Day 6 and 7 of MDC ride...awesome times!

A bit late on this post, but late is better than never. :-)

Day 6 was 72 miles from Santa Monica to Dana Point. I started out riding with Judy Fisher, Melinda Johnson and the rest of Group 2 while Lynn was cruising with Team Sully and group 3. First part of ride was on bike path through Venice Beach, Marina Del Ray, under LAX flight path and then back on streets through Manhattan Beach, Hermosa and Redonado Beach. Pretty good hill climb up and over Palos Verdes then bumpy truck and exhaust filled section through Wilmington and Long Beach.

Lynn's group stopped for lunch in Seal Beach that was fun for her and the team. Just before Laguna Beach there was a SAG stop at the Shake Shack where  we enjoyed fabulous "shakes". I arrived at this SAG much earlier than Lynn so decided to turn around and ride back up PCH to find Lynn (and Team Sully) and ride with them back to Dana Point.

Good thing for the Glympse app. Was able to pinpoint their location and rendezvous with them just south of the Hyatt Huntington Beach. Had some fun riding solo pushing myself into a headwind on the ride North, then cruising at 30 mph riding south to catch Lynn with wind at my back.

The 2nd time passing through SAG stop north of Laguna, I ordered a cheeseburger and it was awesome! Only problem was I had to eat super fast and start riding seconds later because Lynn and gang already ate in Seal Beach and we're starting to roll when my burger showed up. I think they were making bets on how far I could ride without throwing up, but the burger stayed down and it was a great ride rest of way to Dana Point.

The night of Day 6 was a big celebration with everyone getting dressed up and lots of family and friends joining who drove up from San Diego to partake in the festivities. Lots of emotions going through our bodies and minds. We didn’t want the week to end, but kept our eye on the goal of riding full 620 miles in 7 straight days…and to raise awareness for the CAF community and help our new friends enjoy life to it’s fullest.

Day 7 was the final ride down to finish in La Jolla. The extra 15 miles I did at max pace on my solo ride to catch Lynn on Day 6 took it's toll on my left knee (the one with no ACL) so I was happy to ride slower with Lynn and Team Sully down the last stretch of coast enjoying every minute while reflecting on the great week we had and holding back tears of joy and sadness the ride would soon be over. 

Day 7 was 55 miles total and a really great day full of smiles, tears and emotion. We made a lot of new friends and came to really appreciate the challenged athletes and challenges they overcome each day as they struggle to participate in sports and be the best they can be. 

Perhaps we were lucky and only exposed to the gifted ones or those with will to succeed that overcomes all obstacles, but it sure seemed like all the CAF athletes I met had at one point in life had the odds stacked against them with sorrow, depression, loss of income, loss of body parts, loss of hearing, sight, even cancer, but somehow with help from CAF managed to overcome and get back in the game having fun again. 

During the week, we heard many stories and some gave spoke to the group sharing their experiences and how CAF got them back into sports with a new lease on life filled with positive thoughts and a new can do attitude. 

I think of the story Jamie Whitmore told us about how she was Xterra world champion living a dream breaking all the records only to find out a strange tumor in the nerve sheath of her lower left leg had to be removed leaving her with no control of her calf muscles and foot. CAF helped her with training and special brace so she could ride a bike. Her grit and determination has lead to her competing at national level and she's on track to dominate at the next Paralympics in 2016. 

Many, many other stories like this. CAF doesn't just help with equipment and parts to help them compete. It also puts on events and has created a family-like atmosphere where challenged athletes feel normal talking about their challenges and learn from their peers. It's really special and was a wonderful experience getting know several of them. 

Here's a few photos from Days 6 & 7. I'll do another post soon to summarize the entire MDC experience and reflect on this special week. Big thanks to all of you who supported Lynn and I along the way and helped by donating to CAF. Could not have done it without you!