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See America Right bio picture

Welcome to See America Right

This is me. A hard-as-nails, adventurous, no-holds-barred firecracker with a passion for cycling, living, and making people happy. I've always been in the thick of just about everything since I was a kid, and it's not much different today. I decided a long time ago that there were a lot of things in the world that needed changing. I may not be able to do it all, but here I am.

This blog is a chronicle of my journey with an organization called Texas 4000 For Cancer. Essentially, we're a group of 58 students riding over 4500 miles on our bicycles this summer to help raise money for cancer research and to teach people about prevention. You'll be able to read all about our 70 day journey on this blog, beginning the day we leave (June 4, 2010).

But that's not the only journey you'll hear about. Until then, you'll read about our training, our team bonding, as well as my own personal journey and what Texas 4000 means to me on many levels. Some times it may not seem directly related to the organization, but trust me, somehow, it is.

There are a lot of things I could say about Texas 4000. Mostly, I want to say this: I joined this organization because I wanted to make a difference in the most hands-on way possible. I wanted to be there for people when they needed me. And I wanted to grow, to change, to see the next iteration of myself shaping before my eyes. That's why I'm here.

There's a lot about me to learn - but I'm not giving it all away at once. This year, I bought a good camera and am teaching myself how to write a photo blog. I'm also graduating with my Bachelor's degree after 3 years at the University of Texas at Austin. And, hell, maybe I'm even moving halfway across the country (or the globe...?) at the end of this journey to begin my next chapter. Whatever I end up doing, I hope you join me for the ride - let me know what you're thinking, and I'll let you know what I'm thinking, too.

"I have work to do, and I am afraid not to do it." - John O'Hara



Days 25/26 – Tahoe


I remember, way back in October & November, when I first proposed and was working on the route change that would eventually lead us to South Lake Tahoe, CA. Previous years had routed through Yosemite, which, though awesome, was a desolate trek to get there through very few communities. The new route, along US-50, though also fairly depopulated, would let us spread our message to some faces and towns. And Tahoe in particular would replace our rest day in Yosemite.

Back when I chose the route, I did so somewhat blindly, not really knowing what to expect. I did my research of course, but I had never been to Lake Tahoe and I honestly had no idea how the whole venture would turn it. Fast forward to Day 25. To the lovely B, Courtney Somerville’s aunt, who organized the whole day for us and put us all up in host families through her network.

There’s no doubt about it – we were all looking forward to Tahoe with an unmeasurable intensity. We would finally be in California. We would see water and lush trees and people – lots of people. We would see Starbucks & CVS & Safeway and the many other things you take for granted until you are on the road in the emptier corners of the United States. We would be able to shower in real showers. We could pretend to be relatively civilized for a day or so.

The send off from Fallon was excellent – a big breakfast and many people to share our circle with. The ride too, was said to be mostly downhill all the way to Carson City – and then the big climb up into Tahoe. We started the day off right.

It was windy, just like the day before, and overall just not an easy day. If you can manage to read the fine print on that Carson City sign, you’ll see that we descended to 4697 ft. – at least at that point anyway. After that, we descended at least another 500 ft. before emerging at the base of our big climb – Spooner Summit.

It was a long climb, and variable in a way I hadn’t observed before. It was about 7% for 10 miles or so, but very curvy, so sometimes it was completely still and others it was such a terrible headwind you could hardly keep pressing forward. All in all, for me, it was a really good climb, and at the end of it, I was a little disappointed to find we were SAG’ing the rest of the way into town due to dangerous road conditions. Despite that, though, it was a really good note to enter Tahoe on.

To make a long story short, we got split into host families and whisked away to stay with them. Ana, Emily, Mariana, & I were with Cynthea and her husband, 2 daughters who were visiting, daughter-in-law who was also visiting, and their 4 children. It was a packed house and I immediately loved it.

We had the most delicious baked potato bar and best of all, homemade strawberry shortcakes. I think Ana & Emily were enjoying them just a little too much. And then, to bed. A real one. Possibly the most comfortable thing I’ve ever felt in my life. I slept better than I had in a really long time. We went to sleep with plans for a fairly early rise and a trip out on the lake in our hosts’ boat.

