It was kind of a mixed message day. The ride should have been an easy one---short on miles, no hills, pleasant temps, but headwinds made it more of a push than a pleasure. Terry and most of the other riders feel like they're not riding as strongly now as they were in the beginning. While they are all theoretically stronger, they feel more tired. They figure it's because no one is used to so many consecutive days of riding. On his normal cycling schedule here in Tucson, even when training, Terry rarely cycles more than 5 days a week, and has more rest days in between long rides. Hence, more time for recovery. That's really not possible on this trip, so it takes a toll. But, there's no talk of riding in the SAG wagon, so back in the saddle he goes. They rode through more farms and meadows covered in wildflowers.
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| Keep Riding |
He rode with Colin for a while today, who is a super cyclist and could always go with the fasties, but he chooses not to so he can really engage with the others, have conversations and get to know everyone and really experience the places they're riding through. Colin is one of the people who helped Terry when he got near-hypothermia.
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| Colin |
Phyllis was the other person who helped him with that situation.
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| Phyllis |
She is also an EMT. Terry rides with her frequently, too. There is evidently lingering discomfort from the hard fall at Mt. Rushmore. Phyllis noticed that Terry's riding slower than before and asked him about it. "Yes", he said, "I know I am. I'm still hurting a bit from the fall." He doesn't feel the need to get medical intervention right now, but does acknowledge that it has become something to pay attention to. So, we figure that he bruised a bone, or maybe chipped it, and decided he'll see our internist when he gets home, for some X-rays. Now, our doc has concluded that Zippy is a bit, shall we say, "accident prone"---has a bike crash in Tucson resulting in a concussion; falls from a ski lift & breaks two vertabrae and pelvis; falls while hiking and breaks two ribs and punctures a lung---so seeing him again will probably produce a stern lecture (again), but that's a necessary evil, I guess. The most important thing is that Terry basically feels good and no one should worry. (Mom and Erica-- that means you!)
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| He's OK!!! |
But back to the ride. The one SAG stop of the day was on a family farm that has invited ABB to use them as a SAG stop for some years now. The story goes that as ABB was passing through the area, Mike was really taken with the antique tractor in the front yard and stopped for a photo. Turns out that the farmer had a large collection of antique tractors and was delighted to show them all to Mike & the riders. From that encounter, a friendship grew and the farmer invited everyone to refresh on his farm, and then offered it every year since then. They learned on last year's tour that the farmer had died, but the wife and daughter said, "Please keep coming by" and so they do.
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| Visiting The Family & Their Antique Tractor Collection |
Jim, the mechanic, was riding today. The ABB staff are all avid riders themselves, as you'd expect. They alternate days of being on the bike or being in the SAG wagons. In this shot of Jim, note the large truck gaining on him. Not a very comfortable feeling, I'm sure.
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| Better Move Over, Jim! |
After lunch at Appleby's today, Zippy got a second wind and zipped up the line to join the fasties for the rest of the ride, passing Phyllis & Colin on the way. They, of course, yelled "Go, Zippy, Go!!".
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