Colorado

This is the first post of my move to Colorado and will include some background. I have started a 2 year masters program at The University of Northern Colorado in the Social Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity. The semester is 4 weeks underway, my move out here was very successful. (see Pics) Liza (yes my girlfriend spells her name with a "z" where most spell it with an "s") drove out with me in my recently purchased used 2004 Golf TDi.
For the 1600 mile trip we got 42 miles to the gallon of diesel, with everything I owned in the back and 2 bikes on a rack.

Our trip from Ardsley NY to Fort Collins CO was tons of fun, unfortunately this trip was more business than pleasure with school starting and a rush to get life organized in under a weeks time. However, there were a couple of pit stops. Our first break to get out of the car was highly debated. We derailed our plans for a straight shot from western Pennslyvania (where we stayed at a luxurious Motel) to Chicago with a detour to.....NOTRE DAME! Liza persuaded me that with one of the richest academic and athletic histories of any college in America, it would be a worthwhile stop. It was. Touchdown Jesus and All. However, I will add a conciliatory note that in the 15 minutes we were there and the 15 minutes off the highway the rain storm that we spent 3 states out running didnt make any pit stops and was waiting for us as soon as we got back to the highway. Still worth it.

The second stop worthy of noting was to visit to my friend from Keene State College, Brandyn "Supe" Suprenant who lives and works in Chicago. My first time to Chicago, won't be my last, but it definitely will be my last that I spend 5 hours sitting on the highway on the way into Chicago. Supe and his roomate were a gracious hosts and took us to a funky restaurant right down the street from their house.

The next place was a I-80 Worlds LARGEsT TRUCK STOP! This was actually very much fun. Even the people that were using the rest stop seemed to fit in as props with their fake mid-west accents, plaid shirts and "authentic" cowboy hats. I picked up a couple of "wiener" post cards and Liza and I had an incredible photo shoot on the full size semi that rotates in the "Chrome" wing of the rest stop.

(side note: Liza lobbied with a cogent argument to stop at THE Field of Dreams in Iowa, but it was 6 hours round-trip out of the way and it just wasn't happening for us, with 13 hours drive left to push into Colorado through Nebraska and Cheyenne, as it was we started to get a little Loopy at the end.)

Another noteworthy aspects of the trip:

- Immediatly we started a game to make the highway miles more fun. First person to call out the following things received a point per:
- Each states' license plate ( we saw 47 missing Louisiana, West Virginia, and Rhode Island) , A sign for Dairy Queen (which Liza has an incredible eye for), the word "Truck" on signs, any red barn (this was a mid-west addition, go figure) and finally a point per each bike that was attached to a trailer.

- Also, we almost got swept away by a twister half way through Nebraska, not really, but almost.
- There was a giant sign for an Adult bookstore RIGHT NEXT to a GIANT white wooden cross. I dont think the farmer that owned all the land next to the highway was pleased when the adult superstore moved in. It is a funny picture for us though.

- I know half of The State Song

- Bye Bye Miss American Pie

It was a great trip that ironically ended with us stopping for pizza in Fort Collins at a NY themed Pizza place that everyone in Fort Collins claims to be great NY pizza....I've had better. But its Great to be in F.C. anyway.

CrossFit Log: RX's 5 Rounds for time of 95# Thrusters/ 95# Sumo Dead Lifts 15x each. Since I am phasing back into CrossFit I altered ti Thrusters with dumbells of 35#/25 for the last 4 and Sumo Deads of 85# which was plenty. I finished in 15 minutes after a true CrossFit Warm up.