The Best of Times!!

Charles Dickens said it was the best times and the worst of times. But even in the challenges we face during the worst times, there is always a light that although hiding, peaks through and eventually fills the sky with brightness.

    The first three days of Ragbrai were fun yet hot. One of the things that I've learned to do this last year is to listen to my body. Because I have some problems with hypotension,  I decided to stay out of the heat for Wednesday and Thursday. I had a great time with the PFP support group. It was nice to get to know Jason, Romi, Allie, Suzi. and Keyton better. Without the support group, PFP at Ragbrai wouldn't happen and even more importantly, would never run so smoothly. They are the cog in the PFP at Ragbrai wheel. Two nights in a row Jason was able to negotiate and find us inside air-conditioned space. Tuesday night we stayed at a church right next to the blistering hot field we had reserved. Wednesday night we were able to stay in a American Legion building. That night there was an incredible thunderstorm that blew in shortly after we got to the American Legion. The storm was amazingly beautiful but would not have been so much fun in a tent in the middle of the soccer field.  Suzi eased our sore muscles while Allie and Romi shuttled us around like a soccer mom and Keyton was his dad's right hand man.

PFP support team: Keyton, Jason, Romi, Suzi, and Allie

 The heat finally broke on Friday. The route was a short, only 42 miles. It had a lot of hills and there was a bit of a headwind but WOW, what a difference 20° makes. We went out of Cedar Rapids through the Czech district of town and then headed out towards Mount Vernon. Without question this was the best day I ever had at Ragbrai. The weather was perfect, the hills were a small challenge but there was always some downhill  to give you a break. The landscape of Eastern Iowa was breathtaking. This was the best of times! As Pat and I were riding and having the most incredible day I turned him and said "Today we're going to have fun. Today we're going to stop and do everything that Ragbrai offers". And we did. We took pictures  and ate food and talked to fun people. As we got close to town,  I told Pat there was one more thing I needed to do today and that was to stop and go down the slip and slide. So we stopped and down I went. I havent laughed so hard in a long time and I thought to myself, two years ago I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, in three months I'll be turning 50, but today I'm going to go down the slip and slide. You're never too old or sick to keep living. 

 About 2 miles outside of Anamosa, the end town for the day,  there was a collision and I went down. I knew immediately that something was very wrong with my wrist. It felt like my hand was going to fall off. Fortunately the person who owns the home across from where I fell had a van without seats in the back (we found out later he was a funeral director for the county), so rather than wait for the ambulance, we drove to the Jones County Regional Medical Center in a funeral van. There's got to be some humor in that. The Cliff Notes version of this is that I broke both bones that  go into my wrist along with some pretty impressive road rash and bruises.  One of the bones that broke had compacted when I landed and was now overlapping itself. The pain was intense, 10 out of a 10 - perfect score. Fortunately for me Luke was helping me out. Luke is a  paramedic from Jones County,  Iowa and he took care of me when I was at my worst. He helped me stay calm and made sure I was okay.  After a while,  I was finally able to settle down. Pat was by my side the entire time. I don't know what I would have done without him.  Karen Jaffe, Jay and Jenelle Alberts came to the hospital and helped keep my spirits up. Fortunately for Karen and Pat, they even had pie at the hospital :) They patched me up very well and I was able to go spend the last night with my PFP comrades. I sat on a lawnchair covered with blankets while the remainder of the group relaxed outside in the nice weather or played football.  Saturday was the final day. The riders rode from Anamosa to Clinton and the rest of us drove into town. We met at the local high school and said our goodbyes until next year.

   When I arrived back in Las Vegas I went immediately to the doctor. I had surgery the following Thursday and since then have been home recuperating. This is been a tough one. I don't know how long the process will take for me to get back to where I was, but I do know it will happen eventually. The human body is a magnificent thing but it is vulnerable.  Although my body is weak and broken right now one thing that is not broken is my spirit.

