Work and cycling continue to consume time, as it does every summer :) I'm still bummed with about $500 still left to pay off on the spring surgeries. Weird as it is, I'm "comforting" myself that last spring, there were 3 surgeries, this spring 2 surgeries...at least I'm going in the right direction, right?!
But life absolutely goes on!! And it goes on OUTSIDE, which is where I'm happiest.
Two weeks ago I completed the 1200k (756mile) Grand Randonnee in Alaska and actually had to worry about SUNBURN! Alaska is beautiful, the weather was amazing and the people I got to ride with were spectacular! My only downer from the event was the roads were so bad (bump, bump, bump, bump that never ended) that my body parts started failing so by the 2nd day, I actually wondered if my knees, back and achilles would hold together another 400 miles. They did, with lots of highs and lows, but I was glad this event may be a "one and done" event, unlike others that I look forward to repeating. Alaska is in an abnormal heat/dry front right now, which this Texas gal was grateful, though woefully unprepared for! I started each day with as many layers on as possible, then stripped as the day went on. I'd tucked my little 70spf travel bottle in at the last minute and thank goodness I did. My arms didn't get saved, but my face and neck did!
Week before Alaska, Dan and I raced (and won) the mixed team 12hr race at the Tonkawa Ultra Race. Again, heat played a huge factor in winning because other teams weren't as used to it. I'm sneezing during the podium pic, but I really AM happy to be there!
Couple weeks before that was a really grand vacation including scuba diving in the Florida Keys. Still have some of the Efudex scabs on my neck but finished the last of THIS round about a week before this photo. On one of the boat photos, the scabs jump out at me like neon lights, but this one they're caught up in wrinkles :)
Fun part of the trip was diving lots of wrecks and actually making my first-ever You Tube video with the GoPro Dan got me for Christmas. Over 100' deep, no extra light and the viewing is spectacular. I've got a lot to learn, but below is a link to my first video diving the USS Vandenberg off Key West.
and cycling through the gorgeousness from Boston to Hyannis Port for the Best Buddies charity ride.
Great adventures in the last few weeks with more coming. Point is, DON'T STOP LIVING. I hope I find the picture someone took of me slathering the sunscreen on my face in Alaska because that's a choice I make in order to keep going. I've been asked why I don't get indoor hobbies....because I'm going to die....and I do NOT want to die on the couch. I'm going to go kicking, screaming and preferably laughing all the way. Not giving up my hobbies helps keep me sane. Skin Cancer....fact of everyday life and apparently for the rest of my life.
Keep Living!!
