Warming up and getting antsy...

Well our internet service finally works at the apartment. Only took three weeks delay. Good job UND. They still charged us of course. Anyhow, it works. The weather is getting significantly better around Grand Forks. Not flying-wise, of course, but moral wise. It’s not bitterly cold anymore, and Spring, or at least fake-out Spring (North Dakotans can tell you all about fake-out Spring) seems to be easing into place. I’m working on the Lemond (on our sweet new Park workstand- thanks Edward and Chris!) to get it ready for action once the roads dry. It needed a new freehub bad after the past 3,800 miles; it had the stock cheapo freehub that comes on the old Rolf Vectors (not a very nice wheel- flexy as ever, and scary on fast corners- good thing I’m not a racer). Someday the wheelset will be replaced, but for now, just the freehub. I’m getting quite excited for the change in seasons. Every Spring is like coming out of a hibernation cave for the locals of my town. Winter is just so very nasty here, and you spend most of your time inside, which obviously gets stuffy and causes much outdoor itchiness. Yes, a few winter adventures happen, but the frequent fresh air starts soon when the sun decides to make it all the way up into the sky, rather than follow it’s half-hearted arc across the southern horizon during winter. My friend Chris seems to be getting the outdoor impulses as well, and if I’m still around the area in a couple months, we’ll have to scheme up some trips to the North Shore of Lake Superior. I know Alison would like to use her pack and road bike more frequently too. The Lake Itasca trips should get somewhat regular as well, being as it’s good backpacking only two hours away, and of course the road bike laps on the park Wilderness Dr are always quality. Mmmm. I shouldn’t get myself too riled up though, there will still be a bit of waiting. But not as much, Summer is closer.