Road Stories

Almost one week into this road trip and its the first time I write a word, must be a good one!
Alot has happened in the last week so I think the best way to cover the action is to post some point form highlights followed by race reports. here it goes.
- Wednesday we (Nick Friesen and I) drove to Salmon Arm and stayed at the Skinner's house for the night.
- Thursday we planned to leave nice and early to get into Van in the early afternoon, but as we were getting through town at the start of the day the Honda's muffler pipe descided to give way and was dragging on the ground so we had to wait another 3 hours to get a new piece of pipe welded in.
We finally arrived late Thursday at our billets in Whiterock. The house we are staying at is worth over 2 million dollars has 8 bathrooms, 6 bedrooms, a kitchen island the size of my bathroom etc.
Went for a spin on Marine drive to loosen the legs that evening.
- Friday we hung out, did a 2 hour ride in the morning. The evening was occupied by doing the Giro di Burnaby criterium (see later post).
- Saturday was another coffee ride in the morning followed by an evening hillclimb time trial to kick of the Tour de Whiterock.
- Sunday morning at 8 am saw the 130km road race stage of Whiterock.
Sunday afternoon and evening were spend hanging out with Natasha and Jesse. Our hosts had a big BBQ and Jesse and Natasha joined us for good red meat eating and a few rounds on the tournament quality pool table.
- Monday was yet another coffee ride with Jesse and Natasha followed by the 60 lap Whiterock criterium in the evening.
Today was the first day without any racing which was kind of nice. I did a couple of hours on rolling roads and then had some fish and chips on the beach front. The evening was spent watching what turned out to be an incredibly good stage. My team, CSC is showing why they are the worlds top team and I am loving every minute of it.
Tomorrow is the most starstruck day of this short tour out west with the Tour of Gastown criterium. The only addition besides the teams already here will be HealthNet. So far its been alot of Symmetrics and very little Navigators. I think I have a good shot at a finish tomorrow night in the top half.
After Gastown we are heading to Abbotsford for the night and then right out to Calgary in an all day blacktop epic. Friday morning at 6 am its back to the airport for the flight out to Pittsburgh and a whole new round of racing.