I need your help!

Help me reach my fundraising goals:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/solvFnst08/jhornbeck


Thank you all for the prayers and support!

Cycling makes you pretty

Thanks for the photos, Crawdaddy! Thanks for the riding together. Sorry I got grumpy about the green light--crankopotomus musta bit.

Deception

So, last week I mentioned that the 40 mile ride turned out to be 50?

This week the "buddy ride" was listed as 40 miles on the team calendar, with ride-out from Sports Basement in the Presidio. I rode over to SB in 15 minutes, got to the parking lot at 8 am sharp. No cyclists. Runners, but no cyclists. Called Sarah--oh, we're meeting at Mike's Bike's in Sausalito. I had half and hour to get over there. It was foggy and beautiful on the bridge and most tourists weren't out yet, so it was a smooth ride, but I was pushing hard to get there quickly, instead of warming up.

I rode with Sarah, Kieran and Molly to catch up with them, laugh and enjoy the scenery. They appreciated the Team Virgin jersey in all its glory! It was a beautiful ride into Fairfax, Lagunitas, and Samuel P Taylor (by accident). There were a few good climbs in there. Riding a little slower than you're used to has a bit of a disadvantage: more time in the saddle.






Even with my new saddle, this does not feel good. But we made it back to Mike's and they headed home in their cars. I rode on the 10 miles through the gauntlet of Sausalito tourists (it's truly frightening), up the hill, over the bridge, through the Presidio and into home--60 miles.

Last week I put in about 110 miles. This week only about 80. Shooting for a hundred this week, even with missing the team ride on Saturday.

Now, it's time to rest up for 5 baptisms and a youth bonfire tomorrow evening.

Pt Reyes

The schedule said Pt. Reyes, 40 miles.

The reality: Pt. Reyes, 50 miles. Yes, that's 25% more! But I can't complain.





I need your support! http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/solvFnst08/jhornbeck

Training in Teams

Thank you all for your support in my training for the Solvang Century through Team in Training.

How's it going?

This training season kicked off with a bumpy start: some great rides, then a trip to Colorado with no riding, back in time to ride out before getting a cold. I continued training with the cold, until I pushed it too far on a training ride and needed to recoup.

We're back on track, though. Training for time has added components of improving my time in the saddle. This includes making sure to get on the bike every other day, using a heart rate monitor to track my exertion and improve lactic acid flushing. There's a huge ego component of this training--people getting competitive with each other, putting added expectations and it's far more enjoyable when I ignore all of that and just enjoy the ride and celebrate the little victories: feeling healthy and strong at the end of a ride, getting out of the saddle sooner, being able to talk and tell stories, sing and encourage others.

Cycling comes fairly naturally to me. I love it. And it's easy to get lazy. Training for time has added a new challenge to commit to being on the bike and making training a priority.

We can't take being healthy for granted. Riding in honor of the father of a six year old, of the three year receiving chemo treatments, riding in hopes of our children not knowing the heart-rending pain of losing loved ones to these diseases makes every spin worth while. Thank you for your support. I'll be updating here regularly.

Day 7

I never actually finished the AIDS Ride story that I started this blog to document. Day 6 was kind of a low day, with everyone a little quieter and grumpier.

That night, on the beach in Ventura, 2200 people gathered in a circle, each with a candle. It was entry into liturgy. I was tired, I was ready, I so wanted a good cry, and we gathered in a circle with lit candles--and stood. And we simply stood there. There wasn't conversation of prayer, or even simply what the candles might represent. There is an incredible power in seeing that many people in a gathering, especially in a circle. Many people around us were in tears. They held one another. After a little while slowly folks made there way to the water and doused their candles as the waves washed in. As someone who is spiritual, who does liturgy for a living, it was a deeply unsatisfying experience. It was just so close to being a very meaningful, powerful experience for all, as I'm sure it was for some.

