleR1g3OpuJ87vXgN8Mv2KbDeG4JVK3a-WKMVexlIyc-xaw6IYjGmBcut6uxZHG19boRzX5qxHtiBLMtqpve42w/s320/IMG_0379.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254638902981925826" border="0" /></a>Well that's ok, we all decided - We'll just ride down it and then back up! (These are our Original-Hillseeker friends after all, that we first started biking with in the mountains of Colorado) As we went down, I made a couple stops to take pictures of the writing on the pavement, since I knew there was no way I'd be able to take them while trying to go back up (only <a href="http://biken4fun.blogspot.com/">SuperPhotoninja</a> could do something like that).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpNu5V-1AR8lRsu_znKAU4GcyuKxAXAxQ12KbRgKCNRXgMPHxH4Yri0vcd_3q8G5Nr_5Zq_J0DxUiDTEl3ftl32untMMdaVL-EKkdj7gABxbddjI_zD7XuxWZAatz3QIbqxfSflVkf8h5/s1600-h/IMG_0385.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpNu5V-1AR8lRsu_znKAU4GcyuKxAXAxQ12KbRgKCNRXgMPHxH4Yri0vcd_3q8G5Nr_5Zq_J0DxUiDTEl3ftl32untMMdaVL-EKkdj7gABxbddjI_zD7XuxWZAatz3QIbqxfSflVkf8h5/s320/IMG_0385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254638850811212450" border="0" /></a>It showed the times for some riders in past races... Of course no girls' names were on there...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZYlD6G3Gjhp4QAviiZs5CplZUNm0lhX8GDkEP-GVuKuD_ArfwhfX9AEgWuzfCK-V5no-9W1rYZYmMdjFE7TkrDdOwkPxx0XmcW_tKRKg8TucAtK76a3VhtMyLjK3_i3wnIgrPMGl_EKc/s1600-h/IMG_0386.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZYlD6G3Gjhp4QAviiZs5CplZUNm0lhX8GDkEP-GVuKuD_ArfwhfX9AEgWuzfCK-V5no-9W1rYZYmMdjFE7TkrDdOwkPxx0XmcW_tKRKg8TucAtK76a3VhtMyLjK3_i3wnIgrPMGl_EKc/s320/IMG_0386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254638792727171954" border="0" /></a>By the time we got to the bottom of this climb we were worn out from all the anticipation and ready to just do it (at least to try). After all, you never know what you can accomplish, especially when someone tells you that you <span style="font-style: italic;">can't</span>! So we were determined to prove the old bike shop owner wrong, no matter what it takes.<br /><br />And we did - With a smile!! Yay!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnCDCgkQYnCdFxSq365QD38ziSfRdCJO_703A5HUOMgG6shmF2dpu7nbozJaIUy7TatGRDAVbQ_7u8JnYlKe-oA8aKenLcEctRaOeITSs_1w38F384J6NBkASSySqdyU7OYScETd9iWio/s1600-h/IMG_0395.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnCDCgkQYnCdFxSq365QD38ziSfRdCJO_703A5HUOMgG6shmF2dpu7nbozJaIUy7TatGRDAVbQ_7u8JnYlKe-oA8aKenLcEctRaOeITSs_1w38F384J6NBkASSySqdyU7OYScETd9iWio/s320/IMG_0395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254638726800738706" border="0" /></a>It wasn't easy. But it wasn't 23% for 3k either - That was a slight exaggeration. It <span style="font-style: italic;">was </span>over 20% for a lot of it, with a max of 25%, but the average was "just" 17% for 2k.<br /><br />Anyway here's the picture we took back to the bike shop the next day to prove to the owner that girls can ride up big hills too :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAO9_csHA7VrGF5yx5jpN4ZI9NNIfjUUMMlsyhfhIbfbnu14hkqz9TqMhwIVNs_Zj0B6QY1MhrNwkpMNFJtVF1liOZI8MZaC0R4e2pP3TMoamQOrB3BESw15Beh8COfXPprTuKtI3WUtj/s1600-h/IMG_0402.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAO9_csHA7VrGF5yx5jpN4ZI9NNIfjUUMMlsyhfhIbfbnu14hkqz9TqMhwIVNs_Zj0B6QY1MhrNwkpMNFJtVF1liOZI8MZaC0R4e2pP3TMoamQOrB3BESw15Beh8COfXPprTuKtI3WUtj/s320/IMG_0402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254638666795093810" border="0" /></a>That night some celebration was in order, Italian style...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIRxEjcOdGAc5e7olJzRF9VbbJl4sIb7ao-c7KsBEWQh9xD6-QV_x8wurdBXZlVSLJjOjsIh3y7iBFRJmwVbwT8tp8rKaAHvaEzKxgatOXj_PNvqRce8csJKtM3K_Z-Nt2cLJyyGnlUx_/s1600-h/IMG_0422.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIRxEjcOdGAc5e7olJzRF9VbbJl4sIb7ao-c7KsBEWQh9xD6-QV_x8wurdBXZlVSLJjOjsIh3y7iBFRJmwVbwT8tp8rKaAHvaEzKxgatOXj_PNvqRce8csJKtM3K_Z-Nt2cLJyyGnlUx_/s320/IMG_0422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254638606970059490" border="0" /></a>...and of course one of the best things from Italy...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRur1ArC4UBMCsEnxZOr33xaG_XY85h6xv0_fSpd2EkAfR0QHd7_pab9XypMMCb5CWxv6pl71nKUELywUZHWrXYW8WlQ0RYQT7JqX81DbAMjLX0W5jdqkIDoaqcc1vgAXyMwbC_mw2w9l/s1600-h/Lake+Como+054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRur1ArC4UBMCsEnxZOr33xaG_XY85h6xv0_fSpd2EkAfR0QHd7_pab9XypMMCb5CWxv6pl71nKUELywUZHWrXYW8WlQ0RYQT7JqX81DbAMjLX0W5jdqkIDoaqcc1vgAXyMwbC_mw2w9l/s320/Lake+Como+054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254638550080352178" border="0" /></a>The next day was a travel day back to Zurich, with a short side-trip to check out one of the small Italian villages along the way... including a climb (of course!). Seems like I'm always behind Paula, either on the bike or off...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSgZzYrUTw459XE8wjMMlfJ9KICBqIokjUR2z0eB9uef4qtDr2XnVpNsjC7HcfinTCLrXItZQD5QUPzqmmHT6y6sAyNxBSK1zAflZh7kZg8SuZFbTEiqGDmgI0HFfBI-oiJ3xfEn-mrVa/s1600-h/IMG_0451.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSgZzYrUTw459XE8wjMMlfJ9KICBqIokjUR2z0eB9uef4qtDr2XnVpNsjC7HcfinTCLrXItZQD5QUPzqmmHT6y6sAyNxBSK1zAflZh7kZg8SuZFbTEiqGDmgI0HFfBI-oiJ3xfEn-mrVa/s320/IMG_0451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254638477796989106" border="0" /></a>We drove over the St. Gotthard Pass, where the guys had biked over just a few days earlier. The weather had changed a lot since then, and now the grass was covered in ice and there was a fresh dusting of snow all around (and the wind was so cold we could hardly stand out of the car long enough to take this picture):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfvKaMmgY25XlSC9BtUJ1picaDqStnyherCgvDJ53QdfQIQSUYmZUIbWo3mrPcvUj1Kc2sP5jjrqiuM2ucZtFz1Z-w1nkHbWz3-N2NDuOFayzSAm84udYq0d8t8R9yqpreJ_Wm9_bQpM8/s1600-h/Lake+Como+Paula+174.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfvKaMmgY25XlSC9BtUJ1picaDqStnyherCgvDJ53QdfQIQSUYmZUIbWo3mrPcvUj1Kc2sP5jjrqiuM2ucZtFz1Z-w1nkHbWz3-N2NDuOFayzSAm84udYq0d8t8R9yqpreJ_Wm9_bQpM8/s320/Lake+Como+Paula+174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254638406891669730" border="0" /></a>Back in Switzerland, after conquering the Impossible, we decided some Swiss fondue was in order (always looking for an excuse to have fondue)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VqUzFQ7nz9nQ_MmUaCHhKqW7i463uwiY3iKREmL2xCC5GUzRSKNFpVv8RKzEMhyphenhyphengNoZpyGN3ifmAkWyzONJIVvuFDWG_CNqe6upRo1bCoGzshmmsTnT2z9Zc86mqGf-kGoQArODOXT2j/s1600-h/IMG_0475.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VqUzFQ7nz9nQ_MmUaCHhKqW7i463uwiY3iKREmL2xCC5GUzRSKNFpVv8RKzEMhyphenhyphengNoZpyGN3ifmAkWyzONJIVvuFDWG_CNqe6upRo1bCoGzshmmsTnT2z9Zc86mqGf-kGoQArODOXT2j/s320/IMG_0475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254638320017002594" border="0" /></a>A great way to top off another exciting adventure with our hillseeking friends from Colorado.<br /><br />Next adventure -- Oktoberfest in Munich... A very different kind of challenge!<br /><br />Prost,<br />BeckyBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908341443193323914noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-66945403928972718522008-10-01T08:10:00.000+02:002008-10-01T08:10:00.444+02:00Coloradans Tackle the Swiss AlpsThe next Swiss Adventure started with a road trip to the next "base camp" of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiringen">Meiringen</a> (which by the way claims to have invented meringue and has the white stuff all over every local bakery), with an obligatory stop at the local gas station for a nature break along the way... As the last "campers" pointed out - Leave it to the Swiss to make sure the restroom experience is as pleasant as possible...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUTQtjna16SpIuqobip-RZbmPQR36KX8CHrr3wl3UT7pkVBSv0ZCzVxeoAqncUUzCPyVMYha4Rgnc0z_zwKrwt18Fi731VN_6dLR_hHLcSCK6BBBl95ZCfP477g6Wg4fAP6tzI8c_v5Ah/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUTQtjna16SpIuqobip-RZbmPQR36KX8CHrr3wl3UT7pkVBSv0ZCzVxeoAqncUUzCPyVMYha4Rgnc0z_zwKrwt18Fi731VN_6dLR_hHLcSCK6BBBl95ZCfP477g6Wg4fAP6tzI8c_v5Ah/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251879796927252898" border="0" /></a>Ready to ride - "counselor" Gustav made sure to be stocked up with the most important on-ride nutrition (Swiss chocolate, of course)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIci4h24IvT4NXC_afA6Zza7UOseTYsScSO_xHCspkVUXpz6Y8R0nn538Bfo2OR-kPYx8m86g6cnbPSlQQLgD9yDVV5ZtWh1gu6sdN5o3YwJ96941DCcL4kAS26ArGPN3Q_bUMwL4vys9/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIci4h24IvT4NXC_afA6Zza7UOseTYsScSO_xHCspkVUXpz6Y8R0nn538Bfo2OR-kPYx8m86g6cnbPSlQQLgD9yDVV5ZtWh1gu6sdN5o3YwJ96941DCcL4kAS26ArGPN3Q_bUMwL4vys9/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251879744866562290" border="0" /></a>We're on the road again! Heading up <a href="http://www.cycling-challenge.com/berner-oberland-klein-and-gross-scheidegg/">Gross Scheidegg</a> in the Berner Oberland to see the views of some big famous mountains (esp. the Eiger) at the top - climb, climb, climb...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3frrkxRYGHGVtASk72diddTxc4G9MgdRCr_Lixx51uDO1z4aI64FMACd6VuI8PBeyAazMtTViuT1Ggna1ithruh1UmmtSbSMG5LyxAr-y2G0eU463gtbqlssPHDxfMTJdMq2KTmvkyx5/s1600-h/IMG_0035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3frrkxRYGHGVtASk72diddTxc4G9MgdRCr_Lixx51uDO1z4aI64FMACd6VuI8PBeyAazMtTViuT1Ggna1ithruh1UmmtSbSMG5LyxAr-y2G0eU463gtbqlssPHDxfMTJdMq2KTmvkyx5/s320/IMG_0035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251879693461297698" border="0" /></a>This is a great climb, with hardly any cars at all on the route... oh, and some pretty amazing scenery as a bonus...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiT0dS407jJYWkc4xr5xTgkB0pHrZSM63Jv_azaSD2-FOwJ__F4YvFzrcw4n7-vaqy4fueZe0drSYVBbg4nq5CJvDhYGpi4gmkBXmRvQrbTqo8B2fk-BEpkSxvDvS470UopvtYM8H-TnAk/s1600-h/IMG_0037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiT0dS407jJYWkc4xr5xTgkB0pHrZSM63Jv_azaSD2-FOwJ__F4YvFzrcw4n7-vaqy4fueZe0drSYVBbg4nq5CJvDhYGpi4gmkBXmRvQrbTqo8B2fk-BEpkSxvDvS470UopvtYM8H-TnAk/s320/IMG_0037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251879636508556530" border="0" /></a>...which helps to take your mind off the little 18-20% grade parts here and there...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-e6i_kF61Pwn6FwXf6O3P_jjKU_eRBZG4oiH6rs2XVeojai0tXHZJPCWtPNug4tXPxLDH8qjzFtQ1qwfrCNajQvi1JqeRnGgSAJxD_0BKvDVLTffGeoTxhUQh5L_U7WJwZksgZF0dj5Rs/s1600-h/IMG_0049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-e6i_kF61Pwn6FwXf6O3P_jjKU_eRBZG4oiH6rs2XVeojai0tXHZJPCWtPNug4tXPxLDH8qjzFtQ1qwfrCNajQvi1JqeRnGgSAJxD_0BKvDVLTffGeoTxhUQh5L_U7WJwZksgZF0dj5Rs/s320/IMG_0049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251879571916152594" border="0" /></a>What perfectly beautiful weather - we were very lucky.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhWm_cpWNBUlz-URB9KcGTtrWoM3GbqdWDQ2V20hc0gxLJF0OGjng_U8w-SR7mq8UvHxiNHgGOC_mUNXB5XQSM6q1asrX01fAbIf9vKAzxLJ01ODncYpPz6_0pDv82edQTipoCHDTqA7j/s1600-h/IMG_0050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhWm_cpWNBUlz-URB9KcGTtrWoM3GbqdWDQ2V20hc0gxLJF0OGjng_U8w-SR7mq8UvHxiNHgGOC_mUNXB5XQSM6q1asrX01fAbIf9vKAzxLJ01ODncYpPz6_0pDv82edQTipoCHDTqA7j/s320/IMG_0050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251879519547327714" border="0" /></a>Made it to the top! And actually got a picture of all of us together (asking for it to be level was obviously too much - must be the altitude)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5AxJS6Q_AOilf1ocrrDAlQpdg9wVxOy08pfKuhR39gyvlErgT6bjDababMGU7zFmc2iOq4b2WwtFnFGWpoGnXIW21qNG6BFGhDqEc7HGnDxbbgvRrNEWSIF55lcC1uRTqsXwF81QiJoL/s1600-h/IMG_0060.