I don't know if I can do this....

...but I WILL!

Great Idea

On the day HIV is eradicated, WHAT WILL YOU DO?

I get weekly email newsletters from a website called The Body, which I joined to stay abreast of the latest in what is happening in the world of HIV. The other day I read a blog that made me take pause...  It was titled "On the day HIV is eradicated, what will you do?" 

Below is the full blog if you are interested:
http://www.thebody.com/content/art55884.html?ic=700100

In the blog, the writer recounted an experience where people in attendance at a Town Hall meeting at the LGBT center in San Francisco, were asked to imagine where they would be when they first heard the news that HIV can be eradicated. And then, what would you do? It is an interesting scenario that I have pondered over the past few days...

I have a feeling that I will cry uncontrollablly joyful tears of relief -- no matter where I am.

This disease was first diagnosed in the 1980's (my lifetime) and with continued research there is the real potential to find a cure (again, within my lifetime). So, I pass along the question for your consideration...where will you be and what will you do when they find a cure to HIV?

TOGETHER we can make a difference!!

A Dip in the LA River...

...actually, it turned out to be the Rio Hondo River. But let me start at the beginning...

Yesterday morning I ventured out on a ride along the LA River to Long Beach and back. What should have been a simple, flat, quick 30-ish mile ride turned into a four hour event full of drama. 

With the help from Shannon I found the start of the LA river in the City of Commerce just southwest of downtown. I started out and quickly discovered that Ryan was right...it was flat and mostly concrete.  However, I was really enjoying being outside and riding for a long stretch of open bikeway minus the cars and pedestrians.  There was very few people out, and I got into a rhythm as I enjoyed the graffitti and occassional wildlife (i.e. snails, lizzards, seagulls and random squirrels). 

It was 10:40am and the goal was to get to the Queen Mary before the noon horn sounded. Mission Accomplished!

After some leisure time enjoying the sailboats and fresh sea air, I started to head back to to my car. It wasn't until I hit a dead end (which wasn't there when I headed the opposite direction) that I understood that I had somehow gotten lost on a single path bike lane. So, the option was to turn around and try to figure out where I went wrong.....or cross the river and try to keep going. 

Now, I am a smart girl, but apparently I am lacking some basic common sense. I chose to cross the river. Not only cross, but I chose to RIDE across the river. DOUBLE WHAMMY!  But in all fairness...it doesn't look THAT bad, does it?

Once I hit the inch or so of water/slime my back tire started started coming up to meet the front trie and I was on a full fledged sideward slide down the river. I tried to unclip, but only ended up unsettling the balance and falling on my left side with the bike on top of me...yes, still sliding down the river. I finally found my footing and waded to the other side soaking wet, covered in slime, blood and bruises and worried only about my phone, camera and bike (all thankfully okay). I then walked up the other side of the slope and once at the top...I began to laugh. There was  no one around to witness my death defying feat, but I can tell you it was just like a slow motion scene on America's Funniest Videos. CLASSIC fall/slide! I laughed and laughed until my stomach hurt.

Once I stopped laughing I started looking around to figure out which way to ride. It was a strange feeling to realize that both directions looked exactly the same. Exactly the same!! Pretty creepy.

So, I finally called Ryan and he offered to give me directions. Apparently the river had forked and I was on the Rio Hondo side heading the Montobello. I had to backtrack about 5 miles, cross the river again (this time on a bridge) and then keep going the remaining distance to the car.  In all the 30-ish mile round trip turned into about 42-ish. I didn't mind being outside or in the saddle....but being wet and riding is no fun. I hope to never do that again.

Long Beach turned into a long day, but I had a good time and i am looking forward to the next ride! :)

Here are a couple random pics shot along the way. One is of the Goodyear Blimp and the other is a random crane sitting peacefully enjoying the day.

Once U ride, U have 2 ride...Once U have 2 ride, U tell others!

Story People Life Cycle: There is a special bike that's not very good at listening to excuses, so it takes you exactly where you really want to go & if you kick & scream it makes you pedal harder & go up steeper hills until you're too out of breath to complain & after awhile, if you're lucky, you start... to see that it doesn't really matter if you laugh or cry, because it just wants to ride like the wind.

~Thanks for the inspiration KT!

Still want to DONATE?

I had some amazing response to my request for fundraising support. I have the greatest friends and family in the world!! THANK YOU for your generous donatations which have brought me to 12% of my goal.

For those of you who haven't donated yet, and who would still like to be a part of this, you still can!

Follow this link to my page and it will talk you through the details:

www.tofighthiv.org/goto/cinsation

Spin, Spin, Spin

I've added a spin class to my training schedule on Tuesday nights along with my daily 10 miles at the gym.  I went for the first time this week, and although the instructor really went pretty easy on us...I sweat like no other! I mean...soaking wet!! Gross, but true. :)  I am hoping this helps me build some endurance. According to The ALC Monthly Spin newsletter, my next step is to add in some mid-week rides. I think I'll wait until the time changes so I am not riding in the dark.  SPIN, SPIN, SPIN!