Can you go back to where you’re from?

I’m going back to Colorado, but just for a bike ride.

I’m going back to Colorado, but just for a little while.

I’m going back to Colorado to visit family, visit friends, and visit places that comprise the person I am.

The prep for the CTR has been challenging.  Finding the time to do the rides, finding the time to plan the big weekend rides, finding the time to cook good meals, fit in field trips for work, enjoy out of town company, bike commute to work, actually doing my work (!), finding the time to tweak and hack the race gear, finding the time to learn to sew so I can tweak and hack the race gear, keeping the cats alive, but killing the tomato plants, finding the time to sleep and recover from the amazing training, finding the time to keep the right mental attitude.   But the big push is done.  Tonight we finish packing and drop the keys with the house sitter.  Tomorrow we start driving. 

One of the tasks has been going over the route.  Topofusion (which my work’s web-nannies block! ). Google Earth.  Reading the CT Guidebook at my desk hidden behind the covers of the Mine Environment Neutral Drainage Prediction Manual for Drainage Chemistry from Sulphidic Geological Material.  As I go over the course it brings up memories and experiences of growing up in CO.  Hiking 14′ers as a highschooler.  Trying to ‘mountain bike’ in Palmer Park on the Bridgestone hybrid my mom bought me back in ‘96 or ‘97. 

My twin sister built part of the Hunt Lake CT/CDT access trail as a highschool trail crew member with the Student Conservation Association. 

My dad, who was a trail crew leader with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, and was at one point was Volunteer of the Year, has worked on trails across the entire  state.   

I was part of an SCA group that rebuilt a front country campground near Taryall that is used to access the Lost Creek Wilderness.

The Colorado School of Mines geological engineering 6 week summer field program spends week 2 in Durango mapping glacial deposits, week 3 in Saugauche range hunting calderas and volcanic marker beds, week 5 at Molas Pass examining the stratigraphy.  Week 6 was environmental geochemistry near Red Mountain pass which spoke to my heart and mind.   12 years later and I still love environmental geochemistry.

My Siren’s color scheme is based on rhodochrosite, the CO state mineral.

It’s been 13 years since I left.  13 years of loving Vancouver and Canada.  13 years of living at an elevation of about 60 m above sea level..

I’m going back to Colorado with a smile, brimming with excitement and a deficit of red blood cells.

I’m going back to Colorado with my Colorado-at-heart husband.

I’m going back to Colorado and will drink good margaritas!