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5AxJS6Q_AOilf1ocrrDAlQpdg9wVxOy08pfKuhR39gyvlErgT6bjDababMGU7zFmc2iOq4b2WwtFnFGWpoGnXIW21qNG6BFGhDqEc7HGnDxbbgvRrNEWSIF55lcC1uRTqsXwF81QiJoL/s320/IMG_0060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251879437510816290" border="0" /></a>The descent was so picture-perfect in spots, it seemed like a painting...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ExZvRNEiZobKScUIZBCPQC_i7MqZ-Y4dN1GnCoJtb4c6EVI5vd58A0E8P6WZ0yCSIohWFKZos9wduF7TMPRGh2AE7oTlqBO-asqqtMG6q3kpY2_h6QZu0EPX3CC1O-qlWuizNlirrSyS/s1600-h/IMG_0063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ExZvRNEiZobKScUIZBCPQC_i7MqZ-Y4dN1GnCoJtb4c6EVI5vd58A0E8P6WZ0yCSIohWFKZos9wduF7TMPRGh2AE7oTlqBO-asqqtMG6q3kpY2_h6QZu0EPX3CC1O-qlWuizNlirrSyS/s320/IMG_0063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251879371811735874" border="0" /></a>At one point there was a brief stand-off... whatever you do, don't moooooooove.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_hOMO2NLZSLtbA_wISIQxphGCkj_HPF8q-JCRyp43AP3TQOV3M5H2FIVCGdtvnoZAKbq2jOfBu_yYGktx_xmKoaXKe60XPzp5iISqwhf0i70GFBtpEFORyPW791tQjlNcy-oTIFTnMta/s1600-h/IMG_0078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_hOMO2NLZSLtbA_wISIQxphGCkj_HPF8q-JCRyp43AP3TQOV3M5H2FIVCGdtvnoZAKbq2jOfBu_yYGktx_xmKoaXKe60XPzp5iISqwhf0i70GFBtpEFORyPW791tQjlNcy-oTIFTnMta/s320/IMG_0078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251879188164004962" border="0" /></a>But we made it thru all obstacles and ended up having a great ride and a great day!<br /><br />The next day was Sunday and after the previous day's challenge the group was totally energized and ready to tackle another big adventure...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6y8fLe-7yYdt6xuVrxwa1dzOdzel5qb2VtDkX_2yTWn-0bITmVbyMWlEq9RK823t38DlzTUeqS-N3qjH7lolRA1RWMtHsWfqHjD0mPXGnlMg0HGcMKOIE1ecx8aX42vuhJFwN9jhqeIEl/s1600-h/IMG_0108.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6y8fLe-7yYdt6xuVrxwa1dzOdzel5qb2VtDkX_2yTWn-0bITmVbyMWlEq9RK823t38DlzTUeqS-N3qjH7lolRA1RWMtHsWfqHjD0mPXGnlMg0HGcMKOIE1ecx8aX42vuhJFwN9jhqeIEl/s320/IMG_0108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251879018280605074" border="0" /></a>Well, at least their minds were on cycling (the <a href="http://www.varese2008.org/eng/index.asp?c=14">UCI Road World Championships</a>)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialIPD67HZ-zkG5LPV6LwNIIDa_69a9rMEntx2KigBuSDj9jRUPFZm_b5LOUCKBLl9Q6sHEyJk4PF8WxntJOavqt5VdSndl9csicj9foydKDNzAjmATDdyb7lKpinDZN8tzzJsIjrHcvIC/s1600-h/IMG_0110.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialIPD67HZ-zkG5LPV6LwNIIDa_69a9rMEntx2KigBuSDj9jRUPFZm_b5LOUCKBLl9Q6sHEyJk4PF8WxntJOavqt5VdSndl9csicj9foydKDNzAjmATDdyb7lKpinDZN8tzzJsIjrHcvIC/s320/IMG_0110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251878959499013346" border="0" /></a>With the hopes to create a spark and some energy for more "climb, climb, climb"ing, some cappuccinos were in order...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzFwzLyj6T1QMRYicPGhmTRXyDZv_9D2S-YhtZg7VaB5Y0jfZlCSl8_JbJyFmR8BP8qZ0GIlawEQ1CGteoiWy484HkEYSVuwkiE97h-7oaJp1u9rYjKLJ8Nu6CWTG7Puw80uQvTwzpyT3/s1600-h/IMG_0117.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzFwzLyj6T1QMRYicPGhmTRXyDZv_9D2S-YhtZg7VaB5Y0jfZlCSl8_JbJyFmR8BP8qZ0GIlawEQ1CGteoiWy484HkEYSVuwkiE97h-7oaJp1u9rYjKLJ8Nu6CWTG7Puw80uQvTwzpyT3/s320/IMG_0117.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251878878580019346" border="0" /></a>Luckily the caffeine did the trick, and the group was off to head uphill again. Today's challenge was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Gotthard_Pass">Gotthard Pass</a> - a classic Swiss climb complete with non-stop cobblestones toward the top (even with some grades up to 12%!)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAZePqa2k6kWWArDgVkDByJ8iLpx1yQZEGNVRkwrkB083A19cf2MGU7AhsbhLBG7PdO3ZOEM-xc9EcV415acZ_JJh6otW38Kds3cnFlPW1pyjnYdnEwF-VFRk6TrHPKQ9I7vEh7Xb3E_i/s1600-h/IMG_0128.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAZePqa2k6kWWArDgVkDByJ8iLpx1yQZEGNVRkwrkB083A19cf2MGU7AhsbhLBG7PdO3ZOEM-xc9EcV415acZ_JJh6otW38Kds3cnFlPW1pyjnYdnEwF-VFRk6TrHPKQ9I7vEh7Xb3E_i/s320/IMG_0128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251878809138903042" border="0" /></a>Despite the bumping around, we made it to that top too - Yahoo! Almost in Italy, the signs switch to Italian (they say "ore" for hour), and passing cyclists say "Ciao" (although we were the only crazy cyclists up there at this time)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittHJr_PdcS3wHW_J8-GxcU-iCeIpgobwMQReUxueWzDI9y09nN_lGys1vtSHvnc2PBD3QQXadeKMsLeKK5GgLG1J3vK1d4F6I4qWl1iQa_vAqEOdHXjCdaD8jMNYKUS3XXsjSsNNkTReg/s1600-h/IMG_0134.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittHJr_PdcS3wHW_J8-GxcU-iCeIpgobwMQReUxueWzDI9y09nN_lGys1vtSHvnc2PBD3QQXadeKMsLeKK5GgLG1J3vK1d4F6I4qWl1iQa_vAqEOdHXjCdaD8jMNYKUS3XXsjSsNNkTReg/s320/IMG_0134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251878743608458418" border="0" /></a>That night it was time for some major carbo-loading to prepare for the big riding the next day...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmww7VYS7BHrqoQdvZLm0EcV1YodLPX3_6XJBvBQyxk-cdvilSwPDu8843vA03SVo2U43e2CgN-I-edo3d-op_oQUZxf-Dghm2fHj-aSzlkZZ8LZL2uzU9S4tIAwvlSAOgZgy7KzA1EY-v/s1600-h/IMG_0149.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmww7VYS7BHrqoQdvZLm0EcV1YodLPX3_6XJBvBQyxk-cdvilSwPDu8843vA03SVo2U43e2CgN-I-edo3d-op_oQUZxf-Dghm2fHj-aSzlkZZ8LZL2uzU9S4tIAwvlSAOgZgy7KzA1EY-v/s320/IMG_0149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251878675370793154" border="0" /></a>The next morning we woke up to some looooooow temps, and frost all over the car, but that didn't stop these campers from riding -- After all they're tough Coloradans!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKEiD-sjb-9TWFgEUjqJcCIM0CyP_Uqt7MvINaHpegQFMMpaUIAb3jHYgr5ECnv5uaRHAj5MZ0Ox2EzzX29gzU-g3X5bL5zJErFXENDoBQ9KD9kFTEZshmLMp6t9ZM7l7g3B4T2luQOFf/s1600-h/IMG_0164.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKEiD-sjb-9TWFgEUjqJcCIM0CyP_Uqt7MvINaHpegQFMMpaUIAb3jHYgr5ECnv5uaRHAj5MZ0Ox2EzzX29gzU-g3X5bL5zJErFXENDoBQ9KD9kFTEZshmLMp6t9ZM7l7g3B4T2luQOFf/s320/IMG_0164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251878580629639442" border="0" /></a>It ended up being another perfectly clear day - <a href="http://climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Passo-del-Susten&qryMountainID=5506">Susten Pass</a> was gorgeous...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizg6VRajGKYbLNQMUIQqqkJ643EU5Y4yRIxXMKwUXNc-XM-TvhWnmiYGu_I3mOgrmLzpn68GPXgj4F8zbQH2A9FLIWrwGOdJ8zevbjn4EdNMHWhfkQ-WuElHVNoKhHN7yGtN7wqIg2pdqX/s1600-h/IMG_0174.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizg6VRajGKYbLNQMUIQqqkJ643EU5Y4yRIxXMKwUXNc-XM-TvhWnmiYGu_I3mOgrmLzpn68GPXgj4F8zbQH2A9FLIWrwGOdJ8zevbjn4EdNMHWhfkQ-WuElHVNoKhHN7yGtN7wqIg2pdqX/s320/IMG_0174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251878080141355522" border="0" /></a>Pass #1 down -- Yeah!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1H80yc73dYLSZMKe_9uIzuTvORb1niG-6IHouEAl2TQhWgiK_oHufFtLWA1mtDICmPPEh9GrC7-5AqJ33-sAUphslaBj38P5RMfvzcVnvmWoyHVbud4y9ivKxMKoxqOw82v2SIbIU1xF6/s1600-h/IMG_0187.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1H80yc73dYLSZMKe_9uIzuTvORb1niG-6IHouEAl2TQhWgiK_oHufFtLWA1mtDICmPPEh9GrC7-5AqJ33-sAUphslaBj38P5RMfvzcVnvmWoyHVbud4y9ivKxMKoxqOw82v2SIbIU1xF6/s320/IMG_0187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251878022832432898" border="0" /></a>The view from the top was stunning...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagFYNu3bp9lUFIyzqwEy03Jy8fPG84aHnRkk9Ny-7hf1jw78iDdus12ZwMYzUodqlelH2ZWfeRy2lNffAoqZRD7EYhEzmMHQCbWBmgP5lBuamkpiAes_UQXAfnMXO7rTbgKgOPo36X6j_/s1600-h/IMG_0103.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagFYNu3bp9lUFIyzqwEy03Jy8fPG84aHnRkk9Ny-7hf1jw78iDdus12ZwMYzUodqlelH2ZWfeRy2lNffAoqZRD7EYhEzmMHQCbWBmgP5lBuamkpiAes_UQXAfnMXO7rTbgKgOPo36X6j_/s320/IMG_0103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251879132704809698" border="0" /></a>Couldn't see all this last time we were riding here a few weeks ago (when it was 7pm and almost dark!)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnFH_K20vzNtqmD0z8kK6OiEk4gCPzeQnJCddFsMUh3WoQrCo58NFWqr9sr6lE2RA4xFJ5b42imPyvPlknt4OQbhiaGAmIgoD7IyLapCtTuMqXxMaVEW8RfWgVGOvBs5hyphenhyphenXK7IVny_f7q/s1600-h/IMG_0191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnFH_K20vzNtqmD0z8kK6OiEk4gCPzeQnJCddFsMUh3WoQrCo58NFWqr9sr6lE2RA4xFJ5b42imPyvPlknt4OQbhiaGAmIgoD7IyLapCtTuMqXxMaVEW8RfWgVGOvBs5hyphenhyphenXK7IVny_f7q/s320/IMG_0191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251877967534403954" border="0" /></a>Next was <a href="http://climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Passo-del-Grimsel&qryMountainID=5493">Grimsel Pass</a>. One of our fave sections is when bikes have their own road to bypass a tunnel, so no cars - just us...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAWPof5FvMJkLy6ZsfyjqtQhaWWYnu_ATdNR_kwJKoq7bg-aS0sb09tienC4oKcxJzVECWtV40tRt-uV8K2NbFQ1KIC9Vbh3KRnY1QQ4gdbJRbeFJDFrHO8HWYIYFCd9W2LrtfxJhWRsK/s1600-h/IMG_0199.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAWPof5FvMJkLy6ZsfyjqtQhaWWYnu_ATdNR_kwJKoq7bg-aS0sb09tienC4oKcxJzVECWtV40tRt-uV8K2NbFQ1KIC9Vbh3KRnY1QQ4gdbJRbeFJDFrHO8HWYIYFCd9W2LrtfxJhWRsK/s320/IMG_0199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251877896235364226" border="0" /></a>Lots of beautiful scenery to distract one from various "discomforts" while climbing here...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXIHcWDX41dmRQsDwUIyOvfjagNOeNY7zC2rIw_C4A_hyphenhyphenhqsx_jVCXWcV8QU5qVkp7FcACljuZsLxM0qNk0135AuUfAyiNy_SvE76sak3-bPVPzOKTCQ1ZFrLOnfZ3UxsI59f9Gt6wsH1/s1600-h/IMG_0204.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXIHcWDX41dmRQsDwUIyOvfjagNOeNY7zC2rIw_C4A_hyphenhyphenhqsx_jVCXWcV8QU5qVkp7FcACljuZsLxM0qNk0135AuUfAyiNy_SvE76sak3-bPVPzOKTCQ1ZFrLOnfZ3UxsI59f9Gt6wsH1/s320/IMG_0204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251877847533654018" border="0" /></a>No discomforts evident for "Team Swiss" here though! (or maybe just riding high on endorphins)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMaBX9wUp7ePYk2BBrH7j3XCDSoWIYt9EXSXzOL_QdRDdpRXW71CD4zVE1G3OuwYI6N9OnNQzXpTegNp2Kxnw-hoUkGrTe-QC7ibNn07WyRqdjlu_IyyHfZ5Td3AIomgGOo7cPqykRPxv/s1600-h/B+%26+P+Epic+Day+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMaBX9wUp7ePYk2BBrH7j3XCDSoWIYt9EXSXzOL_QdRDdpRXW71CD4zVE1G3OuwYI6N9OnNQzXpTegNp2Kxnw-hoUkGrTe-QC7ibNn07WyRqdjlu_IyyHfZ5Td3AIomgGOo7cPqykRPxv/s320/B+%26+P+Epic+Day+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251878129700827474" border="0" /></a> Course maybe it's cuz this time I only did one pass and drove support for the rest (it was quite efficient, getting 5,000 ft elev in just 16 miles!). Gotta hand it to Paula - She did the full <a href="http://www.alpenbrevet.ch/2008/index.php?pid=seite_strecken_silver.php">Silver Route from the Alpenbrevet</a>, with 11,500 ft elevation over three passes. And Di tackled two huge passes with a never-ending smile. Cold temps at the tops and freeeeeezing wind on the descents? No problem for these Coloradans. Hopp, hopp, hopp -- Great job!!<br /><br />The view from the top of Grimsel Pass is one of my favorites, where you can see the full Grimsel descent plus the next climb winding its way up <a href="http://climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Passo-della-Furka&qryMountainID=5514">Furka Pass</a> in the distance...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDeOBh4ogmqx2ipuc5wK2AxMea81EFPlpChkwWZufNKkwEqGg8UNQIdIp9H0tsZKWjQrg9gAOd1grMvvKhSSCDaCSg1Sr4SzZWdOxYuApaKvl13n0hg2FCV93ZJtC9s79zBjzQ-F5Z0EN/s1600-h/IMG_0221.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDeOBh4ogmqx2ipuc5wK2AxMea81EFPlpChkwWZufNKkwEqGg8UNQIdIp9H0tsZKWjQrg9gAOd1grMvvKhSSCDaCSg1Sr4SzZWdOxYuApaKvl13n0hg2FCV93ZJtC9s79zBjzQ-F5Z0EN/s320/IMG_0221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251877775354485618" border="0" /></a>The gals tackled the final climb with non-stop gusto and still saved some energy for smiles at the top... Way to go!