Windsurfari

Normally this time of year, I am pumping up my tires, lubing my chain and slipping in to some lycra in preparation for the Pisgah Stage Race.  Not this year.  I've done that race 10 years in a row, the first 10 editions.  I love that race, but it was time for a change. 

I found a windsurf race on the Outer Banks and signed up for that.  Windsurfing is in my blood.  I made plans, made campground reservations and finally headed out.  My plan was simple.  Drive to Cedar Island, camp.  Catch the ferry to Ocracoke, spend the afternoon there and camp.  Then drive to Avon for the next 2-3 days camping there. 

I was impressed that I actually made a plan and was going to stick to it.  I usually make plans and then try to make better plans, which results in a lot of stress. Self induced stress.  This time was different.  I was determined to stick to the plan...... until I arrived at Cedar Island at 4:10pm.

When I pulled up to the Cedar Island Campground,  there was a line of cars and a ferry waiting.  I didn't realize there was a 4:30pm ferry to Ocracoke.  I confirmed with the ticket lady, paid my dues and got in line.  So much for sticking to my plan. 

Then I called Teeter's Campground to find out if they had a spot for me.  They did and I reserved it. 

The following night, I was planning to camp at the NPS campground that is a couple of miles out of town.  But, Teeter's is right in town, and after a full day of windsurfing, I decided to stay put.  I could get my camp set up and then ride my bike to get dinner and the local brewery.  Then for breakfast, I would ride my bike to Graceful Bakery for some delicious baked goods and coffee.  Perfect. 

Friday dawned,  and the inner struggle began.  I was in a perfect location, with the perfect set up, why bother driving north 2 hrs, when I could spend the time on the water?  Do I really want to race? Stand around in the parking lot with everyone eyeballing each other's gear,  racing and challenging before the race even started?  Is that why I was here?    No,  I just wanted to have fun.  Did I really want to share the water with 300 other sailors?  While that would be cool to see...... not really.   The struggle raged on all day and into Saturday morning.   But after eating a fresh scone and drinking some coffee,  I knew the answer. 

I went back to the camp ground and paid for two more nights.  Seriously a no brainer.  It turned out to be one of the best, most satisfying decisions I have made for myself in a long time.

The wind was great for four days in a row.  I spent time building my confidence.  Gradually working my way from my longboard, which offers more stability, down to my little short wave board, which is less stable but way more maneuverable and fun to jump and carve.   Each day, I spent as my time on the water as I could. 

I spent the time soaking up every moment.  I sailed all over the sound around Ocracoke.   On one day the wind shifted, which allowed me to sail back and forth on a 4 mile reach. 

Each day started with a bike ride to the bakery.  I ate my breakfast by the harbor, Silver Lake before heading back to camp.  I then packed up the roof top tent (which now takes about 5 minutes) and then head to Teaches Hole, where Blackbeard enjoyed anchoring his ship after raids.  Morning session lasted a couple of hours before heading back to the truck for some good old fashioned PB & J.  Then a leisurely drive on the beach to watch fishermen. 

Back to Teaches Hole for a couple more hours of the fun stuff.  I usually stayed out until I got really hungry, or until something started cramping.  One time my index finger cramped, not all curled up, but stuck straight out.  odd.  

After getting loaded up each evening, I headed back to camp, set up the roof top tent, (another 5 minutes) showered using the amazing outdoor shower, then head of to dinner.   Taco truck, Dajio's woodfired pizza, Howard's pub became favorites.    

After dinner, I rode my bike to watch the sunset.  After sunset, I headed over to 1718 Brewey for a beer and a tasty snack from the kitchen.   Chatting with other folks and people watching.  Often more entertaining that tv. 

When the time felt right, I headed back to camp and went to bed of hung out chatting with neighbors for a bit. 

There are so many amazing places to go and see in the country, and world.  But at this point, I'm content using my resources to visit this island and enjoy the simplicity it has to offer. 

I have spent the first quarter of 2019 trying to simplify my life and I'm on the right track.   This trip has definitely helped give me new insight and desire to continue simplifying! 

Until next time, Ocracoke!

Check out the link below.  I'm hosting a fundraiser, so the program can purchase a van, so that we can get kids out of their environments and into the woods.   I was paying out of pocket with the van in my name to save money for the program, but found out that I cannot purchase commercial insurance if the van is not in the name of the program!  Argh.   Thanks to an amazing community, we are almost there.  Donate if you can, and please share the page with your friends!

