The end of DEN

The rebirth of the Denver 3-Day is done. The event was not without challenges but we made it through with good weather and happy walkers.

The route was gorgeous with mountain, lake, and river vistas and neighborhoods of spectacular mansions full of beautiful people. Excellent law enforcement support from Cherry Hills PD and others enhanced the whole experience.

It was great to see so many friends from the AZ walks. I'm sorry we lost Craig this year as he would have been a welcome addition to our team. He will be missed in AZ as well.

To Jim, my favorite power walker from OR, I'm sorry your couldn't finish but I'm glad your OK and I look forward to seeing you on a route sometime, somewhere.

And to Mr. and Mrs. August, you guys are amazing. I've never seen anyone fight or come back from red tagging so aggressively. You finished and that is a testament to your dedication.

Dan, it is always great to see a Motocrew member in sneakers and a coconut bra on the route. Congrats on finishing your first event from the other viewpoint. Nicely done.

That wraps up my Denver event. A few days hanging out in Colorado then on to the next leg of my great adventure. If the weather and lack of a job holds, I should be in Halifax, Nova Scotia in a few weeks then heading back west to attend the San Francisco 3-Day in October.

Day 2 is here

What, I hear you say, happened to Day 1? Well, we got busy. It is a small event with only 650 +/- walkers which is understandable given that this is the first year returning to Denver and a tough economy. Certainly hoping for a stronger showing in 2010.

BTW, who knew it got so damn cold in Denver? :-). Hot day yesterday on the route with beautiful skies. Very warm last night night when I climbed into the tent but 2:10am, not so much. OK, add some long underwear. 3:30am. Damn. Add more clothes. 4:00am. Shit. Nothing left to put on. 4:15am. Just give up and get up.

OK, I am passed that now. Great breaksfast, good people, happy walkers.

OK, Let's Go!

And away we go...

The bags are repacked and I am heading to bed. Up at 3am, heading for Opening Ceremonies at 3:30, first cars dropping off walkers at 4, Opening speeches at 6:30 and the walk is underway by 6:45am. Wish the walkers well and come out and cheer if you are in Denver!

Denver Crew Day 2009

I got tired of the "Tough Guys Wear Pink" shirt that has lasted me for 6 years and 20 events.

And so it begins...

The crew arrives in dribs and drabs, the hotel staff still seem confused and the walkers are already smiling and thanking the crew. It is 3-Day season for me. This is what it is all about.

The bike has the appropriate accoutrements, my boob helmet is at the ready and my pink shirts are hanging in the closet. Tomorrow morning we will meet for our training, my 21st such session, and get a chance to meet our route safety team. Some of the coolest guys from the AZ 3-Day are here in Denver but we are missing a few others. Chuck, get well, we need you to lead us in AZ in November.

Park and Fly

The bike is safely parked at the Harley dealer in Denver and they are actively siphoning my savings as they perform maintenance and add one helluva loud airhorn. ;-)

In a few hours I fly back to California to meet up with my family for the annual beach vacation which is, conveniently, 2 miles from my house. Then, the final meeting with my client on Tuesday and a short Southwest flight back to Denver. 3-Day season, here I come!

I am so looking forward to this event in Denver. We should have somewhere near 1,000 walkers and a full-sized Route Safety team which means I can hug the walkers 5.5x more frequently than I can in San Diego! How cool is that?

Wowowee

Today was a Wow day. Starting from Ely, NV I continued on The Loneliest Road in America, Hwy 50 to Utah.

Once I hit Utah, however the scenery changed significantly. This is the Wow part since my route took me through Red Canyon, skirting Bryce and other lovely areas. I made a big horseshoe around the canyons and actually said Wow out loud a few times. I don't think anyone heard me over the XM Stereo and my pipes. No worries, I know I said it.

Tomorrow I continue East but I am ahead of schedule, so I will start looking for alternate routes. Just to kill time, you understand. I don't want to, I have to.

En route to Denver

The end of day 2 of my completely indirect, scenic, meandering route to Denver. Tonight and tomorrow I am in South Lake Tahoe.