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYU1N51Zm_2R1rA43nQK5Bt-Rp2bP9F2S_h-6pIoa34eKQ9qCb9x1xCz-eRAbmuTQQBuauRQNgGyrx-bNBcTlbcBTGSIEhKbSVFRL5NCFRzEE4Txig1QUoFBx9sWDA4zmgiU_AIpNGUCI/s1600-h/IMG_0236.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYU1N51Zm_2R1rA43nQK5Bt-Rp2bP9F2S_h-6pIoa34eKQ9qCb9x1xCz-eRAbmuTQQBuauRQNgGyrx-bNBcTlbcBTGSIEhKbSVFRL5NCFRzEE4Txig1QUoFBx9sWDA4zmgiU_AIpNGUCI/s320/IMG_0236.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251877705529154834" border="0" /></a>Meanwhile the "accelerated camper" guys enjoyed their own Swiss adventure by tackling the <a href="http://www.alpenbrevet.ch/2008/index.php?pid=seite_strecken_gold.php">"Gold Route" of the Alpenbrevet</a> - All 17,500 ft elevation gain of it! With it being almost October the daylight is quite a bit more sparse which meant a finish in the dark and fog...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLLrTyoBeoMCamrCDzh60hVWmCY4gHqyJV_D80EgHZf8cfL_FA7V9WAWzKGRU4FZwFlhZzE1UEv_ou0gIYbE6beTadQ9zIbtw9kq1HBBXCNsqGhfm6-DlA7TVn60kmtcAv2B0zjypaJIE/s1600-h/IMG_0251.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLLrTyoBeoMCamrCDzh60hVWmCY4gHqyJV_D80EgHZf8cfL_FA7V9WAWzKGRU4FZwFlhZzE1UEv_ou0gIYbE6beTadQ9zIbtw9kq1HBBXCNsqGhfm6-DlA7TVn60kmtcAv2B0zjypaJIE/s320/IMG_0251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251877631443067970" border="0" /></a>...but of course that made it all even more epic - What a day!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgOrHpjMRAq3nChOdi5AfoLyGdp3j1HyRx0jQ7c2ovgIJt5DKDYSUetSsrb83aTokNCCBmk7LcM-ZEEZq3fvECFvC3GbqHVrpPa5dnbxH7sYHu4RkaDR0g2zwyDQxYOJKuheXNp3oeTN1/s1600-h/IMG_0246.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgOrHpjMRAq3nChOdi5AfoLyGdp3j1HyRx0jQ7c2ovgIJt5DKDYSUetSsrb83aTokNCCBmk7LcM-ZEEZq3fvECFvC3GbqHVrpPa5dnbxH7sYHu4RkaDR0g2zwyDQxYOJKuheXNp3oeTN1/s320/IMG_0246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251877514895662098" border="0" /></a>We were so lucky to have such perfectly clear, beautiful weather to enjoy one of the last good biking days in the Swiss Alps this season. Now next stop is Italy, Lake Como area, where we are hoping for some warmer temps... We'll see if that plan works!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ciao</span>,<br />Buggy<br /><br />P.S. Thanks for all your comments on the previous post!!Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908341443193323914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-46042179156970306472008-09-26T23:54:00.018+02:002008-09-27T00:50:28.476+02:00"Hillseeker Camp" - The Coloradans Have ArrivedOur next set of "Hillseeker campers" have arrived! All bright-eyed and excited, ready to find some Swiss hills to climb, climb, climb...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgbSNbDc3b17-KZR6JszHxGSt03pytgv3-FzWIA74WZ472B9knQciFJVNfgWzJjGvCI8lYpGPDfqRmTLUiDAa7TX_GYWFRnWzZPCIIHWlVXrPic7flprDL6eiw9qa4P7n7Z8sknXFysZj/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgbSNbDc3b17-KZR6JszHxGSt03pytgv3-FzWIA74WZ472B9knQciFJVNfgWzJjGvCI8lYpGPDfqRmTLUiDAa7TX_GYWFRnWzZPCIIHWlVXrPic7flprDL6eiw9qa4P7n7Z8sknXFysZj/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250452986723899922" border="0" /></a>Well not all campers were bright-eyed -- Jet lag tends to have its way sometimes...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQKWDMxV9EsnuDHcuO8Em93ig9TT3cuIIoGc2euqgNxQ6bc79J9C6WWucOSzPakaEW49AqoNRNjcG5Q9VVcC-EF_651AjdJ8HWzGvkE7E8o8XRrs5nFp8Z0iwhj7kNwgO_ZlcHJ6SJvj7/s1600-h/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQKWDMxV9EsnuDHcuO8Em93ig9TT3cuIIoGc2euqgNxQ6bc79J9C6WWucOSzPakaEW49AqoNRNjcG5Q9VVcC-EF_651AjdJ8HWzGvkE7E8o8XRrs5nFp8Z0iwhj7kNwgO_ZlcHJ6SJvj7/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250452938645325346" border="0" /></a>Day 1 started out as usual, with a bit of scenery-filled yoga...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdgLzeOJXia2stTevFkrKUxYoZ3kH_QImWi444VU71D_Fa3lHOU_zTKrS_K8Wbtdq8ZQ6Z-WIEc_UvtqRfMQwL3VeTTOS36Fmr_JJsuMqkBJRMzzrmexmlTtuOTi1DFSxtPEApsX1i4mP/s1600-h/IMG_0012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdgLzeOJXia2stTevFkrKUxYoZ3kH_QImWi444VU71D_Fa3lHOU_zTKrS_K8Wbtdq8ZQ6Z-WIEc_UvtqRfMQwL3VeTTOS36Fmr_JJsuMqkBJRMzzrmexmlTtuOTi1DFSxtPEApsX1i4mP/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250452895076202418" border="0" /></a>...then moved right to the chocolate-loading phase (similar to carbo-loading, but Swiss style). Now we're ready to RIDE!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbozyvCbxHE4sXtJPtsD9K3KrEBQt3nm__GATzAAChKFDAPwEvjkUaI_ET0Wr31Mqmfsj527k8TdpjPy6T4zv3kwHDvTvA1FQ-Gq-F8cvplsGRIEis_K29VIQI99R2Q3dcS7w3bJACyJOc/s1600-h/IMG_0014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbozyvCbxHE4sXtJPtsD9K3KrEBQt3nm__GATzAAChKFDAPwEvjkUaI_ET0Wr31Mqmfsj527k8TdpjPy6T4zv3kwHDvTvA1FQ-Gq-F8cvplsGRIEis_K29VIQI99R2Q3dcS7w3bJACyJOc/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250452853867347778" border="0" /></a>Happy campers were ready to hit the hills... including special guest "counselor" FitnessFrau Kate...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJdSHegAE4G3mdJD2XrY4kiOYfsXV58q0NrgMR3CQFrgC_5tm5t5-dIQHkgSjJ9pU5H3cwq4p3ovVBCz_z24D_nTl9kd9LBeOJwJfAMeC0hVg0pn6q6g3_XrIm_6XRRmUhjK6NK948D0Q/s1600-h/IMG_0020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJdSHegAE4G3mdJD2XrY4kiOYfsXV58q0NrgMR3CQFrgC_5tm5t5-dIQHkgSjJ9pU5H3cwq4p3ovVBCz_z24D_nTl9kd9LBeOJwJfAMeC0hVg0pn6q6g3_XrIm_6XRRmUhjK6NK948D0Q/s320/IMG_0020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250452797335984162" border="0" /></a>Since the Day 1 ride was just a warm-up shake-down ride, we kept the 17%-grade climbs limited to just a couple. Good thing is these folks come from Colorado so they're no strangers to going uphill either...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcO9GA7qBTOc_Ujm9J4QDrri7NJDuVGwCmh3YzaBUCCsGfW6bOI3E3T-jy2E91NfyHwUW2O725J3UV6jnN3bEc3aZ_WB2ifu3F4ef4VORonw-RMx0xMe0wv_C6M0nBCYY76g1j_l_TuPS/s1600-h/IMG_0046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcO9GA7qBTOc_Ujm9J4QDrri7NJDuVGwCmh3YzaBUCCsGfW6bOI3E3T-jy2E91NfyHwUW2O725J3UV6jnN3bEc3aZ_WB2ifu3F4ef4VORonw-RMx0xMe0wv_C6M0nBCYY76g1j_l_TuPS/s320/IMG_0046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250452673166901826" border="0" /></a>but they obviously don't see marshmallow farms in Colorado, based on this reaction!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNJVj6c35GuKDKQLFHUool5i4Cg4thWVsKIxpvm6T_c8SnJA8jm-kYg4G_SgGmcDgyGQRKbQVumcWlNBJYAmScdMZW7cM9xqNvr_xDSVCQtpX7hmPNdCtRd0BPAO2tfnZB7t9gqPiDfVt/s1600-h/IMG_0030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNJVj6c35GuKDKQLFHUool5i4Cg4thWVsKIxpvm6T_c8SnJA8jm-kYg4G_SgGmcDgyGQRKbQVumcWlNBJYAmScdMZW7cM9xqNvr_xDSVCQtpX7hmPNdCtRd0BPAO2tfnZB7t9gqPiDfVt/s320/IMG_0030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250452720412375298" border="0" /></a>After the ride, what better recovery snack is there than Nutella on fresh bread (oh yeah and recovery beverage of course)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcjl5B-zDGUL4c-AzfLGPQZdabDuEO2NqARNtdqQDnisb4EPKC6jwyKyIPpBK7PFl_D2MjeXlFJ8NwDTgcWOwwrG33nDoZgSNyVRUsRtG-7wrHRRkcJw_56hDhRHmv4iqyG8Pnqb5_bSP/s1600-h/IMG_0052.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcjl5B-zDGUL4c-AzfLGPQZdabDuEO2NqARNtdqQDnisb4EPKC6jwyKyIPpBK7PFl_D2MjeXlFJ8NwDTgcWOwwrG33nDoZgSNyVRUsRtG-7wrHRRkcJw_56hDhRHmv4iqyG8Pnqb5_bSP/s320/IMG_0052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250452614305601794" border="0" /></a>Thanks to quality recovery snacks like that, the "campers" were ready to ride again the next day - This time "commuter style"...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YgiNWGHnhHRqGAfQ9CV8o33F1lYrPqiPDWT3loUX5Y_QNqQ6ZPh6AW0QudTvghrwlrdcDtIL4mbnqU6OavNwU2P-I23dW2EjYZiTBQQw0eFYk_iYQe-bm_hjnkUGQwygDtISsu0TEgCa/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YgiNWGHnhHRqGAfQ9CV8o33F1lYrPqiPDWT3loUX5Y_QNqQ6ZPh6AW0QudTvghrwlrdcDtIL4mbnqU6OavNwU2P-I23dW2EjYZiTBQQw0eFYk_iYQe-bm_hjnkUGQwygDtISsu0TEgCa/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250452421398764210" border="0" /></a>It wouldn't be a real Switzerland experience without recycling, so that was the first stop...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUgA95IxijdSJqyl9L3A2eM07mDD7bmC67YZkGzuEgT82NoAyLKhO4aVgXVHK87B32BxkVOwStGgeub5uLcCeaSUCL-KMyrg7QPECxFffO_SQmoIMCPGtciHt9ihAYXlmRFUcqZxfuwcy/s1600-h/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUgA95IxijdSJqyl9L3A2eM07mDD7bmC67YZkGzuEgT82NoAyLKhO4aVgXVHK87B32BxkVOwStGgeub5uLcCeaSUCL-KMyrg7QPECxFffO_SQmoIMCPGtciHt9ihAYXlmRFUcqZxfuwcy/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250452337641294162" border="0" /></a>Then we were off riding down the local bike path....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3o6HnrDkZiqoZoiTa5x7rkXIbCFRUQFzBnIsi8Pb3bCD26LWhCC4K8KIpZePKV7vryHCN27R2mZVorClYKzaKvi8rGzTlMDiNUNurN660AX8q3K2UZqdGOt6DA5XKC-F2G5RZM1jmqaCW/s1600-h/Copy+of+IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3o6HnrDkZiqoZoiTa5x7rkXIbCFRUQFzBnIsi8Pb3bCD26LWhCC4K8KIpZePKV7vryHCN27R2mZVorClYKzaKvi8rGzTlMDiNUNurN660AX8q3K2UZqdGOt6DA5XKC-F2G5RZM1jmqaCW/s320/Copy+of+IMG_0007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250452261901324562" border="0" /></a>...First stop: Bike shop - Where else? (I swear I don't get a commission for bringing campers/visitors there, although maybe I should!) Now <span style="font-style: italic;">this </span>is the ultimate Swiss souvenir:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_bxX1EEQ4tkrHLGNNJcX1qY0n-lRkBZNzLGwiSmeZOvn749Jpzpr8P_H0Qw0V7HMQJy5cTPGDRPjoSZWk3yxNjLFT3yC0Bf346lEq-jL1Nu3FdZzmUDooQRTTOUd8zkhNKfa40EBF2Xh/s1600-h/IMG_0013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_bxX1EEQ4tkrHLGNNJcX1qY0n-lRkBZNzLGwiSmeZOvn749Jpzpr8P_H0Qw0V7HMQJy5cTPGDRPjoSZWk3yxNjLFT3yC0Bf346lEq-jL1Nu3FdZzmUDooQRTTOUd8zkhNKfa40EBF2Xh/s320/IMG_0013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250452178295086626" border="0" /></a>Udderly cool ;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsS-mAUg9eeL0zDkazth5p_W99g1BWEjX63-Rps-Z9zSNke6TYL4xA-r2bO_GzyU_HItqhth6l3uccKS_BhcvV2qbs3k92DadSXwZWHES5aoCI2PPvDndIHfQEqcEZGUO66OmWvFL0AP5/s1600-h/Copy+of+IMG_0014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsS-mAUg9eeL0zDkazth5p_W99g1BWEjX63-Rps-Z9zSNke6TYL4xA-r2bO_GzyU_HItqhth6l3uccKS_BhcvV2qbs3k92DadSXwZWHES5aoCI2PPvDndIHfQEqcEZGUO66OmWvFL0AP5/s320/Copy+of+IMG_0014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250452126351787458" border="0" /></a>Next stop.... You guessed it - Chocolate Factory! Guests seem to get a bit overwhelmed by all the choices there - It's just chocolate, chocolate, chocolate everywhere you look - How could anyone focus...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoahC_Kzz9yfSse1LZhPbUrGuuizyZD7rTpeqfESFp1wdU4yWzFcDV0QdVdLP_uLrlpUPsqRE9UDsF6yUbrhnssrh6dvEwZWwKiVXLYeHxyp06KNCGgtsX3f2nLZNOl8BZxsUYqbtoxZ9/s1600-h/IMG_0019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoahC_Kzz9yfSse1LZhPbUrGuuizyZD7rTpeqfESFp1wdU4yWzFcDV0QdVdLP_uLrlpUPsqRE9UDsF6yUbrhnssrh6dvEwZWwKiVXLYeHxyp06KNCGgtsX3f2nLZNOl8BZxsUYqbtoxZ9/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250452050880888962" border="0" /></a>We topped off Day 2 with a flat (really!) but quite windy ride into the city to do some sight-seeing, on what turned out to be a nice evening...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0YBzqwKj6cFH2YcqKYSzhJhLtCC34SlF-2dlf1e7dNdKXdcZCdeY7DZ7en9KeOkJK-1eAPKjMmqSKx_CQf_cEeNkSO86v0bJrDIuBdQ7dzIDy9HWqWt9Q4O9mX1nN_b8fewHI9LSN_76/s1600-h/IMG_0033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0YBzqwKj6cFH2YcqKYSzhJhLtCC34SlF-2dlf1e7dNdKXdcZCdeY7DZ7en9KeOkJK-1eAPKjMmqSKx_CQf_cEeNkSO86v0bJrDIuBdQ7dzIDy9HWqWt9Q4O9mX1nN_b8fewHI9LSN_76/s320/IMG_0033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250451991118384786" border="0" /></a>Tomorrow we're off to the Berner Oberland to test out the Gross Scheidegg route again (the climb that rewards with view of Eiger + two other major mtns), and then the "Swiss Triple Bypass" after that... That is, as long as the early-winter snow stays away up high (even without snow I think it'll be pretty cold up there, brrrrrr). We'll see how it goes!