Celebration of Successes

Our Weekend in Austin provided opportunity for some rest...some celebration....more eating...and yes....some more cycling (because we just didn't get enough the past 8 days!)....

Friday evening was the Welcome Reception:




We also had a chance to take in some Austin Food Trucks!







Saturday morning was a planned yoga with whoever was willing to wake up...this was my first ever...my new term for yoga is 'extreme stretching':




While shopping at Mellow Johnny's (a very unique bike shop owned by Lance Armstrong)...we bumped into Adrienne Arsenault from the CBC...who did an interview with some of us on our event and adventure. She wanted to know how the whole Lance thing affected us. We told her that it didn't...that LiveStrong has done some phenomenal things for people with cancer. Not sure if they actually aired any of the footage on TV though!




Saturday night...we continued the tradition of the Calgary folks...and transported everyone to the famous Salt Lick BBQ! Met, meat, and more meat!













And because its been a whole day since we last got on our bikes...Sunday morning, we participated in the LiveStrong Challenge - 105km bike ride with 4500 other cyclists:










At the finish line with another Wellspring Warrior, Diane:






And lastly...the least fun part of this adventure...packing up the bikes and gear for their safe transport home....







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The Austin Finish Line!

While 3500 km's may seem like a long distance to bike...and 8 days may seem like a long time...it arrives unbelievably quick for those of us how have been involved with this ride. After many months of planning, fundraising, and training....the almost seems too short. Riders and volunteers gathered on Friday morning in Bee Cave for a group photo prior to our last and final ride into Austin:




We had an opportunity to as a group...and it was time to reunite with our family and friends...as well as our Wellspring Warriors. We only had ~ 30 km's to ride - however it was probably the most exciting of all the days so far. Our entire group of riders, followed by our Mac's support vehicle, 4 vans, and the Motor Home, paraded to the finish together.

We were led by Jason, our own Warrior turned rider:










We all celebrated that day...at the finish and at an evening reception. Aside from completing as a team an extraordinary journey...without any major incidents, and with everyone arriving safely....we also announced to the group that we have raised over $400,000 for Wellspring in this first year of the event. AWESOME. We can't thank everyone enough for all that you have done to help make this event a success!

Some more photos....

With Donna, our Warrior, who inspired us to keep going when the hills were too big and steep, when the night rides were too cold, and when the wind gusts were blowing against us....she helped us get to the finish line:




Amazing to see Gail, Mya, and Ben....as well as our good friend Beth from Texas!



Our volunteers who helped to ensure the riders arrived safely!




Congrats to my friend Ryan....who this year...learned how to ride a road bike....learned how to personally raise almost $15,000....and oh yes...then had to ride his bike to Texas!




Thank you to my friend Loris....for taking on this challenge and hammering up every hill we encountered as if the road was flat:




Thank you to my fellow pharmacists, friends, and team mates, Dean and Gary, who allowed me to convince them that joining me on this adventure was a good idea:




This adventure has truly been EPIC in all aspects....epic fundraising...epic friendships....epic riding....just EPIC.

-billy

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What is Bee Cave?

The riders and volunteers speak if Bee Cave as the destination before the destination. It's the place the Calgary group has used in the past....and it's the place that we decided to use as well. Until you have been there...no one is really sure what it is. Is it a giant cave within which the team has a big bonfire? Is it an area over saturated with bees to which riders can refuel with sweet honey? No...simply....Bee Cave is a city in the suburbs of Austin. We do not know how it's name was derived....however, it is the perfect destination before the destination. Due to the relay style of the ride, in order for the group to arrive together into Austin....there needs to be a spot to congregate. That is Bee Cave. To be exact...it is the Mountain Star Lodge located in the city of Bee Cave, which is the meeting spot. The folks at the lodge have been used to providing this resting spot to Canadian cyclists...and their hospitality as we invaded their space over the course of 24 hours was fantastic.

What did we do at Bee Cave?

Our team, as Team 1, arrived first. After our midnight to 6am ride, we may the decision to drive directly to this final transition point. It took some efforts, as we have all be awake for many, many hours, and tired from the ride...however the excitement of being 'almost there' helped to keep the van moving forward.