The lake was incredible. I’ve never seen such beautiful water – I knew from the time we first set foot out on the boat that Tahoe was going to be one of my favorite days. Everything was just awe-inspiring, especially after so many weeks in the desert. And all the wonderful food from our hosts – I could hardly stand it!

I really had a great time being taken around town for errands after our boat ride and getting to see Eagle Falls. Our host’s daughter-in-law, Asa, is from Sweden and she was really hospitable and wonderful to us. She helped me get my glasses fixed and took me to my first Starbucks in who knows how long. Her and I really hit it off and we had a great time running errands, heading to Eagle Falls, and grabbing lunch.

All in all, I really loved Tahoe. It was above and beyond my expectations. Our hosts were wonderful people, and I was reminded of home – growing up in a house with 3 generations and lots of people and pets and whatnot. It was a reminder of family and home and all the good things about life.

Tahoe was everything I needed at exactly the right time. I’m already excited to come back in the winter. After a big potluck and sendoff at B’s, another rest day was gone, and we were off. Headed to the coast.

MaMa - great pictures kat, i know you must have had a great time in tahoebe safe and write again soonJuly 31, 2010 - 9:13 am

Mom - As soon as we can, I sure would like to go there with you! Judging by the pictures it looks like a place I would really like. Stay Strong, Be Safe.July 31, 2010 - 9:36 am

Day 24 – 49 MPH

Cars go 49 miles an hour. So do trains. Occasionally, so do people going down a very steep hill on their bicycles. Unfortunately, none of these are the 49 mph event I have to tell you about today.

We left Austin, the little Nevada town named after the town in Texas that all of us hold very dear, ready to head to Fallon. An 111 mile trek through the desert and the mountains and whatever else Nevada had in store for us.

I remember ride dedications this morning really well. I dedicated my ride to everyone suffering from cancer who doesn’t have insurance. Not only are they fighting an inner battle, but also an outer one with huge stress implications. I neglected to mention last time that a group of 4 cyclists going from San Francisco to Connecticut joined us in our campsite overnight. They were self-supported, riding for a leukemia charity, and truly awesome people. I was really impressed with their dedication – crossing the Sierra Nevadas with 50 extra pounds of weight is by no means a small feat. I hope they have a good journey.

Initially, we pulled out of Austin, NV into the continuation of a downhill that had started the day before. It all seemed pretty peachy for a while, and then the work began. I started to notice the wind somewhere in there. As the day pushed on, the wind got stronger, and we had to work much harder.

One of the highlights of this leg of US-50 is something called The Shoe Tree. Nobody really knows the true story behind it (at least as far as I could tell) but everyone seems to agree that it’s a pretty strange phenomenon. As you can see, it’s a big tree covered in all kinds of shoes. The wind must blow here pretty often, because shoes were in piles beneath and around the tree. It was almost unbelievable.

Right before mile 80, we hit an uphill that was magnified in difficulty 10 times due to the insane headwind. I was out of water, so was Taylor, and we were struggling through some pretty hot weather. Just over the top of the crest, we finally saw the 80 mile rest stop and were very, very thankful.  Little did we know, the worst part of our entire ride thus far was yet to come.

We left that rest stop, went down a mountain, and then, suddenly, we were in some strange sort of apocalyptic sand desert. This is the only picture I have of it, because, well, after about 300 feet the wind started blowing 40+ mph. It went on for over 15 miles. My iPhone wind meter app measured the strongest gust at 49 mph. Yes, that’s the 49 miles an hour I was talking about. Wind! Taylor and I were alone and I never thought I was going to make it. I was pulling and by the time we arrived at the 100 mile rest stop my entire left side was numb from working so hard. We averaged about 5.5 mph. It was crippling.

Sometimes when I relate this story to people, they ask what got me through it. In all honesty, I can’t pinpoint one thing. We were stopping every few hundred feet just to rest. Sometimes the wind was so strong we couldn’t safely pull our water bottles out without stopping. Taylor & I sang “No Children” as loud as we could, over and over again. I thought about her dad a lot and Porter’s dad, and everybody else I ride for. When we had 10 miles to go, I thought we might not make it. Somewhere around there though, Taylor and I started talking about people we both knew (she’s from Mansfield, a neighboring city to Arlington), and the time passed a little quicker. Then the wind calmed down just a few miles an hour – a least we were moving faster than 5 mph.

