Northern California - ALC 7 Ride Report

My head is spinning from what I’ve had the privilege to experience. I am truly overwhelmed with humility. I’m exhilarated like never before in my life. I think I’ve had the most life changing experience you could ever imagine. So much on so many levels, in so little time…I feel like my consciousness has expanded to such proportions that I can’t even grasp the meaning of it all enough to explain it.

I am speechless…

As soon as I take a breath and sort it all out I’ll give you a report and picts. Right now I’m dealing with getting back to reality and falling into a ALC ride post ‘partum issue which I need to deal with before it gets out of hand. (a bit of depression) I’m a little overwhelmed and need to sort it all out a little before I can explain it. You have no idea how much I care for you all, even more now than ever, and really miss you all. You’ve all gotten me through more than you could ever imagine or would ever know…

Sometimes in our journey through life we are totally un-aware of the potential and profound effect we have on other lives through our personal interactions. For every one who has shared ride experiences and heart and soul conversations/moments with me. From the crazy “Gladiators” at the front of the pack who pushed me into digging deeper than I thought was possible to get to the top of that mountain, or run with the wolves till I was delirious with exuberant pure animal joy. The mellow sweeties who have made me feel so comfortable, yet allowed my comical flirtatious ramblings with loving amusement… but really knew my true meaning. I sincerely hope that what I reveal will not effect our connection. You’ve given me the focus I’ve needed over the last few months. In times of utter depression, shame and anger, you’ve pulled me out of the horrifying abyss that had become, a familiar visitor in my life, by just being you.
Pete… `

I am dying to ride this weekend : )

..............AWARDS................

Best Tent Mate! Robert who put up with me being a complete knuckle head all week!

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Robertintent.jpg

Robert pushing his 200 Lb. Peugout from SF to LA...Wait till he discovers CF!

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/RobertOnHisPeugeot.jpg

Camp Crush's:

Of course Gracie my old crush who I stalked on the ALC Training rides.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/PeteAndGrace-2.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/GracieinAction.jpg
With her little doggie Baci on her helmet
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Grace-1.jpg

And Melissa who is hiding some where on this forum (lurker) friend of Jo's. I pestered her and enjoyed the candlelight vigil, dinner, and ride from Santa Barbara...I think she's still hiding from me :(

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/1Melissa2.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/1melissa.jpg
My Best ride friends:
Lydia who I met on the Gladiators ride, Wiley from the ALC training...Power rider and me who I recently got to know...
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/BestBuddies2.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Buddies.jpg
More to come soon Need to finish adjusting new cleats and take out trash

Good to have you back Pete. All my friends who have done ALC have the same experience, so take your time. Welcome home.

Welcome home Pete, good to have you back in the Bay Area. Take your time with your report, it will be worth it. Riding solo up Mt. Tam gets pretty damn boring.

Welcome back, Pete. We sure missed you too and can't wait to hear about your experiences.

Very warm welcome back Pete, you are an essential part of this group as it went into a slumber in your absence. Your blog report is amazing, very very powerful stuff. I'm actually not sure what to say, other then welcome home and I'm glad I have the chance to ride with you.

congratulations! Looking forward to the ride report and pics...

Wow, Pete, just checked out your blog - what you've gone through is amazing - keep on pedaling!

JB

¡Felicidades enhorabuena! Esperamos tu reportaje como siempre.

I am speechless…



After reading your blog, I feel the same way. Truly an amazing and powerful story. I look forward to riding with you again.

Just read your blog Pete. I need a hug.

Wow, Pete. I knew you were special when I first met you. Now, I know why....

Congrats Pete! You were an inspiration to me even before I read your latest blog entry, but now.........wow.

By the way I got paced up Mt. Tam yesterday by a guy on an old steel Eddy Merckx. Forgot to catch his name but I remember his age.........71 years!!

You're still a youngin'.

Hope to ride with you soon.

Pete, I read the post on your website earlier today, and was completely floored. I had no idea what all you were going through. Nothing I can say would adequately convey or cover what needs to be said, so I guess I'll have to keep it simple:

Congratulations on the ride, and congratulations on finding the inner peace you desire and the strength you need to carry on on a day-to-day basis.

Very moving. Nice job. Hope to meet you soon.

BTW, my mom's family name is Ferguson so we might be related!

Welcome back Pete and congrats on finishing the trip to LA.
More importantly congrats on reaching this special personal milestone.
Looking forward to riding with you soon, we missed you at the Sequoia Century.

Big Boobies!
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Girlboobs-1.jpg


OOPs! forgot my other girl Crush!
Monique...What a story there!
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Monique-1.jpg

Had to do some time for stalking the ladies...: (
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/PeteJail.jpg

The Lady I stalked
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/QuadbusterGinger.jpg

My Dblock jail buddies Jali and Danny...Danny is an Irish Lymrick poet and Jari is nice to his mom and talks like Alan Alda
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/JariDanny.jpg

Me and the Pacific
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/LastDayPacific-1.jpg

One of the most amazing views
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/MorrowBay-1.jpg

Wonder team
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/P6020102.jpg

Vigil for those who have died of AIDS...Beautiful
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Ventura-1.jpg

Another Dblock or Actually J block Tent neighbor
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/1JBuddies.jpg

The newly reformed Discovery team with Coach Ginger
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/1discoveryteam.jpg

Me with the Mayor who ordered me to Jail ..Santa Barbara
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Mayor.jpg

COFFEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/PeteCoffee.jpg

Another Lisa..but a little taller then my girlfriend Lisa
oops sorry Dave...supposed to be secret
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/PeteLisa.jpg

ahhhh?
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Twins.jpg

The Dashing duo...Alc alumni
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/THunter.jpg

ahhhh???? again.....I think my Mechanic?
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/PaintedGuy.jpg

We're married... It Stays In Vegas! :love:
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/GingerSantaBarbra.jpg

OOps!
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/cookies.jpg

More to come...

wow. pete. read your blog. and i will say that, tonight, you inspired me to get off the couch and be productive and not waste the evening vegging to the lakers/celtics. ... i did several weekend long rides w/ an alc group last year and always wondered, "man, if training rides are this good, i wonder what the real ride is like?!?"

hope to meet and ride w/ you someday.

