Ok-- Now I'm Ready!

After this afternoon's orientation session, the excitement really started to build. We'd gone over the rules: 

1. No drafting
2. Helmet any time you step over a bike frame
3. Quiet time at 8:30 pm
4. Blinking tail and headlight at all times riding the bicycle
5. No earphones EVER
6. Your gear must be loaded before you're allowed to have breakfast!

We got some expert tips for handling all types of traffic situations (i.e. RV coming up behind you while a semi is coming and no shoulder to speak of OR wide road narrowing to a bridge with no shoulder on busy road, etc), we got the run down on how to handle all of this.

We were also divided up into teams that will crew different things when called upon like preparing breakfast at the campsite, moving gear, etc. My crew consists of Camilo Rueda (32, Atlanta), Liz Schreiber (28, Cleveland), and Jim Sheridan (69, Albany). 

The Lung Association provided us with a fantastic Big Ride fleece vest, a Big Ride duffel filled with donated snacks, a donated water bottle and our official Big Ride jerseys (wait til tomorrow to see us all decked out!). We then feasted on ziti bolognese, caesar salad, and tiramisu for our last supper.

The gear truck will be ready to load by 6 am, and breakfast and cue sheet handouts will occur at 6:30 am, kickoff ceremony at 7 am, and departure at 7:30 am.

My mind is prepared. My anxieties have dissipated. Now I'm ready.