Jean Ann and I made it safely to beeeeeeautiful LAS VEGAS last night, after some crazy travel days. Monday consisted of 8 hours in a train (for Jean Ann) or driving (for Sandra) - 800km from Schladming, Austria to Zurich, Switzerland.
After driving in circles for a while looking for our hotel, I finally spotted the Ibis, where I parked and the van spewed its entire contents (luggage, folded cardboard bike boxes, wheels, bike frames) onto the asphalt. Sam (Privateer Project Participant) and I then hopped into the van and embarked on another epic adventure called: "Navigate a minivan through dead end streets, alleys, one-ways, rush hour traffic and rude Swiss drivers in search of a bike box located in a bicycle store that may or may not still be open in an alley somewhere in downtown Zurich without a GPS or a clue of which direction you're headed." The only things you get to take with you are a free map and convoluted Google Maps directions and a co-pilot who is under the weather, has forgotten her reading glasses, and whose strengths do not include map-reading (sorry Sam).
Oh boy. This task seriously was my biggest challenge of the trip (up there with fitting 4 large duffel bags, 4 bike frames, 3 bike boxes, various backpacks and personal items, four grown cyclists, and 10 - yes 10! - wheels into a tiny minivan, albeit the boyz took care of that one with a pro packing job). I honestly thought we would never find the bike shop and I was ready to call it a day, but Sam was insistent. After hitting several dead ends, we finally ditched the vehicle and headed on foot. Success! Transa Bike was still open and they had kindly set aside the largest bike box I have ever seen in my life just for us. Thanks guys! Sam and I then walked back to the car, carrying said box (window man style, except luckily it wasn't made of glass), where we had to fold it to fit it in the Mistubuishi van. Finding the way back to the hotel was surprisingly and thankfully easy, but then it was time to pack bikes, which along with cleaning bikes and toilets, is among my least favourite activities.
The reward waiting for us after that was a dinner on the town courtesy of Pedal Magazine - thank you! However, getting to that point was another adventure all its own. After receiving some very simple directions from the hotel receptionist ("On leaving the hotel, walk straight ahead for 10 minutes and you'll hit the tram line, which leads downtown"), we apparently walked 13 minutes in the wrong direction. I then asked a polite Zurich youth - who even had the courtesy to take out his iPod headphones to help me - for directions. Note, this is the first time I had to ask for directions all adventure! Not bad, I think. Not quite as good as a man, but not bad for a lady.
The Zurich youth instructed us to walk about 15 minutes in another direction, which proved the correct one. I proudly figured out the tramway map and identified which tram line to take. We were in the process of buying tickets for the ride downtown when we realized we did not have enough change between the four of us for four tickets. By this time, it was already nearing 9:00 pm and we were in a bit of a deserted suburb of Zurich, where nothing was open. 24-hour gas stations and convenience stores are not a dime a dozen like in good ol' North Am, so it wasn't a simple matter. By this time, we were bonking and getting hangry. To top it off, Sam was sickly with a nasty cold and looked about ready to keel over. Add in a close shave with a bus and some rapid spiders and it was all I could do to keep the chaos from taking over.
I was insistent that we keep on truckin'. I started begging for change. It wasn't exactly begging, though, because I actually had money to give them in return for the change, but you know what I mean. No one had change, but one lady suggested we head another 5 minutes up the road to an area of town where things might still be open. Note the amount of time we had been walking and the fact that we all had icky post-race, post-travel sensations in our legs. Ugh. We did it, though, and at the top of the hill, a pizza and donair joint beckoned like a warm fire on a cold, cold night. We busted in there, ordered up a pizza margherita (just plain ol' cheese - Sam's fav) and Pete requested a cuppa "heisse Schokolade" to keep him going. I don't think I've ever seen a man drink so much hot chocolate. Quite impressive (not that hot chocolate isn't a manly drink).
After the much-needed sustenance and a transaction that resulted in change, we walked
back to the tram line, successfully purchased tickets, and climbed onto the next tram. Whew. Eric then asked "What do we do with our tickets?" He was a little annoyed when I informed him, that Swiss transit works on the honour system, and ticket checks are random. But at least my conscience was clear and I was able to sleep that night because of it.
Once off the train downtown, it didn't take us long to find the action. A small, diagonal cobblestone alley open only to pedestrian traffic was hopping with music and people drinking on outside patios. It was a fascinating melange of establishments: English pubs, strip clubs, calculator shops, fast food sushi joints, trendy clothing stores, and busy restaurants. We walked the strip, taking in some culture and selected a restaurant with dark wooden tables and a high concentration of younger people, as opposed to the place next door with a clientele made up almost entirely of grey-haired men. Finally seated, we ordered a bottle of Valpolicello and an antipasti platter, while I translated the menu. Ahhh, that meal was incredibly satisfying. Sam decided on - surprise, surprise - pizza margherita! Pete had a paleo meal of "woodcutter" steak and salad, and Eric splurged on a loaded burger with fries and salad, while I opted for the club sandwich, celebrating the end of my season with bacon! We hung out there for quite a while, chatting, decompressing, and reminiscing about the good times had by all on the Canadian Privateer Project presented by Pedal Magazine.
Afterwards, we walked back towards the tram station, imbibed in M&M McFlurries for dessert, and rode the rails back to our hotel, where we dove into bed.
Tuesday morning, we loaded up the free hotel shuttle and the Mitsubuishi with all of our gear and headed to the airport. Sam and I did some airport shopping, where she bought a SIGG aluminum bottle (very Swiss) and we ate Birchermuesli for breaksfast (also Swiss) and loaded up our carry-ons with chocolate (Swiss). I also bought my requisite almond croissant from Steiner Beck (mmmm) and purchased 6 fresh truffes du jour from Spruengli (as in Lindt & Spruengli). The flavour of the day was rose petal. I shared these amazing orbs of delight with my good, chocolate-loving friends Jean Ann and Amanda on the flight and we shared minutes of quiet bliss as the treats melted on our tongues. Like eating roses dipped in chocolate, but without the fiber.... Ohhhhh yeahhhhh....
8 hours later, we disembarked and I had to say goodbye to the three people I'd shared the past two weeks with. People who I'd hardly known at the outset, but turned into very good friends and enjoyable company when all was said and done. Thanks Pete, Sam, and Eric for the fun times. It was a very cool to share the experience with all of you! Another 8 hours parked in TO airport and then a 4-hour flight and finally Jean Ann and I arrived at our hometown of the week - Vegas baby!
As I write, I'm sitting in our hotel room (the Animal, is still slumbering in anticipation of Crossvegas this evening)! I have yet to venture out, but it's a little scary. Already boarding the plane, I felt out of place with my mussed travel hair, yoga pants, and lack of make-up, dangly hoop earrings, and high heels. I'm excited about the upcoming experiences, however, and will look for an outlet store where I can maybe buy a Vegas-worthy outfit. Perhaps I will even attempt to apply some lip gloss and eye makeup? Don't colour outside the lines!
Keep checking up on us for more after Jean Ann rocks Crossvegas and we take on Interbike and the City that Never Sleeps! Over and Out. - Sandra :)
