"Gorge"ous Bike Ride

(photo left: My crazy teammate and friend, Eluta... check out that view up at our aid station at the Women's Forum!)

What an amazing way to spend a Saturday morning! Today, we did a very long, very hilly ride. Well, at least relatively speaking. 28 miles. We started at Edgefield and rode across the Sandy river and up through Corbett. We had an amazingly beautiful aid station stop at the Women's Forum. WOW! The view was spectacular! Looking out over the Columbia River Gorge, at the seemingly endless beauty and awesomeness of my Pacific Northwest, I can't help but feel so incredibly fortunate to be healthy enough to make this journey. We were graced with the presence of our honored teammate, Darlene this morning. This is such a wonderful occasion, as she has been struggling lately with her health, problems with the bone marrow transplant, which is sadly quite common. I am so glad she felt up to joining us. She brought with her some wonderful beaded bracelets that say "HOPE" that we all wore on our ride, and I now keep in a place where I can see it often and grab it to wear when I need some extra encouragement... and hope. Remembering the encouraging words that Darlene said, and her humble giving of such an appropriate and thoughtful gift, helped me make my way up the hills. The most challenging aspect of the ride was probably the final 4 mile ascent up Larch Mountain. Woah! I repeatedly went through my collection of encouraging mantras: "Yes, I can!" "I can do it!" "I am amazing!" "Healthy body, Strong mind." And more! Guess what!? I never had to get off my bike and walk it (not that the idea of walking uphill for a few miles was attractive!) I am frankly AMAZED at how far I have come... how far the entire team has come. I even got lost on the way back... took the wrong bridge... had to go up yet another hill not on the agenda. I don't see how I can make any excuses for not being able to do anything now... I believe I can do anything I put my heart and mind to! YOU CAN TOO!!!