The last few miles were hell, but we made it. The McDonald’s burger waiting for me at that rest stop was the best thing I have ever eaten. Well, second only to the chocolate milk I bought as soon as I pulled into town. It was beyond delicious. As was our dinner.

Fallon is known as the “oasis of Nevada” – though I’m pretty sure I never would have come to that conclusion myself, on day 24, Fallon was our oasis. Another day. The worst yet (and one that would hold the title for a long, long time).

Mom - That shoe tree thing is pretty odd! Hope that this was the roughest day that you will encounter, but if it isn't, I think your attitude about this ride will pull you through. You are AWESOME!July 22, 2010 - 11:22 pm

MaMa - kat, you amaze me as to how strong you are and how determined you are.that shoe tree was strange. be safe and i love you bunches.July 23, 2010 - 6:31 am

Janie Smith Musto - Thanks for all the great posts and pictures. It’s been fun following you and the entire team throughout this incredible journey. Sounds like you and our little Taylor-Tots have kept each other strong along the way. I cannot think of a better person to have by your side. She is a true source of comfort and an amazing pillar of strength. P.S.......love the shoe tree!July 23, 2010 - 10:44 pm

Aunt Becky - Kathryn, Sorry so long between posts. I know it seems like the road goes on forever but you've come this far and what a story you will have when your done. Keep your eyes ahead and your focus on the finish... Love youJuly 26, 2010 - 12:34 pm

Dana - Wow! What an amazing journey! My life has been touched by cancer in so many ways and I appreciate your committment to Texas 4000. Thank you for sharing your pictures and experiences! Take care! (childhood friend of your Mom's)July 26, 2010 - 10:36 pm

Julia- from Clovis, NM - Hey Kathryn, just was thinking about all you guys on the road each and everyday, checked out your website, I am awed by your determination. You guys all rock. Keep those legs peddling. I'll have to show Hailey this tomorrow and remind her of all the friends she made this summer. Take care you guys!July 30, 2010 - 11:30 pm

Day 23 – Scrapes

Of all the pictures I’ve taken on this trip, this is one of my favorites. Anyone can photograph a landscape – they don’t move. People are harder, a fact I am constantly reminded of. But for once, I struck gold, and all because of Angela.

She pulled into the first rest stop between Eureka & Austin with this bloody knee, pretty calm all things considered. We sat her down and popped out my first aid kit for tweezers and some gauze. I spent this time worrying about making sure Angela got her knee taken care of and you know what Angela said to me?

“Take a picture.”

I guess times of trauma (however mild) are the times when a real photographer would have whipped out their camera and started shooting – I was too busy trying to help and worrying that photographs might just make her more uncomfortable. With Angela’s blessing though, I did exactly what she told me to and got this gem. Our day to Austin, NV, was off to an eventful start. Angela & Mariana had been involved in a pretty bumpy crash, though Mariana emerged more or less unscathed and Angela had to SAG a day or so for her knee, as it was painful.

The road to Austin, NV, was, for the most part, not too awful. A little summit at the beginning, and a vicious summit at the end of the day, supposedly. I rode with some wonderful ladies all day – Basia, E, Ana, & Taylor – and we chatted about Ana’s planned T4K 2011 Panama Reunion, among other things. It was a good day, right up until the beginning of the summit. I learned that I was pretty skilled at guessing our elevation over the course of the day – a sixth sense, I suppose. And then, 12 miles from the day’s end, the climb began.

We climbed and climbed. It felt like forever, especially the first leg. When I saw the rest stop set up, still in the middle of the climb, I began to wonder – how long would it last? Turns out, it was about 9 miles long, and when I hit the top, I’d never been so glad to see two things.

The first thing was the summit sign – bright green, just small enough, a little shining light on the horizon. Summit signs have come to mean a lot to us. We can spot them from quite the distance. We know their shape, just how much text they should have, and exactly what other signs will indicate that we have reached the top. This summit sign was a breath of fresh air.