So when I think of July 27, 2012, I will be thinking about how that was the best day on the road ever. I'll be thinking about how I felt riding through the rolling hills of Iowa, and about taking silly pictures, eating Munchkins PB any J sandwiches, and Beekmans Ice Cream and going down the slip and slide. And I'll be thinking about people I met; the two gentlemen from Durango, Colorado who are coming home after Ragbrai to ride in the Copper Triangle for the Davis Phinney Foundation with their friend Joe Williams who has Parkinson's disease, and a hand cyclist with muscular dystrophy who kept trudging along while everybody else was walking their bikes. and the soldier riding in his full Army garb to show his love for his country.   But mostly I’ll think about the 65 people who came to Ragbrai with Pedaling For Parkinsons all in support of the five of us with PD as well as thousands of others who also live with Parkinsons Disease.  Each of them contributed to the mission of PFP in their own way.  We raised over $60,000 which will be used to expand the PFP program throughout the country benefitting many more people with PD.  And I’ll be looking forward to seeing everyone again at Ragbrai 2013.

Pedaling for Parkinsons 2012

 Life at Ragbrai

The heartland 

Nutrition breaks

Live music

PIE!

Crowds

Superheroes

Firefighters on bikes

Fire Trucks Everywhere!

More fire trucks

Potty time

Long lines at Beekmans Ice Cream

Drive through cooling station

Bike racks

Chewbacca

Bands

Water station

A bit of Vegas

Ragbrai bus

Home, home on the bus

Porta potty showers

These are the people, the Ragbrai people

Pat

patriotic riders

Superhero rider

formal riders

recumbent rider

walking the bike rider

Davis Phinney rider

Tall riders

Short riders

Fuzzy pink riders

bone head riders

Utah Ute rider

Grandma and baby rider

stowaway rider

Day 5: Marshalltown to Cedar Rapids (Winds beneath our Wings)

It's been tough to keep up on this blog because of intermittent internet service.  But today I'm sitting in the library of a beautiful assisted living facilitiy in Cedar Rapids in a nice soft chair, AC, and great WiFi.  So in keeping with  my promise to highlight some people in my life who do not have PD but have made a great contribution to my life, here are a few of those  people.  This is not a complete list by any means and I will be highlighting some more in future posts.  AND if you're reading this, then you are someone that I know, maybe very well, maybe not, but know that every interaction I have with  you influences and enriches my life. Thank you just for taking the time to read this

Kathy Nagle - Kathy was the one that got me into this  mess in the first place:)  But a good mess it is.  Kathy has helped me so much in  understanding PD and  how to live better with PD but more importantly has been a great friend.  Kathy was with me last year on my inagural trip to Ragbrai and we had a blast.  I miss her presence this year.




Carol Vails - What started  out as  a simple trip to the bike shop to  buy a new bike has grown into an amazing friendship.  Carol has been  my champion, mentor, and best of all friend.  Last month Carol rode over 450 miles over the Colorado Rockies with the Davis Phinney Foundation.  She raised over $2500 for the DPF which will help pay for a Victory Summit in Denver this year.  She rode some of the most challenging routes of her life that week but never gave  up.  Thanks Carol for all you've done, can't wait to go riding when I get back.

The staff at Derfelt Elementary School. Telling my colleagues at work that I had  Parkinsons Disease was not  easy.  Nobody wants to be the sick person.  But everyone has been nothing but supportive and helpful without making me feel like I was different. Work is a place where I can go where I  know people care.  Some days are hard but I know there are 40+ people that will be there if I need  them.  

Day 4: Webster City to Marshalltown (stuff you see at Ragbrai)

Bowed out of the 4H Club today.  Decided that it would be better not to end up in the hospital again.  There were a lot more names on the SAG list  this morning.  The 4H’s are taking a toll on everyone.  Initially we were scheduled to sleep in a soccer field behind a nursing home but Jason (the negotiator) drove around and found a American Legion building that allowed us to sleep in their air conditioned basement.  We got to the American Legion just in time to escape a ferocious lighting storm.  It was an incredibly sight BECAUSE we were inside.  It wouldn’t have been  such a great sight from inside a tent (so sorry for regular Ragbraiers). 

Ragbrai is more than just a bike ride, it’s an adventure. So here’s a little picture montage of some of the sights of Ragbrai and Iowa.