Adventure Kids WNC Transportation Fund

The Guilt Ridden Life

 I'm planning a road trip this spring.  The goal is to pack in as much windsurfing as I can get.  Why?   I love windsurfing.  I grew up as a missionary kid and got into the sport on the island of Bonaire: Windsurfer's Paradise.   Since then, the island has produced many world champions and is one of the world's go to training grounds for world class windsurfers.    I taught myself and was hooked.

But now,  as I prepared to head to the East Coast, I'm riddled with guilt for leaving my family behind and spending time and money on myself.  Why?

 Another passion of mine is cycling.  I love to get out and explore new places, that's what gets me excited.  I love the community, the vast array of folks who ride bikes for assorted reasons.  I love to ride with people, and I love to ride along.    As I head out for a ride, I feel guilty.  Guilty that I am out having fun, while I could be doing other "more productive" things. 

Why so guilty?  I'm not sure.  I was raised in a strict "Christian" home.  Rules, chores and consequences.  I had to earn my freedom,  I had to work for my play time,  and more often than not, my free time was interrupted because I had not completed said chores adequately and had to go back and do it again, "and do it right this time".

I attended a "Christian" college that had so many rules and regulations that I was always second guessing myself,  wondering if I had followed all of the rules and knowing that I would get busted and reprimanded for the slightest infraction.   Needless to say, I didn't really fit in and several times was the first to get the blame when another broke the rules: like the time someone drove through the guard shack gate, shattering it to bits and kept driving.... it wasn't me, I promise.

If I am living the life of freedom,  then why all the guilt? 

Its that feeling of never being good enough,  always having to try harder, to be better, to be a little more perfect, to sin less.  Its like the cartoon of the carrot being held in front of the horse,  the poor horse works his tail off, but never gets to the carrot. 

Why all the guilt?  Maybe I hold myself to to high of a standard,  the standard that I was taught all of my life?  Maybe I need to step back, take a deep breathe and just be.  Be in the moment, love my neighbor, and be.

Maybe.

Rough Winter

Got my first single speed mtn bike ride of the year in this week.  It felt great,  I'm weak as all get out, but it was nice to be rolling through the woods again. 

This winter has been rough on me.  I'm normally training for the Pisgah Stage Race, which is also rough, but this year, with no set goals in mind (other than to be the best dad and husband I can be) I did not feel the motivation to ride through the winter.  It was actually nice not to have that pressure. 

The upside is that I have been getting out and exploring on foot.  Doing some trail running, that sometimes looks more like hobbling.

 Those days that are blustery and cold, and snowy are perfect for trail running.  It is so much easier to stay warm. 

And then there are the other days, when I go out a little farther and explore something new.  Feeling the sun gradually warm the earth as I run the Mountains to Sea trail along the spine of Shortoff Mtn! 

I love riding my bike, but running is so simple!

I'm hoping to keep some running fitness through this spring and summer, and looking forward to riding in shorts!

Vacation

The upside of being a missionary kid and traveling all over the world, is that I got to see a lot of cool stuff and live in different cultures and become a part of different cultures. Moving, settling and blending in became a way of life that is still ingrained in my being. 

I find it difficult to simply visit a place without feeling the urge to make a connection and contribute positively. We are making plans for our Ocracoke Island vacation for the 4th year in a row now. We have met and gotten to know some locals, and they seem to enjoy when we visit. The locals even let me help schlep fish at the fish market. I'm content spending my vacation time like that. 

The downside of traveling all over the world as a kid is the anxiety that new places and new faces stir up. 

 We all know that when  a person plans anything, it rarely works out like that.  Sometimes minor obstacles pop up, sometimes major.  Something always happens.  Well, add up 18 years of world travels and now I expect something to happen, I cringe, just waiting for it to happen.  And sometimes, I cancel travel plans because of that.  

I feel guilty for not getting my kid out and about more, traveling more, to see the things I have seen.  His situation is different than mine was.  We simply don't have the funds to be galavanting across the globe.  Or the time.  We are adulting now and doing a fine job of it.  

I'm attempting to cultivate that traveling bone in the boy, but I think it will happen differently than it did with me.   And I am coming to grips with that idea.  

