We got to the Solano County Park at Noon on Friday and just dropped the trailer in the campsite so we would not be late to help set up tables and chairs at the Winters Community Center in of course, Winters. The temperature hit 103 degrees that afternoon!
Turns out Winters is only 5 minutes from the campground so since we were early we stopped at a Garage Sale! Susan snagged a two-level garden work bench for $3 and I picked up a street-legal propane tank for $2. In spite of the heat the weekend has started out great!
The community center folks were friendly and the layout was good so in half an hour we established seated eating for 200+. So then we went back to the trailer (A/C was on) and relaxed until time to help set up for the Bicycling Hall of Fame reception at 5:15pm. The evening was nice with many re-connections to the FAmily and guiding riders to the registration area to pick up their packets. Cleanup was fast and we found ourselves back at camp by 8:30pm enjoying conversation within feet of the Putah Creek with the Rupeloton Team. Retired to our rolling bungalow thinking of the next day forecast of 97 with less than a 5mph wind (yess!!).
Ride Ataxia biking events are fairly unique to the orphan/rare disease community and aren't very comparable to the everyday biking event. Yes those folks get to know one another but there is an intimacy and family-ness to RA NorCal that I don't think one can match in those other bike events. Saturday morning found us up at 7am and ready to go easily by 8am. Susan would SAG the 10 mile route and Brianne and I would ride it but neither set of us would be on the road until 10am. So we showed up at 8:30, Susan went off to secure her supplies and SAG instructions while I de-trucked and assembled my (heavy) 27-speed road-altered mountain bike and the wheelchair/trailer combo. Brianne was expected by 9:30am and I was ready for her by 9:15am. At 9:35am I texted "ETA?" and received the reply "tough morning, 15 - 20 minutes". A few minutes later I received the text "no go". Somehow Brianne's morning had gone sideways and she wouldn't make the ride.
An important note here is that for all of us "temporarily able bodied" folks it is difficult to appreciate the fine and delicate balance that exists between a "good" day and a "bad" day for disabled folk. Something in the alignment of the sun, moon and stars trembled for Brianne between Friday evening and Saturday morning to cause her to cancel an experience she had prepared and fundraised for for months.
Well, things happen and we move on. About this time Felicia finds me (precious young woman that she is) and asks am I ready 'cause its time? "Sure" says I so I ride around the building, unhook the wheelchair/trailer and join the 10 mile group. Felicia gives us all the cautions and safety tips (why did she look at me all through her spiel??) and sent us on our way.
The day is "warm", 80 - 85 degrees already but I can still feel a little coolness in the wind, thankfully. In the first half mile I remember and am reminded of the pluses and minuses of my bike. I like the 27 speeds that give me shifting sensitivity as the road rises and the custom handlebar risers that allow me to straighten up to stretch my back (this is an event and not a race after all) but I can feel the drag of the extra bike weight and the fatter tires than my early '80's Schwinn road bike. Ah, the ying and yang of life.
I begin thinking if I should do the 23 mile ride instead since Brianne is not a weight factor any more but by the time I am at mile 3 or 4 I can feel the sucking-out effect of the heat (there is no more "cool" in the wind) on my energy and I could imagine the backside of the 23 mile route in an hour with the increasing heat and decided no, not this year in this heart (last year Brianne broke her leg and I did do the 23 mile route.).
Back at the community center Outback Restaurant had prepared a wonderful lunch of ribs, chicken and veggies! Also present were two FA drug companies (Horizon and Reata) both of which have drugs in clinical trials so I was able to talk to both of them about their research. After helping to clean up we went back to the trailer and hid from the heat. It was hot! We had considered staying an extra day but after seeing the forecast, 77 for RP and 93 for the davis area, it was no contest and we were home at Noon today.
Thank you to all the sponsors of both myself and Brianne! RA NorCal has raised $84K so far and Brianne's Team Blue Skies has exceeded its goal of $3,000 and more is expected! This will help keep the momentum going! Remember you can go to
http://www.curefa.org/pipeline to see the FA research status
and our page http://fara.convio.net/site/TR/Events/General?team_id=2885&pg=team&fr_id=1261 for updates.
Best regards,
