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This is a mobile update as my mom drives us home to San Jose to let you know that the ride went great!! All of our riders were awesome and many finished all 5 passes. The weather was good, although some were caught in a late afternoon rain storm and there seemed to be a head wind climbing the last pass. We all met great people the ride, enjoyed the excellent support and the breathtaking views.
I am exhausted today, but will pull the final story together this week to recap the culmination of months of training and fundraising. Thank you to all who have supported this effort – what a difference we will make for the kids at Christmas!

Team TurningWheels for Kids is at T-minus 16 hours until we’re up to take on the Death Ride.

I saw many of our teammates yesterday in Markleeville – Mike F, Dave R, Scott G, Todd O, Derek L, Dan M, John O, Mark M and Jessica J.  All have been preparing for tomorrow in their own way – some climbing mountains and some eating every 20 minutes – but all are in positive spirits.

The weather looks like it will be very cold in the morning, but not too hot in the afternoon and there is no call for rain (or hail).  Some of the group is starting in the dark with lights on their bikes (4:30am – I think they are crazy!), but I’ll be half way over Ebbetts Pass in my car at that time, so I can’t say too much.  My goal is to start at first light, somewhere between 5:15 and 5:30am.

My family all comes in today and we’ll have a grand finale dinner this evening at Lake Alpine Lodge.  I’m going for salmon, rice and vegetables.

Cross your fingers for no suicidal squirrels, fallen rocks or leaping deer crossing our path tomorrow!

Until the recap,

Leah

I left Bear Valley this morning (post watching the live coverage of the Tour de France which started at 5:30am because yes, I am that big of a fan) on a short ride up to Mosquito Lake.  It’s less than a 20 mile loop and with the exception of a few short and steep hills, it is primarily a rolling, 1.5 lane, beautiful mountain road, passing Lake Alpine and many other vistas of the surrounding mountains.  Bear Valley sits at 7,000 feet up in the Sierra Nevada and is primarily very mountainous terrain.

About 30 minutes into the ride on this narrow road I pulled off to the side to let a very large cattle truck pass going in the other direction.  Then I stopped for another, one more, and a final fourth.  All were empty.  Just the weekend before I had passed ‘mountain cows’ in Hermit Valley, so I wasn’t too surprised to see the trucks, but I’d never passed any before.

A bit farther along the road I started to notice the evidence of the aforementioned cattle trucks.  Many ‘landmines’ had been left in their wake and with me riding on skinny tires, I was doing all I could to swerve and weave around them.

When I reached Mosquito Lake I rode just past it to catch the grand view of the open canyon and mountains to the east.  I had no intention of riding down Pacific Grade as the climb out is very steep, with some 18% grades.  It wasn’t 100 yards past this corner where I saw the result of the four empty cattle trucks.  In front of me were 7 cowboy hat-wearing ranchers on horses herding what must have been 100+ head of cattle down Hwy 4/Pacific Grade – this narrow, 1.5 lane, steep, rocky road.  I couldn’t help but laugh at the cacophony of sound coming from the mooing cows, their many cow bells, hooves on pavement and the whoops of two of the ranchers who were precariously perched on the steep, rocky embankment on the left side of the road, trying to steer some of their daring mountain-climbing cows back into the group.

Cars were stopped behind the herd, I imagine in front of it and definitely in the middle of it.  What I wouldn’t have given to have had my camera with me – it was quite a sight.

I give it up to the herd masters – it cannot be an easy task to guide 100 head of cattle down a steep mountain road with cars coming both directions and rambunctious cows literally heading for the hills.  I learned later that they ‘reside’ in Hermit Valley for the summer eating the newly sprung grass.  I now have a more defined understanding of why there are two cattle guards across the road on Ebbetts Pass – there are most definitely cows up here.

My ride back consisted of more bobbing and weaving to avoid the cow patties.  Instead I hit a big pot hole (apparently only looking to avoid the color brown…).

5 days to go!!!

For those who have kept up with the broken 4th toe saga, I finally went into the podiatrist who took an x-ray.  Final result: not broken!  I suppose that’s good, but my foot still aches when riding.

I went for a short ride yesterday – about 4 hours and 45 miles from Bear Valley to the top of Ebbetts Pass.  About 3 hours into the ride my right foot started to ache and continued to do so through the rest of the ride.  This is improvement from last week when it took only 45 minutes until the pain began, but I still have a long way to go if my foot is not going to be an issue over the 10 – 11hr ride on Saturday.

Hard to imagine, but there are only 5 days left until the 2009 Death Ride.  Our team is incredible and all are prepared to acheive their own goals come Saturday.  If you haven’t read their bios on the main TurningWheels for Kids bio page, please do.  Each individual is amazing in their drive, generosity and will to do this ride in support of TurningWheels.

Thank you to all who continue to support me by donating – I know I’ll reach my goal with your help!

I went out for a little over 2 hours this morning as my first test with the bruised, sore, can’t-get-into-a-shoe toe.  The first 45 minutes were pain free, but it went downhill from there.  The descent on Hamilton has some rough road and any jarring was felt acutely by my right foot.  Because I stand on my pedals on descents, all pressure rests on the balls of my feet.  That practice may not work going forward because by the bottom of the road my whole right foot ached.

Ah well – new strategy tomorrow.  My cycling guru/coach/PT extraordinaire Curtis Cramblett recommended putting arch support in my shoe to take some of the pressure off the balls of my feet (and hence the toe).  I will try that tomorrow, but there’s not a whole lot of room in there for inserts.

The highlight of the ride was that I just had my bike tuned at Hyland and it shifts soooo smoothly now.  Thanks Bill!