Day 7 we woke before light at 5:00 a.m. or so and stumbled to breakfast, me making sure to get my mate in after packing up the tents and duffel bags-everything a bit wet and dewy. We ate our food quietly, took our bags to the big trucks one last time and got on the road. It was a slightly shorter day, but by about mid-day I experienced the first of feeling all those days on the bike. Generally, throughout the week, my body hurt from saddle-sore, sitting in the same position, but Day 7 my muscles were tired.

Ventura to L.A. on the Pacific Coast Highway may be beautiful, but trying it on a Saturday in June was possibly insane. There were cars everywhere. It was a very dangerous ride. There were plenty of near-misses and a couple accidents coming down some serious hills. We had a blast though, and were singing our songs and gaining energy from seeing how far we'd come and the end in sight.

We got into L.A. and made it to the closing ceremonies. Where we waited. We got our t-shirts, looked at AIDS quilts--tears, took pics, and hung out en masse under the Southern CA sunshine, waiting. We "rode" into the final ceremony, with plenty of talks and pump you up energy. It was alright. Maybe I didn't need it. Maybe I was tired. And then that was it! 500-something miles, 7 days, some good laughs and the satisfaction of riding every mile after wanting to do this ride for so long.

Mark had driven down and we dropped Kelly and Shayne at their hotel--I was a little bummed to be missing that night out, but we had to be back for church. We talked and caught up on the ride home--it was great! I got home and slept hard.

That evening at Unplugged, I was so incredibly happy to be there. All week people had spoken about this amazing community, how you'll be depressed to leave it, and here I was in the truly amazing, Spirit-filled community that knew it was about so much more than us, that God is present and alive and there is hope. One of the sweetest toddlers, with a smile that can kill, Isabelle was there that evening, with new baby brother in tow. She was a bit wiggly and at the peace I picked her up-we were both beaming! The little comedian made pirate faces back and forth with me! She stayed happily in my arms as I celebrated communion. This is the blessing of community, of a regular worshipping community in the presence of God and my vocation is truly my blessing! After the service, we got on the bus the Steyer's rented to head down to Wendy's music competition in the Mission, danced and had a blast! Oh, satisfied!

Order for living

At the stewardship conference, I went to a workshop put on by Karen Ward on the new monasticism movement. It's a fairly simple concept of a rule of life and an order for living, but requires community and commitment. There's a local order here in the Mission district. They have a monthly Thursday gathering that seems to have gone dormant. They also have a core group that follows an order for rhythm of prayer and vows.

They're rhythm looks like:
Morning and Evening Prayer
Daily Scripture Reading
Communal Prayer every other Friday morning
Weekly communal gathering
Monthly Tithe
Monthly Sharing of created artifacts
Yearly Silent Retreat
Yearly deinvestment of possessions
Hospitality
Caring for the stranger, orphan, elderly, poor and unaffliated


and they're order:
Service

We account for and leverage our time to serve others through evaluating our commitments and developing a written schedule we share with one another that reflects our most important priorities.
We give priority in our schedules to seeking the presence of God with orphans and widows and people who are hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, lonely or in prison.
We seek to do work that provides income and fulfills our true vocation with dignity and in ways that promote equality, sustainability and justice.

Simplicity

We keep careful account of our personal finances and live a budget that reflects sustainability and intentional conscientious priorities, and we share our income and expense budgets with one another in a yearly members meeting..
We give away 10% of our income; (5% to the common work of Seven and 5% to the charities of our choice).
We seek to live lives that are focused, content, sustainable, and generous. As a general principle we are mindful not accumulate possessions and, once a year, (on the day after thanksgiving) we collectively take an inventory of our belongings and evaluate what to keep, share, sell or give away.
Creativity

We cultivate divine imagination by reading the scriptures daily with our family or household.
We seek to find God in all of creation and our humanity through intentional and reflective interactions with nature and cultural artifacts.
We create cultural artifacts (recipes, poems, paintings, songs, stories, etc) and share them with each other once a month leaving a trail for others to discover and learn from.
Prayer

We begin and end the day with 15 minutes of prayer.
We take an annual three-day silent retreat.
We participate in cooperative morning-prayer the second and fourth Fridays of every month.

