The background story

It's hard to describe the struggle this ride was.

Highway 71 (ride #2), Highway 200 (ride #3), and South Dakota (ride #4) were all rides done as a pair. Sharon and I were riding together. I'll never forget our first couple hours on Highway 71, Sharon was miles ahead of me! As the day progressed she slowed down so I could keep up. 

This year back problems have plagued her and a doctor's advice to not ride a bike for 6 months rang in our ears. It's not that riding a bike is everything to us, but the Ride for the Dominican is a big deal! The doctor sealed the deal though and not wanting to create further injury there was no way Sharon was going to be able to ride. 

We keep the state we are riding through under wraps till just before the trip and this threw a wrench into everything. Normally we have ridden in August, but this year that wasn't happening. We needed to figure out something different. It was going to be Nebraska, but Nebraska didn't make sense anymore. Sharon said, "Do a state I'd never ride with you." Two states came into mind immediately, Montana and North Carolina. She didn't like Montana because of its size and the massive mountains on the west side of the state and she didn't want to ever ride North Carolina because that is where her family is. The timing of when we could go lined up with her entire family's camping trip for her Dad's birthday and possibly making a surprise 95th birthday party for her Grandpa. Seemed like a win on several fronts!

We usually get the information about The Ride out earlier, but we did it super late this year. The goal for me in these rides isn't just that people watch or that people give, but that they get to know and take some ownership with their donation to The Center in Santiago. Many people don't want to get into that, but that is our goal, that people know what they are giving to, be a part of it! That comes with time and communication. We did that poorly. 

Not only that but maps needed to be studied, campgrounds needed to be found and the bike needed to be prepped! Lots had to be done quickly!

Thankfully it all came together!