Ok...Geo called me out and I'll admit it. Indeed, I have not finished my RAGBRAI write up. However, I'm working on it. I've been in Columbia, South Carolina since last Sunday and I'll be here a few more days before returning to Little Rock. While I've been busy, I did find some time today to explore the area. It's funny....Columbia reminds me of Little Rock. Their capitol complex and statehouse are mid-town and they've got a very nice "artsy" district called the Vista that is similar to our River Market/Argenta. They also have a Hillcrest equivalent which is known as Five Points. It's a southern state, so of course the people are nice and you can say y'all and order SWEET ICED TEA (Figgy would just love it). But most of all, they have a lot of bridges along three rivers that converge near downtown...and that can only mean one thing...a River Trail.
Yes, I found their River Trail today and went on a 2.75 mile or so run. It's slightly different from ours in that their rivers (the Broad, the Saluda, and the Congaree) are very shallow/rocky and are a kayaker's dream. I did see a few road bikes on the trail, but mostly it was fellow runners and families. They do have a few MTB trails...perhaps I'll venture to one of those before I leave. Below are some photos of the area. It's very nice and a must see if you ever visit Columbia, South Carolina (AKA cola, south cackalacky...and we thought AR-KANSAS was a bad nickname).
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Essence of LIVESTRONG
You just never know what each day of life will bring. Last Thursday, I experienced the essence of what it means to LIVE STRONG. I realized that the impact of pedaling across Iowa in support of cancer far exceeds the corn fields of that great state. As with most of life, I was circumstantially in the right place at the right time when someone needed something.
I attended a meeting at the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, which is usually no big deal because my Safe Routes to School grant is funded by AHTD and once a quarter we provide an update/progress report to the program officer. But, on this particular day…it was a big deal. As with most state agencies, AHTD security requires your ID, a DNA sample, and your first born to proceed (not really, but sometimes it sure feels like it). Anyway, the security officer was a pleasant woman, probably in her early forties, with a contagious smile. I immediately noticed that she was wearing a LIVESTRONG wristband, but I also noticed it was very tattered and about to tear into. I told her she needed a new bracelet and that is when it happened…the essence of yellow, of hope, of faith, of never giving up, and always sharing.
In a positive, albeit cracking voice, she told me she put that wristband on the day her 17-year old son started his first treatment for Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Chills abound, I told her I had just returned from Iowa as part of Team LIVESTRONG. I told her I had pedaled 480+ miles with 175 other people who wanted to find a cure for cancer and eradicate the disease forever. I remembered that I had some wristbands at home and told her I’d bring her one the next time I visited. Then, without thinking, I just ripped off my wristband and gave it to her. She managed a “thank you” and her facial expression and “unsaid words” said it all. I scurried to my meeting knowing that I’d get to say a few more words to her when I returned my visitor’s badge.
My meeting with Steve went well as usual. We talked about upcoming Safe Routes events and discussed where the program was going next. The meeting ended and I headed back to the security desk. Adorned with a mostly new LIVESTRONG bracelet, she was eager to show me pictures of her son. He was handsome, had her smile, and seemed so full of life. I asked if he was receiving treatment at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and he is...third round now.
A mother, heavily concerned about her son’s future, was almost tearful at this point as was I. To divert teary dialogue, I wished her well and then quickly stepped outside. As I approached my car, I noticed the LIVESTRONG wristband magnet and I thought she needed that too. I went back inside to give her the car magnet and she said her son, Bobby, would be thrilled to hear my story of RAGBRAI with Team LIVESTRONG and Lance.
While Bobby is under the care of one of the best pediatric oncologists around, he still has a long road ahead. And when I think about that journey, I’m able to draw a perfect parallel. The essence of RAGBRAI is that you get up every day and just head down a long road, sometimes known (if you are a local) and sometimes not (mostly the case for me), until you come to the next stop. Similarly, the essence of LIVESTRONG is that you just remain steadfast in the face of whatever you may be presented with. I’ve heard LIVESTRONG stories that not only involve cancer, but also include living strong during weight loss, divorce, domestic abuse, etc. The bracelet I shared with the unassuming AHTD security officer has traveled many miles and has provided strength during some uncertain times lately. However, I know it will travel many more miles and will encounter additional difficulties while on her arm.