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />BuggyBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908341443193323914noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-64227208809155300412008-09-08T20:15:00.002+02:002008-09-09T13:04:10.222+02:00What a summer!Just a quick note to say "<span style="font-style: italic;">Grüezi</span>!" and to confirm that yes, we are still alive, even if we haven't been blogging! For the past two months we have had visitors and have been travelling non-stop -- and I for one can't think of a better way to spend the summer :-)<br /><br />So we will be posting pictures and updates from the summer soon... For now at least our current visitors include a blogger (who is obviously faster at posting updates than I am!), so you can see their version of what we're doing now here on "<a href="http://quickshotninja.blogspot.com/">Life through a Lens</a>":<br /><br />Day 1: <a href="http://quickshotninja.blogspot.com/2008/08/jet-lag-be-gone.html">Jet Lag be Gone</a><br />Day 2: <a href="http://quickshotninja.blogspot.com/2008/08/3-hour-tour.html">A 3-Hour Tour</a><br />Day 3: <a href="http://quickshotninja.blogspot.com/2008/08/racing-wcancellara-in-gruyere.html">Racing with Cancellara in Gruyere</a><br />Day 4: <a href="http://quickshotninja.blogspot.com/2008/09/camp-hillseeker-recap.html">Camp Hillseeker Recap</a><br />and: <a href="http://quickshotninja.blogspot.com/2008/09/chocolate-girl-run-amuck.html">Chocolate Girl Run Amuck</a><br />Days 5&6: <a href="http://quickshotninja.blogspot.com/2008/09/hillseekers-2-day-intensive-crash.html">Hillseekers 2-Day Intensive Crash Course</a><br />Day 7: <a href="http://quickshotninja.blogspot.com/2008/09/swiss-break-time.html">Swiss Break Time</a><br />Days 8-10: <a href="http://quickshotninja.blogspot.com/2008/09/italian-dolomite-camp-weekend.html">Italian Dolomite Camp Weekend</a><br />Day 11: <a href="http://quickshotninja.blogspot.com/2008/09/last-day-of-camp.html">Last Day of Camp</a><br /><br />As you can see, we now seem to be running a "Hillseeker Camp" - providing a home-base for cycling adventures in the beautiful mountains and hills of Switzerland and Italy. These latest "campers" were really fun, and I'm glad to have the memories documented in the stories and pictures from her blog (Thank You Laurie!). Next campers arrive in two weeks...<br /><br />Cheers!<br />Becky (a.k.a. Buggy)<br /><br />By the way, you may have noticed that we are referred to as "Gustav and Buggy" - These are the names that some people here in Switzerland have mistakenly called us (since "Jeff" and "Becky" are not common Swiss names), so now they seem to have stuck!Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908341443193323914noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-55270531001969502452008-08-02T14:22:00.003+02:002008-08-02T14:38:42.800+02:00Marathon des Sables Full Race Report<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHguUWCfcocF7HLoUyYN6D8vJ-SqQ8r8BjUI6wvYYm-H2fBq_73MV74kAqtlrf0X9xjFMt9SSnRnCIRcqdnj34H_S-M5HcBAFcvwVA_Cud3GFpGFaU36U-yDN_xxouF_Wzco1tXPQ0b1k/s1600-h/P3300132.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHguUWCfcocF7HLoUyYN6D8vJ-SqQ8r8BjUI6wvYYm-H2fBq_73MV74kAqtlrf0X9xjFMt9SSnRnCIRcqdnj34H_S-M5HcBAFcvwVA_Cud3GFpGFaU36U-yDN_xxouF_Wzco1tXPQ0b1k/s320/P3300132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229897241120496850" border="0" /></a>Well, it took twice as long to recover from the Marathon des Sables than it did to finish my race report! This afternoon I posted the final chapter: <a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/2008/08/crossing-hallowed-mds-finish-line.html">Crossing the Hallowed MDS Finish Line</a>. Please feel free to hop over to my MDS blog site to check it out.<br /><br />In case you missed some of the other MDS race report posts from this summer, I've included links to the full story below. Anyone seeking insight into the keys to unlock a challenge like this will find "<a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/2008/07/relentless-arduous-push-to-finish-part.html">The Relentless, Arduous Push to the Finish Part 2</a>" particularly interesting. I've also included audio clips from the race in several of the posts, as well as photos. Enjoy!<br /><br />My full race report (in stages, just like the race):<br /><ul><li><a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/2008/04/jittering-away-pre-race-days-in-morocco.html">Jittering away the pre-race days in Morocco</a></li><li><a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/2008/04/stages-1-3-how-could-we-have.html">Stages 1-3: How could we have underestimated this challenge?</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/2008/05/stretching-of-limits-surreal-long-stage.html">Stretching of Limits --The Surreal Lo</a><a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/2008/05/stretching-of-limits-surreal-long-stage.html">ng Stage: How is this possible? Part 1</a></li><li><a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/2008/05/stretching-of-limits-surreal-long-stage_19.html">Stretching of Limits --The Surreal Long Stage: How is this possible? Part 2</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/2008/05/relentless-arduous-push-to-finish-part.html">The Relentless, Arduous Push to the Finish Part 1</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/2008/07/relentless-arduous-push-to-finish-part.html">The Relentless, Arduous Push to the Finish Part 2</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/2008/08/crossing-hallowed-mds-finish-line.html">Crossing the hallowed MDS Finish Line</a></li></ul>Again, my sincere thanks for both long-time and new visitors to my Marathon des Sables blog and supporters of the journey!<br /><br />All the best from a sunny summer afternoon in Zurich,<br />JeffJeff Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10046883456301015459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-7843153268823899652008-07-17T14:22:00.027+02:002008-09-24T09:47:20.217+02:00June - a month full of adventures...<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >To quickly round out the month of May... After Jo's visit, I made a visit to the U.S. to see some family and friends (and our dog <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/Brandy">Brandy</a>!) in TN & GA. It was a whirl-wind "tour" as these visits always are, but it was wonderful to see everyone. In addition to visiting, I also got the chance to do some biking with friends in the north Georgia mountains and Atlanta - Our friend put together a great story about it here called <a href="http://biken4fun.blogspot.com/2008/06/hausfrau-in-holler.html">Hausfrau in the Holler</a> (yes, I am taking the easy way out for this! she just writes so much better than I). More pictures from this visit can be seen by clicking <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/BeckySUSVisit">here</a>.<br /><br />Then came June - The month of outdoor <span>adventures</span>! Since it's hard to describe all the experiences in words, and as they say "a picture is worth a thousand words", I'll just include links to the pictures and let <span style="font-style: italic;">them </span>tell the story! (with a few samples here...)<br /></span><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >It started with some biking at a couple local mountain passes: <a href="http://climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Pragel-Pass&qryMountainID=5536">Pragel</a> and <a href="http://climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Ibergeregg&qryMountainID=5387">Ibergeregg</a>. As you can see it was still a bit winter-ish at the top...<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJb_Bq-nFjH48aRRSsW_mmRYbfAtKOEfH5x0vBggVyBTzgGMjye_6jTrFkj2wyUTXWFGV-TpDevtndUfSzk_Lz_ZusEM0UWSFIMFarfEOqLP-NdxiEObEXjPJwGT4kIeY6SvT7u8TZ-HQJ/s1600-h/Biking+081.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJb_Bq-nFjH48aRRSsW_mmRYbfAtKOEfH5x0vBggVyBTzgGMjye_6jTrFkj2wyUTXWFGV-TpDevtndUfSzk_Lz_ZusEM0UWSFIMFarfEOqLP-NdxiEObEXjPJwGT4kIeY6SvT7u8TZ-HQJ/s320/Biking+081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223968627453881426" border="0" /></a>Here in Switzerland you always have to be ready for different things to be crossing the road in front of you -- cows, goats, and sometimes a whole herd of sheep...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYzzzYZeqEFrqbmQuzc90vsO_oM0r9Oyda00jDlbnoz1upfibi_iJ-wqme5AmFF1QFS8ihE1kzG554p8Db4VkT6CpzQIoS6n_HLHUgjqwx3WPtbcrZuR_ny8ovd8ENAKhz7PCthxMU-zH/s1600-h/Biking+098.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYzzzYZeqEFrqbmQuzc90vsO_oM0r9Oyda00jDlbnoz1upfibi_iJ-wqme5AmFF1QFS8ihE1kzG554p8Db4VkT6CpzQIoS6n_HLHUgjqwx3WPtbcrZuR_ny8ovd8ENAKhz7PCthxMU-zH/s320/Biking+098.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223968574424133682" border="0" /></a>We discovered a backroad up one of the passes that hardly had any cars and was full of stunning Swiss mountain and village views that we had all to ourselves...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FAlb8n1H_O2YGOdpg3yMYkqbIrj7J8_lOfkGSMYQBlAoC5Kq_bxrchbIpcH9AjCOBeVHLG2Pg5qTZrCgRnYKiSVCCziY15DsVzThYD7-ytK4AkU_WqJClC-Rc5vVevrXEQnkmKA9EkD1/s1600-h/Biking+107.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FAlb8n1H_O2YGOdpg3yMYkqbIrj7J8_lOfkGSMYQBlAoC5Kq_bxrchbIpcH9AjCOBeVHLG2Pg5qTZrCgRnYKiSVCCziY15DsVzThYD7-ytK4AkU_WqJClC-Rc5vVevrXEQnkmKA9EkD1/s320/Biking+107.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223968500552460834" border="0" /></a>For more you can read our friend's write-up on this ride <a href="http://www.englishforum.ch/sports-fitness/24829-road-cycling-routes-route-discussions-another-thread.html#post248072">here</a>, and more pictures are <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/BikingPragelAndIbergereggPasses">here</a>.<br /><br />The next day we did a "recovery hike" up (& down) the Gross Mythen mountain (definitely what I would call an "active" recovery!). It was a beautiful hike, and at the top we were greeted with some snowfall - That's June in the Alps for ya. Before we ducked into the hut shown in the background to warm up, Jeff did as any good Swiss (or Swiss wannabe!) person would do, and played a few tunes on the Alphorn across the valley below...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhat0QIoLv2mxtojAQ-LRz0S1y56M3YsAPk0Mw_TnpcJXZv3WH9LLLNDl9umJi_GmSjjgp7vHURfR6RVkHpNstpFfdh7ZnBzQvVQnLZ3pbk_vUt-kLAr-lYHz3Mo8Lm_gSCRedL26benqI6/s1600-h/June+042b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhat0QIoLv2mxtojAQ-LRz0S1y56M3YsAPk0Mw_TnpcJXZv3WH9LLLNDl9umJi_GmSjjgp7vHURfR6RVkHpNstpFfdh7ZnBzQvVQnLZ3pbk_vUt-kLAr-lYHz3Mo8Lm_gSCRedL26benqI6/s320/June+042b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223968138669535170" border="0" /></a>For more pictures, click <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/HikingUpGrossMythen">here</a>.<br /><br />The following weekend we went to watch the time trial stage of the <a href="http://www.tds.ch/">Tour de Suisse</a> pro cycling race, which was being held on <a href="http://climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Klausen-Pass&qryMountainID=5397">Klausen Pass</a>. We decided to bike to the pass from home with a few friends, and along the way we "added on" a couple smaller passes, <a href="http://climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Albis-Pass&qryMountainID=5185">Albis</a> and <a href="http://climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Raten&qryMountainID=5541">Raten</a>. Once again we discovered some great backroads with no cars (just a few tractors) and incredible views...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_5IG4MRTX7QcCvVST_rmwSmTT-Tl7OvBhycnd4Yr1p3O0VyGQ858-gwjjKxGTk4n8DH75PQHKFGu3ySlO-EMV5l_iVBvO91gH0Ytqj-2hcDRatvOuXFJDh9Tpr5sclWkap3AJWkaMZ2Q/s1600-h/June+074.