BATB

Jen and I carpooled w/Dudley and Nancy over to Washburn to begin the whole ordeal of Book Across the Bay!! Don't get me wrong, if you've never experienced it then I'd be surprised to hear anyone recommending you to steer clear. From there we caught a shuttle bus over to Ashland to pick up our bibs & head onto the frozen water. Before that we had to wait out the lines for the porta potties which was fine as we weren't in any hurry. We watched the masses leave the start line along w/many others whom signed up just for the ambiance. We began five or 10 minutes late w/our driving mates on ski and us on snowshoe. Personally, for me it was great to take a vantage point at the rear and meet a lot of good-natured people dishing around banter. Normally, I like to show my face among the leaders but on this evening my interests went against the grain. The ice luminaries were fabulous and volunteers must have needed huge buckets to create hundreds of knee-high candle lanterns to designate the route everyone followed. Perfect weather too made it nice as the calm breeze & temperatures ranging upper teens/low twenties. Eating cookies and pop each kilometer @ festive aid stations would fuel us fine during this journey. A tent serving chili and hot cocoa was a nice place to gather w/many from the DRC and Conti Ski following the race. Huddling around an enormous bonfire prior to leaving capped it off.

Unseasonably above freezing levels on the mercury gauge changed my plans from mountain biking to more snowshoeing this afternoon. Jen dropped me off by the snomo trail crossing of Jean Duluth Road on her way to roller derby practice. Soft slushy base made it comfortable as the crampons bit into trail. I'd take some of the SHT down to the north shore lot but it proved very narrow and I ran some of it on the elevated banks. On the Amity Creek Trail I bonked like nobody's business and really struggled to make it home safely. Oh well, my report while getting ready to leave for the distribution center now indicates that I'm live and well(OK, maybe fine will due).