As the LAF proclaims, “everyone has a story”… I was circumstantially in the right place at the right time when someone needed something and this is yet another LIVESTRONG story that deserves to be told. Bobby, may God bless you and your family and please know that you are not alone in this fight!
Today, tomorrow, always ~ LIVESTRONG
SK
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Friday, Day Zero of RAGBRAI 08
Sleeping bag…check
Tent…check
Bike…check
Sunscreen…check
A thousand other things…checked a thousand other times.
For those of you who know me, I can be slightly OCD. Ok, I admit it, slightly might be an understatement. I can be VERY OCD. About a month before RAGBRAI, I pulled out last year’s packing list and began scratching things I really didn’t need. After just one RAGBRAI, I learned there are things you MUST have, things you MIGHT need, and things that are better left at home. Last year, my bag was deemed “the body bag” and I had enough stuff to stay in the desert for two months!
2 weeks before this year’s RAGBRAI, I had most of my camping stuff packed. About a week before, I had most of my casual clothing packed, and the day before departure I packed my biking stuff. So, Friday rolls around and I check, and recheck, and check the list again. Did I really pack everything I need in a medium-sized duffle (WITH WHEELS…another lesson learned), a small gear bag, and a backpack? Oh yeah baby, off to a great start already!!!
So, the plan was for me to meet DVP and his crew (Lonnie, Gatty, Langley, Princess Paul, and another Chris) at 6pm to head for Iowa. Yes, I had visions of National Lampoon’s Vacation dancing in my head. Me and 6 guys in an RV smooth rolling to the largest cycling event in the US, and one appropriately called the “Spring Break for 40 year olds”. All day, I worried that plans had changed, that no one called to tell me, and that perhaps I’d miss the boat so to speak. I rushed around and made sure that Husband Chris had me there by 5:30. As we rounded the corner, I made a comment that I hoped I wasn’t late…to which we then saw a HUGE RV parked in the lot and Chris said, “Oh, I think THAT may be your ride”.
Well, I wasn’t late…in fact, we didn’t get on the road until 7pm. I should have known that a bunch of guys leaving for one of their yearly “man trips” wouldn’t be in a rush or be on time for that matter. Nonetheless, here we go…one of the wives sent awesome black bean salsa that literally made it to about Morrilton. IPODS, movies, “magazines”, and beer filled the RV. Despite the fact that I only knew 1 of the 6 guys when I got on the RV (ironically, only DVP knew that a “gurl” would be hitching a ride in the 'man van'), I guess I passed the “cool chick test”. Very quickly, the rest of the guys queried me about (a) my riding ability and (b) my husband’s thought process (why would a man let his wife board a vehicle with 6 strangers?). They threw Pulp Fiction in the DVD player and I knew every word…apparently that pushed Jenn Shaw into the “ok, she can ride with us” category.
I might be known for having margaritas in my water bottle from time to time, so when it was announced that we would be making a liquor store pit stop, I had no objections. We reach Fayetteville, home of the Joe Martin Stage Race, and we turn down Razorback Road. Oh yeah, I’m sure there must be a liquor store right off the interstate in a college town! But, we keep going and I’m thinking….crap, we’re headed to Dickson Street. So, envision if you will…a 27 foot RV with a 4-bike hitch-mounted rack rolling down skinny D-Street at 10:30pm on a Friday night…cars parked on both sides, drunks stumbling out of Jose’s!!! Unbeknownst to me, DVP’s son works at THE liquor store on D-Street. We pull into the parking lot…sorta…the back half of the RV and the racked bikes are sticking out into the street! Holy cow…I’m glad my bike got to ride inside! We stroll in, make our selections (inclusive of Patron of course), and then head over to Chili’s to have dinner.
Now, I knew this would be the next “cool chick” hurdle. I ordered a salad given that I’m vegetarian, but the guys didn’t hound me too hard. We finished our meal and with full bellies we loaded the RV and drove to Joplin, MO where we pulled over for the evening…Wal-Mart parking lot baby…best sleeping spot EVER. I had already been warned that the RV became the “ICE CAVE” at night. OMG, I froze to death. I had on several layers of clothing plus a blanket and I still couldn’t sleep because I was shivering. One of the guys said it looked as if I was sleeping in a small cocoon…balled up and face covered. At any rate, morning came and I went into a Wal-Mart restroom to “freshen up”. I also picked up a smoothie and some fresh fruit….and as Willie would say…we were ON THE ROAD AGAIN!!!
