AUSTIN TO DALLAS (MAY 18 SUNDAY)

If I ever had to have open heart surgery, I would want LYNN to be the one  to hold my heart in her hands.

If I ever were lost, I would want JEAN by my side with a map and a smile.

Devotion to others can have no greater model than GEORGIA.

When I feel there’s a task I can’t accomplish, I think of ANNE & her 3rd try.

Can I blame age if I stop having adventures? Not if FRAN comes to mind!

When I hear about amazing research in far-away places, I think of MARY PAT in the Himalayas.

If I were desperate for sweets, I know that KAREN would gladly share.

CAROL epitomizes kindness, perserverance, & can-do attitude.

Who has more exciting stories about past adventures than JANE?

CHLOE-amazing courage & gumption as a child, perfected as an adult.

When the strength to face life’s changes fails me, I think of FRANCES.

And ,  I will NEVER be able to watch an inaugural parade without thinking of JANET.

Thank you all so much for 10 years of friendship & memories.

     You have brought so much fun & enjoyment to me.

         You really are now part of the fabric of the life of

              DONNA, the RELUCTANT cyclist from Lake Tahoe.

                     Here’s to another ten+!!!

*****Written by DONNA for our reunion in Brenham, TX 2011******

Her beloved husband ROGER died several days before this year’s reunion in Newport, OR–she still took the time to drive up & be a part of our reunion—thank you-DONNA

This morning-up, dressed, packed-breakfast in lobby at 7:00 AM-beat the trio of early birds for 1st time on trip.  I smell the finish line!!!  2nd person for bkft is Jason-played professional beach volleyball & now coaches-listens to my story.  Armand takes his bkft to room–he’s heard my story & even has participated.  Jean & Lynn are taking it easy-tell them we will meet them at the beach-Armand will pick up rental car.  Still have some last climbs-stop at beach.  See swimmers crossing to bay on other side–hope I can still swim.  Take Sugar & Tiger To see their last sea lions-no more stops until the finish line.  Arrive at Mission Beach around 10:00-almost anticlimactic-IT’S OVER.  Armand bikes a couple of miles to get car.  I sit on bench-looking at beach thinking of 2002-the start & the end.  13 strangers dipped their tires in the Pacific Ocean & started on an adventure.  I’ve mentioned how amazing the women were in other parts of this blog-the woman who impressed me the most was Donna from Lake Tahoe, CA.  Beside Frances-Donna was the least likely person to attempt this-she just got her bike the day before, did SPIN classes & biked on nice tree shaded trails to prepare.  She came from the corporate world-what was she doing here-completely out of her element.  For a few days I think she still tried to put make-up on & fix her hair & I know she must have thought about quitting but she didn’t.  I was usually out 1st-never ate breakfast-& finished 1st so I never biked w/Donna EXCEPT one day.  I wanted to get the ride over because it was painful on the bike seat & I wanted to get in the TUB 1st.  This particular day-went out fast-took wrong turn as usual-passed up other riders-took another wrong turn down  gravel rd.  Rd got so bad had to walk bike-why would they put us on this rd?  So upset-try to call Armand-like he can help me.  Walk bike back up rd-& hear voice behind me SINGING-Little girl-little girl-ARE YOU LOST?  Can’t believe it-It’s DONNA.  Never so happy to see her-she’s LAST but NOT LOST.  We bike in together.  On our 1st 100 mile day-EVERY WOMAN DID IT.  On our last day into St. Augustine-we had a police escort to the beach.  Talked about who would be 1st-I did every ride for myself-didn’t need to be 1st.  I suggested DONNA because she raised over $15,000 to fight breast cancer (I’m a breast cancer survivor) & she improved the most-never complaining & showing me what real Mental Toughness is all about.  I was in tears biking in-my sister Martha & husband Jim surprised me & of course Armand was there-it was a very emotional conclusion when we dipped our tires in the Atlantic Ocean.  This was not the same.  I turned around & started looking at the people-homeless lady on next bench-kids smoking hanging out.  Parks maintenance man picking up trash-go over & tell him I’m from TX & really appreciate the job they do keeping the beaches so clean.  Thanks me & says how he cleans graffiti off bathroom walls everyday-young people have no respect.  He’s 47-talk about football & Dallas Cowboys.  Another couple bike up-John & Leslie from Mammoth, WA.  Have biked in Cuba & Ireland-going to Japan-ski patrol people in winter.  U-HOO-see Jean & Lynn & then Armand gets back.  Too much trouble to take bikes to water-take last pictures-they’re going on to Imperial Beach.  Armando will be there in the RV w/dogs ready to drive back to VT.  Lynn is flying back Thurs & has to go back to work at the VA Hospital-not sure when she’s having her knee replacement surgery. Tell Jean to let us know about her next adventure-so grateful for all her planning on this one.  Getting in car seems strange-bikes are stacked on each other,  Turn on our country western music-can’t believe it-hear I HOPE YOU DANCE by Lee Ann Womack-our theme song for 2002!!!!  So if you get the chance I HOPE YOU DANCE or bike, run/walk, tennis, golf, swim-but more than anything I HOPE you take the time to smell the roses along the way. 

I usually summarize BEST & WORST about a trip-this is different.  The BEST & LONGEST (78 M)  day was AVENUE of the GIANTS in CA.  There were so many difficult days-Monterey to Gorda (66 m) w/5,400 ft of elevation comes to mind.  Best restaurant was El Compadre in Castle Rock, WA-worst was the fried shrimp.  People that come to mind are the Austin Family in Oakville, WA-who invited us to tour their robatic dairy farm.  Also when I went to get my purple & blue nails done & met Leanna at Port Huenene & Kara & Dawn from OH-it’s funny how you feel like an instant friendship & it was my own adventure. $$$ COST of PACIFIC COAST BIKE ROUTE from SEATTLE TO SAN DIEGO-PRICELESS.

Blogging from Hampton Inn ($340/2 nights)-here for Armand’s 1967 Christian Brothers HS reunion-only 12 in graduating class-4 are here.  Determined to finish blog-unlike last yrs adventure where we did a self guided bike tour in Europe (May) then drove from Austin to Canada-camping, biking, hiking, playing golf along the way.  Going to end differently-saving ride into San Diego for last.  Got in rental car at 11:00 AM-drove to El Paso (Motel 6-$65)-11:00PM.  Visited my niece Lindsay & Carlee-drove to SA & spent night w/my mom.  She had gone into hospice before trip-when we got there they had thrown her a party & kicked her out because she was doing so well!!!  Drove to Austin-loved walking into our house–Tera & family had moved & left our house cleaner than I’ve ever seen it.  2 nights later in hotel room in New Orleans.  Going to visit Armand’s relatives in New Iberia for a few more days.  Back to Austin & on to Miami for a week.  Son John is doing his 1st Iron Man-we are babysitting.  Time to leave motel-I WILL COMPLETE THIS ADVENTURE before it’s gone from my memory.