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The following are excerpts from my journal on Day One, A.R. (After Ride) I didn't write anything on Day Four due to plain exhaustion.

6/28/99

It's so interesting, the Washington Post this morning has a big photo of the AIDS Ride closing ceremonies front and center on the front page. The Washington Times has a smaller photo of a different, smaller, less controversial, cycling event at the bottom of the front page and no mention of the AIDS Ride.

BODY CHECK:

Mild sunburn on top of head and upper arms
spots of heat rash on backs of knees and behind ears
numbness and loss of strength in both hands, especially the right
sore right achille's tendon
very sore front muscle on left ankle
tightness in traps
muscle soreness in quads and hams
OH YEAH, my sit bones are chaffed open!

Last night a big group of us went to Cactus Cantina to celebrate; Tiffany, Luan, Margaret, Susan, Katharine, Carolyn, Sherri, Kris, Gretchen, Joe, Ken, and Jan. We had pitchers of margueritas and lots of great mexi-comfort food. It was a wonderful end to a wonderful experience.

Yesterday's ride-in was pretty incredible. They lined all 1766 of us up on Constitution Avenue and we rode at 3 mph up the street to 4th and turned right, then turned right again onto the Mall. There were thousands of people lining either side of the area in the middle where the bikes came in. Seekers was there with a big banner. Music was playing, people were dancing, holding their bikes over their heads in triumph.

When everyone was there, they brought the mood around and read a powerful piece called "The Reason" as four people led a riderless bike up the center aisle to the stage. It was a poignant and fitting reminder of the serious reason for this event. The Mayor spoke and we thanked the crew for all of their work as they came up the center aisle. Some of the crew were just bawling from the gratitude we showered on them. What a great time!

I'll never forget, on the ride-in down Constitution, when I saw Tiffany for the first time. When we finally made eye contact, she just yelled and screamed and jumped up and down. It was so affirming! She has a heart the size of Texas!

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