Where Chester Lives

Stardate -- 313356.96.  Your mission:  Drive to Mammoth Mountain Resort and assist in setting up a WatchGuard demo, then continue the drive to Los Angeles.

So, I start this day at 4 a.m, waking up, packing up, and getting on the road by 5.  I needed to be in Mammoth by 11 a.m., but since it had stormed the night before, I wasn't sure of road closures or delays, so I left a couple of hours early.

I'm back!

Okay, that's a cheesy song reference, but it is still true.  I rode 21.5 miles yesterday, average speed 15.8 mph.

I was far more nervous about this ride than I thought I would be.  I rode through corners and on even the slightest downhill with a tentativeness that wasn't normal.  Teresa wants me to continue to ride like that, but I know that riding like that actually causes accidents, so I'm hoping that all of my confidence comes back soon.  Towards the end of the ride, I got more confident.  I'm taking today off (it's Easter), but will be back at it tomorrow.  As most of you know, I had a spectacular crash, and it's taken me a lot longer to come back from that, psychologically, than I ever thought it would.  I need to really ride now...the DeathRide is approaching, and I am rider 2787.  I will complete it.  I WILL.

Some of the things I missed about cycling were:

• The sound of speed.  This includes the hum of the tires on pavement, the wind whistling past my ears, the ever-so-slight mechanical snick of the gear change.
• Wildlife viewing.  I saw 4 deer, 1 coyote, and more birds than I can shake a stick it.  Including this little guy.
• The shared friendliness of almost everyone on the American River Parkway.  Lots of "Good Mornings" and "On Your Lefts."
• Passing another cyclist.
• Drafting off of a stronger cyclist for as long as I could. I asked first, so I'm not a wheelsucker.

Some of the things I didn't miss:

• Soft tissue soreness.  It's not because the saddle is hard, it's because I'm soft.  Gimme a couple of weeks.
• Kamikaze squirrels.
• People with headphones in.  Honestly?  You are on one of the most beautiful multi-use trails in America, surrounded by the sounds of wildlife and rushing water.  Leave your iPod at home. Plus, you don't get to say "Good Morning" to me.
• Starting uphill with clip-ins.
• People who don't pay attention.  You don't just wander across the path without looking.  I expect it from kids, not adults.

That's it for today.  Time to check the dinner I'm making for everyone, and the computer I'm working on for the Corbin's.

Peace.

Okay, so this is likely to be my last Africa/Ethiopia post in a while.  I'm going to do just what the title says.  In no particular order:

• It's not Africa-hot in Ethiopia.  At least, not yet.  Very temperate climate at that altitude.
• I sang a school fight song with Bekele's daughter the night we were leaving.  She accompanied us to the airport with her dad (she missed him).  She's a very cute five year old with good English skills already.  Very cute.  I wish I had a picture.  "Everywhere we go....people want to know...who we ever....so we ever..."
• I got stared at alot.  Not because I was white (i think), although that's rare enough, but also because I am fairly tall, especially compared to local population.  Most of the men are around 5-8 and the women around 5-4.  There are tall Ethiopians, but not many.  I think I saw one guy taller than me the whole time I was there.  That's pretty rare.
• Two girls in a cab yanked open their curtain and yelled at me, laughing and smiling.  They yelled, "YOOOUUUUU!!!"  Not sure what that was about, but it was pretty funny.
• Driving to Awassa from Addis I was alert and observant the whole way.  The drive back, less so.  Familiarity breeds contempt.
• I really, really, really want the Nikon 18-200 lens for my camera.  I spent so much time changing lenses when I could have been just shooting.  Anybody got 700 bucks they'll give me?
• The coffee is so good.  Stronger than any i've had in the US, well balanced, dark, and rich.  I can't wait to roast the beans I brought back with me.
• I wish I had taken my extra laptop bags and computer accessories that I no longer use.  They are hungry for technology and its trappings.
• Dear RIAA/MPAA.  Your problem isn't with college kids in the US, it's with the third world.  US copyright doesn't even warrant attention outside of our borders.  Stop being such massive jerks.
• I am more apprehensive in my food choices today than I was ten years ago.  I found myself longing for the familiar, and this was slightly disappointing to me.
• There are lots of Ethiopians outside of their borders.  I found this out by wearing the national soccer jersey home, and random people would comment.  It is my new "official" travel shirt.
• I am still on an emotional high from my trip.  It was astounding.
• I checked my shoes for bugs every morning.  I don't even do that when i'm camping in Tahoe, although i probably should.
• teenagers are the same the world over.  Small children would be excited to meet us, teens would show a complete disinterest.  Especially the boys.  the girls were more open and welcoming.
• Mirinda is awesome.
• Delta:  your seats are more comfortable than KLM (in coach), but your service was not good.  We got what we needed/wanted, but we could have done without the surly attitude.  Sorry for purchasing a ticket that enables your flight attendants' jobs.  KLM:  your service was impeccable, but your seating in coach was awful. especially the presence of a metal box that consumed all of my foot space under the seat in front of me.  Blech.
• Khartoum's airstrip feels like a rutted out dirt road.  SKETCHY.
• i can't wait to go to an Ethiopian restaurant in the US and compare.
• Morning was my favorite time there.  I felt truly unhurried.