Community

We are active in a Jesus dojo cohort.
We participate regularly in Sunday night SEVEN gatherings.
We practice hospitality on a weekly basis (Thursdays suggested) with neighbors, coworkers, travelers and strangers on a weekly basis.
Obedience

We keep our vows.
We meet with a trusted mentor at least once a month to talk about personal growth. (either someone within SEVEN or another local person.)
We seek community discernment on major life decisions (change of vocation, marriage, relocation, personal crisis, etc) through a listening meeting
Love

We seek to meet one another’s needs.
We seek to be reconciled one with another and with all people.
We seek unity, cooperation and goodwill with all groups and people locally and globally seeking God in the way of Jesus.



What would it look like? A monthly gathering? A group to develop a rule? A group to be responsible to? Tell me what you think? Are there people that come to mind?

Re-membering

When I got to Transfiguration in 2001, the parish welcomed me with open arms, parties, and so many new people. I met and quickly connected with Kathy, a former Roman Catholic nun, who left the order to pursue relationship and was now married to Bob and taught at Notre Dame University in Belmont. She was smart and insightful and incredibly spiritual. She was also sick when I got there--the doctor's weren't sure, maybe mono? maybe a virus? She had a low-grade fever for a few months. Finally, she was referred to her oncologist, who had treated her in her previous two bouts with ovarian cancer, which, incidentally, Bob's first wife had died of. Do you see where this was going?

It turns out that fever can be an indicator of cancer. Kathy's doctor knew this, her brother, a physician, knew this, and both were in denial. No one wanted to admit the possibility of cancer again and a cancer that came with fever. She was diagnosed and decided to fight. As she became weaker, I drove her down to her chemo treatment in Campbell and recall addressing my ordination invitations sitting across from her as the drugs made their way into her body. After a couple months of decline, Kathy, who was incredibly verbal about this process acknowledged she was dying, called her circle of family, friends, sisters around her. She was so very present through the process. And Bob allowed me to care for him in his grief, as their house was constantly inundated and he finally had to demand private time with his dying wife.

Kathy asked that I celebrate at her burial office. It was an incredible honor and blessing and it was so very healing. At the reception, nun after nun came up and spoke to me about the joy of seeing a woman at the altar. Kathy was very much present there. A few months later, Bob brought me some of Kathy's old books, including some inclusive scriptures. I have rarely used them, but opened one today and found a prayer Kathy wrote to God. It quickly brought tears to my eyes. These ghosts are gifts. These spirits are alive. There is true joy in this communion of saints!

I haven't missed that end of life "midwifery" in this new job and still feel so honored by the opportunity to be welcomed into people's journeys in profound ways.

Dude

I've mentioned before how often the word "dude" has come upand how useful it is since becoming a cyclist-it takes on different tones and is a looong or short word depending on the situation. Today "dude" is reserved for my frustration and curiosity about google. If I Google my name an untrue, unprofessional post on a website comes up front and center. If I Yahoo search my name, it comes up later. I work hard, in a job that requires my intellect, spirit, and intention, I biked 585 miles, traveled on a pilgrimage, and yet, somehow, this stupid post comes up. It's stupid and boring, really. REALLY. And it was posted by a professional, a woman, and would it have been posted if I was a man? Who knows?

DUDE

So I'm dumb

Yesterday, I was overdue for a bike ride and really wanted some Scoop in Fairfax--20 miles up and 20 miles back. I got a double, that I couldn't finish, but yum--super creamy cookie dough and mint chip. Then I checked the bike, climbed back into the saddle and rode for a couple blocks. Hmm...something's wrong with the back tire. Oh, yeah the tire that had a bit of a hole that I patched over--the OUTSIDE. The patches are really for the tube that goes inside the tire. But, me-brilliant, poor and brilliant. Priscilla really needs a tune-up and tire care. I've had her for a year and ridden over 2000 miles in that time.

