The sun had just risen when a small caravan
of cars left the West Island bound for Repentigny and the starting point of our
2 day bike trek to Quebec City. The
organizers had requested we all be there by 7:30 as speeches would be done at
8:00 am and we would all get on the road (hopefully) by 8:30.
I can’t begin to tell you how nervous I was
as well as excited. I was surprised I
had slept as well as I had the night before. Along the
way, we passed other cars headed in the same direction with bicycles on the
top of car roofs – some looking like mine with the name plates attached.
Arriving at the school, we parked and
proceeded to unload our overnight bags, our bikes and all necessary food &
drink for our ride. Dropping our bags
off at the designated trucks, we moved, along with the multitude of others, to
the starting area and found the meeting spot for our team. Now
came the fun part – I had to find my tent assignment. Luckily Rob came with me and we established
that not only was I close by but that I also had my own tent. I also received another shirt from the ride –
the Ambassador shirt. People who have
raised over $10,000 get these. At this
rate, I thought, I wouldn’t have to buy another cycling jersey for a long time
to come!
Team pictures were taken by the various
cameras and phones and quickly posted on Facebook. My favourite picture is one that Terri took
which shows the back of the jersey with all the names I was riding for.
After having a bite to eat and then wanting
to throw up, I was itching to get going.
So many months of training and waiting and it would start soon. I just had to get through the speeches and
then we would be gone. I had been pretty
good about holding it together until they escorted the empty bike to the starting
line and asked for a moment of silence.
The bike commemorated everyone who couldn’t be there but their spirit
was. As the moment of silence went on, I
could feel the tears welling up. Terri
hugged me hard and then suggested I ease up on the crying as everyone around me
had started to well up with tears.
Wiping my tears, she looked at me and said “You can do this! And remember to enjoy every moment!”
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| Team Hope & Gratitude 2013 |
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After the speeches were done and hugs were
given by loved ones the moment was upon us.
Watching close to 2000 riders file out past the starting line is very
surreal. Hearing our team name HOPE AND
GRATITUDE over the loudspeakers with a GOOD LUCK thrown in was inspiring and
off we pedaled.
I started off at a good pace with Rob by my
side. He told me to make sure that I
kept an even pace and not start out too fast.
He didn’t want me losing gas before I got to camp at the end of the
day. And the day was going to be hot and
humid. Luckily, the ride for the day was
broken down into 4 legs with cheering stations and pit stops along the way. As
a team, the faster riders went out first and we met up with them at the first
pit stop – about 30 kms away. I still
had lots of water left and was feeling good.
After about a rest time of 5-10 minutes, we teamed up again with everyone
and started out. At some point during
the morning after the 2nd pit stop, our team got separated and I was
riding on my own. I remember thinking that had been one of my
fears – that I would get separated and wouldn’t be able to find anyone for the
rest of the day. It didn’t matter one
bit. We were all riding for the same
cause and in the same direction. I
latched on with a group of 4 and we rode on together quietly. Cycling past the farmland and cornfields
filled me with moments of pure joy. Here
I was, doing something I had set my mind to do.
What an incredible feeling!
As we neared the lunch pit stop, there were
people along the road cheering us with words of BRAVO or KEEP GOING! As I
rounded the bend of one road, there was Terri, smiling and waving her
arms. I had enough time to shout and give
her a high five as I passed by. Pulling into the lunch pit stop, I had enough
time to get my lunch and sit on the grass before she appeared right in front of
me! Getting a big hug was a boost for my
spirits and stamina!
Finishing lunch, the team and I headed back
out and once again we got separated.
Deciding to do what I did in the morning, I latched onto teams and
cycled with them. Keeping up a good
speed and figuring I didn’t need to stop at the last pit stop before the campsite,
I kept going. As I would pass a team
that I had cycled with, I would thank them.
Some hadn’t even known I was behind them.
Hitting the final street before the Day 1
finish line, I ran into Rob. He had
already finished but was coming out to find me because he had made a promise to
me – that we would cross the finish line together. It was great to cross that line with all the
people cheering. What a moment! And in crossing the finish line I had created
a personal best for myself – 4:30:21 for 114 kms! What a feeling!
After a beer and a shower, I was ready for
a nap. Setting up my stuff in my tent, I
took a page from someone across the way and lay down with my feet in the tent
and my head on the grass. Seeing a
picture opportunity, one of the official photographers of the event snapped my picture
while I was laying there.
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| Trying to catch 40 winks |
Getting some food and then a walk down to
the local bar for a nightcap had me beat by 7:30. Giving up, I said goodnight to my teammates
and went to hit the hay. Knowing that I
still had 120 kms to go the next day was daunting enough but I didn’t want to
be dead tired doing it as well. From
what I could tell, camp settled down for the night around 9:30 pm. Everyone wanted to be in tip top form for the
next day.
Next blog:
Day 2 of The Ride