Wow.  I got all the blog entries posted from my time in Ethiopia.  This one is actually "live" on the Internet.  Suuuuh-WEET.

I did get all my shopping done in Ethiopia yesterday...the girls should be happy.  I also scored the football jersey, which I am wearing now.  Shimeles and Bekele thought it was WAY cool that i wanted to get it, and I put it on before I left, to much positive feedback from the locals.  I got comments everywhere I went, including a men's room in Schiphol Airport.  It's a bright shirt.  Harry took a picture, so I will post it as my facebook profile pic, i think.

Speaking of pictures, I took a bunch, but won't be posting them until I get home.  I'm going to create a for-pay flickr account so we can post all of the pics from the four team members in one place.

So, if you look at the title, you'll see that I'm not home yet.  So very close.

Right now, I'm not that tired.  It was a long flight from Amsterdam to here, especially considering that my in-flight entertainment thing wasn't working correctly, so i got only a small subset of the available movies.  I slept pretty good on the Ethiopia-Amsterdam leg (with a one-hour stop in Khartoum), and haven't really felt like sleeping since then.

Bill and Matt are still in Ethiopia, and begin their journey home tomorrow.  Safe journeys, guys, and Godspeed!

Dear Minneapolis Airport:  Caribou Coffee is for good, pay wifi is for bad.  Fix this, please.

To sum up, in case you haven't noticed, this has been an incredible experience.  I feel uniquely privileged to have worked with the men that accompanied me, as well as overwhelmingly blessed to have forged the friendships of my brothers in Ethiopia.  Shimeles and Bekele, you guys are awesome.  The time I have spent with Harry has been outstanding as well, and we are closer now as a benefit.  If you ever get the opportunity to travel to Africa and work for the people there, DO IT.  There are so many areas that you can find to do work, and you are more than welcome to accompany me on my next journey.  I'm hoping that this is the first of many.

This is Coy, signing off.  May all who read this lead blessed lives.

Peace.

Okay, so I couldn’t wait to do my Africa list.  You all know I’m a fan of lists…so here we go.

·If at all possible, travel with a local.  This will save you money.  They will pay more than if it were just a group of Ethiopians, but less than a group of foreigners.
·Travel as light as possible.  Travel clothing that you can wash yourself and hang dry overnight is a worthy investment, and you will have more space for souvenirs in your luggage.  I’ve made it with two pair of pants and three shirts.
·Bring Ziploc bags.  I did not, and I wish I had.  They are infinitely useful.
·Charge your electronics at every opportunity.  Power availability is sketchy, at best.  Use it when you have it.
·Lower your expectations of cleanliness.  You will survive, I promise.  I think I said this earlier, but it bears repeating.
·Be as gracious to the local population as they are to you.
·Try not to take obvious pictures of local people.  If they catch you, they may want to charge you money for it.  Even the children.
·Bring an extra battery for your camera.
·Don’t eat fruits without peels (like strawberries), salads, or local dairy products.  Most hotels have many options, so it isn’t too difficult to find food you will like.
·Bring snack bars.  Clif bars would have been perfect on this trip for mid-afternoon snacking, and I found myself wanting them on occasion.
·In Ethiopia, if someone invites you to a buna ceremony, say yes.  This is a great local custom with coffee and popcorn.  Even if you don’t drink coffee, make an exception this one time.  It’s worth it.

That’s all I can think of right now.  We don’t have any water pressure this morning, so showering isn’t going to happen.  Stop making that face, Teresa.  I’ll get a shower before I get home.