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_5IG4MRTX7QcCvVST_rmwSmTT-Tl7OvBhycnd4Yr1p3O0VyGQ858-gwjjKxGTk4n8DH75PQHKFGu3ySlO-EMV5l_iVBvO91gH0Ytqj-2hcDRatvOuXFJDh9Tpr5sclWkap3AJWkaMZ2Q/s320/June+074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223967989093260818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrY5AhBLaK_L-n_h3nKmI-_HbhB9y3B13tP3Sx7xxr4YnYlGhTbRrOHVai9-qtQagsKW68PWf-rkIzS9efFbQzuX8BChe37uURx_ZfqG3sDznQKiIC4kd4GG0sMjnqINgJ7YcTbe9-V6Tm/s1600-h/June+092.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrY5AhBLaK_L-n_h3nKmI-_HbhB9y3B13tP3Sx7xxr4YnYlGhTbRrOHVai9-qtQagsKW68PWf-rkIzS9efFbQzuX8BChe37uURx_ZfqG3sDznQKiIC4kd4GG0sMjnqINgJ7YcTbe9-V6Tm/s320/June+092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223967916859236434" border="0" /></a>For more pictures from that day (including ones from the local newspaper/website), click <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/TourDeSuisseDay">here</a>, and a photo story on our friends' website here: <a href="http://www.murray-white.net/PhotoPage.html?2008&Summer&tourDeSuisse">Tour de Suisse</a>.<br /><br />The next day Jeff did another "active recovery" by going running in the mountains for 6 hours with a couple friends. (I guess that's "recovery" after you've recently run thru a desert for a week!?!) I think they got so distracted by the views that they just didn't want to stop...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDXLHwe8QyubAYCtzVGTS9I7ps3yOFAKSFodjkInpP8ikky09CxTu9_RgYwQL82yoe06otemw0EyOrebbNzq_Xi_pOzXLblvIxJ03BWnmmjsjVlrN4MzxKr65Q67sNEefTcH9Tg9RjU1A/s1600-h/June+145.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDXLHwe8QyubAYCtzVGTS9I7ps3yOFAKSFodjkInpP8ikky09CxTu9_RgYwQL82yoe06otemw0EyOrebbNzq_Xi_pOzXLblvIxJ03BWnmmjsjVlrN4MzxKr65Q67sNEefTcH9Tg9RjU1A/s320/June+145.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223967843064472834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNuCQTDCnRdqAvszk2Olo7QS2avdRfqDtynNtu6mhpOFFeqrGXezxlkL_uIE0qn92pp90XB3jiv7axUPtgacyE7wJNG4bazgpFxg98PGe3KSSFkD9RxvtOXehj6atHc6ggfdgPwdXbq9F/s1600-h/June+170.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNuCQTDCnRdqAvszk2Olo7QS2avdRfqDtynNtu6mhpOFFeqrGXezxlkL_uIE0qn92pp90XB3jiv7axUPtgacyE7wJNG4bazgpFxg98PGe3KSSFkD9RxvtOXehj6atHc6ggfdgPwdXbq9F/s320/June+170.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223967785670186450" border="0" /></a>For more pictures click <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/BerglaufenMtnRunning">here</a>.<br /><br />While he was out "Berglaufen", I was immersed in a full-day mountain biking skills course. It was all in Swiss German, but luckily I had our friend Martina to translate the important stuff for me. I learned a lot, and finally got over my chicken-ness enough to ride down a full set of stairs -- and survived to tell about it!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6R43FCQDshkDck6DasxkrDGHeOcfwWzNzIHbUjnfAI4Jq3Sxz08T_A0DT9ober4uZPd2ljl1yU5KZF3AQgt2CQcjwgayntrWFJVZ0z7Bt2irG3wSpLxoLTQElSVpvrDUKVqxt4yIAcHyK/s1600-h/n715908995_558463_2801.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6R43FCQDshkDck6DasxkrDGHeOcfwWzNzIHbUjnfAI4Jq3Sxz08T_A0DT9ober4uZPd2ljl1yU5KZF3AQgt2CQcjwgayntrWFJVZ0z7Bt2irG3wSpLxoLTQElSVpvrDUKVqxt4yIAcHyK/s320/n715908995_558463_2801.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223967687759706306" border="0" /></a>The following weekend Martina put me to the test again by taking me rock climbing in the mountains. It was the first time in several years that I had climbed outdoors, and the very first time that I did lead-climbing (where you don't have a rope above you the whole time and instead have to clip in to bolts along the way up). Martina is the best and most patient teacher!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2BIK-XWIRQm-XUo2prRM6opFe-ze8th9Fanuy2cgdbciWN4Zm87_SI9pfJIrj3s0YCy_Hu_J1X4DVJx7xOL1KOsb3Gkn6WYxqdSun4KfNn3XvqfUe5ZVgxjyPCIYscqMOINgM9zeo7CC/s1600-h/n715908995_573089_1297.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2BIK-XWIRQm-XUo2prRM6opFe-ze8th9Fanuy2cgdbciWN4Zm87_SI9pfJIrj3s0YCy_Hu_J1X4DVJx7xOL1KOsb3Gkn6WYxqdSun4KfNn3XvqfUe5ZVgxjyPCIYscqMOINgM9zeo7CC/s320/n715908995_573089_1297.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223967528799830162" border="0" /></a>Eventually I even got comfortable enough to enjoy the views from the top...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PgT3gGC7UKOAN2dwqzRhGXekeQTWfUi3otsyGTF8D6B1Gkzp8FJln-gtyVtGPSUsfKUiIbsQTpbssH4AsZI9PvjJgbXiclOxbTh2BbcTb6B3ZpNOZKU7ruZjsE5BnUUuyoTKRq5xSP6k/s1600-h/June+248.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PgT3gGC7UKOAN2dwqzRhGXekeQTWfUi3otsyGTF8D6B1Gkzp8FJln-gtyVtGPSUsfKUiIbsQTpbssH4AsZI9PvjJgbXiclOxbTh2BbcTb6B3ZpNOZKU7ruZjsE5BnUUuyoTKRq5xSP6k/s320/June+248.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224010995418953202" border="0" /></a>After climbing we topped off the day with a refreshing swim in a nearby lake...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgINA4FD_6MQ4qVN249ien_JEGJN6-9Ku1gOGXnUyxmqEX-LGNmXB0HZoNty5X68BW4wdy4rzhSfj8vBzarGx5bubavZhDR7gaArb7WbHrsBOPi56eQEE6LwWQbjAV7_qbOWL7qQxD02Qf/s1600-h/June+265.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgINA4FD_6MQ4qVN249ien_JEGJN6-9Ku1gOGXnUyxmqEX-LGNmXB0HZoNty5X68BW4wdy4rzhSfj8vBzarGx5bubavZhDR7gaArb7WbHrsBOPi56eQEE6LwWQbjAV7_qbOWL7qQxD02Qf/s320/June+265.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223967598787918946" border="0" /></a>For more pictures, click <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/KletternRockClimbing">here</a>.<br /><br />The next day we decided to branch out a little and check out some cycling in the nearby country of Liechtenstein. At just over 60 square miles for the whole country, it doesn't take much more than a day to check it all out! They definitely have the "castle theme" going there...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSF3CAdp6L6mnhsA5zMk2AgOYHHqPz590mIWlup_0DNZLU_WJrZ_dxLv2vwNoQtnSHOYqRZ-XXe8H5GlwZ0clDSGs_IPksThlFEu4pUgdSx6rGV2PLjYN3R7vDKpXXX1nuJLMcM2KJa0z/s1600-h/June+292.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSF3CAdp6L6mnhsA5zMk2AgOYHHqPz590mIWlup_0DNZLU_WJrZ_dxLv2vwNoQtnSHOYqRZ-XXe8H5GlwZ0clDSGs_IPksThlFEu4pUgdSx6rGV2PLjYN3R7vDKpXXX1nuJLMcM2KJa0z/s320/June+292.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223967447139316834" border="0" /></a>What we also found there were some wonderfully smooth roads for biking, and some serious hills including a good <a href="http://climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Malbun&qryMountainID=7495">climb up to Malbun</a> ski resort. It was a really hot day, and a steep climb that seemed to just keep getting steeper, so we plenty of breaks to, um, enjoy the view.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SJlGpU0JJYchHXDM-fW-cCqmM96vajcrIPVzLAIdhDuWSVcBg8OnkTi2Un1UV04BNZcMM6lqS7l4fWk503CCqe0s6nuUbKfVBvxDoom5miFfahjVKY3grh4jclpiBc_Wr7DW65qGMgIm/s1600-h/June+308.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SJlGpU0JJYchHXDM-fW-cCqmM96vajcrIPVzLAIdhDuWSVcBg8OnkTi2Un1UV04BNZcMM6lqS7l4fWk503CCqe0s6nuUbKfVBvxDoom5miFfahjVKY3grh4jclpiBc_Wr7DW65qGMgIm/s320/June+308.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223967376922400914" border="0" /></a>To read our friend's more detailed account of the day, you can click <a href="http://www.englishforum.ch/sports-fitness/24829-road-cycling-routes-route-discussions-another-thread.html#post259633">here</a>, and more pictures are <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/BikingInLiechtenstein">here</a>.<br /><br />The following weekend we stayed a little closer to home and checked out some more of the local roads... We feel quite lucky to have places like this within riding distance from home!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovBppX2Vr8busXSaSrHSbWFDXcIFDASEwtLybrsGicwjTqT_X7rq517TsrnDclrRSqlDU3U2OR_MoA36ZDgaljgFb00ufWSB9Zs6QbWnxopMwiU2lYQN41aHQPXxBTm4bbEb3_ShqPkBP/s1600-h/July+070.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovBppX2Vr8busXSaSrHSbWFDXcIFDASEwtLybrsGicwjTqT_X7rq517TsrnDclrRSqlDU3U2OR_MoA36ZDgaljgFb00ufWSB9Zs6QbWnxopMwiU2lYQN41aHQPXxBTm4bbEb3_ShqPkBP/s320/July+070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223967299914698050" border="0" /></a>For more pictures click <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/BikingNearZurich">here</a>.<br /><br />After these long days of biking, running, hiking, etc., it's nice to top it off with a refreshing swim, and it's a cool feeling to just walk down the street and jump in the lake (sometimes very literally cool!).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNJLX3p_-jziYzv16laSuo1x7smmmlY2QnTg8iMOWLLKjlc0B3DwwnCwzapcVkHD8C9giEsDJkJ4pQl1-iTJhQEAICmY0berI4In5pSNEqmbNnGy8lKf382yMp9ZvHRUwsumzMJ7O-qQQ/s1600-h/July+042a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNJLX3p_-jziYzv16laSuo1x7smmmlY2QnTg8iMOWLLKjlc0B3DwwnCwzapcVkHD8C9giEsDJkJ4pQl1-iTJhQEAICmY0berI4In5pSNEqmbNnGy8lKf382yMp9ZvHRUwsumzMJ7O-qQQ/s320/July+042a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223967232998176930" border="0" /></a>So that's our month of June in a nutshell. The rest of the summer we will be staying busy with several visitors, so we'll be out and about a lot of the time, but mostly staying in Switzerland -- I think there's still enough to see here to keep us busy for a long time! Can't wait to share it all with more friends and family.<br /><br />Have a great summer!!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />BeckyBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908341443193323914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-80467741573176633482008-07-04T18:22:00.017+02:002008-07-04T19:51:25.553+02:00A tribute to our visitorsWe've had a constant flow of visitors ever since we moved to Switzerland -- It's funny how "popular" you can become when you live in such a beautiful place as this! ;) So, I've decided it's (way past) time to include a short tribute to each of the overseas visitors we've had here in Switzerland so far. Especially before the next round of visitors, which starts next week...<br /><br />It all started off right after we moved here -- I mean <span style="font-style: italic;">right </span>after, when we didn't even have any furniture yet! Our friend Brian was in the middle of his European bike tour, and his route happened to work out so that he visited us in both <a href="http://cykeleurope.blogspot.com/2007/07/amsterdamaged.html">Amsterdam </a>(before we moved) and Zurich (right after the move). He even helped us screw our new furniture together - Now that's a helpful house guest! We also checked out a local mountain pass on our bikes one day. Check out his blog for a <a href="http://cykeleurope.blogspot.com/2007/08/truin-spokes-and-screwin-screws.html">great story</a> on it all.