Day 3: July 16 "Red Day" From Rochester to Faribault
Day 3: July 16 "Red Day" From Rochester to Faribault
In past rides, riders donned some fairly outrageous attire, but this year, save for a few tutus, and red skirts, most stuck to "practical in red." Today's weather wore red as well, as in red hot. Temps rose to 96 degrees. Preparing for a 75 mile ride of mostly flat terrain and a few short hills, we were treated to French toast, Potatoes O'Brien, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage for breakfast. I left camp by 6:30 am and headed northwest towards Market Place Drive in Rochester.
Our wonderful sponsor Chipotle drove an RV affectionately dubbed the "Rolling Burrito"(right) to various spots on the route each day. Today they set up a grab n' go, serving fruit, muffins and Caribou coffee. To have decent coffee on a ride like this is a real luxury. We can thank Chipotle Operations Director Ed Berg for such treats, infectious enthusiasm and moral support. We rode 8 miles next to Pit One located on the Douglas Trail lot for some South Pacific fun. "Bali Hai Welcomes You" offered the iconic characters of Nelly Forbush ("Gonna Wash that Man Right Out of My Hair") who wore male figured pins in her hair and the presence of a colorful Bloody Mary. The weather was typically gorgeous, like each morning, but would rapidly get hotter as the day progressed.
Continuing on the Douglas Trail to a parking lot 7.2 miles further we encountered a campy hoe down at Pit Two. Team leader Carter Averbeck, funny and adorable as ever, dressed in bright red fur chaps with HOWDY spelled out in a flashing lighted belt buckle. He topped the Red Cowboy theme with a red ten gallon hat. Susan Lukens wore red fishnets and a black leather vest professing to be the sheriff of the pit. Traveling towards the Penny Bridge in Pine Island we were approached by our own trusty photographer and my dependable tent mate Rick Spaulding's 88 year old grandmother Joyce Kihlgren who handed out 200 Rice Krispie treats with an endearing hand written note expressing her gratitude to us riders. Inscribed was the following: "To Red Ribbon Bunch. A God send to you all. It takes lots of will power & determination. Proud of you all." Such sweetness!
Riding 12.6 miles into Riverside Park in Wanamingo, we were served Turkey n' Cuke or Guacamole n' Cuke Sandwiches with creamy Broccoli Salad for our Pit Three lunch stop. Team Leader Judy Giacabazi came up with a clever Red Food theme. All crew members were dressed accordingly as red food: M&Ms; Crab; Hostess Cherry Pie; a tomato; Rhubarb; Catsup and a ravishing Cherry Tart. The heat started to soar into the 90s by lunch and though we were mostly riding flat terrain, suddenly heavy head winds formed making riding conditions just plain miserable for the next 16 miles. We, of course, had to endure a two mile stretch of cracked, broken up rode again, the same if even worse than last year.
Pit Stop Five (all wrapped in togas), led by Vicki "Mother Nurture" Underland-Rosow, were efficiently ready to serve us weary riders by providing cooling relief with their large plastic pool for a soothing foot soak and a tub of water for a quick head dunk. A Flute player performed lovely music while Gatorade was served in plastic Martini glasses. Located at Kenyon Wanamingo Middle School in Kenyon, we still had 14 miles to travel until we reached Pit Five inexplicably located just two miles from camp. Must talk to Kari about the goofy routing.
I rode into our camp destination at the Faribault High School in Faribault at 3:25 pm clocking 76 miles of riding time. Today should've been easier than the previous day's hills but we had to face some stiff head winds along with excruciating heat. I was grandly relieved by the cooling comforts of FHS's air conditioned gymnasium.
Instead of pitching their tents and sleeping in the heat, a majority of riders (I included) and crew opted for the A/C environment of the gym where we set up our mattress' and gear and camped for the night. After dinner in a large cafeteria, a karaoke talent show was set up in a curtained off area of the gym. A DJ hosted twelve participants of varying quality. The best of the bunch included Doug Radmann performing a strong voiced version of "I Get a Kick"; Tammy Nelson impressively matching the voice likeness of Patsy Cline with "Crazy"; likewise with Dani Schmidt for her cover of Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee"; Justin creating a moving a capella moment with an old Irish folk tune "The Parting Glass"; a Chipotle crew member precisely tackling the rapping of Sir Mix A Lot's "Baby Got Back"; and the most impressive, Brock Heimrich from Chipotle who nailed a powerful take of the Righteous Brother's classic "Unchained Melody" and later got the crowd worked up for a joyous run with "Shout."
The most adorable act goes to three ladies reciting a poem they had written titled "We Aint Got Time To Die." Metaphorically, their words are a great example of the spirit and determination of what it takes to get through an event like the Red Ribbon Ride. Joyce Mundahl who suffers a broken foot, Joyce Momont who battled cancer and Echo Thoren whose heart beats too fast, display a true testament that age (Momont and Thoren are in their 80s) and health have not deterred their spirit or determination from participating in this year's ride or with anything else in their busy and active lives. You three ladies rock on. You are pure inspiration for us all.
Our dedicated Ride Director Kari Johnson went through a ‘Ride Rundown of News’ and presented the Best Red Day Outfit awards to Kathy Weiler as "Sexy Mama," David of the Lunch crew for "Cherry Tart," and Carter Averbeck for his flashy "Howdy" cowboy attire. From the Medical Crew, Lisa and "Dr. Chris" Christianson reported that despite the heat only two riders were admitted to the hospital for dehydration and were on the road to ride the next day. This year's riders were especially attuned to pacing themselves and sufficiently hydrating, faithfully following Dr. Chris' motto "Drink, Pee and no IV."
Harvey Zuckman, Michael Peller and Becky Rose were acknowledged for their year long recruitment efforts while adding 100 new riders to our 100 returning. Camp Crew Coaches Dirk Klick, Greg Mastel, Sweep Crew Maureen Carlson and Road Crew Coach Jennifer Radnich a.k.a. "Jen Rad" were recognized for their amazing hard work and dedication. Pit Stop Crew Leaders went above and beyond for servicing, comforting and creating fantastic costumes and themes:
Rider and artist Sandy Agustin completed the evening by leading a stirring sing along of Tuck N' Patty's ballad "You Take My Breath Away" taking us out of the gym and into a darkened room to begin the Remembrance Ceremony. As tear-filled riders and crew members walked along observing white paper bags placed on a wall illuminated only by the glow sticks that we dropped into them, we read the written effigies that riders and crew previously wrote and dedicated to people we know who have succumbed to AIDS. On the floor, the white glowing bags were placed in the formation of an AIDS ribbon.
As I walked back to my awaiting air mattress in the gym with the appreciation of sleeping with A/C tonight, I felt a zen-like state come over me. Even though I mournfully grieve, AIDS has given me steadfast determination. I, and all of us, go on because we can make a difference.
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