Emory University entrance

I'm in Atlanta...

Staying in a medical school dorm at Emory University...what a beautiful campus!  The Emory Vaccine ctr is the ride beneficiary...will probably meet some researchers at the rider/crew dinner tonight.
My bike is all re-assembled and ready for ride-out @ 7:30 AM, Atlanta time, tomorrow. 
A special shout-out to my friend Carson tomorrow...wishing you smoother roads and tailwinds on lifes journey, Carson...no wrong turns either!

Ready to fly!

My bike is in that bag...ready to head to Atlanta tomorrow; more to come...

Ready to pack...

My bike is clean and ready to be disassembled and packed.  The top tube and down tube have couplers built right in, so that I can take the frame apart and pack in a special case that is neither oversize nor overweight. It gets checked as regular baggage :)  
I'll add that pic later on...

Mt. Rainier and sun!

Last weekend I enjoyed Springtime weather for my training rides-  finally!
Sunday's ride was the longer one, enjoying sunshine throughout-  aahhh!  South of Seattle and all the way down the Kent valley, right through the crosswalk where I was hit 3 years ago, continuing through Sumner and Prying where Mt. Rainier provided a magnificent backdrop-  wow!
1 week from today I leave for Atlanta...final prep and packing list begins...

a sunny training ride - yea!!!

Ahhhhh, how lovely to have sun and warmth on a training ride - finally!   Spotted 2 juvenile deer between the trail and river on the outbound loop; it was @ 10AM, so it seemed kind of late for them to wandering, but it was a treat to see while riding past.   Further south, before we left the trail, there were 2 bald eagles watching the goings on from a treetop; then 4 more flew above, gliding nearby, so that we had to stop and enjoy that regal sight.

Busiest spot of road?  Most dangerous part of the ride?  Why, the Starbucks parking lot and drive-thru access points, of course!!

Only 2 more weekends to finalize training, before I pack my bike and head East for the AIDS Vaccine ride 200 - weekend of 5/14 & 5/15.
 I'd appreciate your support in my fundraising efforts; let's end AIDS!

Thank you,

Mary

Mary Harding's rider page - AIDS Vaccine ride, 2011

Tracy, Mary - 1st sunny training ride, 2011!

Training to ride and raising $ to fund AIDS Vaccine Research!

Training ride today and it was SO wonderful to wake up, look outside (when you live in Seattle and have had as sloppy a Spring as I have, that becomes a habit) and see some sun and blue sky - yea!!   

Most of my training rides for my upcoming AIDS Vaccine ride (4 weeks from now - eek!) have been colder than usual and rain too - ugh!  I packed my rain jacket of course, but was hoping that I wouldn't have to use it.  Wanted to ride 50 miles and settled for 46.5...also, I rode on the same trail and past the same intersection where I was hit by the speeding car just about 3 years ago - the driver also admitted to reaching into the back seat to play with her 2 yo nephew :(

Interesting to see that the bicycles crossing caution signs, which were already there, have been updated to the brighter yellow, along with lots of flashing caution lights and a built-up, repainted crosswalk with reflectors - hope it helps someone else avoid my painful experience.

I got in a couple of other rides on Friday and Saturday, so I'm feeling good about increasing my mileage and endurance for the upcoming ride.  I'll keep going and with your help, we can make history soon in funding a vaccine to end AIDS!  Here's the link for secure online donations:


Mary's rider page: AIDS Vaccine Ride 2011

Tailwinds!
Mary

Riding for the same Reason since 1997 - next up: AIDS Vaccine Ride, May 2011

Yep, it's been a loooong winter and I had a bit of a delay in getting my ride training started recently by a bout with pneumonia - whew!  Legs and lungs sure need to get some riding time now!


My AIDS ride this year will occur sooner than usual in the season - less than 2 months away, actually, as it's mid-May!  I'll again ride in support of AIDS vaccine research - this year the beneficiary is the Emory Vaccine Center at Emory University, Atlanta, GA.  The ride leaves Emory University Medical School on Sat, 5/14 to ride @ 103 miles East to Rock Eagle Park, GA, then return on Sunday.  So my training will be focused on miles in order to train for back-to-back century (100+) rides on consecutive days.  I'll have the same goals as usual: finish safely and have fun while raising as much $ as I can to wipe out AIDS.  For that I'd pedal around the world and back!


Please consider joining my support team as a 'spoke sponsor'; secure, online donations can be made anytime on my personal rider page: 


Mary Harding's rider page for AIDS vaccine ride, 2011


I'll post more updates as I get going...thank you.
Tailwinds!
Mary 

Sharing a photo of my grandson, Sullivan, from a couple of months ago, wearing an old helmet of mine with a new bicycle-themed quilt.  He is tons of fun and SO cuddly too!

       Sullivan, the next cyclist in the family!

May has poignant memories...

Beside my text is the picture of my brother Peter that I carry over my heart on every AIDS ride. Yes, it's the picture of him that was on his memorial card and I chose that over other miscellaneous photos of him, since AIDS took his life and that was the sorrowful reason that I began riding. So, I ride in Peter's memory and to honor his legacy of loving, lifelong learning, courageous journey through his painful path, and oh, so much laughter along the whole way, even through tears.

Peter died on May 11, 1995 - over 14 years ago now; and yet, his loss still feels so new and raw, that the time seems to poke along. While I choose to celebrate Peter Harding's life - his birthdate is October 5th - I cannot ignore altogether the circumstances and experiences of this time 14 years ago. May 11th that year was on a Thursday and I had the very unwelcome task of calling my Mother from Peter's bedside, to gently tell her this sad, sad, sad news. When Mother's Day came that year, my Mother was then with me, in Santa Rosa, CA, where Peter lived and I remember us attending church at the cathedral together, clinging to each other for some comfort in this senseless loss.

Theresa, who began as Peter's hospice nurse, but quickly became a loving friend, was a huge comfort also and we smiled through our tears as we affirmed his strong will and example of not only how to live with AIDS, but he provided the same in his dying. Peter fervently wanted to stay at home in his cozy cottage (he's say "cozy just means 'small', but I love my home!"), and that he did. He was in his own bed, even requesting to hear "Motown", as he loved listening to music constantly; he slipped away peacefully while Marvin Gaye was serenading us with 'How sweet is is to be loved by you"...indeed, Peter, indeed!

Peter's been my road angel - on every ride - for every mile - since 1997 - whether I'm enjoying the whooping/hollering downhills, or tailwinds and also when I'm cursing and groaning on the steep climbs, never-ending mountain passes and icky weather days too...

Tailwinds!

Mary