<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdKn3qMBTcGggJpc5lwqjwNz5jIbAv31PVd56QftQJ8pYF6SkuUK8k-N37h0lTFnogr42tnTLUUQZsiGEZxCkHOwWzZid4Gy6eqIbK2Cl3tPtKnjsfVCZTYhRDYv01mzMeufQwyQsmBrb/s1600-h/Sw'land+052a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdKn3qMBTcGggJpc5lwqjwNz5jIbAv31PVd56QftQJ8pYF6SkuUK8k-N37h0lTFnogr42tnTLUUQZsiGEZxCkHOwWzZid4Gy6eqIbK2Cl3tPtKnjsfVCZTYhRDYv01mzMeufQwyQsmBrb/s320/Sw'land+052a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219201835621731714" border="0" /></a>Next our friend Thomas from Colorado just happened to be in Berlin for a while, so he "hopped on over" to Zurich to spend a long weekend hiking with us. He brought some perfect weather with him, and we made the most of it by enjoying some incredible scenery. You can check out the pictures with <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/ThomasVisit">this link</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi340jC2PJYFYgSUJa6_gglk3qdh5swBThyphenhyphenRCL5byVmqzdxgYNiKYJErGp6ApaM7ZwbRzLM50xeNTJ39hoEplUvxOT-kPpT-rBN7LicyKh3RDrjRSe2bqlaJTPi7QO9n5mPk0R-DtJrd6te/s1600-h/Sept+071a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi340jC2PJYFYgSUJa6_gglk3qdh5swBThyphenhyphenRCL5byVmqzdxgYNiKYJErGp6ApaM7ZwbRzLM50xeNTJ39hoEplUvxOT-kPpT-rBN7LicyKh3RDrjRSe2bqlaJTPi7QO9n5mPk0R-DtJrd6te/s320/Sept+071a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219201720966930402" border="0" /></a>After that was our long-time friend Sean... We've both known Sean so long, we can't really remember a time when we didn't know him. He and Jeff used to set things on fire just for kicks while playing in the woods as kids... So for our hiking trip I tried to keep them under control so they wouldn't try to "re-live old memories" and burn a whole Swiss forest down to the ground ;) Sean brought some perfect weather with him too, and we made the most of it with some great hikes and overnight stays in huts -- For more pictures you can click <a href="http://hillseekers.com/g2/main.php?g2_itemId=3803">this link</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAOcdzkwVAYONvoz29RS59v5z2RFOm-0lyUDrAjy9tj7wiLh8vedaoITtKsolaiTYhMq5Z-6o3b2RXgKZ8DISicDaNRYcjbD7CFPHg7O8UdXQFzk2GI06CKcugZ7C04q_Cs_IF8kRv6Xd/s1600-h/SeansVisit!+057a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAOcdzkwVAYONvoz29RS59v5z2RFOm-0lyUDrAjy9tj7wiLh8vedaoITtKsolaiTYhMq5Z-6o3b2RXgKZ8DISicDaNRYcjbD7CFPHg7O8UdXQFzk2GI06CKcugZ7C04q_Cs_IF8kRv6Xd/s320/SeansVisit!+057a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219201574332439010" border="0" /></a>Then we had a couple months off from visitors, as we went back to the <a href="http://hillseekers.com/g2/main.php?g2_itemId=4127">U.S. for a visit</a> in November, and in December Becky headed to <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/India">India </a>for her brother's wedding reception.<br /><br />No worries, in January we made up for lost time by having 14 friends visit all at once! Luckily we didn't all try to fit in our little apartment overnight here in Zurich - Instead we rented two adjoining chalets in the ski resort <a href="http://www.verbier.ch/">Verbier</a> for the week. Here's a link to the <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/GeorgiaCyclistsGermanFriendsInvadeSwitzerland">pictures from the Verbier trip</a> - What an unforgettable time with a great group of friends!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKKG65lYL9AgD1zyl3YPp_nPIudxN_XvLhQ6qwR5_wOKUVXIJgylXp3AUspiiwhlklTtFrfL3m8HCUe37GVSiEeTK1YVAzo4q9qcKqCN2PROwlSo3Fa8jMKgXym_AiQVIkFm-tWnsn2Aq/s1600-h/Swiss+Ski+Trip+2008+Sandy+075b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKKG65lYL9AgD1zyl3YPp_nPIudxN_XvLhQ6qwR5_wOKUVXIJgylXp3AUspiiwhlklTtFrfL3m8HCUe37GVSiEeTK1YVAzo4q9qcKqCN2PROwlSo3Fa8jMKgXym_AiQVIkFm-tWnsn2Aq/s320/Swiss+Ski+Trip+2008+Sandy+075b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219201405760355458" border="0" /></a>In February our long-time friends Michelle and Kevin came to visit with their two sons. It was great to spend time with them especially since it had been so long since we'd done that, and it was fun to experience all the differences here through the eyes of a 7- and 11-year old. A story about their visit is in <a href="http://hillseekers.blogspot.com/2008/03/february-flew-by.html">this blog</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQnkH6f8euT8ltV9f6V60QEseV71iwMPhsGSMiQGqiVcYe5Wfmalg0ZUT4QyLJyrr35fB1oDwXZDyiHOJbGurVg_mIH9q1kqN1l5KQmrkEuou6rvefI0wkaNvp-bEafS-RJjJHL6KuxEw/s1600-h/daWeathers+048.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQnkH6f8euT8ltV9f6V60QEseV71iwMPhsGSMiQGqiVcYe5Wfmalg0ZUT4QyLJyrr35fB1oDwXZDyiHOJbGurVg_mIH9q1kqN1l5KQmrkEuou6rvefI0wkaNvp-bEafS-RJjJHL6KuxEw/s320/daWeathers+048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219201205163844162" border="0" /></a>For March our friend Jim came out to do some skiing in the Alps... Unfortunately I couldn't be a personal tour guide for that endeavor since my ankle was still healing from "<a href="http://hillseekers.blogspot.com/2008/02/ski-tour-with-unusual-ending.html">the incident</a>", but luckily we have some friends here that were kind enough to take over. Kate and Mark, our tough "Abenteuer" friends, took him for a day of skiing at Davos, and uber-tough Martina showed Jim what Swiss ski-touring is all about (and it is not easy)... the good thing is he survived it all! Even with a smile.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOE1T2qSDLNOExUSEXj1XGa92ZqQCWJ8l_Aw0WXjAjyxwDPPcc7c3sKI1wZVaP_hSNSzbAZpO7gRKDdUFVt9wqJXufj8rKriaYRSy7I8jDilV-Bt7VfGkvJ9Q5_MKdpAKONrcdXvonJRu/s1600-h/March+060a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOE1T2qSDLNOExUSEXj1XGa92ZqQCWJ8l_Aw0WXjAjyxwDPPcc7c3sKI1wZVaP_hSNSzbAZpO7gRKDdUFVt9wqJXufj8rKriaYRSy7I8jDilV-Bt7VfGkvJ9Q5_MKdpAKONrcdXvonJRu/s320/March+060a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219201067860076962" border="0" /></a>In April while Jeff was gone <a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/">running across a desert</a>, I was kept from being lonely thanks to Pallavi and Geo who visited from Amsterdam. Watch out Zurich, it's Girls Weekend! We packed a whole lot into a short time. For more pictures from this estrogen-filled event :) you can click <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/GirlsWeekend">this link</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUI4e1cQhzEdXdpzDUkaE3IPU9HfD4eU6NrLGssycpbbV_kQf2vRfMR9isLM_ab-TB0wh8jmWSmhLs6HTVD_wcLuOtE6uQ4iMk79WSVhY74gijXZ2L59Q8_YZDvwMrzWZzeYsw8Hx-8_0/s1600-h/IMG_4950.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUI4e1cQhzEdXdpzDUkaE3IPU9HfD4eU6NrLGssycpbbV_kQf2vRfMR9isLM_ab-TB0wh8jmWSmhLs6HTVD_wcLuOtE6uQ4iMk79WSVhY74gijXZ2L59Q8_YZDvwMrzWZzeYsw8Hx-8_0/s320/IMG_4950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219200772905390850" border="0" /></a>And last but certainly not least, in May it was Jo who graced us with a visit. She was only here for a few days, but in true Jo-fashion, we packed more in those few days than one would ever guess is possible, including a day-trip to the <a href="http://www.maggiore.ch/">Italian section</a> of Switzerland, and an ad hoc hike up a mountain (when we learned the train going up hadn't started running for the season yet!). For more pictures from that fun-filled few days, you can click <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/HillSeeker/JoSVisit">here</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoqEKvpi_c6SB5Ei1v6NGHcUdF7wRcGY6SVvLvpIhyphenhyphengazGkOepYAmmVYapKb5tatFCgC-0hQPlfQzIGzNqtBEBP8sneEQ87eHyTGPopWj5zwyEOZFTiWJLoduc_PB8y_2VMFMYqUSdzEL/s1600-h/Jo's+visit%21+014b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoqEKvpi_c6SB5Ei1v6NGHcUdF7wRcGY6SVvLvpIhyphenhyphengazGkOepYAmmVYapKb5tatFCgC-0hQPlfQzIGzNqtBEBP8sneEQ87eHyTGPopWj5zwyEOZFTiWJLoduc_PB8y_2VMFMYqUSdzEL/s320/Jo's+visit%21+014b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219200590582329202" border="0" /></a>Jeff and I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to share the wonders of Switzerland with so many friends... and more to come this summer (including our parents)! It is the best way we can think of to make the most of this experience of living abroad.<br /><br />Thanks for coming, and as they say where we're from, "<span style="font-style: italic;">y'all come back, ya hear?</span>" :)<br /><br />Cheers,<br />BeckyBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908341443193323914noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-47721805943155931732008-07-03T23:14:00.005+02:002008-07-03T23:40:33.486+02:00In the news...I haven't forgotten - I still owe the summary of the second half of May, not to mention all of June... We're really busy experiencing things, but not saving time to document/share them! For now I just want to share a couple recent news articles where Hillseekers have been mentioned...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tds.ch/">Tour de Suisse</a>: We biked up the pass where the time trial was held on Saturday, and brought along the Alphorns to help us cheer on the riders... Check out this <a href="http://www.zischgate.ch/multimediacenter/default.php?format=image&project=1856">online picture gallery</a> and see if you see anyone you recognize ("subtle" hint: #'s 25, 26, and 35)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW-nOMjyDfJ173Fu8_u1PTy432fbMYnxpOtlt9YbMhbhoELiP1EZnb-t-iIJNEkyU0U8U9LmB0wpWRybf1sMDgzdsO0W3rM2LN8XA_PSDO7af-_GY1C3Qa-W5dpnsd76iPyHsxa6Gcp3w/s1600-h/AlphornTDS1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW-nOMjyDfJ173Fu8_u1PTy432fbMYnxpOtlt9YbMhbhoELiP1EZnb-t-iIJNEkyU0U8U9LmB0wpWRybf1sMDgzdsO0W3rM2LN8XA_PSDO7af-_GY1C3Qa-W5dpnsd76iPyHsxa6Gcp3w/s320/AlphornTDS1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218903091103323458" border="0" /></a>It was in the Zürich paper too, in the "Rad" section :) (cycling)<br /><br />The other <a href="http://www.ajc.com/living/content/living/food/stories/success/2008/07/01/success_0703.html">Hillseeker story was in the AJC today</a>, about Jeff's weight loss 12 years ago... and how he actually has kept it off ever since. It really did change life for the better - for both of us - so we're glad the story can be shared in case it can be an inspiration for others to make a change and improve their life as well.<br /><br />Cheers!<br />BeckyBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908341443193323914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-68676187455245322752008-06-17T10:28:00.018+02:002008-06-17T12:20:18.885+02:00The Merry Month of MayIt seems I am often running about a month behind on blogs lately! May was a great month, jam-packed full of activities... and even some sunshine :) This explains why I wasn't at the computer blogging...but now it's raining again, so better late than never, right?<br /><br />The month kicked off with our Alphorn lessons, as Jeff described in the post "<a href="http://hillseekers.blogspot.com/2008/05/bringing-it-all-together.html">Bringing it all together</a>". Right after the lessons we applied what we learned while cheering on the bike racers in Tour de Romandie - I finally documented our experience with that, including pictures, in a <span style="font-weight: bold;">new </span><span>post</span>: "<a href="http://hillseekers.blogspot.com/2008/05/crazy-americans-at-tour-de-romandie.html">Crazy Americans at Tour de Romandie</a>". The Alphorn fits neatly in a small backpack and at only 1 kilo it didn't seem to slow Jeff down at all on the climb... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyALj3bZTcTtftSd6fzWbL_yGVJ_u3FP9evT4Pv0b0RL0dK70naxhI2E_JP5rO0Zf42L_hEja8vLAOg87-qVSWHD0Al06vci6hgy3tl0Ia1-hSSWWdlFFnCcZQUpMd8_JaA259tYKOXIW_/s1600-h/May+033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyALj3bZTcTtftSd6fzWbL_yGVJ_u3FP9evT4Pv0b0RL0dK70naxhI2E_JP5rO0Zf42L_hEja8vLAOg87-qVSWHD0Al06vci6hgy3tl0Ia1-hSSWWdlFFnCcZQUpMd8_JaA259tYKOXIW_/s320/May+033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212768419021661490" border="0" /></a>The following week in the Zürich area was nothing but sunshine for about 10 days in a row - It felt fabulous after such a rainy April! I celebrated by biking every day for 3-4 hours -- It was a sort of "bike camp" for me, to shock my body and hopefully get back in shape for the summer. Well, the "shock" part definitely worked! But the soreness was welcomed after a strange winter of sporadic, low intensity workouts due to the ankle "<a href="http://hillseekers.blogspot.com/2008/02/ski-tour-with-unusual-ending.html">incident</a>".