Pat on his way

Rargbrai bus  

Strawberry rhubarb pie

There is a Nevada, Iowa but not an Iowa, Nevada

Ragbrai shower

Add caption

More Ragbrai buses

Riding into town 

Americana

Cooling off without getting off the bike

Firetrucks are everywhere

Boo

Turkey legs and smoothies at every town

Loved this sign

Day 3: Lakeview to Webster City (The 4H Club)

Iowa has it’s very own 4H Club  (Heat, Humidity, Hills, and Headwind).  All 10,000 + riders at Ragbrai this year are now a part of the 4H Club.  Today pretty much kicked everyone’s (including  the elite riders in our group) behinds. Most of the group rode the entire 82 miles and it was tough.  I have committed to doing what I could this year in light of some of the recent challenges I’ve had so I rode 38 miles (actually 37 ½ because at the bottom of humongous hill #2, a local farmer offered to drive a bunch of us  up the hill – couldn’t pass that one  up).  Pat was waiting for me halfway up the hill and just shook his head as I drove by with a big smile on my face.  About 10 miles out of Webster City there was a sign that said “Giant Fan”.  Made me chuckle; a much larger fan was blowing across the state.  We started out taking a break every 8 or 9 miles, then every 4 or 5, then 3, then 2, you get the drift.  Other things that saved my life: camelback with Gatorade, water breaks (both to drink water and to douse my head with), watermelon, bee stingers, shade trees, (and of course, nice farmers who offer SAG). We arrived in Webster City to find a nice but very dry and hot empty lot reserved for our group.  We set up camp and went next store to a church that was serving food.  As we sat there enjoying the air conditioning, home made egg rolls, corn on the cob with butter and parmesan cheese, and fresh lemonade  (strange combination but yummy), the thought came that if we moved all the tables and chair out, this would be a great place to sleep.  So Jason (the negotiator) talked to the pastor and soon after we were sleeping inside with AC.  Bob, the most awesome guy across the street offered to let us use his shower. So there you have it, Midwestern hospitality again at it’s best. 

Pictures from Day 3:

Lakeview bike arch a day late

I came to Iowa, the wind almost killed me, but it was worth the "risk"

We pulled into an old cemetery in somewhere, Iowa; this is what I found.

Cool station!

Day 2: Cherokee to Lake View (Ain’t that America)

John Mellencamp captured the essence of the American heartland so poetically.  These small Iowa towns are the American “heartland”.  One of the things I love about these towns is the  patriotism.  These people love their country and they show it.  House after  house has some symbol that portrays their patriotism.  I think I might break the mold in Las Vegas and get me a half circle flag that I see displayed on so many homes here in Iowa. 

Today’s ride was tough.  It wasn’t a long ride (for me, I went half the distance) but with the heat, it was hard. I ended up riding by myself because in order to beat the heat, I choose not to wait for Pat who rode the entire distance.  I missed riding with Pat but the solitude was nice.  It gave me a chance to reflect on how grateful I am not just to be here, but to have the health that allows me to do this.  I hope and  plan on maintaining my health for many, many years ahead.  Exercise I believe is the “magic bullet” that will get me there.  If any of you have slacked off of your exercise regime (no judgement, I’ve been guilty in the past), just get up and do something.  You’ll feel so much better.  That’s my lecture for the day.  Just Do It!!!

Day 2 Pictures:

AIR CONDITIONING!!!!!!!!!!

Bought a water in memory of my dad

Raffle time - Jay and his daughter Abby

We stayed at Jay Alberts childhood friend Tonio Onken's lakefront home.  Everything you could ask for.  Beautiful home, air conditioning (I mention that a lot), fabulous dinner, most gracious host.

My new friend Carly, a third grader from Lakeview, Iowa.  Carly gave me a delicious, juicy piece of watermelon and as an added bonus, kept me company while I refueled for the last leg of the ride.