As the miles passed, I learned we were going to stop in Council Bluffs (a town about 15 miles for the RAGBRAI start town). Apparently there were a number of reasons for this: (a) there was a casino, (b) we had to pick up their RV driver for the week (Capt’n Dan…more about him later), and (c) we had to hit another Wal-Mart to buy their groceries for the week. So first on the list, Harrah’s Casino…I don’t gamble much so I watched the rest of the crew lose money. The highlight of the stop was the yummy buffet…I knew it would be the last decent meal I would get for a week.
After a crazy Wal-Mart shopping expedition (just imagine watching 6 guys throw calorie-dense treats and lots-o-meat into a buggy), we were on a mission to pick up DAN. The crew had relayed to me somewhere between Kansas City and Council Bluffs just how they found DAN. The story involves Princess Paul, a girl from Iowa, and the need to find a mostly competent person to drive the RV from point A to point B during the RAGBRAI week. Dan is of “Injine” decent from the Potawatomi tribe (I think I got that right…I know it starts with a P!!!). A few text messages indicate where DAN can be found, so we plug the address into the coveted (but not so loved) Tom-Tom and low and behold, Dan appears. I deem DAN to be Capt’n Dan rather than Injine Dan just so I can be PC. All is good and the Feng is Shui now in the RV, so we head to the RAGBRAI start town: Missouri Valley.
The Little Rock crew finds the perfect place to park the RV. I unload my bike, ride to the expo, and locate the LIVESTRONG campsite. The RV is at least 2 miles from the LS campsite…in other words, it’s too far to try to negotiate luggage!!! No problem though…I ride back to the RV and my teammate Lisa volunteers to pick me up on her way back from dinner. And what better way to kick off RAGBRAI than to mix a couple of margarita water bottles to go!!! I got my first RAGBRAI tattoo as we loaded Lisa's vehicle...I think it was a team from Indiana that was passing by…something about the Hoosiers…oh yes….welcome to RAGBRAI ’08 baby!!!!
More RAGBRAI tails to come...
Thanks for reading,
SK
Tent…check
Bike…check
Sunscreen…check
A thousand other things…checked a thousand other times.
For those of you who know me, I can be slightly OCD. Ok, I admit it, slightly might be an understatement. I can be VERY OCD. About a month before RAGBRAI, I pulled out last year’s packing list and began scratching things I really didn’t need. After just one RAGBRAI, I learned there are things you MUST have, things you MIGHT need, and things that are better left at home. Last year, my bag was deemed “the body bag” and I had enough stuff to stay in the desert for two months!
2 weeks before this year’s RAGBRAI, I had most of my camping stuff packed. About a week before, I had most of my casual clothing packed, and the day before departure I packed my biking stuff. So, Friday rolls around and I check, and recheck, and check the list again. Did I really pack everything I need in a medium-sized duffle (WITH WHEELS…another lesson learned), a small gear bag, and a backpack? Oh yeah baby, off to a great start already!!!
So, the plan was for me to meet DVP and his crew (Lonnie, Gatty, Langley, Princess Paul, and another Chris) at 6pm to head for Iowa. Yes, I had visions of National Lampoon’s Vacation dancing in my head. Me and 6 guys in an RV smooth rolling to the largest cycling event in the US, and one appropriately called the “Spring Break for 40 year olds”. All day, I worried that plans had changed, that no one called to tell me, and that perhaps I’d miss the boat so to speak. I rushed around and made sure that Husband Chris had me there by 5:30. As we rounded the corner, I made a comment that I hoped I wasn’t late…to which we then saw a HUGE RV parked in the lot and Chris said, “Oh, I think THAT may be your ride”.