The second thing was my teammates at the top of that big crest, all jubilant and awed. We have come so far – not in miles, but as people. We have grown into better traits, bigger hearts, & of course, broader calves. We left Austin a group of team members united behind a goal. We arrived here, on Day 23, at the top of Austin summit, a family who bickers and laughs, but who, no matter what, gets the job done while always looking out for each other. We are here because of each other, and we are greater for it.

MaMa - you will be even greater at that last in alaska. keep on peddling and remember i love you. be safeJuly 21, 2010 - 8:01 am

Day 22 – We Call That Climbing

En route to Eureka, Nevada. A 21st birthday. A cool morning on concrete outside an unfamiliar high school in an unfamiliar town eating oatmeal & pancakes, for the most part. Leftover mail drop food for those with upset or picky stomachs. A morning birthday cake. A ride off to a good start. Camera work. A giant rest stop birthday card and a poem on the fly. Joy. A few still ill with stomach issues – some new victims, also. Turns for the better. Good day.

4 summits. 3 photographs. Climbing up, falling down. Worth it. Save the best for last. The neverending Pinto Summit. Up, up, up. Steeper and steeper. And then, the long descent into Eureka. The realization that you like climbing. The realization that you’ve changed.

A new desert, different from the first. A strange beauty. The loneliest highway in America – supposedly – but not deserted. Emptiness, but not utter calm.

Birthday hats all day long. Dinner with the Lions. Everyone – so kind. Spaghetti. Rhubarb cobbler! Eager eyes, even when my stomach doesn’t follow. Deep, lasting beauty in Nevada. Change. The state that bridges the old ways and the new. Moving forward. Climbing.

Climbing.

Day 21 – Was That A Tailwind?!

The next morning out of Pioche had us off to a great start. Don & his wife, along with the owners of the Silver Cafe, treated us to a delicious breakfast complete with novelty pancakes. Though my appetite was still greatly reduced – food always seemed to sound good but eating it proved to be another thing entirely – I still could appreciate what I did have, especially the incredible honeydew.

After breakfast, we circled up to share our ride dedications. As I mentioned before, Pioche was a downwinder community from the Las Vegas nuclear testing, and many of the individuals there had been deeply affected by cancer. We heard many stories and it was inspiring to roll out that morning knowing that the 107 miles ahead of us would be for them.

As soon as we got on the road, it became apparent that today was not just any day. Dare we say it? We had a tailwind. The first one of the entire ride. Not just any tailwind either – the 20 mph variety. For once the wind was with us. The terrain, too, was accommodating – we averaged over 20 for most of the ride. Before we knew it, we had done 80 miles in under 5 hours. Taylor S. and I had a blast not working much at all – finally, an easy ride. As we regrouped at 80 miles, too, we got some good news. Tyler got into grad school at USC. We had been out of cell or email reach for several days, and evidently in the meantime he had become a Trojan. Needless to say, we were all pretty excited for him.

We saw lots of signs and warnings about elk, but we didn’t see a single one. I was curious why they have the light on top of the sign – how exactly do they turn that on, and when do they know they need to? I mean, this sign is literally 50 miles from any sort of civilization. Who puts out the elk alert?

At the 80 mile stop, the day finally turned against us and we faced our first real, serious summit of the trip. We climbed for a fair few miles – somewhere between 6 and 8 – with frequent stops to cheer each other on before we reached the top of the pass.

The top of this little mountain was, interestingly enough, called Connor’s Pass. A little reminder of my brother on the first summit of the ride, a mere 7722 ft. Leah seemed pretty happy about it.

Lessons learned today: it’s not always an uphill battle all day long. I’m not sure I could have gone 107 miles feeling like I did if it had been hard. Luckily for me, it wasn’t too bad – just our first monster climb at the end of the day, which I thoroughly enjoyed. And so began the week of the 10 (or maybe it was 12) summits before the California valley.

Day 20 – We’ve All Got Bad Days

I went to bed in Enterprise knowing without a doubt that I was going to get up the next morning and ride, no matter how bad I felt. We were headed for Pioche, NV – a new state and our second day of the new route – and I was going to be entering Nevada on my bicycle, not in the van.