There I was in San Anselmo, listening to the hissing tire and trying to patch it over, because, did I mention? I'm dumb, or more acurately I was being dumb. And somehow cut my finger, so it was bleeding everywhere and getting blood and grease mixed-awesome! So I pumped some air in until it was full and decided to keep stopping and filling--because: me+bike=dumb. About a mile later, I pulled over and decided to actually change the tube, since that was part of the problem. Did this part go smoothly? Nope! I was trying to get the tube out and having a really hard time, before I realized the tire needed to be taken OFF the bike to change it. And I was fumbling my way through and trying not to get everything gross. Then I realized I had water, which could wash my cut out.

Finally I was back on the road. Along the bike route in Marin, which is a well-used route, there is a section that looks like a bike lane, but is really a shoulder--how do you know? Oh the giant cars that are parked in such a way that you can get stuck between them and the moving traffic. So I'm biking along and get honked at--People! I beg of you not to honk unless your life or the cyclist's life is in peril. Horns are loud for cars, but cars have metal and glass to deaden the noise. We cyclists, we have no protective metal, glass, and are on two very narrow tires. There's not a lot between us and the noise and us and the road. It may be difficult for drivers to see what we see, (and yes there are some cyclists that give us a bad name) but we're not out to get you drivers. Oh, so this loud horn honks at me--a couple in their 60's in their giant, expensive, gas-guzzling SUV, because I'm a biker, riding outside the shoulder. They open their window at the next light and yell at me about the bike lane as I try to explain that it's a shoulder. A SHOULDER--with cars parked all along the way. There's a whole thing about predictable riding that people don't sense. But I said a prayer for those b's anyway.

So it was forty miles in 4 hours, including the ice cream stop, the tire issues, road closures, and my lack of a brain.

Three-O

Have you ever been so tired you can barely type? This isn't even half as tired as last night, or really this morning, as our heads hit the many beds in this one-bedroom apartment a little after 3 a.m. And now a lovely day with amazing friends--I am truly blessed.

Happy Birthday Mom!

She may not read here but it is my mom's birthday and in honor of that:



Cheers!

Stunning skies, warm wind, and still climbing!

I know it's been months and I need to finish the story of the Ride. Only time for a quick update. Some people have wondered how much riding we've gotten in since the Ride. And the answer is: not as much as I'd like. Usually it's been once a week at most. Leading up to and returning from the pilgrimage it was less. When we got to L.A. we all agreed we wanted to keep up with riding to not lose the muscle, strength, and stamina we had gained. But riding is time-consuming and it's easier to find excuses when you allow them. There was no excuse when we knew 585 miles lay ahead. My recent rides, since returning from England have mostly been great climbs into the headlands, but have maxed at 20 miles and my last ride was more than 2 weeks ago-13.5 miles. Then it was family time and Marma's 90th birthday and then 10 days of sick with a cold.

So, with the gorgeous weather, and the last few long days, I got on the saddle. And rode 32 miles in a little over 2 hours. It is such a blessing to be on the Golden Gate Bridge with a sunset in the clear sky over the Bay. It's so easy to get caught up with life and busy-ness, but the insights and energy and renewal that come with rides are like nothing else. It's prayer-time. So, I'm committed to getting out on Friday.

As the weather gets colder, the days shorter, I'll find a gym--probably the Y, with spinning classes, and get outdoors as often as possible--that's what the tights and riding jacket are for!

Update

It's been a LONG while since blogging or climbing on the bike. Yesterday I got back on Priscilla after more than a month away!

The weather was perfect--so beautiful. What got me back on my bike--knowing how it clears my head, inspires me, and lifts me up.

I don't know if I will do the AIDS Ride again, but it has brought so many blessings, new friends, and new inspiration.

Will finish the AIDS Lifecycle stories!

A tribute to the Rest Stops and the Roadies

Even now, a month after the Ride, everytime I pass a porta-potty and catch a scent in the breeze, I'm transported back to the Ride. In expectation of the ride, I thought I'd find my way behind the porta-potties to a more natural setting, but I found myself far less of a princess than I expected.

