Backbone Race Report: Sea Otter Race Report; Wednesday and Thursday

The old "Jenny" at the C-Bus airport

Wednesday's flight to Burbank was an early one. We walked past all the poor, homeless SKYBUS planes waiting for someone to take them home like lost puppies at the pound. Landing first in Denver, I called Jim Roff and told him we were in his 'hood.

Lyd trying to stay awake for the flight

We had about an hour, then hopped the flight to Burbank. It was a beautiful April weekend there. Fresh rain had dumped snow all over Mt. San Gorgonio, Idyllwild, Big Bear and Mt. Baldy. As we stepped from the plane we could smell the freshly popped flowers over the dense fuel oil of the Bob Hope Airport.

Julie's backyard w/ Lyd, and the flowers in the backyard. Julie hand-tiled that entire bathroom!

We made it to Julie's house thanks to our VERY pissed off and apparently starving to death Armenian cab driver who was clearly mad at the planet for taking him from his homeland and delivering him to the land of milk and honey. It was a warm and cloudless day, and Lyd would be sipping champagne and CLAVO Cellars wine and laying out naked in the back yard within an hour of us arriving. Julie's place was an oasis, nesteled just below the Verdugo mountains. My mom showed up to take us for dinner at the Burbank Bar and Grill so she could met up with Lyd and talk wedding plans for the near future. It was great to see them get along...but my mind was on the race at hand!

Thursday morning we awoke at about 5:30a.m., walked down to Starbucks on San Fernando and Alameda, then returned to meet Roger, Vanessa and Vegas Bob for the six hour drive to Sea Otter. The ride up was fun, everyone eagerly anticipating the weekend's festivities.

Jay looking at the new DH jerseys for 2008!

Vanessa prior to her XC pre-ride.

We arrived there to get the two riders regsitered, and check in with TOMAC, KENDA, HYDRAPAK, Voler, etc. We left for the rental house in Seaside, and would stay there for the duration of the day...except for a short trip for food in Monterey. It was great to be home and with the homies! We hit the hay early, Friday would be a big day.

The 2.5 lb Carbon TOMAC Type X frame...mmmm