<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVn35j9i-bHxK_ZUOtlYLgiy_3vvmnzCWiC6P5psPtKxTf8mmdJxG_ptYC1Y8wWhPUy-599jwVWM4TVzoihyRABQlQVII4jtTbdxtSa9XhTM7IgFPPNvUXUr1hg0uPCl5m5RnMNIhUjjCq/s1600-h/May+045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVn35j9i-bHxK_ZUOtlYLgiy_3vvmnzCWiC6P5psPtKxTf8mmdJxG_ptYC1Y8wWhPUy-599jwVWM4TVzoihyRABQlQVII4jtTbdxtSa9XhTM7IgFPPNvUXUr1hg0uPCl5m5RnMNIhUjjCq/s320/May+045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212771081653472434" border="0" /></a>I had to take a break between bike rides to take our car in to have the winter tires removed and replaced with summer tires. (This is a semi-annual tradition here in Switzerland, and some insurance companies even require it.) Luckily I didn't have to miss out on the nice weather as I waited on the car - Here is a picture of the "waiting room":<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79Bs8NQXFb_5yHHVmdQSKYStavg_xYoHlGMLnEUm7CwCXqmL5vAPyyQbxi06BsL1uunjPPYCS7tjaZHQqX8M5vbiQ9dSkG64wC2ncM0thhPCIW7oAH3sIf9_kIKpAbvjDMF5P3It8jb6N/s1600-h/May+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79Bs8NQXFb_5yHHVmdQSKYStavg_xYoHlGMLnEUm7CwCXqmL5vAPyyQbxi06BsL1uunjPPYCS7tjaZHQqX8M5vbiQ9dSkG64wC2ncM0thhPCIW7oAH3sIf9_kIKpAbvjDMF5P3It8jb6N/s320/May+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212773053086202594" border="0" /></a>and the view that kept distracting me from my German books...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquiSbsEPAXKH6UjRoOCLSIDCRCQGb4qPUO7K-qm-_P7lFpYHpZkQK8b10I33cyYeVlLO7J_tamOaaquMams9Zj0V6LNsn3R_nxtvex37OBpsmBWJilJKHnDpluQ4L0qc-ODRtQOpQ6ZNg/s1600-h/May+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquiSbsEPAXKH6UjRoOCLSIDCRCQGb4qPUO7K-qm-_P7lFpYHpZkQK8b10I33cyYeVlLO7J_tamOaaquMams9Zj0V6LNsn3R_nxtvex37OBpsmBWJilJKHnDpluQ4L0qc-ODRtQOpQ6ZNg/s320/May+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212772986331771650" border="0" /></a>The timing of the good weather was lucky since Jeff had two work holidays during the sunny time. One day was spent hiking with our friend Thomas, who recently moved here from Colorado, and enjoying the views around Mt. Rigi...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJ6u7jZVgNrzo3wqvz2N7Ewl3F5yD2ltKxcXJoKZ6ASaFzHxmQ-dtTMg1TF0ExZ5GeTA7oaedQJ6UOsveDPN8oyLu5XRdPNvgUB7q1G35q8M2V7qSd98ye06sso0wV13qJLmp-WxZkoMN/s1600-h/May+089.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJ6u7jZVgNrzo3wqvz2N7Ewl3F5yD2ltKxcXJoKZ6ASaFzHxmQ-dtTMg1TF0ExZ5GeTA7oaedQJ6UOsveDPN8oyLu5XRdPNvgUB7q1G35q8M2V7qSd98ye06sso0wV13qJLmp-WxZkoMN/s320/May+089.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212774553511761410" border="0" /></a>Of course no hike or bike ride would be complete without the Alphorn now... Sometimes Jeff just carries it out of the backpack so it's ready to play whenever there's an inspirational view... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirk-5f4bz8bvx5uhaMLPxQ87mHrSrke3w7EB5z-yq6hsXWnDaVoHHclBIAAC1O6ml_4tPGo_CpBBab3gCzUge1Hcbaw_6RqoXEMrmXg8iQtpD8OaiduOzX_y1Jazanr0SfioCPpwGnedHE/s1600-h/May+088.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirk-5f4bz8bvx5uhaMLPxQ87mHrSrke3w7EB5z-yq6hsXWnDaVoHHclBIAAC1O6ml_4tPGo_CpBBab3gCzUge1Hcbaw_6RqoXEMrmXg8iQtpD8OaiduOzX_y1Jazanr0SfioCPpwGnedHE/s320/May+088.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212774625266082802" border="0" /></a>...as if there are any of those around here ;) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDvqIq9jynBNUrMBQdEvOAwo7cieu8n1ApETlsa_8Z5d173WLDMOR7QMSiJemQ2L02tfg_ufIxUGnuNyjjicdwy8J9LXmnICUSqXSv0ODA18yh5J057jpKAAYu1mrgd0o-3eSZPJltSaQ/s1600-h/May+097.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDvqIq9jynBNUrMBQdEvOAwo7cieu8n1ApETlsa_8Z5d173WLDMOR7QMSiJemQ2L02tfg_ufIxUGnuNyjjicdwy8J9LXmnICUSqXSv0ODA18yh5J057jpKAAYu1mrgd0o-3eSZPJltSaQ/s320/May+097.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212775995386675394" border="0" /></a>Our friends from Lausanne stopped by for a day of biking in our part of the country... We checked out Sattelegg Pass (second day in a row for me) and found some other great hills as well... stopping for the usual mid-ride lunch break (I'm starting to really like that European tradition) and of course applying the recommended <a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/2008/04/rice.html">R.I.C.E.</a> method after the ride ("<span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span>est while eating <span style="font-weight: bold;">I</span><span>c</span>e <span style="font-weight: bold;">C</span>ream and enjoying the <span style="font-weight: bold;">E</span>levation of the nearby mountains)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDWzrhed0_vR5WhnaEwg-Lbdm97Ge1dmivqCVzeUVB-d8cFhs4WZuIeKBnrylx0-horybP7vel-9lFcvuJWv2L6A_-IM-mO8l427Gyui2eEKCazW82q9rcfQpFqNv23DmvgvsPgZApmHx/s1600-h/May+068.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDWzrhed0_vR5WhnaEwg-Lbdm97Ge1dmivqCVzeUVB-d8cFhs4WZuIeKBnrylx0-horybP7vel-9lFcvuJWv2L6A_-IM-mO8l427Gyui2eEKCazW82q9rcfQpFqNv23DmvgvsPgZApmHx/s320/May+068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212778280400504722" border="0" /></a>After all this sunny weather and hiking and biking, we were ready to EAT! Luckily our Swiss friend Martina volunteered to teach me how to make the traditional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sp%C3%A4tzle">Spätzli</a> - a special type of egg-noodle dish. After this I have a new respect for the people who make this from scratch - It is hard work!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1wA0kZouQH5yOehvy_rb_U7yZc5ijFz1ry0WUenKhApPXFQi75d7yoMmV-BlsnjF0GfZTM6T-a4MH8KnybF_swCUFc9eW6Sb_hwzKXIX44eWbEs-eXgMAI4bDbZySmkLAL4a2KvDtkpz/s1600-h/May+023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1wA0kZouQH5yOehvy_rb_U7yZc5ijFz1ry0WUenKhApPXFQi75d7yoMmV-BlsnjF0GfZTM6T-a4MH8KnybF_swCUFc9eW6Sb_hwzKXIX44eWbEs-eXgMAI4bDbZySmkLAL4a2KvDtkpz/s320/May+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212779676439586162" border="0" /></a>Not to mention it makes quite a mess (or at least I do!)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHivCUQRBNJ3ghDEtFIB1qXWxK1oCWrKKggJzyhtDpMvVvrYMOkJZ_Z2dfcZH-Bwzrr0enYfcJREmRWYBigQqze_GQKNQ3YfvYRKpUWF0iQKZcj-i9gqTt9i0V5MLwHlkL2bMUx1VBGLf/s1600-h/May+029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHivCUQRBNJ3ghDEtFIB1qXWxK1oCWrKKggJzyhtDpMvVvrYMOkJZ_Z2dfcZH-Bwzrr0enYfcJREmRWYBigQqze_GQKNQ3YfvYRKpUWF0iQKZcj-i9gqTt9i0V5MLwHlkL2bMUx1VBGLf/s320/May+029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212779588412797362" border="0" /></a>But wow, it sure is yummy. <span style="font-style: italic;">Sehr guet!</span> The noodles are covered in cheese (of course - this is Switzerland after all!) and baked till the cheese melts on top, then it is served with applesauce. It sounds like sort of a strange combination, but it definitely works... mmmmmmmmmmm...<br /><br />Well, that about covers the first half of May... I'll take a break for now and add the second half separately. Don't forget to check out the "<a href="http://hillseekers.blogspot.com/2008/05/crazy-americans-at-tour-de-romandie.html">Crazy Americans at Tour de Romandie</a>" post...<br />Ciao for now!<br />BeckyBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908341443193323914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-16743585856689297972008-06-08T11:43:00.005+02:002008-06-08T13:06:40.178+02:00Life after the desert race & Swiss water funA couple months have flown by since I returned from Morocco and the unforgettable experience of finishing the Marathon des Sables. The post-race transition has been an interesting one: exuberance, longing to be home, longing to be back in the desert, desire not to take time off to recover, desire to sign up for new events quickly, laziness followed by too soon a return to long training, a non-healing injury, a sudden, but temporary burnout on ultra running. It's all normal after such a big event, although it's quite a ride and for many becomes what's known as post-race depression. Fortunately, for most it ends after a few weeks or months (and thankfully I've fallen into the 'most' category). Finishing the MDS oscillates in my mind between being a major, life-altering event and being just a crazy, epic week in the desert. Some days it seems like a big deal -- others it doesn't. I'm thrilled at how well the fundraising aspect went and remain ever thankful for everyone's contributions and support. We made a difference in the lives of some very well-deserving children around the world and this is heart-warming. I'm also very happy at receiving so many notes about people being inspired by my story. This is just awesome and all I have to say is "pay it forward" - be inspired and go inspire someone else by pursuing and sharing things you're passionate about!<br /><br />I'm enjoying writing about the MDS experience and look forward to finishing the final chapters of the saga on my <a href="http://mds2008jeff.blogspot.com/">MDS blog</a> in the coming weeks. If you haven't checked out the site in a while, please hop over and have a look -- there are stories posted covering the first five days of the race, as well as audio and video clips.<br /><br />So, two months after the race finished, I'm now at a place where I'm focusing on multiple sports and enjoying the best of what Switzerland has to offer -- without overdoing it on the running. This led to the recent acquisition of a sea kayak as a way to combine my love of fitness and nature and desire to spend as little time cross-training indoors as possible.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jeffsgrant/SEuXUgo87FI/AAAAAAAABaU/v5b45nS2obg/P6010018.jpg?imgmax=512"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jeffsgrant/SEuXUgo87FI/AAAAAAAABaU/v5b45nS2obg/P6010018.jpg?imgmax=512" alt="" border="0" /></a>I initiated my kayak with a multi-sport play day in the Alps -- all centered on the Aegerisee (about 40 minutes from Zürich). The day involved trail running high above the lake, kayaking, playing alphorn from the kayak, and mountain biking. It was a blast. (Ok, alphorn pun only slightly intended!).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/jeffsgrant/SEuXSlR_aYI/AAAAAAAABaM/FvEWjTa6EBc/P6010017.jpg?imgmax=512"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/jeffsgrant/SEuXSlR_aYI/AAAAAAAABaM/FvEWjTa6EBc/P6010017.jpg?imgmax=512" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/jeffsgrant/SEuXW4c6nsI/AAAAAAAABac/0mKdDCF6fYE/P6010026.jpg?imgmax=512"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/jeffsgrant/SEuXW4c6nsI/AAAAAAAABac/0mKdDCF6fYE/P6010026.jpg?imgmax=512" alt="" border="0" /></a>Above is the first shot we've published of one of our new carbon fiber alphorns. It's a brilliantly-designed instrument - it sounds just like its wooden and traditional cousin, but it collapses, weighs only a kilogram, and is waterproof. It's built by a very interesting musician and engineer who lives in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, Roger Zanetti. This great design means I can take it kayaking and float it on the water! Below is a video clip to share the experience with you (I'm still getting the hang of playing this thing while on the water, so my apologies, especially to my prior music teachers, for the cracked notes!).<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/jeffsgrant/SEubtQxWOkI/AAAAAAAABbQ/Yp5juuiRBDA/IMG_8206.jpg?imgmax=512"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyRo2gP9ZxDrwvMhEhpyFjam6KFZhD951SITVLdhk2Jw42loBD-9QYfQ3SQ8e2zBraECJdcGryA_1VYvL0ISw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I've been doing the unthinkable and getting up extremely early (for me!) to kayak before work on the Zürichsee (Lake Zürich). It's a great workout and it's so calming to be on the water to start the day. I also recently kayaked into the city to watch the start of the Euro 2008 football/soccer championship. Great fun and a good way to mix up the adventure.