Day 6 - AIDS LifeCycle

Lots of miles and smiles along the way as we crossed 84 miles and are closing in on LA.

 Paradise Pit - the city of Santa Barbara throws us an ice cream party. Wow, was that good fudge and peanut butter ice cream!!

 

 

Our last day of hunting for gear at camp!

 

The candlelight vigil is always so inspiring. Todd and I sat together. Since he was a witness, he will confirm that I should never serve as an acolyte in church but I'll leave that to your imagination!

 

 

 

Day 5 - AIDS LifeCycle - Red Dress Day

 Entry 1

Today will be fun and this day is for all of you following this journey. I hope you are wearing red today or will tomorrow to show your support for this cause. If you do, post your pics as well! I imagine the outfits you see me post will be quite different than back home!

I woke up this morning sore and tired and realizing there's no way I could do this without your support and if this was just a vacation bike ride. It is the purpose that drives me as the other 51 weeks of the year I consider camping what I do at the Hampton Inn!

Wherever you are today, I hope something will make you laugh until you cry. I'll send pictures to help in that effort!

Happy Red Dress Day!

 Entry 2

What a day! The route was short at about 40 miles but was packed with challenges from climbing and cool temps. Had more time in camp to nurse my aching shoulder as I think ice cures just about everything and I only need 2 more days of work from it. But I welcome your prayers for it as well!

There were some creative outfits today ranging in the amount of cloth required. The neat thing is that everyone seems to feel safe to be as crazy and fun as they desire. Even if I would never, ever wear some of the outfits, I'm glad that others felt they could!

It 's almost ironic about the number of religion vs spirituality discussions you can hear while simply sitting in the cell phone recharge tent. Over and over, I hear people say "yes, I was Christian until their judgmental attitudes became more than I could take anymore."  That makes me sad but I get it and see it all the time.

Then I think of the children who sat on steps, in the backs of trucks, in boats, etc cheering for us. The AIDS rides I do and that you support are working for a world in which there is no AIDS. Hopefully, the children will create less judgment and heal the world in that way. We may not see either in our lifetimes - but if we don't act now, the momentum will be lost and it definitely won't happen in the future.

So today's ride was for all of you - because you all do act. You do make a difference through your support and so you are creating hope. Thank you.

Take care and wear your red!

Day 4 - AIDS LifeCycle - Dedicated to Jeff

Fun facts per The Daily Spin Newsletter:
Oldest participant - 82
Countries represented - 18
Avg calories burned daily - 3410
Eggs - 44600
Pounds of pasta - 1200
Gallons of water - 18800
Portable toilets - 1100
Butt balm packets - 18000
The "rubber meets the road" guy welcomes us to the Half-Way to LA point during our 97.7 miles traveled. Woo Hoo! Evil Twins conquered!

 

 

I am honored to be riding for Jeff today. His sister picked today when I sent her the route link. Knowing that, I'm assuming this route reflects a glimpse of him and from what I've seen so far he must have been an amazing person. I hope as you see today's pictures, you will send warm thoughts of Jeff to his family. Here 's to you, Jeff!

I wish I could have captured more of the views for you as they were glorious. It was a long day and I barely made it before the route closed. I reached the last rest stop 10 minutes before closing so I filled my water bottle and kept rolling. I didn't want Jeff's day ending with me on a bus! So instead, I enjoyed a final 10 miles of tailwind. As we rolled into wherever we are tonight, children waved, held out their hands for a high-five and one little girl held a poster that said "believe in yourself!" A couple of kids asked what we were doing and a rider answered "raising awareness about AIDS." I often think about how different I hope the world will be if our children don't have to deal with AIDS. As long as there are children, there is hope.

The AIDS Lifecycle has, in the course of its history, covered 20 million miles by its riders. This year, we raised $14.2 million to buy days of life. We were not able to buy days for Jeff but he inspires us to try to do so for others.

Don't stop believing!

Hugs to Jeff's family tonight.

 

Day 3 - AIDS LifeCycle

 Made it through Quadbuster (1.3 mile climb)! Had a crash with a rider who dropped his chain and hit his brakes with no warning. I was thankful for the guardrail but those things don't have cushions! But I'm good and will probably just have a few tattoo marks by morning. I was SO happy to tackle Quadbuster as I knew it would be tough for me. So today is for all of you facing a challenge that will take about all you have inside of you. Even if you crash, keep on rolling 'til you see the crest! Whatever it is, you can do it!

