GEORGIA...here we come

Its been a while......but i am back in the US and have just, today, finished my build up to Georgia. It included Redlands in Cali...starting 2 days after i got back on US shores....needless to say it took me a few days to get back into the swing of things and although the results didnt look great on paper, Sundays race may well have been one of my best rides ever. Vennell and i spent all day off the back after a crash 10km in. Loosing a good 3 mins in the first lap, we proceeded to pick up others falling off the bunch over the following 140km...used them up and spat them out the back eventually only finishing 4.5mins down on the lead group. Not bad for a 2 man effort. Team wise a good result with Burke making the podium in 3rd after reading the break nicely in stage 1.

So now looking to Georgia....a flatter race than last year and including a team time trial, so it should be interesting....im feeling fit and ready and looking for a podium on a stage at least....high ambitions, maybe...but otherwise whats the point of being there...we're not just making up the numbers, like...say...Jelly Belly? (not trying to be a prick....but 1 finisher in Redlands, as defending champions....Colavita and Kelly/Benefits have the right to be a little pissed).

Ill finish with some more family photos from my UK trip. Just so there is no one who feels left out.

Me and my Grandfather....its scary how similar he and my dad are...genetics i guess.

Checking out my bike...not sure...but i think it was the more popular than me.

Me and my dads sister....It was great seeing all these people for the first time in 14years. A lot has changed since i was 10.

It would seem i had a lot of family in the UK who i didnt know. Some of these people had not seen me since i was 18months old.

My god parents...not sure if that is an irony since im not religeous.

So thats it for the moment. I will try and bring you some video diary's from Georgia...maybe feature some of my team mates. We'll see what happens.

Later.....

RETURN TO THE MOTHER LAND....

My first few days in the UK have been a busy time catching up with all the people i can possibly sqeeze in. It has been 16 years since i was last here and as such a long time and a lot of growing up has been done since i last saw many of my family and friends here. So far the trip has been a success, apart from numerous times of being lost while driving around and braving the freezing temps while on the bike.

FROM A MASIVE HOUSE....TO A MINI ONE.....

Kay is an amazing woman and prmarily the reason for my extra time here in the UK. She was the one who convinced me that if i didnt make it back that she might not be able to hold on much longer....she is crazy though, by far the fitest 88 year old i have ever met. Swimming twice a week and walking around town all day...puts many people i know to shame....20yo's included.

Sarah and Les are long time family friends....along with their son James, many of my baby photos include them. It was good to see them and spend a lunchtime catching up.

Here with Kay and Elaine. Elaine has been out to Australia so many times, that she unfortunately misses a personal house visit...i have almost seen as much of her as my parents over the past 5 years.

Off further south today to see my Dad's family and my grand father. Rumours of rain and possibly snow have been circulating....that will surely make traning interesting.

Talk soon........

US TO THE UK BABY.....

So tell me this....how can Vaughters leave me out of Slipstream next year....look how filthy my moustache is!!!!

People will be happy to know that it only remained for the duration of this photo...because im no Zabriskie.

CHECK OUT MY HOUSE...Part 3.

Wanna know what i did on the weekend....well listen to it and that way you dont have to read about it....

Ill catch up with you guys when i can. Not sure how easy getting on the internet will be from the UK. But ill try and get some posts up with some photos of me enjoying myself.

Later