This year I was fortunate to have 2 friends ride with me.  Greg Sheahan and Bill Steiner.  I've known Greg for years, he and I have been in a couple squadrons together.  He even worked for me once.  Great guy and super athlete.  I met Bill the day of the ride, on the bus from San Diego to the start in Newport.  Bill's wife and daughter come to our house and help take care of Meredith and Bobby while I'm at work.  She told him about the ride and he wanted to do it.  They are a totally awesome couple!  Here is a picture of the three of us before the start of the ride.

With getting my Masters, moving, work and caring for Meredith & Bobby, I didn't ride enough in preparation for this year's ride. I started strong and felt fine, made the lunch stop fairly early. They won't let you continue on the century route if you aren't there by 1 PM. I was there a little after 11:00, even with starting 30 minutes late because the buses got lost coming from San Diego. After about 75 miles, my right knee started hurting. Same pain I had back in 1991 and at the end of the second day last year. It was so bad that I had to walk up the hills, one-leg pedal on the flats and coast down hills. I had brought some Advil in one of those little tupperware pill containers they give away at their parties, but had left it in my overnight bag. I stopped at a gas station and bought some more, but it didn't help. They sweep the course at 5:00, I finished at 5 'til. All the cheering volunteers were gone. Massage volunteers were folding up their tables. Most of the goodies were gone. They were even out of "Top Fund Raiser" jerseys in my size by the time I got there, but I did finish and got my Century 2000 patch.  Here's a photo from the party Saturday night, Bill picked up some blonde (just kidding Erica, that's Greg's wife, Lisa).

The second day I got about 13 miles before the pain was bad enough to call it quits and catch a ride on the SAG wagon. With everything else going on in my life, I can't afford to mess up my knee. One of the wiser (old) volunteers told me "when you're 50 you pay for what you do to your body in your 30's". Sound advice...

Here's a photo of Bill and Greg at the finish:

So why do it?  To raise money for research, education and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. Thank you for your continued support.

Oh, I almost forgot, that goal of reaching $2,000 was pretty conservative.  Like I was telling my mom on the phone "The worse Meredith gets, the more money I raise on the bike ride".  Total so far (still waiting on some responses) :