First of all, THANK YOU to everybody who supported us this year and every year.
YOU ARE WONDERFUL!
You are making a difference in many people's lives.
THANK YOU!
This is my favorite picture this year. Matthew turned 12 and so the whole family was able to ride. What surprises me most about this picture is how short I look! When did the kids get so tall!?!
This is the whole team this year. Ten team members. Five teens. Five non-teens. Of the ten team members two were rookies.
Rookie number one is Jonathon Hales. He is a math genius. The number on his helmet, 541, is apparently the 100th prime. Only Jonny would recognize that, at least he is the only one on our team that would recognize that. What a cool number! Also, notice the orange finger nail polish. Jon was a really good sport. He wore the nail polish like a true Iron Eagle. He was the first one at the finish line. He took off in true Rookie fashion with lots of energy, way out in front of all of us and made a wrong turn. Or maybe it was a right turn. Because he took that turn he made it to the finish line in time to get his van and come rescue us at lunch.
Jonny to the rescue! Jon drove up to the lunch stop and was able to fit an amazing amount of bikes in his van. Five bikes! Half the team! Go Jon! And a big thanks to Lisa's husband Scott who also came with a car to cart people back to the fairgrounds.
Rookie number two, Matthew. He would not be caught dead eating oatmeal any other day. On race day though he ate it with a smile :-)
Rest stop number one. It was sooooo cold this year! Some team members decided to do jumping jacks to keep warm. I wish I had gone with my first instinct and worn my long sleeves. We thought it would warm up. It did but not until we were basically done.
Rest stop number two. Newton. Matthew is doing his "serious joker" face :-)
Aunt Lisa and Aunt Marianne. Always on the look out for a contest. Apparently the Honey Bucket company was doing a contest. Take a selfie with a Honey Bucket and you might win something! Woohoo! Crossing our fingers.
Annalisa, showing us what real riders eat for energy.
Kathryn showing off her cool curls. Kathryn has true BikeMS spirit! Go Kathryn! :-)
For Bethany!
Matthew met a patch of gravel that didn't agree with him. I am actually very relieved that this is all that happened. No stitches needed. He'll just have a nasty scar. I won't post the actual wound (you're welcome :-) I was so worried that he would end up in an accident. The BikeMS route has really changed since I first rode in 2005. A large majority of the route is on very busy roads and there are less volunteers helping out at intersections. We spent a lot of time before BikeMS riding as a family, practicing riding in a line, using hand signals etc. Not very fun for the kids. They did really great though on the ride so I guess it paid off :-) Next year I need to get a GoPro video camera. I missed so many pictures on the bike. The team did so well with staying in a straight line. We even got complimented by one of the ride marshals :-) Yay us! And the kids actually had a good time. It was fun to watch them call out "Hyabusa!" (our team cheer) and play games like I Spy.
Annalisa helping Matthew to the finish line.
Matthew walking in to cheers from the crowd.
The girls showing off their scars (not from this ride). I personally could not see the scars. Apparently they are there though. Now everyone in the family will have a scar :-)
We missed Uncle Dr. Reid. These paramedics were very helpful though.
It was cold and rainy but we could not pass up the free snow cone! :-)
Can you pick out the Rookie in this picture?
Carbo-loading at Olive Garden.
Father and son.
Jonny before the ride.
Extended family :-)
The rookies.
Captain America and his faithful sidekick