What my legs looks like after every ride

Sometimes Pat gets tired too

How most people do Raagbrai

How most people do Ragbrai - 2

Lakeview Display

Day 1: Sioux Center to Cherokee (Déjà vu)

The thermometor in Cherokee, Iowa ready 102 degrees.  And that was at 1:30 PM. It got hotter.  I heard from several reliable sources that it  couldn’t possible be hotter this year than last year.  Someone forgot to knock on wood.  Enough whining about the heat.  Day one was a great start despite the heat.  Being back in the Iowa cornfields with all the beauty that surrounds them was refreshing.  Being back with the Pedaling for Parkinsons group was even more refreshing.   We spent  Saturday night at Jay Alberts lifelong friend, Jason Moser’s, home.  Jason has helped Pedaling for Parkinsons for the last seven years organize, navigate,  .etc. etc. etc.  If it needs to get done, Jason’s the man.  He probably knows more of the back roads of Iowa than anyone alive.  We had a lovely dinner and were energized to start the first day of riding.  And off we went.

We arrived in Cherokee at the Careage Hills Retirement Center and again were greated with the best of Midwestern hospitality.  Homemade treats, showers, rooms to sleep in inside a fabulous dinner, and most importantly Air Conditioning. Sweat has a whole new meaning after riding for 3 hours in the heat and humidity.  One thing I had taken for granted before Ragbrai was a shower.  Long lines at the restroom? No, these are long lines for the shower.

We all got cleaned up and were able to hear Jay Alberts speak to the staff and residents at Careage speak about forced exercise and Parkinsons.  I’ve heard him speak many times before and it still is great to listen to because if hits home with me in so many ways.  If you haven’t had the chance to see what the program is all about, check out this link (Mandy Penko and  Karen Jaffe in video are two of the PFP riders) http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/04/24/bike-riding-helps-parkinsons-patients-ease-their-symptoms/

John Carlin (PWP) and Pat showing how far we still need to go.

The Gap (not the store)

It's been one year since I updated my Ragbrai blog.  Initially I was planning on creating a new blog for  2012. But a lot happened during "the gap" and actuallyI like looking back on a great experience last year.  So, here we (Pat and I are riding this year) go. Sometimes the best things in life come after enduring challenges. Recently I started wondering what I had done to attract some bad karma. In the last 2 weeks I had a unexpected 3 day hospital stay (long story - I'm fine), burglarized home, and the cherry on top, crashed car. My colleagues

at work who read this are probably just shaking their heads. BUT, if bad things come in threes, then good things should come in threes also. Good thing # 1;  My son Cameron is home from his 2 year church mission. Good thing #2; had a great vacation with most of the family in Jackson Hole and Yellowstone including my adorable 9 month old granddaughter. Good thing # 3 Ragbrai. There are many, manymore good things in my life and over the next week I will touch on a few of them.

The theme for my blog this year is "People are Good".  A few weeks ago some things happened that left me speechless and all I could say is "people are good".  This week I want to talk about some of those people.  My friend and fellow Ragbrai rider Karen Jaffe has a fabulous blog.  One of the posts on her blog highlights  several people she has connected with who also have Parkinsons Disease.  http://karenjaffe.blogspot.com/2012/06/so-i-thought-that-i-would-fill-this.html

These are strong, altruistic, inspirational people. But I'm pretty sure if you asked any one of them what keeps them going they would say that, in large part,  its the people in their lives who love and support them. Spouses, children, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc.  These people are the "wind beneath our wings". 

I'm going to start with my husband's employer Appreciation Financial.  We both were taken aback when they offered to pay for our trip to Ragbrai (we didn't ask, they offered).  Hence the theme "People are Good".  I've tried and tried to come up with the right words to express my appreciation (for Appreciation :) ) which is difficult so I'll use the words of Helen Keller "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much”

As I sit on this bus driving across through the cornfields of Iowa with an amazing group of people, most of whom do not have Parkinsons but are here in support of those who do, I repeat the mantra "People are Good". 

It's never too late for donations.  At this time, PFP is at 90% of their goal.  If you would like to donate to help themr each 100%, you can go to the link below.  Every little (or big) amount helps.

http://www.pedalingforparkinsons.org/fundraising