I’ve been pretty excited the past few weeks and now it’s the last day of work before vacation. This best part about this vacation is I’m going to see family. Tomorrow Mary and I leave for Erin’s wedding. We’re driving from Tampa to Denham Springs in Louisiana in Egbert (my Honda Fit). The wedding’s on Friday, and I’m a bridesmaid. Then on Saturday Mary and Savio drop me off at the car rental place and take Egbert back to Tampa. I continue on to Houston and home to see and hopefully help out Nathan with house stuff. I hope to see some friends in Houston.
On Monday, I fly out to London, but not before meeting up with Kim, Orson, and Liz at the airport and then we all fly out together. I’m so excited about this trip. Will blog when I can to journal the trip and show pictures.
I’m trying to reflect on the experience that was the BP MS150. MS charity rides happen all over the place, but it was a privilege to take part in the largest ride in the country. It was an even greater privilege though to get to turn this event into a family affair. Riding with my brother-in-law, Matt, Dad, and David Bernsen (who was one of my girl scout troop leaders from when I was a brownie) was awesome. I jokingly told Kim that it felt like I was in an episode of My Two Dads, since David is also a very fatherly figure. Kim laughed and said, “yeah it feels like a weekend with your two dads.” Also great was getting to be in same town for Kim’s 29th birthday. I was glad to get to see Kim and Orson (who just keeps growing.)
This video is of the weather when we left. It was easy to see why Day 1 was canceled. Apparently, there were tornado warnings along the route and flooding in the big field where some people camp at the halfway point. That didn’t mean people didn’t still ride some or all of Day 1. Which is why when we reached Fayetteville, TX (one of the stops along the route), it was incredibly touching that people were out to cheer.
People cheering for cyclist entering Fayetteville.
Irene, Dick, and I entered one antique store opened in the town square and the lady working the counter said she got up that morning and it was dark and storming, but she saw some riders cycle by and she knew she had to come into town and open up the store. The people in the picture had music going and cow bells to ring every time a rider came by. I got on and rode my bike in Fayetteville. Just around the corner someone had baked cookies and had drinks and water out to help support the riders. They knew that the normal support stops weren’t going to be there for the cyclists on Saturday. It was a moving experience, and Fayetteville definitely earned their claim as the bike friendliest town in Texas.
Dad, Matt, David & I rode into La Grange, TX which was the Day 1 endpoint for the MS150. Lots of folks were on bikes, either riding into town or just getting some riding in before the next days start. We stayed at a nice little B&B out of town that evening. David and I rode from there to get onto the MS150 trail and that’s how the second started for me. Dad & Matt had decided to ride the state park ride (which has more hills, so they actually had Dick drive them into town to start at the start in La Grange). Most of Sunday I rode with David. He was very kind and let me keep up, which was helpful. I found that I definitely need to do more riding.
Because the 150′s a charity ride there is a lot of supporters out to cheer people on. I don’t think I’ve ever done anything that involved that many volunteers, police, etc. It was moving to see so many people involved in a charitable event and making sure that it went smoothly for everyone involved. Right before we made it to Bastrop for lunch, there was a large group of supporters out cheering, ringing cowbells, and one guy riding his stationary bike along with us. In Bastrop we got back together with Dad and Matt. Kim, Orson, Irene & Dick were able to meet us there as well, which was great.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many bicyclists on the road in my life, nor so many flat tires, nor so many people cheering and supporting each of us as we rode along. It is one event I want to do again, because I know I can ride it better, but also because it felt incredibly meaningful. And getting to ride through the finish with my dad was priceless.
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