On arrival at Bee Cave....we ate...we relaxed and slept (some of us), we washed the vehicles for the final ride, we welcomed teams 2, 3, and 4, as they finished their shifts and drove into the meeting spot. And many of us stayed up to welcome Team 5 as they cycled into the lodge parking at 1:30am.

We then prepared for the final day of riding to the Austin finish line the next morning. Almost there....















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Random Acts of Generosity

When a group of people do amazing things...others follow suit. Team 2 while driving to their next transition point had a tire in their van blow out on them. Luckily, they managed to safely navigate to the side of the road and everyone was safe. After changing to the spare which looked to be well worn down - the van was brought to a Tire Max for resolution. On hearing the situation and what the team was doing - the owner of the shop provided a new tire and the service for free. He indicated that it was his contribution to the ride. More awesomeness.

Some other highlights from the day...

We ate lunch at one of the best places so far...the Pig Out Inn in Natchez. The BEST pulled pork sandwiches in a family run restaurant:





We crossed the mighty Mississippi...


We entered TEXAS !!!!!


Our team decided to take a trip to Target for some Halloween supplies. The result was a fully transformed hotel room with a crime scene...which we passed on to Team 5 after their ride. They truly enjoyed the surprise!


Our ride for the day was from midnight to 6am after about 1 hour sleep. There were thunderstorms in the area and also tornado warnings close by. We saw a lightning show as we rode...and luckily...and somehow...we remained dry throughout our shift.


Our ride was 123 km's from Jasper, Texas to just West of Onalaska. Here's my team at the finish...6am and a little tired...but feeling great at the accomplishment. This last long ride was dedicated to our Wellspring Warrior, Donna.



Donna's surprise for us today...pins with the Canada flag, Trillium, and City of Kawartha Lakes (where she is from)...we will wear them proudly on our final ride into Austin tomorrow:


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Our AWESOME volunteers

I would like to start off today by acknowledging and thanking all the volunteers on our team. Without them...there would be no ride. They support our riders by finding great rest stops and transition points. They protect us from cars and trucks to which we have to share the same road. They are troopers and do 12 hour shifts at a time. They are awesome and are as much a part of the team as the riders. Thank you!

Bill and Derek - Support vehicle:



Jim and Jeannie - Motor home:



Glenn and Ron - Support vehicle:



Doug and Nancy - Motor home:



Dave and Bruce - Support vehicle:



Spencer (3rd from left) and Scott (Far left in blue) - Motor home:



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Team BMOCA goes off-roading!

One of the best parts of our route to Austin is being able to ride on the Natchez Trace Parkway. We only got to the entrance near Nashville on our last ride. Today....we got to do our entire shift on the path (most of it at least...more on this later). It is simply amazing. We heard from the previous 4 teams about the awesomeness...and finally got to experience it for ourselves. Think Disney for cyclists, as one of the teams has described.

Our shift was from 6pm to midnight. We got to ride the path both in light and dark (and it got DARK). There was lots of wildlife (especially deer) and the scenery was spectacular. The road was smooth, flat, fast and there was very little traffic for most of the way. Absolutely zero complaints...just awesomeness.










About the off-roading...

There was a detour on the path near Jackson Mississippi - cars were required to get off while cyclists can still ride through. Our support vehicles were sent away to meet us later on...while our team stayed on the route. We had about 20 km's of 'freedom' without anyone with us. Just the bikes, our lights, an empty road, and the quiet of the night. It was like children being allowed to play for the first time without parents watching. The off-roading was a section that required us to go off the path...grass and dirt for about a kilometre in the dark....mountain bikes would have worked great here. Sorry no photos...it was way to dark...

Our team finished the ride shift early due to the great conditions...125 km's - and we are now almost 2500 km's done by all 5 teams. Almost there...only a few days remaining.






Donna's envelope for us today was a welcome treat after our ride at midnight....chocolate coins!


A few stops along the way...such as Tupelo...the birthplace of Elvis...this was his house:


Some of the gas stations are truly 'classic' as you can see here with Dean:


Local bike shop in Florence, Alabama:



To help save money...teams will swap rooms when there is an opportunity. We took over rooms from Team 2 at our midnight transition, as they were riding from midnight and no longer needed the rooms. Dave and Jetje left us a treat in their room, which we found on the night table when we arrived. Awesome.



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