The trip by the numbers so far:

7,200 Elevation change

714 Mileage traveled

34 Temperature change

5 Skunk-induced breath-holds

1 State line crossed

0 Miles closer to Denver 3-Day

The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated

As I pack the bike and saddle up to start my 2009 Komen for the Cure 3-Day season, I realize that I was a little remiss last year. One post saying the season is here and then... well... there was no then. Apparently I got a little busy. That does tend to happen when I am in the middle of traffic, but that is no excuse.

This year, I promise to be better. If not, I will delete this post and pretend I never committed to anything.

It is early morning already and I have not finished packing. I will do so, then grab a full night's sleep and ride out from Orange County, CA. Because of a funky work schedule, I cannot ride into Denver for my first 3-Day event this year with the rest of the nuts on two wheels who call themselves Route Safety (MotoCrew for us old dogs). Instead, I get to spend a leisurely 7 days riding around the west coast with the intent on ending in Denver a week from today. I will drop the bike with the Harley dealer and fly back to Orange County for an annual family vacation and a meeting with my one and only client on the 25th. Afterwards, I will fly back to Denver, pick up the bike, attach the pink bras, don the nipple helmet and put on my safety vest to enjoy MY first 3-Day in the Mile High City.

Looks for updates here and on FaceBook (if you are my friend) as I ride up to central Kaliforniam then to Lake Tahoe and on through the forests, hills, valleys and eventually mountains of Colorado. Should be a blast -- somewhere around 2,000 miles before hitting Denver. I have no idea of how I am coming home yet. Should be fun!

Tis the season

for Pink Ribbons, again!

I am on the road heading for my first of three events this year -- San Francisco!

Why we Crew

From one of my favorite multi-event walkers. She was my walking buddy in Boston in ’05 and has been with us in San Diego since ’03. Thank you, Pamela, for the kind words. We all appreciate them.

Michael,

that job of motocrew must be totally exhausting! people who drive could care less about 4600 walkers raising money for a cause. they are busy with their hurried lives. hats off to the motocrew. and you guys come back year after year for the torture. me too! see you in Chicago, San Fran and San Diego next year.

feel free to forward this to the motocrew. we walkers appreciate you to no end.

Pamela

Lauren's 2007 Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk

My sister walked her 3rd Breast Cancer 3-Day walk in San Diego. Click the picture on the right to see the letter she sent to her supporters.

San Diego wrap-up

The problem with doing an event in your hometown is that, when it ends, you work like returns.

I am sorry for the delay in updating this and I know you are all waiting with bated breath. My phone died on event and I wasn't able to post during the event. Now, a full week later, I am finally getting around to posting.

This one picture says it all. In case you can't read it, these ladies walked with shirts that said "FΩck Cancer".

Overall, we had an awesome event. The little rain we experienced on Sunday was nothing compared to other cities and the walkers all took it in stride, if you will.

Make no mistake, the San Diego event is a tough walk. 20 miles day one and 21 miles day two with a ton of hills. If you are not from San Diego, you might think that this area is flat -- it is not. Trust me.

That said, walking along the beach cannot be beat. The walk also took us through Hillcrest and many other parts of Downtown before ending at Petco Park, the home of the SD Padres MLB team.

Once again this year, we enjoyed the support of the San Jose Bike Police.

On route, day 2, I met a special walker I had been looking for. The week before the walk, I was watching The Learning Channel's LA Ink, a tattoo show. On the show I saw, a young surfboard designer named Andrea who came in to get a tattoo to memorialize her best friend, Ally, who had just died of breast cancer. The tattoo is a full sleeve and very distinctive. Since she lived and surfed in Santa Monica, I thought I might see her in San Diego. Sure enough, here she is, walking all 60 miles for Ally.

Finally, all walkers were in Closing and another event was successfully completed. Over $12,000,000 raised! On this event, my special Pig was named Rosha by Linda, for Romy and Shannon, two lost friends.

Preparing for the big one

Tomorrow the San Diego 3-Day starts. The big one. Twice the size of most other cities. Watch out San Diego.

Here we come.
Walking down the street.
We get the funniest looks from,
Everyone we meet.

Hey Hey, we'll be walking!

