“Re: RE: PMC 2006, Day 1: Sturbridge to Bourne, 112 Miles”

No idea if it is the same guy who injured his hand. Could be. Like I said, I didn't even know who it was until I reported the number. I was just trying to catch a tandem and the people on it and then unsnag the sludge dump they called a chain before the next 'wave' came past and we caused a major pile up. (^_^)

MMA was reached a little after 7:15pm. I was still early enough to get food before that closed at 8. Pretty rare for me.

Lets see... On Sunday we finished about 2:30pm at the Family Finish. Haven't seen the P-Town Finish since 2003. (^_^) Left Nickerson for my ride about 12:00 or so I think. Don't look at my watch all that much. Left Wellfleet for P-town with the last rider about 1:30. Yea, I get a LOT of beeping and cheering as we ride that last section Rt 6. I basically block all of the right lane to give the rider as much room as possible. Heck, they have been on the bike longer than anyone right?

Yea, I'm still recovering. Each week I find I can get a little more done. Stuff like yard work and riding is where I feel it most. Pure endurance stuff. Heck, I lost 40 lbs while on the IV for 3 weeks. Trying hard not to put too much of that back on while still getting back into shape.

My wife and I were Married a week before the Boston->New York AIDS Ride 5 was to take place. I had run the tech crew for that ride a few years and co-ran it the other two years. Told them that I couldn't do it on year 5. Good thing too. After Hurricane Fran on year 2, I was glad to be on Block Island for our honeymoon instead of on the route during the hurricane that hit in 1999. We had pretty much the whole island to ourselves as the ferry was stopped for 3 days and most people evacuated. We were the only guests in the B&B, and helped the staff with storm issues for 'fun'.

In fact, the PMC runs in August because Billy was worried about Hurricanes after Hurricane Bob hit. The PMC was originally a Sept ride. I never worked another AIDS ride after hearing how much was skimmed off in pure profit while so many 'volunteers' suffered like slaves to make it happen. I even had to PAY $150 to volunteer as a team leader.

Guess the PMC 90+% giving soured me in that regard. By the way, watch for the announcements. From what I heard after the ride, a 100% gift this year is in the cards and the total might top 27 million when all is said and done.

You do, of course, have to do what you feel is best for next year. Just make up your mind early enough to sign up. I suspect there will be a record sell-out for the 'classic' Sturbridge-Provincetown route in 2007.

Friday night is very hard for me to plan anything as it always seems that stuff is late, missing, being used, etc. I arrive about 10am and the team of 5 of us that outfit the vans usually BARELY finish by the time our 7:30 meeting starts. Even then, I'm usually dragging something to hand out at the meeting. This year, all our transport vans were MIA until almost Midnight on Friday Night. I didn't get to bed until about 1am and was up at 4am to escort a few bikers down the road. (^_^)

I've joked with Allan Eyden (Road Crew Coodinator) that one of these years I'm going to take it easy and just ride the PMC. (^_^) Been 11 years now and I still come back. I don't think it's the food....

Chris