More biking, more sunshine, more forests and more OJ than a girl can handle in one day!

Today was absolutely spectacular!! I rode for over 2 and 1/2 hours! It felt like 30 minutes. I wanted to keep going, but I promised to be back to take the boys to "Cold Stone Creamery". Some amazing ice cream for a protein recovery meal and I was good to go again. Unfortunately the sun was setting and I also promised to be back to help with dinner. Tomorrow we plan to ride Mt. Lemmon early in the morning so we can play at the pool during the "UTP" times ("Ultimate tanning position"). I haven't used that term since high school! Then some shopping and a run in the afternoon! Happy New Year!!!! I am feeling very spoiled, but I am also so appreciative of my life. I am very lucky!! I have to come back at spring break. Nana Cindi has welcomed us back with open arms! Sorry Shawn, me and the boys are Tucson bound come spring break whether you are off work or not!

More cactus!
More sunshine and blue sky than a girl can handle!

The cactus are absolutely amazing! They have to be 70 years old before they start growing one of their arms, so this one is ancient! They are also only native to this desert here in the "Arizona Sonora Desert".

This one is just a baby cactus! But still bigger than Brady!

Of course our day would not be complete without the fresh squeezed OJ. We have added some delicious grapefruit that we got at the "Sunflower Farmer's Market". (3 for a $1) They are blood red and very juicy! Hope everyone has an amazing New Year's Eve tomorrow!

Cactus Forests, fresh sqeezed oj, and beautiful bike rides!...

We have had amazing weather for two days!! Highs of 22' C and lots and lots of blue sky! We took the kids to see the cactus forests and the Tucson zoo. There were so many cyclist on the road. It was awesome. They were climbing huge climbs through the winding desert roads. So cool. I was drooling... Shawn and I have been juicing oranges and tangerines from the trees in the back yard every day! Delicious!

I have been taking too many pictures. They are getting a little tired of me. Well, mostly Shawn. He gave me his typical smile while talking to me at the same time "OK, are you done yet, just take the picture"

Tomorrow we plan on riding for at least three hours and a run to follow!!! I feel free again! Thank you Tucson for giving me some sun!

It's Freakin Cold Here!!!

Christmas day dinner at the Erlandson's in frigid Tucson Arizona!!! We have woke up to frost on the grass and snow in the mountains! I haven't rode my bike yet... I'm starting to feel like a loose canon!... We have 6 days left and I am hoping the outside air temps are warm enough to ride, cause I'm going no matter what!! We are only 10 minutes from the famous Mt. Lemon. Apparently if you are a real triathlete you will ride Mt. Lemon while you are here training. I have yet to get there! Hoping to go today! It is supposed to get up to 14 C by 3pm.

We had a rare family photo opp! Way too much turkey and stuffing!!!

The Grand Canyon!!! Yes, we were slipping and sliding along the trails in the snow!!! I guess we should be thankful that we are not in 3 feet of snow!

-31 C Oh My!

My Olympus camera used through the back seat of the Toyota Tundra!  Pretty sweet shot of the Rocky Mountains!  We are packed liked sardines, but have survived the trip so far.  

My youngest boy in the back seat.  He has the greatest lips!  We are so jealous!  He thinks we are teasing him, but man, those lips are just fantastic.

We started our Journey from Comox in the pouring rain (+6 C) and arrived in Kamloops to 20 cms of blowing snow and temperatures dropping to -20 C with the windchill!!!  AAAHhhh!!!  We spent a couple of days visiting friends, family, eating early Christmas dinner, and celebrating Poppa Brian's 60th birthday! The next day, after much deliberation, we decided to venture out into the frigid temperatures and travel through the Rocky Mtn's to Calgary for the next leg of our Journey!  We watched the thermometer drop to -31 C and rumor has it, with the wind chill, it was -45 C.  Thank goodness we were in a truck!

