What an amazing experience! I can not put into words what the week on the road was like or meant to me. I think that's why I have waited this long to give everyone a post ride update. I'm sure some of you want to hear a day by day play by and others of you just want to hear that I made it home safe and sound. So I will compromise!
I made it home safe and sound.
And instead of a play by... here is a link to all the photos! Ok... so I haven't posted them yet... but check back on Friday!
http://www.haebc.com/tricia/gallery/AidsLifeCycle5
But I will share with you a few accomplishments, and a few challenges, and a few quirky stories.
I embarked on this amazing journey and SURVIVED! That's my first and biggest accomplishment. It wasn't every mile of road or every hill that counted; it was my determination and dedication that made the experience worth every second. Heidi and I both knew that we should have trained more... but we had some nice cross training along the route (aka walking our bikes up never ending hills). On Day 1, someone told us that by the end of the week we would be riding up the hills. You know what? We were! Another rider told me, "You have as much energy as you think you have." Those words carried me up the Evil Twins on Day 4. I debuted the bikie tighties finally, another defying accomplishment!
All the riders and roadies (and staff) were incredible. We came together as a community and each morning we greeted each other with smiles and hellos. It's really hard for me to explain the feeling in camp and on the road. For one week, our differences didn't matter and it was our similarities that connected us. They mentioned that we might have some post partum depression. I think I'm just sad that I had to leave all the cooked meals! I have never eaten so much in one week in my life!
If you are still in the mood to continue reading, I found a great article on the event that I included at the end of this update.
So this won't get too lengthy, I'll end it with a short dialog on the road between Heidi and myself.
"Tricia, you have something between your teeth..."
(I start to look)
Heidi: "I think it's a bug! I told you not to bike with your mouth open!"
For all those of you who might be wondering... yes! I'm going to do this again! I'm wasn't sure if next year I wanted to be a rider or volunteer as a roadie... but they say that this experience changes your life so I plan on hitting the pavement and riding once again so I can to stay involved until I can help change other people's lives too.
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AIDS/LifeCycle Rolls Victoriously into Los Angeles, Raising $8 Million for HIV/AIDS Services
(Los Angeles, CA) - After a week experiencing the physical and emotional challenges of a 585-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles, more than 2,200 participants in AIDS/LifeCycle (ALC) rolled to a victorious finish in West Los Angeles on Saturday, having raised over $8 million from 70,000 donors. Money raised from the event will support HIV services provided by the event's co-producers, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
"In this 25th year of the fight against AIDS, 2,200 participants took a week out of their lives to remind the world that AIDS deserves all our attention," said Mark Cloutier, executive director of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. "There are 150,000 Californians living with HIV and an expected 2,000 new infections this year. This money will fund services for those with HIV and support us in new innovative approaches to reduce HIV infections."
AIDS/LifeCycle 5 set a new record for participation and money raised, attracting cyclists from nine countries and 40 states, including a contingent of people living with HIV known as the Positive Pedalers. No other event raises as much money for HIV/AIDS services.
Lorri L. Jean, chief executive officer of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, told the crowd at the closing ceremony that this year's ride held special meaning for riders and supporters.
"The second day of the ride marked 25 years since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic," Jean said. "And still the epidemic rages on. Here in the presence of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, we are reminded of those we have loved and lost to AIDS. Every one of the 585 miles we traveled this week is not only a reminder that we are all living with AIDS, but also a rededication to the belief that there is no greater power than people collectively committed to making a difference in the world."
Over the course of the week-long event, the 1,800 riders - sometimes outnumbering the populations of the communities they rode through - were greeted by local residents of eight counties. This year, local AIDS services organizations provided education, testing and outreach as ALC moved through different communities. Supported by the California Office of AIDS, the efforts highlighted HIV/AIDS awareness in those communities and emphasized prevention and the importance of early testing and treatment.
It is estimated that 150,000 Californians are living with HIV/AIDS, many of whom are unaware of their infection.
All my bags are packed and I'm ready to go...
Ok, good thing this is a post and you don't really get to hear me sing! :o) I'm not that bad, but you can hear the nerves in my voice. I'm filled with anxiousness and excitement... and still a little fear of those hills! Thank you for all your support and kind wishes! I will be safe, I might debut the bikie tighties, I will have fun, and mostly I will think of all of you!
I won't be able to have email access... but they set up a webpage to keep everyone up to date on our adventure! You can even leave me messages on there that I can check when I get back into camp each night. Write me! I love notes! Not all at the same time though... if your name starts with an A-F write on Sund... I'm just kidding! But I would really love to hear from everyone. Here is the information:
See AIDS/LifeCycle through my eyes with "Experience AIDS/LifeCycle 2006" at http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/
Starting Monday June 5, the AIDS/LifeCycle web team will post:
1. A written travelogue from the road, summarizing the previous day's highlights
2. Daily audio podcasts -- for a preview, visit http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/2006/podcast/
3. A variety of event photos (starring ME?!)
4. Online blogs written by five participants as they experience life on the road and in camp
Throughout the event, messages of support can be retrieved in camp by individual participants or read by the entire community of cyclists and roadies. Messages can be sent from http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/2006/support/
If you have FANS who would like to be a part of AIDS/LifeCycle Opening Ceremonies in San Francisco or Closing Ceremonies in Los Angeles, the details can be found at http://www.aidslifecycle.org/ceremonies.html.
If you have time in LA... I would love to see you! Call my cell phone, it should be on! Thanks again! And... I'm rollin'!