AIDS Life Cycle - 2012: Final Thoughts
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The final
Google+ post: Some final memories... The opening ceremony where a woman talked about her mother gathering the family to tell them she had AIDS and was dying. How she couldn't get that her straight mom was infected and now wasting away. Then the triple cocktail came out and she was able to maintain her health. That got the daughter to ride (this was her seventh time) and her mom was going to roadie a couple years ago when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. But her mom made it this year ("mom kicked cancer's ass" she said) and was working the lunch stop. The sheer cold at the lunch stop on day two and how little time we spent at stops while it was raining so we'd stay warmer. The cheer at rest stop three when the sun came out. And the tailwind on the slight downhill stretch to camp that pushed us up to 35 MPH. The man at lunch on day five who told it's about how he had cancer and was supposed to be dead within a few months. Ten years later, he decided to celebrate by riding -- since he lives near King City and saw the ride stop every year. He told his friends that it was a once in a lifetime ride and they sponsored him. By day two, he said he was trying to work out how to tell them that he was doing it again! This was his fifth year, and those same friends are still sponsoring him. The lighter mood on day five when we only had to ride 41 miles... The rest stop themes from Mardi Gras to the War on AIDS to a medical theme to Smurfs to Road Warrior. The man in Lompoc who saw our red jerseys as we stopped with John, Karen, and Katie at a Panda Express and insisted on buying lunch for our whole group because "without you riders, I wouldn't be here to raise my children." And all of the riders, roadies, and motorcycle safety riders who directed us and cheered us on. And the crowd at the finish line all yelling "you did it!" I don't know that we'll do this a lot, but I expect that we'll be back someday. For now, we finished, and that's enough.  So that's the story. Thanks for sticking around. I'm pleased and proud not only that we managed to complete a serious personal challenge but that we also provided some support for people who really need the help. This page by , using KompoZer. Last updated on 23 June 2012. |