Thank you, AZ Route Safety Crew

You guys are awesome.

Another successful 3-Day

Fantastic day in AZ

Once again the awesome walkers of Phoenix have turned a challenging event into a fantastic experience. Arizona heat is legendary, even this time of the year, but we have been blessed with moderate (by AZ standards) temperatures. The police support today in Gilbert and elsewhere was stellar.

Today we had a few challenges on our team, including on bicyclist who was hit by a car and taken to the hospital. We believe she is OK, but her bike is totaled. It is the risk we take to make the walkers safer.

Well, it is approaching 8pm and I am exhausted. Think I'll take a nap.... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

AZ is Pig-Ready

Thanks to Ali, Tracy and Rayann, my bike is now 3-Day-ready. If you don't remember Alison and Tracy, go back in this blog to 2004 to see them wearing Luanne on their heads. Thanks, ladies!

Crew Training, Phoenix-style

I think Alan is as tired of seeing me in class as I am hearing the How-to-Nextel speach. Next I will learn how to drink water and use a porta-potty. And not one Continuing Education Credit to be had.

Michael Landesman
(currently mobile)

Dallas Wrap Up

Another outstanding event. Short. To the point.

The heat of 2005 and the wind of 2006 left us alone this year. Instead, we had 72° days with cool breezes and lots of sunshine.

The nights got cold -- near freezing Friday night -- but manageable. Once again, the Dallas Route Safety team was outstanding. A friendly, likable, quality group of folks. Evenly split between motorcycles and motorless cycles, the group worked together flawlessly. Our venerable (look it up) captain once again navigated the OCD-prone staff and renegade bikers (sorry, Chuck, but I was only going one way) with grace.

As always the event is measured by the walkers. This group of perambulators was awesome. Happy, healthy and well trained, they carried their 3-Day Smiles for all 60 Miles.

Thank you Dallas walkers, crew and staff. I will miss this group of new friends.

On the road again....

Apparently, I COULD wait to get on the road again. That bed just felt too good, perhaps fueled by the full plate of Campisi's spaghetti and meatballs last night.

Oh well... I am leaving Dallas now.

Sorry for the missed updates. My phone died on Saturday and I didn't charge it until last night. Hopefully, the recipients of my 3-Day pigs from the last two years will send pictures as I have missed getting both shots.)

Great Day 1

I am too tired and my head hurts too much to blog now, but I wanted to share one picture. These two Marines are walking the event in fatigues with 60 pound packs. Talk about inspirational.

Carbo loading for the DFW walk

Crew training is done, hugs exchanged and stories told. Comparisons to prior years will continue -- 2005's heat wave that knocked out many walkers and 2006's wind storms that knocked over the rest of the walkers -- while we carbo-load for the start at 5am tomorrow.

I hope to post a pic or two during the event but no promises.

Here we roll again

It is Tuesday afternoon, San Diego is burning, and I am packed and ready to fly back to Texas to start my trek on the final 3-Day events of 2007.

My thoughts and prayers for all who lost homes or other, precious items.

I will try to post nightly, but experience has told me that it is unlikely I will be consistent. I am usually too busy, followed by too hungry and finally too tired to do much. Please, keep checking though. I may get a sudden burst of cuteness and you wouldn't want to miss that.

From the Cleveland 3-Day Team

Invitation to the Michigan 3-Day Closing Ceremonies

We invite you to join with Michigan Breast Cancer 3-Day walkers and crew members on Sunday, Sept. 30, for the Michigan Closing Ceremonies at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. You are welcome to meet up with the Michigan 3-Day community at the Holding Area to participate in the ceremonies. If you wish to participate in the Closing Ceremonies please plan to arrive by 3:00 pm as parking is limited.

Please send us an email RSVP by Monday, September 10th, so we can plan to expect you!

Pictures from Dawn Cawood

Dawn is the wife of a Dallas Route Safety Crew member and an awesome person in her own right. Here are a couple of pictures of me with her team, including her daughter, in Cleveland.

Jordan Leventhal, 3-Day Guru

17_15A, originally uploaded by levenhopper.

