Tour de Pink: Sunday, Oct. 14

Day 3...Time to finish what we started!

 Everyone lines up at the bottom of the hill from our resort hotel, ready to rock and roll.

 This is Heather Young.  She has a remarkable survival story which she told at dinner the night before.  Her two precious girls were on her right and left as she spoke to everyone.  It is ladies like her, stories like hers, women like Stephanie and Janet, who this event is all about.  They are truly inspirational.


At the start of each day, all the pink-sleeved survivors would lead the group out.  

 Our official motorbike escort.  (You can see the USA Pro Cycling Tour sticker on his bike).  Urijah really loved these guys and their real bikes!  We loved them because they would hold up traffic at the stop lights so we could all stay together as long as possible.

With 150 miles in only 2 days of riding already in our legs, the spirit of the survivors carried us through to the end.

 A view from the California Canyons.  The last day was hotter than many were used to, not too bad for us Texans who had spent a lot of time training in 90 and 100 degree weather.

And we made it at last!!  205 miles, over 16 hours on the bike, all in 3 days.  What an adventure!  Within minutes of crossing the line, we were already talking about doing it again next year. 

 Janet at the finish line at Oakley headquarters in Foothills Ranch.  Way to go Janet!!!

 

I loved this sign Laura and Urijah made. It came home with me and is going up in my room at school!

 

Love these girls.

After hanging around Oakley HQ for a little while, saying goodbye to Laura and Urijah, we took a bus back to our hotel in Thousand Oaks, we hit the hot tub and Chilis (and some nachos with guacamole, of course).  The next morning we took it easy around the hotel until it was time to head to the airport. 

 As I sit here on my couch back in Texas, it is nearly midnight.  You would think after a 3 day bike tour, all I would want to do is sleep.  (Stephanie and I had the same trouble last night and probably kept the other two up by reliving the days not too long ago when we first started training for this.)   This was one of the most memorable trips of my life.   I guess I'm just not ready for it to be over yet.  There was so much to soak in, and it all happened so fast.  I don't want to forget any of our great memories.

I've mentioned before that meeting so many incredible people with inspiring stories is what made this event so memorable.  The cycling part was unbelievable: taking in the California coast, always having someone to ride with, having so much support that the only thing you have to concern yourself with is to keep pedaling.  My love of road riding (which has always been on the back burner compared to the trail) definitely increased as well.  But I know why this trip will stay with me forever, and it is because my precious family was there, and because of the three other ladies in the picture above.