Pooks Canyon

Here is a display of how much Marc, proprietor of Bruges Farm, cares for his guests. When you pull up to the farmhouse you don't necessarily see that there are also 2 cottages so he was concerned the airport luggage deliverers might not find us. So he erected this sign: This sign says "BAKER - We are in cottage 1" (based on my own personal translation) and has been lodged in the top of Jon's bike box prominently in the driveway. Saint Nicholas is just along for the ride, being attached to the only available chalkboard.

We stopped at a gas station on the way back from Diegem looking for snacks. Here were the some of the things I passed over in favor of waiting for dinner at home. Are these Grainy biscuits or Granny biscuits? Either way, I'm not interested. Lunch 4 You- not for me.

Because the unusual freezing cold here was not quite enough to sate our homesickness for the Rockies, we traveled just north of Brussels to the village of Diegem for a nighttime race. The children stayed home with a sitter. We had 2 shiny new light and fast bikes from Blue Competition Cycles and one spare rear wheel. This qualifies as a sweet set-up after Jon raced a World Cup on a borrowed bike with jammed road pedals. Still no wheel box from United Airlines but we hold out hope. In the racer parking area we unloaded said shiny new bikes in front of throngs of Belgian superfans, who circled around the bikes with much interest. They are really beautiful bikes. Later the superfans stayed on to gawk as Jon pulled up his spandex to apply hot embrocation to his thighs and calves. Jon in the start area, trying to decide how many layers he should wear. Here is a photo of Anthony from Brugge, who helped me learn the way of the Belgian pits now that Jon's dad is not here. It was a ...

Yea! The bikes* arrived. Even these cats are happy for us, and since they look so much like Butters and Maggie, I thought I would include them. *Wheels not included, delivered separately at some date in the nebulous future, possibly Monday.

Today I had puzzling gas tank filling experiences. Jon returned from Zolder last night on fumes so when I took Leah to Bruges this morning I noticed the fuel light. This was fine as I had driven past the filling station in Oedelem several times so I knew right where the closest gas was. When I arrived, both pumps were occupied so I pulled in behind one of the cars, American style. The woman at the pump gave me a scolding look, the kind I've seen before whenever I'm about to make what Leah and I call one of my "International Incidents". When the woman left, I pulled in to the newly vacated spot. When the other car left, a car from the front of a nearby line of idling vehicles pulled up to the pump! I had totally cut in line in front of all these people, so if you're ever at a small gas station in Europe, look carefully to see if people are waiting. At this point I realized I did not know how to open the gas door and scurried around looking for the button. Wh...

Pedal issues with the bike prematurely ended Jon's race... no info still on other American racers.

Jon travled to the World Cup in Zolder, Belgium today with the single bike he'd borrowed from Rubens Sport bike shop. Christmas has delayed the new bike from his sponsor a day so this bike is all he has right now. He is running file tread in the front and a mud clincher in the rear and if he flats or has a mechanical he will be out of the race. I stayed home from the World Cup today to wait for the bikes (which the airline said they found and would deliver). When the "bikes" arrived at 1pm I went to the driveway to find two small suitcases, clearly barcoded and tagged with the passenger name "Kevin Biron". I pointed this out to the people, who had driven 100k from the Brussels airport to bring these bags. Are they serious? Apparently they still think they have Jon's bikes so hopfully later today they'll come back with the right stuff. Kevin Biron, if you're reading this, the airport has your bags. Watched the race on TV. Jon started - I saw h...

Last year we took a walk around Bruges on Christmas Day with Grandma and Grandpa so we thought this year we would repeat the tradition. Though all the shops were closed, the restaurants and Christmas Markets were hopping. We checked out Markt Square and Simon Stevin Plein. I had a glass of champagne, every one else had waffles. The kids on a ride at the Arcade in Simon Stevin Plein. Jon and Leah in their matching coats. He's still just a baby! At least to me... My other baby looks so grown up! Here she is sporting a new hat and a cup of Warme Tomaten Soep. We decided to put Axel in the Medieval Playpen again, for old time's sake .

Leah made Nutella (chocolate hazelnut butter) sandwiches for lunch- Axel says chocolate sandwich as he devours his. There are about 15 different kinds of hazelnut butter in the grocery store here.

Axel found one of his Christmas presents early (the ball) and took it outside to play with his new friends.

He found this bike in the barn and it was his steed du jour. A Raleigh rigid mountain bike with "USA Design" . Tomorrow he gets a rental road bike from the bike shop. Soon his sponsor, Blue Competition Cycles...... RideBlue.Com is SAVING THE DAY with a new bike being sent to the farm here. Jon is noticeably more at ease knowing he'll at least get to do some races. I followed clever Kat's advice from a comment in a previous post and contacted United's media relations letting them know I'll be writing a article about the experience and sending it to anyone who'll listen if they don't make those bikes appear asap.

Here is Leah buying a freshly baked loaf from the local bakery's bread vending machine. Note the name, "Manna Matic". Ha!

I set him up with a pre-dinner snack a little after 6, and later I looked over and saw this. Put him in bed and haven't heard a peep since.

Leah is enjoying her new schoolhouse here in the games room. There are several desks for children so Leah had her pick. She chose the one with the view of the sheep... The guests in the other cottage are 2 older couples from Staffordshire so I doubt they will be using the kid's desks. One of them, Gordon, stopped by last night to give us a Christmas card. We had a nice chat and it turns out he is the deputy town crier of Staffordshire. I tried to find out what they "cry" about and how often but this is hard to do without being rude, so I am left wondering.

The Short Version: They're still gone. The Long Version: Today Jon is going to contact his sponsor to see if they can send him another bike. Tomorrow the local bike shops will be open (gesloten on Mondays) and Jon can rent a road bike for training.