This a Jordan's first 3-Day event but you could never tell by his enthusiasm, professionalism or qualitism of his character. The man, all 18 years and 2months of him, was the bomb! Thank you Jordan for all of your help to the crew and the walkers! Mom, you should be very, very proud of him.

2007 Cleveland Route Safety Crew

18_21A, originally uploaded by levenhopper.

Nipple Man

12_10A
Originally uploaded by levenhopper

A random walker -- if you know who this person is, please post a comment and I will update the entry.

Steffanie Roulet

Thank you, Steffanie, for sending these pictures. You are awesome!

Email from Komen

Dear Walkers and Crew of the Cleveland Breast Cancer 3-Day,

We wish to express our sincerest regrets that the severe weather conditions on Sunday cut short the celebration of your accomplishments this weekend at the first Cleveland Breast Cancer 3-Day. If anyone ever earned the right to a public celebration at Closing Ceremonies, it was you. You rose before the sun. You camped in the wind, and walked in the rain. Our hats are off to you.

The Breast Cancer 3-Day has never had to cancel an Opening or Closing Ceremony before. We know you missed an important part of your experience. We know you are disappointed and we are, too. However, your safety is always our first concern and after considering the options, we made a decision that we did not wish to make. We hope you understand that we felt it was the right decision for you.

None of this diminishes the fact that you accomplished a huge feat this weekend. Congratulations! You walked 60 miles in three days – and you raised an amazing $2.8 million in the fight to end breast cancer forever.

You walked because you knew you were making a real difference in the breast cancer movement. We’re so proud of you and we thank you! Proceeds from your tireless efforts benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund for breast cancer research, education and community outreach programs. A portion of the funds will benefit the Cleveland area through the Northeast Ohio Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Though the extreme weather shortened the event, we hope your overall experience was positive. The journey you started months ago culminated with each mile you walked this weekend. We hope you celebrated every moment – from Opening Ceremonies to that final step you took when you received your victory shirt as we cheered you on. We’re grateful for such a supportive and determined group of participants. Next year, we will have an amazing Closing Ceremony just for you!

Thank you again for your efforts. Because of you we are much closer to our ultimate goal to live in a world without breast cancer!

Thank you.
Pat RenzulliVice President, Breast Cancer 3-Day

Local News Reports

WKYC: Closing Ceremonies Canceled

WOIO: Closing Ceremonies Canceled

Closing Ceremonies, Canceled

My morning wish was granted, but that apparently was all I was allowed today. I had asked that, even though it rained all night long, the rain would stop in the morning at least long enough for us to break camp and pack up. I hate packing a tent and loading a bike in the rain; nothing remains dry for long.

We woke to cloudy but quiet skies and it stayed that way through our pack-up, breakfast and even our route opening. It started raining within the first hour of the day and never stopped. The weather turned so bad that closing ceremonies were canceled. I have never seen that before. For some reason, likely cost, 3-Day does not have a relocation plan for closing ceremonies. In this case, since thunder showers with heavy lightning was predicted (but never arrived), they decided early in the day to cancel the celebration. Quick work by the 3-Day Staff and a very generous Marriott hotel a block away from the scheduled location allowed us to use a ballroom for the distribution of shirts and a gathering place out of the rain to welcome home the walkers. We made the best of it, celebrating the $2.8m raised by 1100 walkers for the first Cleveland 3-Day ever, but it still lacked the pizzazz that we all expected and wanted for the final hours of a great event.

Lest I sound like the event was less than perfect, it is important to note that, walker for walker, this is one of the best events in which I have ever been involved. The route was awesome, the camp site great and the coordination of city police and services was impeccable. Lastly, the community support was amazing for a first time event. A lot of families out providing water and snacks, banners and signs and cheering for ALL walkers, not just the first 100 or so. The fire department came out with their mascot Dalmatian (all 6 feet of him waving to walkers) and a misting fan.

Now, I am in the hotel room trying to dry everything I own. My computer still works, luckily, but my camera may not fare as well. My HD map book will be trashed after I make it home and anything that was made of paper in my bags was reduced to pulp. So, it is a night of delivery pizza, diet cokes and cloths hanging all around the room.

