Solvang Trip- Day 3-- THE CENTURY RIDE!

Saturday morning at 3:30 a.m. came quickly!  No, my alarm wasn’t set to go off at 3:30, but that is about the time I gave up on trying to sleep.  We were supposed to be in the lobby at 5:10 a.m. ready to load the buses, so it was going to be an early morning regardless.

There were a million reasons why I couldn’t sleep.  My mind was racing, I was afraid I was going to miss my alarm, and my daddy was on my mind.  I was reminiscing about the day I decided I wanted to do a Century Ride, and the time when a Navy Seal said “Your body can physically do anything, it’s your mind that stops you from living your dreams.”  How could this adventure be coming to a close?

About 3:45 a.m. is when I got out of bed.  Because I needed to kill some time, I took a shower, did my hair, and put on makeup.  Yes, I was that girl wearing makeup for a 104-mile ride.  My poor tummy was feeling the effects of nervousness, but I choked down a bagel with peanut butter and banana and headed to the lobby.

Unfortunately, Team Texas missed the bus.  By bus, I mean a yellow school bus where we had to put our bikes and bodies.  It was a 30-minute ride to the start line, so the team was forced to hang out in the lobby for the next hour.  A lot of people were upset because they could have gotten another hour of sleep, but I was thankful to be with company.  Seriously, what would I have done with another hour confined to my thoughts?

Mom and Casey planned to be at the start line, so they weren’t very happy when we missed the bus.  They hung out with us in the lobby, taking pictures, making jokes, and practicing some of the stupid P90X moves that Casey’s golfers hate.  I was as hyper as could be with only a couple hours of sleep under my belt and no coffee.

Getting on the bus was amusing.  Each bike got its own bus seat while we had to double up on the other side of the bus.  Once the seats were taken, bikes lined the aisles of the bus.  The 30-minute ride didn’t go fast enough, so when we finally got there, I was ready to go! 

We started as a team, riding in a single file line through the beautiful trees and scenery of Solvang, California.  Somehow, I lost my riding buddy in the pack, but we found each other around mile 10.  It was really foggy and cold, but I knew it wasn’t going to be long before the weather turned beautiful. 

 

Riding up to the first rest stop is probably one of my favorite memories for the entire ride.  Team in Training was well represented and as we rode in; they were cheering loud and proud for Team Texas.  My mom and Casey were there, and Casey had made posters for Misty and me.  I can’t describe the moment simply because I will never do it justice.  Saying that I felt blessed is a huge understatement.

We continued to ride through beautiful and not so beautiful scenery.  At one point, we rode by a landfill, and the nasty fish smell lingered for about five miles.  But, every time we came to a rest stop, there was my mom and Casey as well as other TNT supporters.  As much as I typically dislike spending time at rest stops, I LOVED them in California.  They would have snacks for us, sandwiches, and a thousand encouraging words for motivation.

Mom and Casey also would stop on the side of the road to cheer for us.  They booty-danced to some rap music (a little embarrassing but hilarious) and Casey made up cheers (she was channeling her inner cheerleader) about cycling, 104-miles, and many other things.  She even ran up the huge hill at mile 85 next to me.

By the time mile 95 rolled around, I was starting to get tired.  The sun was starting to set, so the temperatures were getting a little chilly.  But, at the same time, I didn’t want the ride to ever end. I loved every part of the experience, and I wasn’t ready for it to be over. 

I learned a lot through my journey with Team in Training.  Being surrounded by a group of people who had also been affected by Leukemia or Lymphoma helped in the healing process.  Listening to someone give their mission moment every Saturday at practice showed me that I wasn’t alone in the hurt and pain caused by cancer. 

This event was probably the best thing I have ever done.  I smiled through the entire ride because the environment, atmosphere, and people made it so special.  At times, I could hear my dad laughing in my head (as I was climbing hills), and I could feel his presence with me.  I can’t wait to sign up for the next event to keep my daddy’s memory alive and living in me as well as helping fund research to get rid of this terrible disease.

Solvang Trip - Day Two

Friday started after a really long, hard, deep sleep.  Needless to say, we were all exhausted from traveling the day before. 

Because we had to put our bikes back together, Coach David scheduled a practice ride for us.  It was only 10 miles, but it was a chance to make sure we wouldn’t have any bike trouble the next day and to see part of the course.  As we got on a major road (I can’t remember what it is called), I was amazed at the beauty of rolling hills and countryside.  As “city” as I like to say I am, the countryside is really where my heart belongs.

After our ride, Mom, Casey, and I went into Solvang to have lunch.  There really aren’t words to describe Solvang… it’s a small town with a lot to do, and I, once again, loved every part of it.  We settled on a little café where we could eat on the patio.  From where I was sitting, I took a picture of the windmill in the picture below. 

Then we were off to Cambria Winery and Vineyard.  Talk about beautiful!!  It was a 45 minute car ride, but worth every ounce of expensive gas we spent. 

Friday night was the Inspiration Dinner and our last team meeting.  It was a carb-intensive meal, and I was amazed at how much I could actually put in this body.  I think I ended the meal with 2 cookies… or was it 3?  I figured I’d work everything off during the ride, so I ate past the point of being full.

As we had our last team meeting, I was recognized for raising $5,425 when I only had to raise $2,900.  The emotions really started flowing when Nate (the coordinator) presented me with a Team in Training jersey that said “THIS ONE’S FOR DAD.”  All of the team members also signed it, and it was both humbling and overwhelming.  Nate also talked about how this was my first TNT experience since losing my dad, and while it would be difficult, Dad would be proud of me.

By the time I got in bed that night, my mind was racing with memories of my dad and the past year.  I wasn’t afraid of 100-miles, I was ready....

Solvang Trip- Day One

What an incredible weekend!  I’m going to write a blog post about each day instead of trying to include all of the fun into one post.  I’ll start with Day One, the day of travel!

This was my first time to Non-Rev with Southwest.  I’ve flown on my brother’s American passes, so I was kind of familiar with the process, but it’s a little different with Southwest.

The full flight we were trying to get on left Love Field at 6 a.m.  Mom and I both got up in the 3 a.m. hour after we both didn’t go to bed until about 1 a.m.  It was a rough start, but we got to the airport with plenty of time to check in.  My best friend, Casey, showed up around 5 also, and the fun began.

Due to snowy conditions in Albuquerque, the gate agent told us that they were only carrying 100 passengers because they had to add fuel.  How defeating to know the next flight didn’t leave until 8:30 a.m…. that meant three hours in the airport.  The good news is that we managed to be the last three seats and were on our way to ABQ!

When we arrived in ABQ, they made us get off the plane because the flight to Oakland was full.  Once again, the feeling of defeat was in full effect!  The gate agent told us we really had no chance of getting anywhere out of ABQ, so we started considering the option of renting a car and driving to Solvang.  It was going to be a 15-hour drive, but hey, we were going to do it.  Thank goodness they called our name, and we managed to be the last three on the flight again.  Wheh!  Sigh of relief!

Our flight from Oakland to Burbank was wide open, and we got there fast.  When we got to the rental car place, they gave us a black Impala.  Funny story—my dad wanted my sister of me to get an Impala when we turned 16.  Thank goodness Mom intervened, and she reminded me of the story as we started the two-and-a-half hour drive to Solvang.

There really isn’t much more to write about Day One.  We arrived in Lompoc (where the hotel was), the team captain put my bike together for me, we went into Solvang to eat at a great restaurant called Cecca, and then we went to bed.

Stay tuned for Day Two…