There was nothing like seeing the Rest Stop 1 mile sign. It was within reach!

These places marked our day, showed us we were moving forward, held the promise of food and bladder relief,


in addition to comic relief


and gave our butts a moments rest from the saddle.

The roadies, who spent their days setting up the sites, planning the themes and costumes, serving, and cleaning up after us were incredible and worked tirelessly, making the ride so much more fun and easy! They truly rocked! Thank you Rowdie and Cami and all the Roadies!

Day 5

It was a LONG ride... no, really, that's why it's taking me so long to tell you about it. Life hasn't been full and busy and the internet connections lame. It was the length of the ride.

Day 5, or Red Dress Day, is the shortest day on the ride. I woke up groggy, after the whole sleep apnea-neighbor thing. Wake up involves the resistance of opening your eyes and sitting upright. And then putting on the bike clothes and then your sweats back over those--helping you adjust to the reality that you will be getting back in the saddle again. Then it was over to the med tent and had my road rash re-bandaged to protect it, and took my puffy-faced self to breakfast. As I was getting coffee and water for mate--caffeine please--a BIG woman asked "where's your red dress? I bet you look goooood in a red dress." No caffeine: no response. But no red dress for me, just a red jersey. And the sweet excitement at a shorter day--49 miles.

Seeing all the Red Dresses was a hilarious way to start off. Some of the faster, early-to-get-out crowd hung around later than usual, not wanting to get into camp before the gear trucks.


Donald's lovely coordination and big white hat was my favorite!
Hills did await us ahead! My gears were a bit funky and the looming climbs pushed me to bike maintenance at Rest Stop 1. I dropped my bike off with the mechanic and he took care of it while I went to the potty line. It was ready when I was and he said the derailer had been bent--did anyone kick it? Who would kick Priscilla? Or did you fall? Maybe... All fixed and ready to climb on.

The hill was a great place to see the red ribbon of red-dressed riders.


Jennifer, who we knew from training rides, rode out with us that morning, but quickly disappeared. At Lunch, we ran into her and she said "how do you guys stay together?" We all looked at each other and laughed at the simplicity of it--because we choose to, because that makes the ride so much more enjoyable and meaningful for us, because we are looking out for one another. And riding "alone" is kinda boring.

This is the day... the day when it happened. You fear all week that something like this could happen, but never really think it will, but then it happened to me. It's gross, but it's true. I dropped my leg warmer IN. THE. PORTA. POTTY. Ewwww. Ew. Ew. Just on top, but EWWWW, so gross.

Then it was on from lunch and another 12 miles to camp in Lompoc. We were hoping for massages--20 minute massages sounded like heaven. We arrived, parked, and headed straight to the massage tent where the lines were about and hour and half long. No thank you! We'll use the bolsters and stretch. We chose not to take the shuttles into town, again--the logistics, and instead to wash our clothes--did I mention the porta-potty incident??? and get a little organized. It was the talent show that night--hilarious, esp. with our punchy background conversations.

Then it was off to bed. Sweet dreams, until the neighbor's alarm goes off and he sleeps through it while we're all awake.
Two days to go..

What are you waiting for?

I will continue updating you on the rest of the Ride in the coming days.

2005 and into 2006 were incredibly challenging and rough times for me, with much uncertainty, growing, loss, and grief. It was incredibly difficult to maintain a prayer life and my sense of spirituality. Yet, it was also an incredible time of support and care from family and friends. I had wanted to do the AIDS ride last year, but didn't know where I'd be living, what I'd be doing, so I put it off.


I signed up for AIDS lifecycle 5 still not knowing, and realizing it didn't matter.

With the help of incredible donors, we raised over $4000 to go toward the $8 million dollars to care for HIV and AIDS patients and find an end to this insidious disease.