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/jeffsgrant/SEubtQxWOkI/AAAAAAAABbQ/Yp5juuiRBDA/IMG_8206.jpg?imgmax=512"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/jeffsgrant/SEubtQxWOkI/AAAAAAAABbQ/Yp5juuiRBDA/IMG_8206.jpg?imgmax=512" alt="" border="0" /></a>My next project is to kayak to work. I'm very lucky to live 5 minutes from the water and to have a canal that runs from Lake Zürich to within two blocks of my office. It looks to be about an hour-long paddle into the office. I plan to kayak up the lake, into the canal, and then portage the kayak the final two blocks to my office parking garage, where the kayak will occupy my parking spot (anxiously awaiting me to finish my workday, where I will put it back on the water again for the paddle home). This looks to be great fun, so I'll certainly post about it and share some photos of me rolling a sea kayak through the Zürich streets on my way to work!<br /><br />I've signed up for an ultramarathon in Davos in late July, so that's the next official event. Becky and I have lots of Swiss adventure planned for the summer months, so we'll be sharing more on the blog over the coming weeks.<br /></div></div><br />By the way, if you haven't checked out <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter</a> yet, I highly recommend it. It's a simple and free online service that lets you receive and send very short updates (less than 140 characters) regarding what you and your friends are up to. I post Twitter updates quite often -- if you "follow" me on Twitter, you can see what I'm up to in daily life. Click <a href="http://twitter.com/hillseeker">here</a> to see a list of my updates. If you choose to send updates as well, I can follow you. I've found it to be a nice, easy way to keep a connection to the daily life of friends and family. Sometimes update emails and blogs can become overwhelming, so Twitter has been nice to just see when someone has gone for a nice run, is enjoying coffee with friends, is seeing a great concert, etc.<br /><br />That's all for now - I hope that your June is off to a great start!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />JeffJeff Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10046883456301015459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-35582821287444677302008-05-05T17:38:00.002+02:002008-06-16T18:45:59.904+02:00Crazy Americans at Tour de RomandieWhat luck! The <a href="http://www.tdr.ch/index_fr.aspx">Tour de Romandie</a> pro cycling race just happened to be held at the same time and in the same area as our Alphorn lessons, in the french area of Switzerland. With two days of lessons fresh under our belts, and our newly-purchased Alphorn itching to be played, we woke up Saturday morning ready to do a different kind of "cheering" for the pro cyclists.<br /><br />We put on our cycling clothes, Jeff strapped on the backpack containing the Alphorn, and we proceeded to bike from the town of Sierre up the mountain to a village called <a href="http://www.vercorin.ch/fr/Regions/">Vercorin</a>, the location of one of the King of the Mountains points banners.<br /><br />Along the way up we stopped at an overlook and did a little practicing. Wanted to make sure we remembered how to play before we got around a lot of other race spectators! Plus it's just a nice way to enjoy the view. Jeff demonstrated just how easy it is to lift the carbon fiber horn into the air while playing... Can't do this with a traditional wood one...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftzVlsHvNSqbEaMpEIik6-4EHV7cwCmMXoRwUUm3BU1q3hKXRNRZRORVDQQB3D_94W5Oc7bRr0nv15VssUIbUz8blvZzUQ691zz3zW_HZsoKIi_-bVKB36h90YuzfnzdcHpPj8RFF4w7s/s1600-h/May+114.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftzVlsHvNSqbEaMpEIik6-4EHV7cwCmMXoRwUUm3BU1q3hKXRNRZRORVDQQB3D_94W5Oc7bRr0nv15VssUIbUz8blvZzUQ691zz3zW_HZsoKIi_-bVKB36h90YuzfnzdcHpPj8RFF4w7s/s320/May+114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212505148006880450" border="0" /></a>Once we got to the top of the mountain, we found a perfect spot where we could see the pro cyclists approaching from way down in the valley. So we did a little more warming up there while cooling down from the bike climb.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0nb5loT7LaJp99kaFwqWEgygfk7XgOsIer3aPE8o8BV0MU-9mQBkIb7jwPYhU2L6ErsdwSJPm2QmIgM5eIu6OZKs4JhHFyeTn9LcuvFi2mE0EHcXPu_rbLItxo4WK5YzeKEYedN_431u/s1600-h/May+136.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0nb5loT7LaJp99kaFwqWEgygfk7XgOsIer3aPE8o8BV0MU-9mQBkIb7jwPYhU2L6ErsdwSJPm2QmIgM5eIu6OZKs4JhHFyeTn9LcuvFi2mE0EHcXPu_rbLItxo4WK5YzeKEYedN_431u/s320/May+136.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212505084345814434" border="0" /></a>While we waited for the pros to arrive, I biked down there to the end of the road before it curves around the hill, to see how it sounds while Jeff played Alphorn from our viewpoint. I was amazed by how well I could hear it so far down there... how it echoed off the surrounding mountains. Just as the Alphorn was originally intended to do, of course...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-xEOTAlLOSduHWLdh-odGT8nMWANjTYY3WbNO3DJDboifRYKhRz1_D1ookVOvgyMH2pEpUdIAH2uuvx7p2oJgGkH9iDnUvSy1QFHbE0zH_zklacas_trEMXx6qOew0pluQq9ebIc8yvT/s1600-h/May+162.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-xEOTAlLOSduHWLdh-odGT8nMWANjTYY3WbNO3DJDboifRYKhRz1_D1ookVOvgyMH2pEpUdIAH2uuvx7p2oJgGkH9iDnUvSy1QFHbE0zH_zklacas_trEMXx6qOew0pluQq9ebIc8yvT/s320/May+162.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212505015628151442" border="0" /></a>We got lots of questions and attention from the other spectators who were also standing around waiting for the racers to come through. Of course, the questions were either in French or Swiss German so a lot of the time our answers were to smile and nod, just as almost every day in our lives here (!) We did get to use some of the French we learned in high school, which was fun, even though it mostly just consisted of phrases pertaining to where we live and where we're from... People seem to always be surprised to find that we're American, playing their Swiss National instrument. We are told all the time that we are "more Swiss than they are"!<br /><br />Luckily the racers soon showed up to take the attention off of us for a while...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcA1FWY1ZR2sch6L8qe48qFZEbCrVvsJw2vuEBPChhMpPA-sS-XGgpFjMDqKkcQzv_bp3hgy6ae4e5Va4lrNR8KEQeFJMrQ4JpUTe_4G-y5fUvGhWkTEmVOn16vxfw7IHhpxP3f55wmdl/s1600-h/May+163.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcA1FWY1ZR2sch6L8qe48qFZEbCrVvsJw2vuEBPChhMpPA-sS-XGgpFjMDqKkcQzv_bp3hgy6ae4e5Va4lrNR8KEQeFJMrQ4JpUTe_4G-y5fUvGhWkTEmVOn16vxfw7IHhpxP3f55wmdl/s320/May+163.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212504951103677426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQ5f1P4-fML3MB5WvWNzSM1hIn_96BByV-hpO-zw5mMk2NLBI5CxACTxfO10oIu_WNsTmLW3ggPTopN10mPCGmrLffF_hlphQcmGQUh0VdruSw6Y-uT4MoTQ2CM0lk_ZR1SJnEqCFk6ol/s1600-h/May+169.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQ5f1P4-fML3MB5WvWNzSM1hIn_96BByV-hpO-zw5mMk2NLBI5CxACTxfO10oIu_WNsTmLW3ggPTopN10mPCGmrLffF_hlphQcmGQUh0VdruSw6Y-uT4MoTQ2CM0lk_ZR1SJnEqCFk6ol/s320/May+169.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212504766586181602" border="0" /></a>They were obviously very focused on the KOM banner coming up around the corner, but some couldn't help but turn their heads toward us when they heard the sound of the Alphorn...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0BpBZ0ZuqiimvcjhL_b59zOqXF3h1sJGFiQ1rDorJUmBKAcp-AqSBCRbf7jhiWOUXIk7KARRXydB8L01p3ntQcDq51yqkLllkJ4cqK4VxMvYfvkxfR5gdAQzXRyuY4bAWg5M0Zbn-cyC/s1600-h/May+181.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0BpBZ0ZuqiimvcjhL_b59zOqXF3h1sJGFiQ1rDorJUmBKAcp-AqSBCRbf7jhiWOUXIk7KARRXydB8L01p3ntQcDq51yqkLllkJ4cqK4VxMvYfvkxfR5gdAQzXRyuY4bAWg5M0Zbn-cyC/s320/May+181.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212515276720192562" border="0" /></a>In general it seems the Swiss spectators are on the quiet, reserved side. There may be a hand-clap at the moment that the racers pass by, but sometimes they seem to enjoy just watching silently. So we did our best to balance out the silence with our combination of Alphorn and cow-bell ringing. Crazy Americans? Well, if that means enthusiastic, loud, cheering spectators, then I guess that's what we are!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVV5D6Yd_mabNVxiPWK7HlC9KgCRfknX2X_i9vSljuCPLcKt-IMS2w4MY9lchH-HtNgVf0rRLKNur-jLu-ySC-bfisdFK2DEIj_sWGAPHxi59hh4_EfZhLocd_qMFl8xucoPn_cyhpEzh/s1600-h/May+203a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVV5D6Yd_mabNVxiPWK7HlC9KgCRfknX2X_i9vSljuCPLcKt-IMS2w4MY9lchH-HtNgVf0rRLKNur-jLu-ySC-bfisdFK2DEIj_sWGAPHxi59hh4_EfZhLocd_qMFl8xucoPn_cyhpEzh/s320/May+203a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212521159339194354" border="0" /></a>Allez Allez Allez! Bravo!!!<br />BeckyBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908341443193323914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-57906088124745168882008-05-04T23:34:00.003+02:002008-05-17T18:48:06.027+02:00Bringing it all together ...We've just returned from a wonderful long weekend in the French-speaking Alpine village of Nendaz. The 2-day Alphorn course offered us an opportunity to reconnect to one of our first passions in life and the one that brought us together back in 1987: music. It also offered a chance to connect this passion to our love of the mountains and surprisingly, to our love of sport. (More on the last one later!) We felt very fortunate to have studied music as kids and later in college - it certainly helped in our ability to learn this traditional Alpine instrument. After a few hours of lessons, we were able to make music on the Alphorn -- and in a spectacular setting. We recorded some video on the second day of the course, so please envision yourself enjoying a glass of wine while sitting on a sunny terrace in the Alps hearing the following:<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VmwCvQoHsx4&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VmwCvQoHsx4&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />We felt such a strong connection to this instrument that we found an Alphorn maker with a shop just a couple hours from Nendaz, visited him Friday evening, and actually bought two carbon fiber Alphorns. On Saturday we biked part of the Tour de Romandie professional bike race mountain stage with an Alphorn on my back, with the plan to play it as the peleton cycled by. This lead to one of the most interesting and exciting blending of passions, tradition, technology, sport, nature, languages, culture, and people. What a fantastic experience!<br /><br />More on our new Alphorns and the crazy American couple playing the Alphorn at the Tour de Romandie in the next post!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />JeffJeff Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10046883456301015459noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1127888516746616335.post-36861383122124040152008-05-01T19:29:00.005+02:002008-05-17T18:48:06.027+02:00Riiiiiiicolaaaaaa!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFofElVHPCursTgwWYTJlP4W27POXjLg5JH8YNaPyCIh-Dcx7ma7GW69hJFeyfgP_CsvF30OEnXwrqB1VIC4qAmujl10ZBVmeDdsEJbQsxCSHmmJQcG9pDR4u9iaES0zCkuWMXEEE3x9k/s1600-h/IMG_7914.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFofElVHPCursTgwWYTJlP4W27POXjLg5JH8YNaPyCIh-Dcx7ma7GW69hJFeyfgP_CsvF30OEnXwrqB1VIC4qAmujl10ZBVmeDdsEJbQsxCSHmmJQcG9pDR4u9iaES0zCkuWMXEEE3x9k/s400/IMG_7914.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195463824032688530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEBEcr5vNJ91nzqAeqPohvCW0zeN3Tco501OuymIdSJALd7iY4BaV6njk5KmDu6d4GLMCqh4XJCOp7g0BLnDvsgi0lnrq5xGagFEGsiajXLm6npeMfxby0vNp6Ssm-2kBincGJ6WteT4/s1600-h/IMG_7920a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEBEcr5vNJ91nzqAeqPohvCW0zeN3Tco501OuymIdSJALd7iY4BaV6njk5KmDu6d4GLMCqh4XJCOp7g0BLnDvsgi0lnrq5xGagFEGsiajXLm6npeMfxby0vNp6Ssm-2kBincGJ6WteT4/s400/IMG_7920a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195463171197659522" border="0" /></a>Musical greetings from Nendaz (ok, "musical" may be stretching it after the first day, but oh well we're enjoying it so far!),<br />Becky and JeffJeff Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10046883456301015459noreply@blogger.com5