I was told (forced) by Bobo to, in my fragile state, drop you an email to let you know how things are going here in Bend.  First of all, let me begin by encouraging anyone who hasn’t taken a trip out west to do so ASAP!  I strongly recommend Oregon for anyone who is interested in endurance sports.  It’s just amazing to me the number of people who ride, run, swim, ski, etc… here.  On Wednesday I attended a noon workout at a local swimming pool, and there were at least 50 masters swimmers there, at 12 on a workday! (do you people not have jobs!?!) In addition to being a safe haven for the endurance athlete, Bend’s metropolitan developers must all be cyclists.  I have yet to find a road in or around town that doesn’t have at least one bike lane.  Most have one on each side of the rode as well as a sidewalk for pedestrians. They even have signs warning a “poor roads” that are about as poor as the new Camellia Blvd.  Anyway, it’s been one long workout since I got here.  I have already done 3 swim workouts in 3 different locations ranging from an indoor 50-meter facility to a beautiful 72 degree, crystal clear lake.  The open water swim was spectacular and we only saw two boats cruising on the water.  On Wednesday, I was introduced to what I thought were mountains. Turns out, that was only the easy 32-mile loop around town that the people use as a “recovery” workout.  Yesterday Bobo took me up to Mt. Bachelor and showed me what hills really looked like.  I foolishly attacked the first 2 mile, 1500 ft. ascent and regretted my stooooopidity for the next 50 miles.  The altitude is kicking my butt, and my body still hasn’t remembered how to sweat.  Well, that’s all I’ve got time for today. (we’re going for a trail run) Tell the gang I said hello, and I’ll email more when it happens.  Peace out!

MonkeyBoy