Thursday, July 31, 2003
hi I am so excited for carp!!! it is going to be so much fun! and for those of you who live out in california you dont know how lucky you are you dont have to sit in the car hour after hour it is going to be so boring especially in our car it is going to be so quiet because everyones going to be listening to music or fast asleep but once we get there it will be great Me mom and Joe went to costco yesterday so we got a ton of great food and supplies and Im going to the library and rent some CDS I only have two! and believe me if Im gonna me in the car that long I think I will need more than two CDs. well love ya all xo xo xo
Monday, July 28, 2003
Hi to all. We made it home safely yesterday, even after missing our flight in Cincinnati. The boys and I were enjoying the Crown Room so much I forgot that Cincy is in the eastern time zone. So, when I thought we had an hour before flight time, I checked the board and discovered our flight had left 20 minutes ago! This was after hanging out at the airport for five hours. Luckily, Delta had another flight leaving an hour later, and because of my elite status with the airline, we were moved to the top of the stand-by list and we got on the flight.
It was a tough week for me. One of the towns in Iowa put us up in a freshly cut weed field, with cut grass and weeds still on the ground. I noticed my asthma getting a little worse the next day, but didn't think much of it. But the next day, I just didn't have it. I couldn't figure it out, either. I was eating, drinking, had at least adequate rest, but I had little ability to tackle the hills we had for the day.
That night, I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, or breathe very well. Overnight, I realized that I had asthma, in spite of the meds I religiously take. So, I didn't ride the last two days of the ride. I was discouraged, because these were two fun days on the road, but there was no way I was going to risk getting worse. David also really struggled with his asthma, hay fever, and red, swollen eyes. He was at my tent every night to use the inhaler.
Iowa was truly beautiful, and the people, wonderful. I met folks from all over, and the comraderie was great. In most towns we rode through, people were on their porches and in their yards just watching the cyclists roll by. Most in our group liked to get up at 4:30AM and begin riding just before dawn. We did it, but as some of you know, I'm not much of a morning person, so I think those early mornings also took their toll. Mary, next year, you need to do the ride with me, and we'll start the day a little later!
We had beautiful weather. It sprinkled during a spectacular lightning display on the second night, and rained hard for about a half hour a couple of nights later, but no riding in the rain. Except for the first two nights, we had cool evenings. On the second night, it was so hot and humid, my tent was like a sauna. I was just laying in it, not moving and sweating. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore, and got up and just walked around in the dark. A little shower ensued and cooled things off enough so that I could return to my tent and get some sleep.
The highlight of the trip for me was to spend that week with my boys. I was very proud of both of them; they were very strong riders. Joe stuck with me much of the time to keep me company, which was very considerate, and we had many good laughs and good discussions together on the road. Doug was by far the strongest rider in our group. The first two days, he came in to the destination towns among the very first riders of all 10,000! He was his usual thoughtful self, pitching his poor, tired father-in-laws tent, ready for his arrival several hours later.
Now we look forward to Carp. It will be nice to camp and relax with family for a week.
It was a tough week for me. One of the towns in Iowa put us up in a freshly cut weed field, with cut grass and weeds still on the ground. I noticed my asthma getting a little worse the next day, but didn't think much of it. But the next day, I just didn't have it. I couldn't figure it out, either. I was eating, drinking, had at least adequate rest, but I had little ability to tackle the hills we had for the day.
That night, I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, or breathe very well. Overnight, I realized that I had asthma, in spite of the meds I religiously take. So, I didn't ride the last two days of the ride. I was discouraged, because these were two fun days on the road, but there was no way I was going to risk getting worse. David also really struggled with his asthma, hay fever, and red, swollen eyes. He was at my tent every night to use the inhaler.
Iowa was truly beautiful, and the people, wonderful. I met folks from all over, and the comraderie was great. In most towns we rode through, people were on their porches and in their yards just watching the cyclists roll by. Most in our group liked to get up at 4:30AM and begin riding just before dawn. We did it, but as some of you know, I'm not much of a morning person, so I think those early mornings also took their toll. Mary, next year, you need to do the ride with me, and we'll start the day a little later!
We had beautiful weather. It sprinkled during a spectacular lightning display on the second night, and rained hard for about a half hour a couple of nights later, but no riding in the rain. Except for the first two nights, we had cool evenings. On the second night, it was so hot and humid, my tent was like a sauna. I was just laying in it, not moving and sweating. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore, and got up and just walked around in the dark. A little shower ensued and cooled things off enough so that I could return to my tent and get some sleep.
The highlight of the trip for me was to spend that week with my boys. I was very proud of both of them; they were very strong riders. Joe stuck with me much of the time to keep me company, which was very considerate, and we had many good laughs and good discussions together on the road. Doug was by far the strongest rider in our group. The first two days, he came in to the destination towns among the very first riders of all 10,000! He was his usual thoughtful self, pitching his poor, tired father-in-laws tent, ready for his arrival several hours later.
Now we look forward to Carp. It will be nice to camp and relax with family for a week.
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