Yeah, I know, I am probably breaking some blogger rule by combining the last two days into one blog but that's what happens when you don't take notes!
Day 26 - Hermosa to San Clemente
Miles - 65.13
Day 27 - San Clemente to Pacific Beach and our Families
Miles - there's a story there……at least 57.37
Elevation Gain - 1,912 feet
Day 26 - Joey and Galen joined the team.
Joey is a friend we have made through the various PD events we have attended, participated in and volunteered at. He works for Medtronics and is very active in the PD community. Joey - thanks for riding with us and for all you do for those impacted by PD. We greatly appreciate your dedication and encouragement.
Galen is a long time family friend. He rode with us in 2011 when we left Phoenix and headed to Aguila. A few weeks before left for Canada this year, I asked him (actually his wife Vera) if he would like to ride with us again. He said yes so they joined us in San Clemente. One day while he was riding with us I asked him, "have you ever ridden back to back 60+ mile days?" He said, nope. The farthest I have ever ridden was with you guys back in 2011. Incredible - he owned the miles he rode on these last two days. Galen - thanks for joining us again and for yours and Vera's continued support of us, our family and our Cause.
Day 27 - Our Last Day riding…..this time.
This is it, the last day of this section. I have been working towards this day for a year….and yet, not wanting it to come. Today means our adventure is over for awhile. I won't get to spend all day with my Dad and Brother - like we have for the last 28 days. However, we do get to see our Mom, Sister and nephew. We get to see our friends and family who have been cheering us on for the last 27 incredible days. Yes, it is bitter sweet.
We had some more special guests this day. Mom, Eldon, Cidney and Pat and Charlie
Cidney and Pat and Charlie all rode with us the full day. Dad and I met Cidney in 2012 when I had the opportunity to ride with the Davis Phinney crew in the Ride the Rockies (RTR). Cidney has PD and was there because a friend of hers was riding on the team. Cidney and her husband Pat took a day of their vacation to ride with us. They are a great couple and like us - were not about to let PD stop them from living. Pat was training to ride in this years RTR where I know he did well. Humbling.
Charlie met up with us again. He is the guy who found us on the road early in the ride and sold us the Body Float seat posts. Charlie met us at the church in San Clemente with donuts and coffee and a smile. It was good to see him again and it was very cool for him to take time out of his busy schedule to ride with us. Thanks!
We met up with Mom and our friend Eldon near Pebble Beach. They both rode with us the last 20ish miles. As you know, Mom can hold her own on the tandem. Her and Shannon are incredible team on that bike and 20 miles is a warm up for them. Eldon - this guy hasn't really rode a bike in a few years. He is one of the many friends Dad and Mom have in Phoenix who provide them with incredible support, encouragement and friendship. Eldon was telling people he was going to ride and I think most thought he was blowing smoke. He wasn't, from my understanding - he rode those miles like a champ - with his red hair flapping in the wind.
I say from my understanding because Keith and I missed a green light the others made it through and therefore missed a turn. We ended up somewhere in San Diego. Thankfully, we had our phones and Keith was somewhat familiar with the area. Just when we thought we had climbed our last hill…there appeared another and another….and another. Keith and I added about 10 miles and 500 feet to the final days route. BUT - we ended up at boardwalk ahead of the rest.
The last few miles were on the boardwalk with all the Memorial Day beach traffic. Incredibly, I didn't hear anyone get mad at us for bringing 10 bikes through the crowd. We had several look at us and smile and others just look (as they were feeling no pain and probably couldn't focus on us.)
It was awesome to be greeted by about 20 of our friends.
We then headed back to our favorite spot on the beach - the Pink Cottage where we cleaned up and ate…and ate…and ate. Thanks to Jodi, Cameron and Renee for the great meal. I don't think I ate that much since the seven pieces of chicken in Paso Robles.
Thanks to all who joined, cheered and met us on Day 27. You are awesome.
Congratulations to Pops and Carl for showing everyone with PD - Parksinson's Won't Hold ya!
No comments:
Post a Comment