And I forgot to mention, the wonder extra charger cable I creatively installed in my bike’s trunk to keep my mobile phone charged broke a wire, so my phone is now dead and I have no way of charging it. I will try to rig something tomorrow so I can have a phone for emergencies, but it could be a quiet ride home.

Cleveland Day 2

We had a great day today. Cool temps, shady residential streets and breezes. The walkers are great and the crew are doing an awesome job -- not just for a first time event, but for any event.

Unfortunately, they are predicting rain overnight and thunder storms tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed that it blows by or, at least, waits until the evening so everyone can enjoy Cleveland's first 3-Day.

Day 1 is in the books

Cleveland 3-Day got off to an awesome start. Good walkers, good crew and great staff. After the major heat wave that made hadline news, today was a miled, comfortable day. It is still warm in the evenings (a liitle to warm for my tastes to sleep) and very windy. The wind made interesting work of tent building. And speaking of tents, the 3-Day is finally pink! Pink trucks, pink inflateables, and pink tents.

Back to your regularly schedued BLOG

So I am now in Ohio and tomorrow is the start of the 3-Day event, which for crew is really a 4-Day event.

I have riddin over 2,000 miles thus far and crossed 10 states. Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio.

I hope to be posting entries at least every night, and perhaps a few pictures during the event.

What a day!

When I was checking into the hotel in New Orleans, I met two other road-weary riders checking in. The usual conversation started -- "where you coming from? where you heading?" Turns out these two sweaty, grimy bikers just road in from Cleveland. I told them I was heading there in a few days after riding the Blue Ridge Parkway. At that point, we pulled out the HD map and they showed me Highway 250.

The day started out heading through Staunton, a historic Virgina town full of old Colonials and wonderful parks. This is more my speed, something interesting to look at besides just trees. A few more towns like that and all of the sudden I was in twisties and climbing quickly. I was exploring George Washington National Forest, one of three national forests traversed by Highway 250.



I was breathless as I rode through that section. I was thrilled that I had enjoyed a great ride -- but it was 9:30am.

Then, it happened again. And again. And again. Climbing hills with turns switching between hairpins and sweepers. Peaking and then dropping into valleys with signs warning trucks of 11% downgrades (like the DOW this week). In the valleys between the peaks, small towns like something out of the animated movie Cars.



"It rolls along past houses, farms and fields." (extra credit if you can name the song for which Steve Goodman wrote that famous lyric).

If the Blue Ridge Pkwy was created for families in cars out for a day drive, then Hwy 250 was created for overgrown boys on bikes. I rode through wooden, covered bridges and past historic and scenic train tracks. I saw ponds, lakes, rivers, rapids and cascades. I avoided five deer running across the road and three trucks who preferred my lane to theirs.

It was the 3rd best motoring day of my life. Thank you nameless bikers from Cleveland via New Orleans!

Blue Ridge Parkway

Built during the 1930s as a Depression-era public works project, the 469 miles stretch from Shenandoah National Park along the Blue Ridge Mountains to the eastern rampart of the Appalachians. The parkway is interesting for biking as it has a set speed limit if 45 mph and NO STOP SIGNS. The parkway has no gas stations, no stores, nothing. Just plenty of pristine forest, some tunnels and amazing scenery.

The ride was gorgeous, but very long. I started at 6:30am and rode for the better part of 10 hours. A few stops along the way allowed me to check the visitor center maps and buy some Appalachian Bluegrass CDs.

Since the majority of the parkway is shaded by a heavy tree canopy, the day was mostly cool. I was able to keep the leather jacket on comfortably all day. What a difference.

The day started in South Carolina. I entered the Parkway in North Carolina and ended the day in Waynesboro, VA. Even thought the speed limit is set at 45 mph, or perhaps because of it, the day was one of my most tiring. Beautiful, but tiring. I am glad I did it though.

Friendliest People

Sometimes we forget that good people are everywhere. I was riding the Blue Ridge Parkway today (see next post for details of the day) when I stopped in one of the picnic areas. After two days in the serious heat, I have realized that I need to stop every hour or so and drink a bottle of sports drink.