In the week following the ride I found myself wiped out, and then not so wiped, but watching too much t.v., drinking too much wine, eating too many bad foods, and just low-energy. And I realized I was scared to see that this experience, the ride, the training, the conversations, have broken me open, have invigorated me. Doing this with the incredible support of my new congregation, with friends and family always encouraging and asking about it is what kept me going. At some point, I knew I had to do it. And it crept up over time. Each day of the ride was a little closer.

Before beginning training, I was terrified at the thought of a 40 mile ride, had to work hard to climb a hill, never mind my first 100 mile day being in the midst of about 550 miles. And with fellow riders, laughing, and struggling, and just keep spinning. Oftentimes it was silly and funny, sometimes it was just hard and irritating, and then there were the moments of incredible grace. Dartagnon came to mind often. Steve shared that Daphne and Earl, 2 parishioners I adored and said prayers over their bodies, and was a part of their transition, had cheered him on the Ride a few years ago. And so many other blessings. Tears come just reflecting on this gift you all share.

Thank you!

And what about you? What is something you have long been wanting to do? A goal you have set? But it just hasn't been the right time, or the resources aren't there, you don't have the skills or abilities, or you're not ready. Go out and try the first step. Take it bit by bit and make it happen. Ask for help. Say your prayers. See your own strength, your ability. The blessings from such challenges are incredible!

Go Team Virgin

Some of you have asked about the Team Virgin Jersey--not many people noticed or commented. Maybe they were reflecting on their spiritual lives and those of the saints...

One woman did ask, "does that mean Mary is your homegirl?"

I am a goofy, white girl from the burbs, I don't have homegirls, and Mary--not my homegirl.

But no one even asked about the Virgin!!!

How many tons???

It's difficult to convey the infrastructure, the organization, and supplies and support that go into the Ride but hopefully this gives you an idea.

FUN FACTS

Participants:
1,800+ cyclists
425+ volunteer roadies
Oldest: 78-years-old
Youngest: 18-years-old
40 states are represented
7 countries are represented: (U.S., France, Germany, Holland, England, Canada, Israel, China, Spain)+Ivory Coast


Travel Route:
585 miles
55 towns/jurisdictions
8 counties

Food: (this is the part that is incredible)
38,000 eggs
43,500 pounds of ice
10,000 Clif bars
1,000 Luna bars --never saw these, maybe b/c there were only 1000
14,000 gallons of water
2 tons of chicken --this is where I say "ew" I did a vegetarian option but did enjoy a bit of meat, but 2 TONS!!!? ew
2 tons of oatmeal
5,000 pounds of vegetables
350 gallons of coffee
550 gallons of milk
1,000 pounds of pasta

Supplies:
874 portable toilets --these were cleaned out in between site and very well used
18,000 pc's of "butt balm"
1,250 sleeping tents--we picked up our tents from gear trucks and took them to our sites to set up

Day Four

We woke at about 5 or so in Paso Robles--I never carried a clock away from the bike, dressed, ate breakfast-watching the yoga and morning dancers, (watching being the key) packed up, and delivered the tents and gear to the trucks. We got to the bike and noticed we had a few additions to our group for the day--Makoto and Mandana were going to endure to make it to the Hot Springs! We were taking some time getting air in the tires and the air pumps weren't working, but eventually managed. Oh no! I took my gloves out to wash them--they were in serious need! And now they are packed in the gear truck. The bike maintenance people don't have any, but keep an eye out for a shop on the road. Oh well.

This was a climby, rolling hills morning. As usual, the morning's were much easier--butts not hurting too much and we're rolling. We were on a strict schedule to get to and through the stops efficiently and quickly. Wait in the porta-potty lines and someone will pick up the snacks and we'll eat, pee, and roll.

After another climb up--


oh, the guy we're pointing at, just happened to pop into the picture--no idea who he is! He just joined in!




We're halfway to LA! There were about 5 or 6 signs to take pics with, thanks to a very smart person. Shayne shared his iced, blended mocha--SO Good!









