The journey begins.. Day 1

The journey begins... you will read about the courage I have to do this ride and to help face my demons....

Day 1- starts off too early for me. I believe we woke up at 3:30am--- i wish i drank coffee to help me stay awake, but I don't. We arrive to the bus pick-up-- wow, so many cyclist ALL full of energy. hopefully some of that rubs off onto me.

As we arrive to the Cow Palace, they have the gear trucks ready-- we have to take our bags to our correspoding gear trucks (mine was Gear Truck C!!!). It's not even 5am, and the Cow Palace is full of volunteers-- they must have had a lot of coffee themselves. I go into the facility and i start eating so i can get the everngy i need to start my day- fruits, breads, bagel, lots of powerade. I had to rush to my bike and get some of the stuff together (make sure my tires were full of air, fill my water bottles, put my energy snacks away)-- I didnt have a lot of time, since I was going to be one of the cyclists carrying the banners that have been dedicated to those that have died of AIDS. We had to practice walking in, on cue.

I was able to go back outside-- all the cyclists were there. I still couldnt believe, that in a matter of moments, i was finnaly going to embarck into my journey of the 7 day ride-- I walked around and took pics with so many friends. It was very comforting seeing them. Then i had to go back to my spot for the banner.

This is where i got emotional-- the cyclists were allowed to go into the big auditorium room. Imagine, the sight of 2,500 cyclists, 500 roadies and all the visitors that went to cheer us on! I actually got my camera and video taped people walking in. Butterflies in my stomach from the exictement and the fears. i picked up my phone and called home very quickly, to wish my sister a happy birthday. After i hung up, i took a moment to myself, away from others-- to cry. All these emotions were running inside of me. I still couldnt believe i was doing this- I've trained for the past months, but all that training went out of my mind.. i kept asking myself, can i really do this?? But then i rememberd, the reasons why i took this challenge. I was doing it to help others, living with HIV and to bring awareness to others, so they dont become HIV positive. I knew, this fear will go away, all i had to do was think of my reasons of doing this ride.

We finally line up, all the cyclist are inside. I was at the end of my line (there were 10 of us holding banners). i saw my friends from Team UTAC (Until there's a cure)- As the ceremony went on, we had a moment of silence for those that have passed away. Although it was quiet, you can feel the emotions and energy from everyone. I was HONORED to be amongst all the cyclist, to carry the banners.

We are allowed to go to our bikes-- OH MY-- The exictement is just too much! Imagine, 2,500 people on there bikes.... You have soo many people outside, cheering you on.. Telling you :YOU ARE A HERO!"

I AM A HERO-- no matter what, that is what i am. All of us are....

Finally, the bike ride begins-- we start our 7 day journey-- and my nervousness kicks it.. LOL.. remember, I had not learned how to really stop and start back onto my bike. The seat level was still new to me. From being at the beginning of the ride-- i started to go towards the ending of the groups. I didnt want to feel presssued from riding. I was hoping to have seen some of my friends, but with soo many cyclists, that was hard to do.

4 miles into the ride, there was a woman that was on the floor. She fell from her bike. Luckily, there was a group assiting her. I still couldnt believe it happened to someone, so early in the ride. i had to be very careful and make sure i am safe.

11 miles or so into the ride, we have our first water stop. It was FULL of people-- trying to fill up their bottles and in line for the rest rooms. That gave me an idea of what to expect in the lines for all the rest stops. I did see friends-- but we all left at different times. I figured, I cant stay behind.. i need to get on my bike...

Moments after getting on my bike, i see my friend Chrystina.. YAH!!! Someone i can ride with. She was great to ride with, since she knows how slow I can be, but eventually I lost her. i started to ride alone again- i noticied that my bike was wobbling a lot. I just thought it was the wint hitting me from the side, along with the conditiions of the road. I kept going, but it felt like i was riding in a car with no suspension-- i was hitting the road with my tires.... i start to swerve a lot.. I dont know whats happening.. I stop my bike and go to the side of the road-- My front tire is FLAT!!! I had been lucky that it didnt happen to me during the training season.. Why today?? WHY?

I see a group of cyclists not far from me changing another persons tire. I walked to them to see if they can fix it for me (since i didnt know how). great thing for AIDS Life cyclist-- there is a comadrity, that everyone helps each other out. Unfortunately, i forgot the name of the cyclists that changed the tire. THANK YOU!

My tire still needed to be checked by the bike tech-- it felt like it was out of true (not balanced). In addition, i needed to check the air in them.

I finally arrive to rest stop 1-- there is a HUGE line for the bike techs-- what do i do? just ride or wait in line (i still needed to get food to energize myself). As I am in line, i meet my future wifey, JANINE, we bonded----- She was soo nice to hold my bike so that I can go to get some snacks.
We shared our personal stories as to why we were doing the ride-- then about relationships, and everything else. I guess you can just open up to anyone during the ride. As we stand in line, they tell us that we have a few minutes before they close the route on us. I had to decide on whether i should ride, or just end the day-- hmm for me it was about safety...i ended my day at mile 20 (out of 82).. Wow, did i just fail my first challenge?

I was bummed out-- but i was cheered on by Janine and my other new roadie buddy- SOPHIA--BLUE WIG!!!! I went on the Sag bus (the one that takes those that end the day-- no more riding for the day). We start to ride off to the lunch stop.. So, what do i miss out on?? HILLS HILLS HILLS!!!!!!!! But, not just regular hills-- they were nice to look at, but the downhill looked like HELL! There was steep and long- it seemed like cyclist can fall over the cliff, or whatever is on the other side. I think i would have died there-- with the fast speed and my nerves... So, at the end of it, I was glad i missed out on that part.. i know i know, i should have done it all, but there is more to come in the days to follow.

We arrive to Santa Cruz for Day 1 camp-- it was nostalgic arriving there. I went to school at UC Santa Cruz- It had been 7-8 years since i had been there. As soon as i arrive, I call my friend adrian (who still lives there) he went to visit me at the camp site. Shortly after, I asked him to take me to UCSC-- i needed to see all the changes (where there were many).

Adrian and I had lunch, with a student i used to mentor. She was happy to have someone from LA visit her; We then went to KRESGE COLLEGE (and had to take some pics)..lol..

We then went to camp-- adrian was kind enough to mail some of my stuff back to LA- remember how my luggage was too full?? Well, he took care of that.

The day ends, with having a great dinner and hearing everyone's stories of the ride.... Then it was off to bed--- a new journey starts the next day...

*** Writing this entry was emotional-- i took me back to the feelings that i was experiencing during the cermonies.