Well, I wasn’t late…in fact, we didn’t get on the road until 7pm. I should have known that a bunch of guys leaving for one of their yearly “man trips” wouldn’t be in a rush or be on time for that matter. Nonetheless, here we go…one of the wives sent awesome black bean salsa that literally made it to about Morrilton. IPODS, movies, “magazines”, and beer filled the RV. Despite the fact that I only knew 1 of the 6 guys when I got on the RV (ironically, only DVP knew that a “gurl” would be hitching a ride in the 'man van'), I guess I passed the “cool chick test”. Very quickly, the rest of the guys queried me about (a) my riding ability and (b) my husband’s thought process (why would a man let his wife board a vehicle with 6 strangers?). They threw Pulp Fiction in the DVD player and I knew every word…apparently that pushed Jenn Shaw into the “ok, she can ride with us” category.
I might be known for having margaritas in my water bottle from time to time, so when it was announced that we would be making a liquor store pit stop, I had no objections. We reach Fayetteville, home of the Joe Martin Stage Race, and we turn down Razorback Road. Oh yeah, I’m sure there must be a liquor store right off the interstate in a college town! But, we keep going and I’m thinking….crap, we’re headed to Dickson Street. So, envision if you will…a 27 foot RV with a 4-bike hitch-mounted rack rolling down skinny D-Street at 10:30pm on a Friday night…cars parked on both sides, drunks stumbling out of Jose’s!!! Unbeknownst to me, DVP’s son works at THE liquor store on D-Street. We pull into the parking lot…sorta…the back half of the RV and the racked bikes are sticking out into the street! Holy cow…I’m glad my bike got to ride inside! We stroll in, make our selections (inclusive of Patron of course), and then head over to Chili’s to have dinner.
Now, I knew this would be the next “cool chick” hurdle. I ordered a salad given that I’m vegetarian, but the guys didn’t hound me too hard. We finished our meal and with full bellies we loaded the RV and drove to Joplin, MO where we pulled over for the evening…Wal-Mart parking lot baby…best sleeping spot EVER. I had already been warned that the RV became the “ICE CAVE” at night. OMG, I froze to death. I had on several layers of clothing plus a blanket and I still couldn’t sleep because I was shivering. One of the guys said it looked as if I was sleeping in a small cocoon…balled up and face covered. At any rate, morning came and I went into a Wal-Mart restroom to “freshen up”. I also picked up a smoothie and some fresh fruit….and as Willie would say…we were ON THE ROAD AGAIN!!!
As the miles passed, I learned we were going to stop in Council Bluffs (a town about 15 miles for the RAGBRAI start town). Apparently there were a number of reasons for this: (a) there was a casino, (b) we had to pick up their RV driver for the week (Capt’n Dan…more about him later), and (c) we had to hit another Wal-Mart to buy their groceries for the week. So first on the list, Harrah’s Casino…I don’t gamble much so I watched the rest of the crew lose money. The highlight of the stop was the yummy buffet…I knew it would be the last decent meal I would get for a week.
After a crazy Wal-Mart shopping expedition (just imagine watching 6 guys throw calorie-dense treats and lots-o-meat into a buggy), we were on a mission to pick up DAN. The crew had relayed to me somewhere between Kansas City and Council Bluffs just how they found DAN. The story involves Princess Paul, a girl from Iowa, and the need to find a mostly competent person to drive the RV from point A to point B during the RAGBRAI week. Dan is of “Injine” decent from the Potawatomi tribe (I think I got that right…I know it starts with a P!!!). A few text messages indicate where DAN can be found, so we plug the address into the coveted (but not so loved) Tom-Tom and low and behold, Dan appears. I deem DAN to be Capt’n Dan rather than Injine Dan just so I can be PC. All is good and the Feng is Shui now in the RV, so we head to the RAGBRAI start town: Missouri Valley.
The Little Rock crew finds the perfect place to park the RV. I unload my bike, ride to the expo, and locate the LIVESTRONG campsite. The RV is at least 2 miles from the LS campsite…in other words, it’s too far to try to negotiate luggage!!! No problem though…I ride back to the RV and my teammate Lisa volunteers to pick me up on her way back from dinner. And what better way to kick off RAGBRAI than to mix a couple of margarita water bottles to go!!! I got my first RAGBRAI tattoo as we loaded Lisa's vehicle...I think it was a team from Indiana that was passing by…something about the Hoosiers…oh yes….welcome to RAGBRAI ’08 baby!!!!
More RAGBRAI tails to come...
Thanks for reading,
SK
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