Here is Jon getting ready for a jog in his bike kit. With no bikes to ride this is all he can do... Tomorrow he rents a road bike on the airline's dime- just for training. There is nothing available that is "raceable" until they find that bike case or a miracle happens. United hangs up on us when we call, BMI claims no knowledge of the whereabouts of the bike and wheel box even though they found the six other bags that were with the bikes. They can't even tell us where they found the 6 lost bags- which seems like key information for the investigation. There is really nothing we can do but sit and wait. It is a horrible situation, given that we came here for the racing. So we have to just sit around hoping for word the bags have been found. It is suspicious that the shiny wheel box and bike case are the only two things still missing, yet it cannot even be investigated as a theft. Furthermore, the airline's liability is much lower that the actual value of t...

Leah and her frites met mayo. We sat upstairs at "Pickles" - a venerated fried food institution in Bruges - overlooking the market square. See all the delicious mayo Jason? Stopped for a break on the most painted canal intersection in Bruges. During summer this sidewalk is lined with landscape painters and their easels. Not to be confused with ezels, which are donkeys. Leah bought a new overcoat at H&M- Jon says now we can be all matchy-poo, which I think was meant sarcastically. If we all had matching scarves we'd be set.

Leah took this photo of Axel, which I like very much. For Cyndy K (hey girl- good luck with the Christmas shopping!)... This is the deer that visits our patio and eats, I don't know it's name but i do know it seems a bit overweight. I'll feed it celery. Jon looking like a hairy Eastern European house-frau.

On the farm there are many vehicles at our disposal. Among these are the clever pedal driven go carts. There is a big double that Jon and I pedal simultaneously. Given that Jon's bikes and wheels are the only bags still missing (too horrible to dwell on) today his work out was tandem pedal carting with me. Bart Wellens would say, "LMAO," as he ate a pigeon before tomorrow's race in Nommay that we will not be going to. When Leah is not riding a donkey she is riding her personal kid-sized go cart. Axel likes riding in the wagon almost as well as riding in the backseat of the double pedal go-cart while mom and dad pedal. Later I used this wagon to haul groceries from the car to the front door of the cottage. Jon and I accidentally ran Leah off the road. As retribution, while we were visiting the playhouse Leah stole our cart and we had to walk back to the main house. We really deserved it.

On the farm we are staying at Leah has her own personal donkey that she can brush, saddle, and ride anytime she wants. His name is Abraham. There are other donkeys but Abraham is the middle-aged, unlikely to kick you donkey. She can ride him to her playhouse in the woods near the cottage and do her homework. Now that we've got (most of) the bags, there is homework. But the donkey mollifies her. Leah brushing off Abraham while he is hitched next to our cottage. You can't tug the rope to move the donkey- he's bigger than you. But lightly tapping him with the bamboo switch (below) will get him to go. Leah likes to attach a carrot to the switch as a form of passive motivation. Leah and Marc (Proprietor) with Abraham.

Bags are still missing and I just wonder, how can you lose eight bags? One or two I understand but not eight. Geez. Too unhappy to shop, eat chocolate, or drink beer. So I guess I'll just work.

For some reason we come to Europe, then the donkeys come to us. Those of you that follow the blog may remember the Wine, Donkeys, and Hammer Pants post from our final days here last time. This time, the trio of donkeys live outside our patio and are accompanied by 3 sheep and an apparently domesticated deer. Marc, the proprietor, promised to teach Leah how to saddle up Abraham (the white donkey) so she can go for rides. Kid heaven. Leah is learning to not keep her lollipops from Zuiker (hand-made candy shop here) on her bed because Axel can climb up and get them.

We are now at the Bruges Farm though all of our luggage is lost (hopefully gets delivered here tomorrow). The trip has been a comedy of errors since boarding in Chicago. I will spare the details but we did end up on the plane for 9 hours before it took off from Chicago. Torturous, but over now, phew.

Did I mention we have a 2 year old with us? Good thing he is such a good boy. He has received many compliments from fellow passengers. Leah is also being a trooper. The grown woman behind us was crying earlier. If I could go back to the galley for a waterboarding this evening's festivities would be complete.

Time in this plane: 5 hours Net distance traveled: 500 ft Cheetoes eaten: hundreds Portable electronic devices with dead batteries: 3.85 Quality time with complete strangers: Priceless Come on United, bust out the snacks and booze already and we'll have ourselves a partay.

Pilot indicates we'll be spending the evening on the runway as it will be a very long time before we can get de-iced again. Good thing I have my Crash Kart racing game on the iPhone.

We've been in the plane now for 2 and a half hours and are taxi-ing back to the gate to be de-iced a second time. The family is taking it in stride and if Axel sleeps till London he'll be our least jet lagged party as it will be 7 am there.

So the task begins...

Pretty soon they'll call me Pukes instead of Pooks. Yes, that is right. Shortly after arriving in Texas at Thanksgiving I fell ill and managed to get most of my in-laws sick. Endearing. Last year I did the same thing to my in-laws during our Tour of Nevada City gathering. Geez. To top it all off, Jon and Axel and I were all sick (again!!!) last week. Thinking we were over it, everyone came over for a Thanksmas feast on Tuesday and now my whole family is getting sick from here to the Mississippi. They're calling it Cyndi's flu. Just call me Pukes.

Yes, the chicken hat has been overtaken by a flamingo.

Make an Igloo!

Leah and I channeled our inner Martha Stewarts this evening.

Today Jon received the first of his two Blue Cyclocross bikes that he'll be riding in Europe. In case you are wondering, yes, the Blue bike is red and black. This will be his lightest 'cross bike yet and we are very excited about having such a great sponsor.