Withdrawal

I took my first ride today since returning from Montana. Just rode out to Paoli and back. A piece of cake! If you have not been to the organic food store next to the pub there, I recommend it.

Made It!!

I'm back and alive! What an awesome experience last Saturday! Completing my first century ride was part of the experience; the most important part was the cause and the people who were involved in the ride. It was all about juvenile diabetes and the kids. The commitment by parents, friends, grandparents, staff and others who have been touched by the disease is just plain and simply --- amazing!

Never in my life have I been around a more energetic and enthusiastic group of people. And the riders from the Western Wisconsin Chapter of JDRF (which includes Madison area).. what can I say. I love them all.

And my grandson and daughter.... I will remember this for the rest of my life. Hopefully they will, too.

This is It!!

The week has finally arrived. I am actually getting a little anxious about the upcoming ride. The other day when I had to drop off by bike for shipment to Whitefish, I actually experienced a little saddness. It was like leaving a friend to fend for their self. Now I am relegated to riding a 40 year old 10 speed (man is it heavy!) or my mountain bike. As I look outside now and the falling rain, it becomes questionable if I will get in another ride before flying out this coming Wednesday a.m.

I will let you know how the ride goes. There is a little concern about the forest fires out there and whether the smoke will affect our routes and length of ride.

Montana Bike Ride

Here it is August! This is the month I see if all my bike training pays off. I have logged over 1,600 miles so far this summer and am in the best physical condition I have been in many years. I have found roads in Dane, Green, Rock and Columbia counties that I did not know existed. Thanks to the dairy industry, Wisconsin has paved roads where in most states you would only find gravel. What a beautiful area we reside in! Truly God's creation.

On August 25 I will do the Whitefish, Mt 120 mile ride for Juvenile Diabetes Research. My oldest grandchild is type 1 diabetic and he and his mother (my daughter) will also be doing the ride. They have already raised their $4,000, which is the minimum expected from each of the 200 riders. If you have an interest in learning more, go to http://ride.jdrf.org/index.html. The rider is Robert Gorsuch. And any donation is tax deductible. Hopefully a cure for this silent disease is near.