End of Season
Hey everyone.
A long season is finally finished. I just got back from Australia about a week ago. I was there for my last race as a Navigator, in the Sun Tour. For those who have not yet heard, after eight years on the Navigators, I’ve finally switched teams. Next year I’ll be riding for Sierra Nevada/Kodak Gallery. Now that the season is over I’m made the temporary switch from full time rider, to full time contractor as I build my house.
The Sun Tour was my first time to Australia and the only dissappointment was that I didn’t see any Kangaroos, besides the dead one on the side of the road. The race went well. Phil was 4th overall, and Hilton won the sprinters jersey as well as a stage. I was 7th on a stage and otherwise had a decent tour, despite getting a cold the night before I left. I had a day to explore Melbourne before I left. I spent much of the day, taking in the sights of the city with Phil, who I haven’t seen since Redlands. Melbourne was cool. They’ve redefined the back alley, from a horror flick scene to a great place to hang out and have coffee. The buildings were an interesting mix of modern and old. Normally I hate modern design, but in Melbourne they’ve managed to blend it with classic design in a way that fits. I thought the city was really beautiful.
The big news is my team change for 2007. After a good long run at Navigators, I decided I needed a fresh environment. So far, the Sierra Nevada/Kodak Gallery Team has really good to me and I’m really looking forward to riding for them. The change has left me feeling really excited and motivated for next year. I can’t wait. I’d like like to thank all the staff, management and especially the sponsors of the Navigators Insurance Pro Cycling Team for all the support you have given me over the last eight years.
The end of the season means that I can work full time on my house for awhile. After the problems we had with the other contractor (Steven Florinski is his name. Don’t hire him), we have finally started again. The new contractor has been great. Progress has been slower than we’d like, but that’s due to the weather. He has been out there on week-ends and in the rain, so that we can get the roof up before it starts freezing. Richard McPhee is his name…hire him. I’ve been going crazy with the chainsaw, clearing an area for my wind turbine. In the last couple of days, I’ve cleared about a half acre of forest. I hate having to cut the trees down, but more trees will be saved by not using electricity that pollutes. For those who are thinking of installing a wind turbine and would like to see the one I picked, the website is: www.bergey.com. In the next couple of weeks, I’ll be painting and installing my turbine tower, making a foundation and tower for the solar panels and installing my well pump. If anyone would like to help, you’re welcome to stop by. If you’re serious, I’ll pay you. I need an extra hand out there.
November 4th, 2006 at 6:47 am
Hello Mark and Robyn. Let me know if you need some steel items. I have lots of good contacts in the steel industry. I’m still working 60 hours a week for the past 9 months. Not much biking. Later dude and dudette.
Komar
November 15th, 2006 at 6:28 am
Hey Mark, hope you and Robyn are well.
Been meaning to write for a while to congratulate you on the move. It should give you a chance to ride for yourself a bit more.
On a Markham update, Dan is retiring in January. Scott and his wife just had their first this summer. Jeff’s leg is getting better, he and Nancy ran a 10K ealy this fall.
Good luck as the GC on your house. Looking forward to seeing how it turns our.
Steve
November 15th, 2006 at 6:29 am
Sorry, e-mail addresss had a typo.
It is correct in this entry.
March 31st, 2007 at 11:30 am
We still believe!
Chris, Sue and Trinity
May 8th, 2007 at 7:04 am
Hello There!
I hope all is well for you. I know you will find this e-mail odd but here goes. My girlfriend gave me a card that a man had given her. He went on and on about the fact he did custom wood working on expensive homes. In turn she had asked I check the computer to see if his name came up. You guessed it his name is Steven Florinski from Cobourg. His card now has a company name of Freedom Hill. Could this be the same man? It seems that is is going by the details. I have suggested that my friend hold off until I find out further details. I cannot thank you enough for mentioning your great experiences as well as the bad. Thank you in advance for your time. The good news was reading about you. I wish you the best of luck in everything you do. You are by no means a person who gives up on anything!! I told my friend she would be better off talking with you than with Steven… laugh out loud
Best of luck in all you do. Joanne
January 29th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Hello,
I saw that you had a contractor by the name of steven Florinski, Freedom Hill. Well i was a tenant of his in cobourg at his million dollar home. I came back from vaction to texas in aug. and the power was out ( he never paid the bill even though the money i had been paying him in cash with was more then enough to pay the hydro, propane and satillite for both of us) every day he would tell me that the power would be back on the next day and the next day and the next till finally i had to move out and have been moving around living in a hotel and with my parents ever since. He owes me 1800.00 dollars a
August 15th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Your blog is interesting!
Keep up the good work!