I think back to when I was 14 yrs old.  Aside from the world travels, I have been able to give the kid lots of opportunities that I didn't have by that age.  That  helps ease the guilt.   

On top of everything else, I want to take the family back to my heartland, Bonaire, the island in the Netherlands Antilles that I spent my 10th- 16th years of life on.   That's gonna be a big chunk of change.  If I had to choose to go anywhere right now, that would be it.  

For now though, we will continue taking our annual summer trip to Ocracoke Island,  visiting, getting to know the locals and blending in as well as a Dingbatter can....

Above all else,

 It is not often that I feel a spiritual connection to a place.  I don't have an explanation, but every now and then,  I feel it.  The feeling is quite unexplainable, but, if you have experienced it, you know what I'm talking about. 

 I started the journey looking for a challenge.  3 miles one way, from the valley floor up to the meadow. I planned to do some running, but that turned into plodding due to snow lingering in the shady side of the mountain. 

 The snow was crusty on top and soft underneath,  every step or two, my shoes would break through.  At a steep spot on the trail, used the footsteps of a previous hiker as stair steps that had been frozen into the snow.  The trail was a foot or two under the snow.  Sketchy to say the least.  But, I didn't want to stop.  I had the time, and the desire. 

 When I crested the ridge and walked out of the trees into the meadow, I was greeted with bright sunshine and vast silence.  And that feeling.  Or maybe I should say that understanding,  a certain knowing.  Understanding that while things back down the trail are confusing, knowing that I am where I am, because a higher power wants me there.   Understanding that things have not always been easy, but knowing that every need has been provided..... and then some. 

 But that feeling, that this place is sacred,  no one here but me.

 Me and the Creator, the one who loves, provides and guides. 

 I looked at my watch and wished I had more time.  I have to go, back to the life that has been given to me. Back to the responsibilities that in my selfishness, I sometimes loathe. 

 I turn down the trail, lighthearted but feeling heavy responsibility: to be the best I am at what I do.  From husband, to father, to friend, to boss....  what can I do better?

 I thing about our purpose here on earth.  To fight the good fight, to fight evil,  and our weapon is love.  Not love like we are taught on tv, or on radio, but a selfless love, that has no end.  Love that does not see color, does not feel greed, does not expect anything in return.  Love that is an action not a feeling.  Love that leaves you feeling depleted, because you gave it your all.  Love that requires a person to die to self, to give up their own desires and spend time and energy (aka money if you have it) to help make your corner of the world a better place. 

 Love that shines and tells a story.  I was created for this.  You were created for this.

 If we were created for a purpose and do not fulfill that purpose, then what is the point?  We can do what we want, and we do that, but without fulfilling our purpose, we are never really reaching our full potential. 

Above all else, Love.

Green Pond, Lake Hartwell

I've been eyeing this location for a while, and finally the schedule and conditions allowed me to get down there.  I'm never sure what to expect when I go out windsurfing.  I check multiple forecasts but they are merely forecasts.  I've gotten pretty good at figuring out when to go, but sometimes, the weather changes. 

Today, the as I drove down the mountain, the temps climbed up above 60.  I decided to start with my shorty wetsuit and see how that felt.  It turned out to be a great decision, I was comfortable all afternoon. 

The wind was light, but forecast to pick up later, so I rigged the 7.0 meter sail and took off.  Thanks to a recommendation from my friend, I tacked upwind and got into a wider area of the lake. 

I sailed back and forth for a while until the wind kicked in, then it was on.  Blasting back and forth on the water, chasing sailboats, letting go of the worries that plague my day to day life....  nothing compares. 

After 3 hrs on the water, I was pretty whipped, so I headed back to shore, packed up and drove back home.  

Such a fun day on the water!

Hurricane Michael

Michael rolled through with lots of wind and lots of rain.  Windsurfing in the rain is not that fun and can be painful.  Being pelted in the eyes by raindrops at 25-30mph hurts! 

I waited until the rain let up and headed out to Lake Julian.  Winds were N Westerly which is the worst for inconsistent gusts.  Usually in these conditions, a gust hits, I get up to planing speed and then the gust is gone.  A lot of work for  a couple seconds of planing. 

But,  that's what I get for living in the mountains.  It is good to get out and work on my balance too. 