When I woke up, I still felt pretty fatigued. I changed into my cycling gear (my first order of business every morning) and returned to my sleeping area (also fondly referred to as my apartment) to pack my bag. I had barely been awake 5 minutes before David asked to talk to me. Normally, this wouldn’t bother me much, but at 4:30a in the morning, it just couldn’t be good. And that’s when I got the double whammy of the morning.

First of all, Arvin & Basia had taken the 12 passenger van back to St. George in order to take Arvin to the hospital. He had been ill with a pretty terrible gastrointestinal problem and it had severely worsened overnight, so Basia had driven him to the hospital. We had no cell reception and thus no way of knowing when they might rejoin us. We would need to make do with the 15 passenger for the day for rest stops. A problem, but a very minor one all things considered.

The next one came as somewhat of a surprise. Paul would be driving Foley to St. George shortly. She had made plans to take the Greyhound back to Austin. I (and most of the team, I’d venture to say) had known that she wasn’t having the easiest time. None of us were. Despite some mention of leaving before, I had never expected it so soon. Regardless, we all had had barely enough time to absorb her decision before she was gone, and there it was. We were 25.

Because of all the early morning van usage, we had to wait a bit to roll out of Enterprise. I spent most of that time resting, as I really wasn’t feeling too hot. Before I even hopped on the bike I knew this day was going to be very difficult for me. And boy was it.

Taylor S. was kind enough to spend the whole day with me. At the 20 mile rest stop, I still felt bad, but I was attempting to portion out the day into manageable chunks of 20, so I kept on going. I watched all my border race buddies fly by, headed for Nevada much as I had been for every other border. The Nevada border was Krisztina’s today – I wasn’t putting up a fight, so her and Angela had to duke it out.

The second portion started out with a hefty climb. I was sure I wouldn’t make it. Eventually, I saw the little green summit sign – we were at the top. Luckily, the rest of the ride to the rest stop was a 10 mile downhill. Without that, I very well might not have made it. Arvin was also back with us at the 40 mile – not healed by any means, but at least feeling better. We were all cheered to see him back from the hospital.

The last section of the day was short – it was only a total of 57 miles that day – but it turned out to be almost all climbing. Taylor S. & Tyler stuck by me the whole time, despite my glacial pace and the fact that I had to stop and sit down on the ground every 300 or 400 feet. Even though it took us the better part of forever, most of which I spent crying and thinking I wouldn’t make it, we did make it. It was probably the most wonderful feeling I had had up until then on the ride. I was done for the day, and I had made it, despite everything. My hardest day? Definitely. But it ended in this delicious meal:

The day into Pioche was a day of lessons. I guess every day, more or less, is with this ride. I learned that sometimes things are not the way they seem. I got to spend a day with Taylor and I learned what their really is to appreciate about her, past the good sense of humor and intelligent conservation – she is what kept me going all day long. She was always happy to stop, to encourage me, to do whatever it took to get me there, and it worked. I made it and so did she.

I also learned to deeply appreciate what it is that’s keeping me here – every day, every pedalstroke, no matter what happens. I am so grateful for the perseverance to keep going and the dedication to never quit. Some days are bad. Some days are good. Some days are just a wild card. I’m okay with that. I think sometimes on this ride people can forget to appreciate their own efforts because of their humility or selflessness. Today was a day where I appreciate my own inner strength. I didn’t back down. I never will back down.

Day 20. When everything started to change – for the bigger, better, and greater.

Mom - I wish you had not had such a bad day, but I'm really glad that to got to know and appreciate Taylor more. In our lives it is the people we get to know, appreciate and love that make all the difference. Keep fighting and be safe.July 15, 2010 - 10:27 pm

MaMa - kat, i know it was hard but knowing the fighter you are, look, you made it with lots of support from Taylor, thank God for her. be safe and i love you.July 16, 2010 - 6:30 am

Day 19 – The Final Frontier: Adventures in Enterprise

The day from Zion to Enterprise was the first and only day of the ride to date that I haven’t taken any pictures (this one’s from the day after). As I mentioned before, I got food poisoning on our day off in Zion, and, though I initially put on my cycling gear and wanted to ride the next morning, it quickly became obvious that it was not a good idea to do so. I had a hard time conceding to SAG, but I really felt awful, so my streak had to be broken. It seems like a pity that it had to be one day that ruined the no-SAG streak, but I suppose it wasn’t meant to be.