My boys gave us about 30 seconds to shoot a couple of family pics in the snow.  Notice we are not really dressed for the cold temperatures.  We are spoiled on the Island!

For those of you that don't believe I really have a husband!  There he is!!  I had seconds to get this shot.  He really does not like getting his picture taken!

My last one!!!!!!!!

My last 3 hour Compu Trainer ride of 2008!

Yes, I did this! I know, I know! No one admits to riding on their trainer for 3 hours! But, I know there are a lot of 'Closet' trainers out there that do. I'm just crazy enough to actually tell someone I do this... Hey, if Lisa Bentley can take her Compu Trainer with her on a cruise ship, this is nothing!...

I had just the most amazing day today! 6:30am I swam with Masters for the last time in 2008. I am looking forward to swimming in Arizona next week. (Maybe I'll find an outdoor pool to train in!) Then, I had coffee and exchanged Christmas gifts with the most fantastic, generous, enthusiastic and inspiring 40 year old Mom's (my athlete's training for Victoria 1/2 Iron) They spoiled me beyond words!!! Then I met up with my Need For Speed Thursday Night group with Sarah and the gang to do some serious hills! I finished the night with our farewell dinner and drinking a bottle of the best wine ever!!! with my Mom and Dad. ("Beaufort 06 Cab-Sauv") from the Comox Valley!!! (given to me from Sandy and Trish) Woo Hoo!

Now I am off to bed, to wake at 6 am, to start our journey through Kamloops, Calgary, and down to Arizona! I promise, I promise to try and blog my way down and back!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!!!

It's Like Christmas.... Again!!

I am one lucky girl!!! Christmas has come early AGAIN! for me! Well, really I worked pretty hard for this one. All my shopping at Safeway, collecting airmiles actually paid off. I probably spent way more in groceries getting those airmiles, but now I have a brand new WATERPROOF Olympus Camera! With just a few clicks on the airmile's website, I redeemed some miles and was given free shipping to boot!.. 10 days later it's here.

I have been wanting something small and easy to carry in my run pack or on the bike to capture those "I wish I had my camera" moments! Just in time for our cross country journey to Arizona! Now I just need to figure out how to use the little thing!.... Woo Hoo!!!!

Birthdays, Boys, and Bathing Suits!

Birthdays! I love them! We get to have the most amazing desserts on these special days! My Mom's 61st birthday. Had to have the dessert from down under. Usually we make this one in the summer with all the fresh fruit. I just couldn't resist. So I paid a little more for the fresh raspberries and blueberries, it was worth it. Now, the "fresh whipping cream", ya I had to have that too. What's a Pavlova without fresh cream. Notice the recycled birthday candles. Must have been from Braydan's sixth b-day cake!

The boys and their Gramma Connie... Need I say more. Other than my Mom after 57 years!!! is not wearing glasses anymore. She had two lens transplants and now has better vision than me. She has been clinically blind without her glasses since she was 4! My Pavlova was looking even more fantastic to her this year. She says she can't believe how bright and colorful the world is! Happy Birthday Mom!

Merry Christmas to me!!!...
Well, just a little pre-Christmas gift to get a girl excited about going into a cold pool at 6 am! I received my first of 3 Splish suits that I ordered for myself to help keep the winter swims more enjoyable! A girl has to do what a girl has to do.... I remember when shopping to perk yourself up in the winter was a fancy new party dress for the Christmas and New Years Eve Bash! Nope, not that girl anymore. Just bring on the Tri gear! That's way more healthier!


We will be venturing off on a 3 1/2 week cross country road trip from Vancouver Island to Kamloops, to Calgary, to Tucson, Arizona next week! I am so looking forward to riding my bike in warmer weather and shopping at the sweetest Triathlon stores around! Again, Merry Christmas to me!!! I hope to post our adventures of the Erlandson family of five doing the USA tour in a mini-van when we get to Tucson and settled there for a couple weeks! I am sure it will be an adventure!!!