University of Georgia, Rock Eagle 4-H Camp, Eatonton, GA - adjacent to the Oconee National Forest
 |
| a Sunday morning road scene (yellow jerseys worn by top ride fundraisers) |
Beautiful and serene setting on a lake, in the middle of a forested area...4 bunks to a room in each cabin, riders and crew sharing space and all trying to get a good nights rest before another early morning awakening. My knee pain has not subsided - even with a night's rest - sigh! I decide to dress to ride, then eat breakfast before checking with the doctor volunteering on the ride (Emory ER/trauma doc). He empathizes as he had to quit a triathlon event recently with a knee injury but he says that my tendonitis will not improve without R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, elevation) and he's doesn't want to release me to ride today :(
I grudgingly agree that it's better than if I had suffered a more serious injury to the ligaments or joint capsule oh well...
 |
| Saturday night knee-icing |
I end up riding with Colin, who's the SAG (support and gear road crew/vehicles) coordinator for the ride. He drove a SAG vehicle last year and stepped up to lead the entire road support effort this year, coordinating an intricate symphony with the @12 vehicles on the road, covering every stage of the ride, with a 'caboose' vehicle situated at a rest stop until all riders have passed through or have been accounted for; then that previous stage is closed and all vehicles move forward, shepherding riders to the mass-up location @ 2 miles from the finish at Emory University. Colin's 'day job' is a world away from volunteering on an AIDS fundraising ride (as can be said for most of us!): he's a patent attorney who also has an engineering degree - whew! I am impressed by his calm, positive demeanor throughout the day - whether he's stopped to check on a cyclist alongside the road or checking status of his SAG vehicle drivers and moving them into more optimal positions/locations - and I remark on it, as I've had many different experiences on my AIDS rides since 1997, so his behavior is very much appreciated by this currently-off-the-saddle cyclist!
 |
| icing at mass-up location in Decatur, GA |
 |
| riders escorting riderless bike |
 |
| watching riderless bike ceremony |
I ask Colin to drop me at the mass-up location whenever he needs to, so that he can free up room in his car for other riders, if necessary. The volunteer crew at the bike corral gently hang my bike on the rack and make me an ice bag, while handing me a wrap for my knee, so I wrap it, apply the ice and stretch out on a bench in the playground area, waiting for my friends to ride in and hoping to grit out the short ride to the finish with them.
 |
| police escort for riders arriving back to Emory Univ |
 |
| with Tracy at finish |
 |
| Yes - this I believe! |
So, this year's ride effort is complete, although I'll welcome donations throughout the year!
Mary's donation page - AIDS Vaccine Ride
I'm so very grateful for my team of ride sponsors who have trusted me to be a good steward for their contributions throughout the years and know that I support a ride model where the donations go to the beneficiary - period. No surprise costs, or add-on expenses for supplies, etc; I pay any costs associated to my participation - bike maintenance, training, travel, lodging. No donated monies are used for other than to end AIDS so that, some day, I'll get to ride for the pure enjoyment of it.
Until then, I'll keep riding and I'll have my beloved road angel Peter in my heart to cheer me on; no hours-long climb up a mountain pass or painful injury even comes close to the suffering that my brother and too many others had to endure, so please stick with me...with hope for all!
Thank you SO much.
No comments:
Post a Comment