(*editor's note: notice the lovely, clean, unharmed left arm on the Team Virgin girl) (okay, clean is a very relative word on the road, but unscathed is a good one)



After our pics, it was an incredibly beautiful descend toward the coast--yeah! Cooler air! Beautiful scenery. Dolphins playing in the ocean. And then a turn a bit more inland.

We had lunch and got back on the road. We were passing Rest Stop 3 and making a "wrong" turn, oops, a little lost... oh no, let's ask for directions! Oh this lovely hotel looks like a good place to ask and refill our water. Oh and if we must--a dip in the hot springs up, up and in the midst of the oaks. What? flushable toilets? Okay. Big showers? Okay. Hair dryers? Okay. The springs were so beautiful and relaxing.



What were we thinking??? Getting back on those bikes? With 20 miles to go, it didn't seem so bad. Mandana was smart to SAG at the next water stop. This one time at bike camp... I stuffed my wet swim suit top in my jersey--kept me cool in the heat.

We road toward camp and stopped for the M & M people, who had fresh STRAWBERRIES--yum! But there was a dark cloud over the occasion with fire trucks, plural, and sirens ahead at the freeway on-ramp. We only knew at the time that a cyclist was involved and found out later a car had cut a cyclist off without enough time to react. We stayed with the m&m people longer, hoping the accident could clear up. One of these generous people was a bit pushy about eating his chips ahoy--not a fave of mine and kept trying to shove them in our mouths--eww. And it did NOT taste like strawberry shortcake. The strawberries were delicious!!

The accident seemed to be clearing and we were rolling--only to find a GIANT, meaning unexpected, steep, and we're relaxed from hot springs, climb. The road was incredibly busy with traffic flying by us. There was more traffic and more rolling hills. Shayne and Makoto took off ahead and Kelly, Kelsey, and I rode together. I entertained us with the mayor story.

And then...dum dum, da DUMB... I got our adrenaline pumping hard and fast when I noticed something sticking out of my back jersey pocket, which were brimming... and lost my balance, swerved and fell into the traffic lane. Kelly reached and yelled. Kelsey was quick to stop and climb off her bike. I hit the ground and immediately pulled myself off to the side. I'm fine, I'm fine. Oh, I think my heart is pumping a bit fast. Breathe. No I'm really fine. Let's take a minute. How much do I love my friends?


This was the moment that made long days all worth it, that made grumpy comments worth every second, Kelly and Kelsey just there with me. I was surrounded and cared for. And Kelsey, who was starting nursing school the next week, checking my wounds. And rolling, still shaken, but rolling. Remember how I forgot my gloves? A little bruised and battered, but a wet swimsuit is a nice cool compress/glove.

And into Rest Stop 4!! Or not--"if you ride in here, you will be sagged." But we HAVE TO PEE!!! So we stopped at a gas station in this strange town. No, this giant store and gas station has no bathroom. Okay, it's only 8 miles. Or is it? We met up with some others at the end of the group and they had found somewhere to use the bathroom. Our butts hurt, this isn't funny. Not funny. But we're almost there....really...really?...Kelsey, how are you doing? The pain in this woman's face-my bladder is more than full. There's a school and a park and bathrooms--let's go. Oh, and BIG men hanging out. And we're three women who have hydrated to the point of pain.

I think we're going to be the caboose--almost. Camp--let's see a dismount Kelly! But watch out for Jen running into you. Shayne was there cheering people in, oh how much he had missed!! We parked the bikes and there's the caboose!

Dinner first, Kelly, Shayne, and Mandana were off to their hotels. Mandana's wallet was lost, I found out on my messages, later, since I was off showering and having my wound dressed, so I could sleep and keep it clean the next day. Too bad I missed Charlie searching through our tent for the wallet--thieves!! Intruders!! Bruised and a little battered, it was time for bed. Never try to hug the paved road--it's not for loving.

Sleep, sleep! Oh, but Rowdie has sleep apnea--snoring, wait, wheezing--BREATHE!! BREATHE!! I guess he'll survive the night. I'm back to sleep.