I spent the great majority of the morning lying in the van eating cherry jello, which was actually really awesome considering how badly I felt. Arvin joined me soon afterward, though he was sick with something else that was much more unpleasant.

I helped out SAG when I could, ate Ritz crackers when I couldn’t, and wrote postcards in between. I felt okay in the middle of the day, and terrible by the time we got to Enterprise. I laid down because I was exhausted. I didn’t eat much for dinner and I honestly don’t remember much about the town.

I do know that Enterprise was one of the towns that was majorly affected by the nuclear testing north of Las Vegas during the Cold War. The chemicals blew north into towns like Enterprise, causing a wide variety of cancer cases. Enterprise was happy to have us and we were honored to hear their stories. I wish I had felt better.

We had a team meeting. We made some good decisions about where we are headed. I slept a lot that night – much more than I usually allow myself. And when I woke up the next morning, a lot had happened overnight.

So, Enterprise. Not the final frontier for this trip really, but hopefully the Star Trek reference wasn’t lost on everyone.

Mom - To boldly go where no one has gone before! Memories of you standing in front of the tv, at 4 years old, stating this fact!July 11, 2010 - 12:01 pm

Barbara Santino - Sorry to hear you were sick. Thank you again for posting this blog. Keep on riding!!!July 11, 2010 - 12:06 pm

Grandad - I don't want to throw water on your parade but My mother(your great grand mother) once told me that there will always be days like the one you experienced at Enterprise. What she failed too mention that there would be so damned many of them. The longerI live the more I have learned antipicate them. Life is so damned mundane,to quote Pecos Bill! So just hang in there and after a while they'll become just a another inconvience to deal with. Sorry you were ill, hope feeling better by now. unfortunaly it's time get off your butt and go back to work. Sorry about that. Seriously pace yourself, east healthy and get plenty of rest. Look forward to the time that I will be able to see you again.July 14, 2010 - 10:57 pm

Day 17/18 – Zion, Baby

To say most of us were excited for Zion is a gross understatement. We left Kanab that morning with a highly-charged sense of excitement. Many of the team had been waiting for this day since they first joined the organization. I was, like many, excited about visiting one of the neatest national parks around. I was also excited for the short mileage, and, of course, the opportunity to sweep for the first time on the ride.

Sweeping is one of the most important duties a team member can provide. The sweep wears the yellow vest (which you will see on me a little later on) and ensures that the people in the back of the pack are taken care of and no one is left behind. Often the sweep is emotional support for someone having a tough day or experiencing some physical pain. Though the day into Zion was short, I was happy to be sweeping.

The ride into Zion ended up being a little shorter than we even anticipated, as we had to SAG because of horrible construction. So after 25 miles uphill, we all loaded into the vans and made the drive into Zion. But first, we had some burgers at a great restaurant, where our fearless leader, David, passed out.

Naturally, his girlfriend, Yijiao, tried to cover him in whipped cream, much to our enjoyment. David was not nearly as amused. Once we were all full of burgers and fries, we set off for the park itself. We actually ended up letting two road-weary cyclists from Seattle hitch a ride through the tunnel with us, which was fun.

What can you really say about one of America’s greatest national parks? I knew immediately upon arriving that it was incredible and I had to come back when I really had time. I’d also love to return in winter, when the park is blanketed in snow.

It was really a gorgeous park – unfortunately, I only got to see a small slice of it before, on the afternoon of our rest day, I got food poisoning at a restaurant in Springdale, right outside Zion. I hadn’t thrown up in almost ten years, but I got pretty sick. I don’t remember much of that afternoon/evening except feeling ill in more ways than one. It’ll be a while before I eat chicken salad again, let’s put it like that.

Besides the food poisoning, I really love Zion. There is no better way to describe it than majestic – the park is truly a wonder. I know I’ll come back. I wish I could’ve seen more, but alas, I got pretty sick. As a result, you’ll get to hear about the end of my “no SAG’ing” streak, my first day of the ride without a single photograph, and my super hard return to the bike afterward. But not until next time unfortunately. Starbucks closes in 9 minutes.

