The benefit show was a great success, due, in no small part, to the hard work and dedication of DynaMO Pair. Many thanks to Opposite Day, the Coffee Sergeants, Syd’s Portal, Kevin Gant, Steve Arceri, Laci, Ethan Azarian, Evan, Paige, j, Karla Manzur, Doug Snyder, and all my friends old and new that came out to the Church of the Friendly Ghost last Saturday. I was able to ride 80 miles earlier that day which aided a guilt-free evening of celebration.

I can’t believe how time has flown. In two weeks and a day, I will be on the road. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to say “I’m ready,” each ride brings new challenges. I’m a little nervous knowing that we are all about to ride into unfamiliar territory, but I’ve been contacting several cities in the hopes that we’ll have friendly faces greeting us along the way. The emails and phone calls have made me really wish I was heading through Portland, which is, apparently, a sister city to Austin. Ready or not here we come!

I’ve been spending the last few weeks with the people I love (in Illinois & Austin), training, and making mental models of bear attacks. Last weekend, we celebrated Mother’s Day and my sister, Katie, graduated with her Education degree…I’m not sure why I received the smallest dose of height in my family.

This weekend, in addition to the benefit, I helped throw a baby shower for my friends, Sam & Margaret. Their little girl is due a few days before I return. Next weekend, it’s back to Illinois for a family wedding and to celebrate my dad’s birthday…maybe a little bike work to make him more comfortable for Bike the Drive.

At the moment, I’m nursing a sore throat, hopefully it won’t linger, so I can get back on the bike!