Time is ticking down. Can’t really believe that I’m leaving in two days. Crazy. I’ll be gone for 98 days. This is awesome. I’m feeling so ready for this trip. It just makes complete sense. This is making the preparation much easier and more simple. I suppose since this is my third winter in Belgium, it should be easier to get ready for.

But there is still the last minute chaos. Checking lists. Looking at what seems like a ridiculous amount of stuff piled in the living room. Trying to sort out wheels and tires. Picking up last minute spare parts. Finding some decent reading material to keep me occupied. Loading up the laptop with movies. Then there is the actual packing. Which really doesn’t take too long. I’m getting quite experienced with breaking down bikes and cramming them into bike boxes now!

I’m not one for reminiscing. But for some reason today things kind of hit me. I’ve come along way in a short period of time. It has been a gradual steady progression. But one that I don’t think anyone who knew me as a racer four years ago would have predicted. But here I am. Going for it. It makes sense to me. I’m not one to do something if I can’t do it all out. So now thanks to that attitude and some excellent guidance, I’m getting real close to meeting my goals. Very cool.

So tomorrow I’m racing in my local Ottawa Bicycle Club Cyclo-Cross series. This is where it all started for me. So it only makes sense that my last race of 2009 in Canada be one that is part of this local ‘cross series. I remember lining up for my first ‘cross race back in 1994 – I had a Specialized Stumpjumper. I had no idea what to expect. I remember being completely exhausted at the end of the race. But I was hooked. As hard as it is, there is something about cyclo-cross racing that keeps drawing me back. In fact after a break from cycling to play hockey and to study taekwon-do, it was ‘cross that brought me back to bike racing. All this thanks to the local OBC series. Another reason to get out and support the local race series – you never know where it will take you.

Guess the moral of the story is to simply keep pedaling and dreaming.