Next Stop 2014 World Para Cycling Championships

I thought I had better write a bit about what I have been up to!  I left Segovia, Spain 3 weeks ago and headed to Toronto via Frankfurt.  I have spent the last 3 weeks not only in full training mode getting ready for the World Para Cycling Championships, but also visiting with family and friends.

I decided to rent my own place to stay instead of bunking in with family as I knew I really needed to focus on my training.  It has worked out beautifully being able to get up and go for some great rides but also have the time to visit.  Although the roads here in the Toronto area certainly bore the brunt of their polar vortex winter!  I have never seen so many potholes and large gaps in the roads!  There seems to be road crews on every single street trying to repair them.  So riding was interesting dodging huge holes that seemed to spring up really fast!

I certainly haven’t done much sitting still while I have been here and it seems like every time I am home it is non stop, trying to fit all the visiting in.  It is always great to see family especially as my parents are getting older and my niece and nephew are growing up!  And I always love spending time with my sister, actually it is always hard to have to leave when the whole of your blood relatives live so far away! I even got to spend time with my Australian niece who is now living in Toronto with her Canadian husband.

Aussie niece and her husband

Best friend Cheryl

Cousins

Mom and Dad

I haven’t stopped in the last 3 weeks and even spent a week in cottage country with no wifi!  I went through a bit of withdrawals but it was probably good for the soul!  I reconnected with the peace and tranquility of the bush, lake and myself.  I reconnected with my family, with friends I hadn’t seen in years without posting on Facebook or Twitter!  It was refreshing.

Lake Scugog, Port Perry

Mind you the weather hasn’t been the best with a week of rain last week.  Canadians are saying that it is the worst summer they can remember for a long time.  The mornings have been about the same temperature as Melbourne days in winter, so riding has been a bit chilly. Of course because I am leaving tomorrow the sun has come out!  But I’m looking forward to meeting up with the Australian Para Cycling team tomorrow in Atlanta and looking forward to racing in Greenville at the end of the month.

Last night was my goodbye dinner that mom and dad have every time I leave, with my aunt, uncle, sister, niece, nephew and friend Carolyn.  It is always sad to say goodbye because I never know when I will be back.

What I miss when I’m in Australia…my family

Love these two, Chris (nephew) and Lea (niece)

I’ve spent my last day having one last ride, packing and just being with my mom and dad.  But I’m all packed now and ready to give it my all at the World Champs.  See ya Toronto, it’s been great!

All packed and ready to go