I lasted about an hour, in 25-35 mph gusts, then headed in.  The beach is upwind in these conditions too, so I had to swim it in the last 100 yards or so.  

Fun times, though. 

Mike Ride 2018

Mike called me up and wanted to do a multi day trip.  Nothing epic but some good metric century days.   I was in.  We planned on 3 days, 2 nights.  But....life.  You know when you go to the all you can eat buffet, and pile your plate up.  Then you see one more things that looks delicious and you add that to your plate?   You eat it all, and it was good, but that one more thing was a bit too much and now you have a tummy ache.....

That's my life right now.  My plate is full and I added one more thing.  Something that should have had me excited was causing stress.  But, priorities.   In the end we cut the trip down to 2 days, 1 night (24 hrs)

I'm finding that I am able to get away for 24 hrs at this point in life.  A couple of years ago, I wasn't satisfied with a short adventure, now,  I'm stoked.

Our chosen route was Brevard- hwy 276 to Waynesville- spend the night- Waynesville 276-215 to Rosman- Brevard.  90 miles=perfect.

 

We rode, we chatted with locals,  took pictures.  Talked about life and families and jobs and time off. 

Even with the full plate, the ride turned out to be just what the doctor ordered.  I'm looking forward to the next adventure!

Fonta Flora Barnburner 50k, 2018

 I signed up for this brand new race, thinking it would be fun to ride bikes with 199 friends. 
I have not been race training and don't intend to, I just want to be fit and ride bikes faster than if I was not fit.  Anyway,  I got to early check in and stopped for a moment at Whipoorwill Brewery to take in the view. 

 I went to Lake James State Park Campground and set up camp, chatted with the neighbors a bit, burned some wood and went to bed. I slept pretty good in my adult treehouse mounted on my truck.   Another camper's dog kept barking periodically at random things in the dark, but other than that, I slept pretty well. 

 Up at the crack of dawn, which is now around 7am.  I love, love, love a race with a 9am start!  That extra hour really helps give me time to eat and drink some coffee without feeling that gross early morning pre-6am sluggishness! 

 I was going to line up at the back of the field to make sure I didn't race.  When I rolled up to the start, my plan was shattered.  People were starting to gather, but there was a ton of room in the front.  Oh, well.  I parked it in the second row and waited.  People filled in a little bit, but not many.  I was sitting in the top 25 before the start..... not a good sign.

We started the race and the pace went pretty high pretty quick. A mile or two of pavement into a mile of slightly downhill gravel and I decided to push the pace.  I was hoping to get in with a decent group for the single track, or at least get on my own and not have to deal with traffic.  Traffic on the punchy climbs would be stop and go and not much fun. 

Into the single track, I found myself at the back of a group of 10, everyone going the same pace as the guy at the front.  Hmm,  not good for me.  I started respectfully requesting passes.  It was working.  I asked one dude for a pass, he said" There are 25 guys in front of us" I said, "That's racing".  I asked again to pass and he kind of move to the right.  As I was passing, he took a couple of strong pedal strokes to match my passing pace, and we almost collided.  I kept calm and moved on and never saw him again. 

As my heartrate went up around 180, I found a good place and settled down into my rythym.  I found a couple of good people to ride with and set the pace. 

Well, so much for not racing.  I had put the effort in and if I slowed down now, I would get passed and have to yo yo for the next 2 hours. 

About 2 hrs and 15 minutes in , I was feeling it and ready to be done.  Still had around an hour to go though.  My nutrition was perfect.  It was so hot and muggy that I was drinking more than normal, but a quick stop to refill with Coke at one of the rest stops had me left with enough fuel that I would not have to stop. 

Still I was in that slump.  On the tight, twisty, punchy single track, I could see people in front and behind me.  I yo yo'ed with a couple of people.  I was following a group of 3.  Rachel was leading.  The guy behind her dropped a chain, the guy behind him, ran into him on the little climb, and I ran into him. Like rush hour on I-26.    I ran up the hill and got back on the bike.  Within a couple of minutes I caught Rachel on a short decent.   Her pace was a little faster than my "I wish I were done pace" so I stuck with her.  That was great, just what I needed to get out of the woods. 

We hit the pavement and sprinted the last mile to the finish:  I wound up 53rd overall, 25th in Master's and 1st (unofficial single speed)!!