livestrong signage

livestrong signage, originally uploaded by .solo..

Oktober & fall: transition of colors, slow rolling clouds and wind. Also the re-emergence of cycling season and charity ride events. This weekend it was the Livestrong Challenge (previously Lance Armstrong's Ride for the Roses before it expanded to multiple cities and expounded in its charity fundraising goals). Livestrong always surprises in its scope and appeal: people from all over the US and even a few international participants (Italian, Spanish) come to Austin to ride and now run to support the fight against cancer. Livestrong along with the Hill Country Ride for Aids (my favorite spring charity ride) focus on the survivors, the cause, and the participation of a wide variety of riders.

A perfect weekend of clouds, headwind & hills. I rode with a team of very good friends (Anne, Jess, Kristi & Amity) and started out early to get some miles in before meeting them at rest stop #8 (65 miles of happy hills for me; 45 amazing accomplished miles for them). Flickr has all photos but suffice to say it's extremely rewarding to pedal through beautiful challenging hills while thinking about those one rides in support / in honor of (for me it's my Aunt Kathy who went through breast cancer and had her last chemo session last year). Seeing that there are people who conquer the disease and then continue with riding and living strong (as the motto says) gives strength to those who are faced with the seemingly insurmountable challenge of cancer.

It's a bit motivating.

Kartoffelsalat

Kartoffelsalat, originally uploaded by .solo..

oktoberfest - a cultural annual tradition of friends and merriment with the finest of foods and music (all kinds of polka; an acquired tasted, yes).

kartoffelsalat is a family tradition I was raised on (I was completely unaware of the yellow mustard based potato salad of the south and was perplexed as to why they were identified the same at friends' picnics and at restaurants). For everyone knows that all good potato salads have bacon, onions and a cider vinegar sauce as their base.

regardless; I have now taken this familia dish as my own and present it proudly every oktoberfest for friendly enjoyment and appreciation (with tasty tweaks added over time).