 

St Luke's Church opened it's property for a rest stop and opened it's doors in case we wanted some quiet time. It was so nice to have a few minutes to pray and reflect and refocus on what this is all about this week. However, I do believe that God has a sense of humor and understood what I really meant when I said "And Lordy, Lordy - I ain't forty no more!!"

 

 

There was a rest stop at the Franciscan Mission San Miguel - founded in 1797. Dancing "Barbies" are in the garden, a couple of friars in the courtyard and a beautiful sanctuary open for us to reflect. I signed the prayer/guest book and thanked the mission for supporting ALC riders and thanked God for the lives of those I'm riding for -the ones I know and the ones I don't. Now THIS is a church.

 

We passed through Bradley, where the tiny town (population about 120) serves lunch as a fundraiser, Covers activities for the kids for a year!

 

As we parked our bikes, we are each given letters from the school we helped and enjoyed at lunch in Bradley. 

 It was VERY hot today so we tried to follow the medical team's advice:  Drink and pee or get an IV.

Tonight we have traveled 257.3 miles and have 284.7 miles to go. Tomorrow we face the Evil Twins and then will be half-way to LA!

 

 

Day 2 - AIDS LifeCycle

Mother Nature definitely made it up to us today as all the vets from last year remembered the awful rain out. The route was good. Made it through the 108 miles. Pretty exhausted so not much I can say tonight. Hope you enjoyed the sights with me! 

 

Day 1 - AIDS LifeCycle

What a day. The opening ceremonies were moving as always. The morning was cold and cloudy and I was dressed for hot and sunny but the sun finally came through to show us an awesome California. We rode about 82 miles today. The first part was tough and the last half was pretty flat. As I rode into Santa Cruz, a lady was holding a sign with a picture of a handsome man. I pulled off the rode, we exchanged a hug and I asked if it was her son. She told me it was her brother. I felt like a dagger hit me when she said that. I adore my brother and it was obvious she adored hers. His name was Gary. Last year, I rode by the people holding signs like that and swore I'd never do that again. How special she made today. He may have died in 1995 but not in her heart and now, not in mine.

Tomorrow is 108 miles. One day at a time!!

 

AIDS LifeCycle - Day 0

The journey begins. Carol dropped me and Jamie off at the ATL this morning. While standing in the baggage drop off line, a lady was staring at my bike box. She said "Don't you need some air holes in there?" At first I was touched -finally someone else recognizes Jamie's almost human relationship with me! Then she said "what kind of dog is in there anyway?" Only then did I realize she thought my mighty Tiger paws were puppy paws for notifying handlers. Oh well.

 The AIDS LifeCycle love bubble kicked off with orientation day. I was relieved to see Jamie getting on the plane yesterday so I knew I would have the essentials - a bike, shoes and helmet. Everything else could be dealt with later.

A met up with a few of my new family members hanging in the hotel lobby and shared a cab around 10 am to the Cow Palace to get our bikes assembled, see safety videos and get our numbers and stuff. Amazingly, one of the first people I saw was CJ, my tent mate from last year. It was great to see her. I made a couple of new friends in my 2 hour line to get my bike assembled - from Houston, Tx and Seattle, Washington and India. Then I connected with Todd and that just made everything okay.

The safety video is more than that - it is also a reminder of why we do this, that the funds we raise change lives and save lives. It is a reminder that while 51 weeks of the year I am an accountant - this week I am a rider - just like my other 2200 riding family members. I am reminded to take care of myself and also to take care of those I am around. I am reminded that I belong . . . here - for this week. I am reminded that creating a love bubble really isn't that hard. It just requires seeing everyone on common ground - neither above or below the status you've given yourself and caring about their well-being as well as your own. So simple - yet we screw it up almost every day in "the real world".

This week I am a Rider. I really do belong here. (Except maybe in the porta-potties - which I cannot avoid until next Saturday!!). I still do not think I belong there!

You belong, too. Be there this week. Wherever it is - really, really be there.