Racing season is upon us, once again

The TX road season starts with Bonnie Walker calling racers to the line at La Primavera

Three weeks ago I returned from Europe, and having spent only 10 nights at home since then attests to the fact that it's travel-to-the-races season again. Not that I complain!

There's something very cool about the anticipation before the start of the first race of the season

Just two days after my return I climbed into the Z4 and drove down to Lago Vista, on the north-west outskirts of Austin. I had been appointed as one of the assistant referees for La Primavera, the traditional kick-off road race in Texas. Just like last year, when I had worked the event for the first time, the weather was just so-so, and signs of spring were not too obvious. Two days of racing action later I headed back home for the six-hour drive, stopping over on Sunday night in Sweetwater to crash in one of the local motels rather than face the final 120 miles in the dark. Better be safe than sorry, I say.

Another late drive home from a race

During my time in Lubbock I managed to go out for a few rides, but not many. My monthly riding total for March will be a paltry 259 miles--compare that to about 2,650 miles that I spent in the beemer!

Zebras in Zephyr

My second road trip of the month started the following Thursday when I headed to Comfort, just north of San Antonio--via Houston! I had decided to make this rather large and unusual detour to see my friend Diane who lives on the north side of this megalopolis. Saturday I headed over to Boerne, where I stayed with my friends David and Priscilla in their beautiful hill country home before being surprised by the annual time change on Sunday morning and almost missing the first start of the TX High School Mountain Bike League race, the real reason I had traveled so far. Oh well, I made it, the race was successful (albeit a bit on the injury-prone side), and I got a chance to chat for an hour with my old friends Milby and Annie who live on the ranch where the race was held, Flat Rock Ranch, owned by another two longtime friends, Jimmy and Terri. Gosh, seems as if I know somebody almost everywhere.

At 11Below Brewing in Houston where music and beer were excellent

Another Sunday night in Sweetwater, and then another long drive, this time to Albuquerque, NM. With two BMX races to happen on Friday and Saturday I left on Wednesday, spending the night with Wayne and Lorane out in Mountainair. They were getting ready to receive their first VRBO guests, and we had plenty to talk about. When I arrived on Thursday in Albuquerque I met my colleague Linda who had flown in from Portland, OR. As it turned out, Linda had never been to this part of the world, and I showed her around the area just a little bit during our time off.

With my new friend and colleague Linda on top of the Sandias, at 25 Fahrenheit

We were able to sneak in a short trip up to Sandia Crest, where it was still winter. What a far cry from the blossoming trees a few thousand feet below! Linda and I also had a look around Albuquerque's old town, and once our work was done in the evening she and I shared a few fine IPAs at places such as Marble, Bosque, and Vicino's. And we call that work?

Sunday night I was back home, and now it is Wednesday morning, my house is clean, any left-over perishables (there were a few produce items) have been taken to my soon-to-depart neighborette, Janet, and I'm almost ready to leave for the airport. Uruguay is calling, so better stay tuned.

Jürgen