Howdy,
For the record, I am much better and I am starving. I moved to my own food last night–room service–and it’s amazing how much better I feel after a Bacon Cheeseburger, fries and a Club Sandwich. Yummy. Enough about me today is about the Challenged Athletes (CA) along with a variety of pictures and whatever I feel like!
Everyday we have a local CA grant recipient (not doing the ride) come and tell us their story. Today was a 19 yr old Santa Barbara man who was out surfing about a year ago and didn’t feel well. He went home and his room mates knew it was something serious so they took him to the ER. Meningitis. The next day they amputated both his legs. One day a robust 19yr old surfing next day a double amputee. Well here he is with Bill today approx 1 year from the surgery. He has his new legs and is out riding up and running a storm while attending UCSB.
Whats the day like? Breakfast 6-8, luggage drop off 6-8, ride groups leave 7-7:30 and we head out to our next destination along with 19 meals!. What about the prosthetics? There is a lot of leg changing in the staging areas as the CA’s take off their walking legs and put on their riding legs. They hand off the other legs to the support staff get on their bike and just crank it out.
I have to give a shout out to Bill Walton. That man is amazing. Not only did he raise 250k for this ride (yeah, he beat me), that is just the tip of the iceberg as he and his wife are extremely philanthropic in the area. The guy is the crazy nice, engaging, friendly, extremely interesting and remembers everybody’s name. He is a wonderful guy and is the real deal. Much like me!
They warned the first timers that we might not like the ride until after the 3rd or 4th day for many obvious reasons. They say the body is at its low by the end of the 3rd day and I really do think they have that timing down pretty well! My pt is we are now in Santa Monica! Its like xmas! Too bad Bret left town to avoid seeing me. We are way over half way and I know the names of all the streets! AND ROBERTOS is only like 200 miles away by bike! That actually seems like nothing to me! I will say getting medic-d out was one of the best things that could have happened to me as I got to catch a ride with one of the nicest people I have ever met. She is a CA rider with so many many things going on and my god she just sat their smiling at me and asking me tons of questions. The overall trip has really changed my perspective on a lot of things first of which this isn’t about me it’s about them. The CAF staff is so thankful everyday for the donations you all made–they are still coming in–that it makes u realize its about the overall experience NOT just the ride. That is only one component albeit a major one–think of one of my original posts telling you the mantra of the ride– #morethanaride. Man I am really growing I should become a motivational speaker! Anyway, my tiny piece of advice before the pictures is–when you all do your “ryloride” it makes you feel very good when you combine a crazy intense ridiculous endeavor (meaning mine!) with a charity like the CAF. It seems right.
Pictures: todays are trying to capture the morning going ons which are pretty hefty given the 100 riders/30 support staff and tons of trucks. I have our arch, some ride outs, some pre ride eating/staging/talking/our first sag–about as scenic as it gets–along with people rolling in and out/one of the 3 tables at each sag. Oh yeah see the guy getting the massage at lunch? yeah, u can do that.
The title comes from the Beeber–kidding! Its the GD and it obviously speaks to me!