When I pulled in, I noticed an older couple sitting at a picnic table who stared me down a little as I roared in. I also observed two couples dining together with an impressive spread. It was the kind of gathering I would expect in the moutains of North Carolina on a scenic drive -- all with their bucket hats, oversized sunglasses and sandels with thier socks on.

I had already eaten lunch so I just pulled to the curb near the trash can and drank my bottle down. As I was pacing around, letting the life-sustaining nectar soak into me, I noticed one of the women at the group table waving me over. I smiled, held up my bottle and yelled, "no thank you, I just needed the drink". She yelled back, "we have too much, come on over." Big, bad biker being invited to break bread with a few senior citizens.

I mounted up and rode over to them to say that I didn't need any food, thanks. It was like being with an Italian mother. "We have salami sandwiches", "we have more than we can eat", "how about some fruit?", "a cookie?" She was a hoot. We talked about the ride, the breast cancer events, etc.

It is easy to forget that there are generally good people out there, not just at the breast cancer events.

Oh, and the other couple who stared me down on the way in. They waved and smiled as I roared back out.

Wrong Turn?

Tunneling Through the Blue Ridge Mountains

Just another gorgeous day

in the Blue Ridge Moutains

Now the fun begins

1300 miles of hot pavement for this. The big payoff.

The Redneck Ride

Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. What a day.

Recapping Yesterday

Now that I am sitting down for breakfast in Mississippi, it is a good time for an update.

For all Route Safety folks, please watch your fluid intake on event. It is hot out there. Yesterday, the weather overheated both my bike (shutdown in stop and go traffic) and me (mentally shut down 30 miles outside New Orleans). The bike got a little oil, I got 32 oz of PowerAde. We both took a break.

I am truely convinced that most single bike accidents in the summer are at least partly caused by dehydration. The poor decisions we make when the organs are malnurished can be devastating. For me, I notice that I "zone out" and no longer think about where I am -- I am just following the bumper in front of me just like the walkers following the fannypacks in front of them and walking into intersections.

Getting back to the ride, it was OK... Mostly pounding pavement. The same is on tap for today to make 650+ miles. That will set me up for tomorrow's ride on the Blue Ridge Hwy, I hope.

I had never driven or ridden into LA or MS before and seeing all of the swamps, bogs, rivers, lakes and buyous was very cool (well, swampy hot, but you get my meaning).

HOT

What the hell was I thinking riding South East in August? 6am in New Orleans and it is 85 degrees, muggy and ugly. Oh well, off to somewhere near Ashville, NC and the Blue Ridge Pkwy.

New Orleans, LA

long day of sun and humidity, but I am here. 600 miles, 8 hours of riding and ! am no closer to Cleveland than I was when I woke up. A little like day 2 on the event where we end back where we started, but sun burned, sweaty and tired.

The 2007 Season is Here!

Forgive me bloggers, for I have sinned. It has been 321 days since my last entry. Basically, I missed the entire 2006 season. So, to summarize, I did four events (Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix and San Diego), I had an excellent time, the walks raised a lot of money and I made new friends. There, I am done for 2006.

Now, 2007 is here!

Tomorrow I start my ride from San Antonio (home) through New Orleans (fun), up through the Smoky Mountains (beautiful) and into Cleveland for my first event of the season next weekend. I have a few friends there (Hi Jackie and Amy!) and plan to make more. I hope to be posting blog entries from my phone as I ride up, so keep you eyes peeled (Note: that is an American colloquialism and is not meant to be taken literally).

Heading to California!

The Adventure Begins

Tomorrow morning, Jackie and I are taking off from San Antonio to start what I hope will be a five week ride. We will take four or five days to take her back to Denver, then I will continue on to California for a week.

After California, I am not sure where I am heading. I need to be in Dallas/Ft. Worth by the last weekend of October for the first of my three 3-Day events. From there, I ride to Phoenix for event two, then San Diego for the closing event. After that, it is back to San Antonio.

If work does not raise its ugly head, I hope to be on the road that whole time, laptop along for the ride and documenting my adventure.

To all of my 3-Day friends, see you real soon!