I’ll leave you with a shot of the Narrows.

Mom - As always, the pictures are great. I'm really kind of sad about the chicken salad, because I know how much you have always loved it!July 7, 2010 - 3:55 pm

Gran - LOVE THE PICTURES AND YOUR COMMENTS JUST KEEP ON GOING YOU WILL BE THERE SOON HAVE FUN BE SAFE LOVE YOU GRANJuly 9, 2010 - 12:40 pm

Day 16 – Busting Out the Tents

Somehow, before we knew it, we were in Utah. The border this time was at the very beginning of the ride, with a great portion uphill, and I really didn’t want to compete in the border race, but I felt like I had a title to defend. Good thing too, I guess, because I won.

We met up outside the Glen Canyon Dam on Lake Powell for the beginning of the border race – it was actually really cool. The bridge and the dam were both massive and I definitely appreciated some of the well-put warning signs.

Entering Utah was definitely exciting for me because it’s the first state on the ride I hadn’t been to. Zion was in reach, and the excitement levels were definitely high. Though I look kind of angry in the photo. Don’t blame me, blame the photographer. Wait. Damn.

The scenery entering the state was nice, and, despite being a largely downhill ride, we had a massive headwind that kept our pace sort of glacial. When we finally did arrive in Kanab, we were greeted by the Mormon Church, fed a delicious meal with the best dessert I’ve had yet on the ride (Key Lime Italian Cream Cake? That’s the best description I’ve got.). Unfortunately, Taylor S. had been feeling sick and had to go to the hospital in town, where it turned out she was dehydrated and had a bit of a stomach bug. After dinner and a good program, we went out to our campsite and began to do our first tent setup of the ride.

We learned a lot during that setup. We seem to be down a tent (a problem I will remedy within about a week after Day 16) and even then, we’re a lot of people in very few tents. So we got cozy and settled in for our first night under the stars. Zion, here we come!

P.S. That K on the hillside there? It doesn’t stand for Kanab. No, no. It stands for Kathryn.

MaMa - no doubt kat, they knew you were coming and painted a K on the hillside. be safe , all of you. mamaJuly 4, 2010 - 10:22 am

Day 15 – More Than One Kind of Elk

By the time this day rolled around, I was actually glad I was SAG’ing. I was incredibly tired – having slept only two or so hours the night before in Kayenta. Andrew (also SAG’ing) and I stayed up rather late having a long conversation, and then we both had trouble sleeping that night. As a result, we were both pretty exhausted. Not to mention I was just tapped out from the day before – muscles, rear end, everything.

The day was not the easiest one for the team, especially for the first stretch, which had some nasty headwind. As you can see, our rest stop setup looks rather bleak, what with the Martian landscape. Andrew & I got everything ready and then both took a nap in the van, trying to make up for lost sleep. I didn’t sleep much though, and I ended up passing out in the van later on during the ride to Page.

At the end of the day, we had to perform our first operation Oreo of the ride – that is, we had to use the vehicles to sandwich the riders into the city due to, in this case, dangerous construction. The road was completely gravel/dirt, and, of course, uphill. We would have just SAG’ed everyone, but it was only half a mile long and it ended in our destination.

We stayed in the police department in Page, but the Elks Lodge across the street fed us both dinner and breakfast and gave us a warm welcome under the guidance of Wayne. Wayne was truly an inspirational man who cared deeply about what we were doing, and he was moved to the point of tears throughout his address to us. His connections to cancer are very deep and very personal, and we were all moved by his emotion. Not to mention, they had mashed potatoes and gravy, which I ate like four servings of.

One of the best things about this ride (and biggest bummers for me, since I was SAG’ing), was that Mike, from Farmington, rode with us. Mike & his wife hosted Mariana & Krisztina while we were in Farmington, and he had a truly unique and inspiring story. He had had severe colonitis with precancerous growths and had had to have his colon removed eventually. After that, he found the bike and is now an incredible cyclist and an inspiring person. Having him with us this day exponentially increased our energy and happiness and we really had a great time with him. He and his wife are truly good people.

And that was Page – and well, our last full day in Arizona, too.