My Big Adventure: I am on the move, but not in between counties!

Sometimes the biggest adventures happen in small spaces, not faraway places. Change and growth take a different form for me when I am staying put in one place instead of exploring new ones. At the moment, I am enjoying settling down, again, in Santa Cruz, California, where I have lived for 16 years. I moved out here from my native Washington, D.C. I landed here, by chance, when I was 23, with just a backpack, and have stayed thru my 20s and 30s - soon I will be 40! During the past 13 months, I have moved seven times; on June 1, I found a home I plan to stay in for a while.

This is how my latest adventure looks: going inward, reflecting and writing! Staying put is a different kind of trip!

Friends and colleagues remain eager to hear about my travels to Brazil and Peru (August-September '08) as well as rafting in Idaho and road biking in Montana (last summer). I have photos to share and stories to tell from those amazing experiences. Now that I am settled, I will be able to make that happen, at last!

Please stay tuned to my blog!

Biking on the Brain: 3 events I signed up for + Bay Area Mt Bike clinics by SLaB

Karen feels the love from the furry mascot at Sea Otter Classic 2008 in Monterey's Laguna Seca Recreation Area.

Lots of fun bike events coming up fast! Here are 3 I am doing in 2009!

My next blog post will be about the Women's Dirt Series! April 25-26 in Santa Cruz (and other dates/locations in U.S. and Canada).

1. Thursday, - Sunday, April 16-19, 2009
Sea Otter Classic is just around the corner. For the first time in many years, I registered to race the women's cross country event! (Saturday at 8:30 a.m.). Wish me luck. Or better yet, encourage me to get off the computer and onto the trails more! I have been riding on Saturdays with Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz MBOSC at Wilder Ranch/UC Santa Cruz and some Tuesday nights with Mike Evans' crew.

2. Sunday, May 17
Strawberry Fields Forever Road Ride
This is a fantastic event - celebrating its 20th year this summer! I have registered to ride the 65 mile course - there are also 25 and 100 mile options. It will sell out fast - it does every year! Hosted by the Cyclists Cultural Exchange of Santa Cruz. $40 well worth it.

3. Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3
Coolest 24 Hours Race (Mountain bike)
I average one 24-hour mountain bike race a year. Always as a women's relay, no racing solo for me, thank you! The past two years - or is it 3 now? I have been a member of the Go Go Go Girls team and we have attended 24 Hours of Adrenalin race in Monterey, south of Santa Cruz an hour. We are changing it up this year and racing at Cool, which is near Sacramento in Northern California. I have attended the race before and it's a great event - 700 racers max, profits go to cancer research.

A handful of the Go Go Go Girls Team - Henri, Winona (team founder), Rita and I - rode together at Wilder Ranch State Park.

Check out SLaB's Women's and Coed Bike Clinics - For riders + those who'd like to start riding!
Beverly Garrity of Cupertino, California, is the women behind SLaB (Ride Strong Light and Beautiful!)

STRONG, LIGHT and BEAUTIFUL has exciting new clinics and events on the calendar!
No charge to be a Strong, Light and Beautiful rider: Attend an event or purchase a jersey and/or merchandise, ride with us, and you are SLaB! (Website to reflect this by end of March).

CO-ED!
There are men out there who haven't been riding in years! Pass along these dates to those guys you know that are ready to get active on the trails, or haven't felt stable maybe on their road bikes.

GROUP RIDES
We will continue to offer group rides as the daylight increases. We plan to join other clubs group rides and events and trail volunteer work throughout 2009.

APRIL 11
Skills Clinic and Ride - CUPERTINO, CA
Beginner, Beginner-Intermediate and Intermediate!
Go thru basic skills and mechanical tips for your bike - 9-11a.m. $60
Then ride up the fire road to access Freemont Older's trails for on the trail assistance and testing out our new skills!
11:30-1:30pm. Enervit bars and energy drinks provided. Bring snack and required to have water bottle or hydration system for ride.
If you need a bike or want to try a full suspension or hard-tail GT, 3 mediums available first come first serve.
County Parking Fee not included.

MAY 16
Super Beginner/Beginner clinic - CUPERTINO, CA - 9 a.m.-12:30. $50 pp
Haven't ridden in years? Want more stability on your road or hybrid or mtn. bike?
Learn balance, weight distribution, cornering, braking techniques to encourage you
go ride more challenging trails and roads.
Bikes available to use - limited sizes and qty.
County Parking Fee not included.

JUNE 13-14 (price will be group rates, a great deal! Weekend of a lot of fun!)
2 nights 2 days in DOWNIEVILLE, CA
Beg-Intermediate riders
Shuttles with expert riders to join us on rides. They will assist, coach and/or guide us for an enjoyable descent!
Yuba Expeditions Bike Shop http://yubaexpeditions.com/
Carriage House www.downievillecarriagehouse.com

"I am Strong, Light and Beautiful while riding my bike"

Here's Bev taking a sandy, downhill turn during a clinic she organized that was taught by Olympian Jill Kintnter at Sea Otter Classic 2008.

Tour of California Today - worst weather possible!

7 a.m. Monday, February 16, 2009
Santa Cruz, California
It's the day I have waited for at last! The Tour of California bike racers, including Lance Armstrong and the world's best are coming to Santa Cruz. They are expected to arrive at the finish line in downtown Santa Cruz between 1 and 2 p.m.

Never mind the torrential downpour! I am putting on long underwear, a pair of bike tights, a pair of insulated pants and rain pants overtop - my rainboots and many layers on top. I think that should do it for my walking and working in the rain from 7:30 a.m. til 2 p.m.
Yowza!

If I think it's bad for me, just imagine for the 136 racers who are competing in dangerous and wet conditions!

The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported:

The biggest storm of the season struck the region Sunday as high winds and heavy rain contributed to a fatal traffic accident, downed trees and power lines and triggered mudslides and road closures countywide.

The National Weather Servi ce reported a 24-hour total of 1.46 inches of rain in Santa Cruz as of 4 p.m. Sunday, while winds had gusted to 25 mph. Sentinel weather watchers reported significanthigher rainfall totals in the 24-hour period ending 6 p.m. Sunday: More than 4.5 inches of rain was reported in Boulder Creek, while Ben Lomond saw almost 3 inches.

Wish us luck here for the Stage 2 finish!

USA Election - I am still celebrating Barack Obama's victory!

This video clip of Barack Obama dancing, briefly, on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show makes me feel the joy of electing Obama President of the U.S.A!

(This clip was taken before he won!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsWpvkLCvu4&NR=1

A photo of friends new and old on election night in downtown Santa Cruz, California!