Had to do some time for stalking the ladies...: (
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/PeteJail.jpg


You rode with Garth? Where was Wayne?





Me with the Mayor who ordered me to Jail ..Santa Barbara
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Mayor.jpg


They got the California Poppy in there!

What to say? I've never met you, although I feel like I already know you pretty well just through reading your expansive, well crafted blogs and BF posts. Just casually checked in today wondering if we'd hear about your ALC ride experiences, never expected your powerful blog entry.

There's nothing I can say other than you're clearly an amazing dude. I look forward to making a BF ride with you sometime.

Richard (aka Beaker)

Taxi, just read your blog..........you're such an inspiration to all! :thumb: Also congrats on the completion of the ride too. Hope to meet you soon.

Ahhhh. Posts. photos, stories. We're back to "normal"
It feels right.

:love:

The Lady I stalked
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/QuadbusterGinger.jpg


is that one of THE foster farms chickens driving a SAG wagon?

A stud of a rider and a stud of a man. Inspiring story! :hug:

And Melissa who is hiding some where on this forum (lurker) friend of Jo's. I pestered her and enjoyed the candlelight vigil, dinner, and ride from Santa Barbara...I think she's still hiding from me


Who me, hiding? Nope, here I am!

Pete, meeting and hanging out with you at ALC was absolutely unforgettable! It was one of the highlights of the week. Let me know when you want to do another recovery ride. Er, at least it will be a recovery ride for you. :)

- Melissa (OK, back to lurker status...)

Melissa, no more need to lurk! Come out for a ride. You're in San Jose, very close to many BF rides.

BTW, I'm really digging Robert's Peugeot kit!


http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/RobertOnHisPeugeot.jpg

Oh cool, I'm so glad Pete & Mel found each other ! :)

I'm proud of you Pete. ((hugs))

Oh cool, I'm so glad Pete & Mel found each other ! :)

Yep you've been hiding her from me:( . She walked up to me at rest stop 4 (Addams Family theme). She had zinc all over her face and I thought she was part of the bit!
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/P6040204.jpg

She walked up to me and said are you Pete?... Just the way she said, it I immediately fell in love. We laughed and talked. Fortunately I ran into her the next day in Santa Barbara after looking for her all day!
She had the mean a** tricked out bike with 650 wheels and she's a superb bike handler. Total gear head so I fell in love with her again. We had dinner together and I just stared at her the whole time...We went to the candlelight vigil that was beautiful... and I stared at her all night and fell in love...:love: again....ok ok I'm hopless! I'm perpetually in 5th grade when it comes to cute girls... Hey Mel...XXXOOOXXX thanks for wonderful day(t) :p
BTW I had just taken a Pict of these two guys, that I asked to give me the bird... and they did!
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/P6040203.jpg

And this guy rides a size 120 cc waterford
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/P6040206.jpg

A moment during closing
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Amoment.jpg

Santa Cruz

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Kites.jpg

Melissa's friend name?

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Melsfriend.jpg

Roadie at closing

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Roadieend.jpg

Roland on a fixie

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Roland.jpg

Tent City Santa Cruz

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/tents.jpg

Moment

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Closing.jpg

I fell for a roadie:(:love:

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/CuteRoadies.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Melonroad.jpg
More Mel
.......................................................................

Monique

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Monique2.jpg

Norm from SF

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/NormfromSF.jpg

Melissa, no more need to lurk! Come out for a ride. You're in San Jose, very close to many BF rides.

Ah, but she has been on a BF ride. :)

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=384704

Ah, but she has been on a BF ride. :)

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=384704

Yep we talked about that...the one day I was lazy:mad:

taxi777 wrote:

Sometimes in our journey through life we are totally un-aware of the potential and profound effect we have on other lives through our personal interactions.
Pete, thanks for sharing your experience with us. Even though I've never met or ridden with you I still feel inspired by what you have posted on this forum and in your blog. In your above quote you were referring to other people impacting your life but it goes both ways and I'm sure you have affected more people than you know. Congrats on completing the ride and on your personal revelations along the way.

Pete, I remember you were sick before your (and my) first BF ride, which was Mt. Tam (10/27/07).

I had no idea what you were going through, but it was amazing that you were out and riding so soon after that. Knowing you now, I know that you needed to ride.

For nostalgia here ya go --> http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=357439

Another Lisa..but a little taller then my girlfriend Lisa
oops sorry Dave...supposed to be secret
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/PeteLisa.jpg
Bet you she's not as good a stoker as mine. :love: Or cute. :D

Bet you she's not as good a stoker as mine. :love: Or cute. :D

Well tall Lisa tends to lose her bike...and I have it from reliable sources that big Lisa snores cute. I bet you small Lisa probably snores cute too! Although it would be funny to hear little Lisa snores like an elephant!

I'm not Lisa, my name is Julie....

some more Picts:

About 1/2 the bikes:

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/P6010055.jpg

My Friend Grace and I before our Epic ride. This was the beginning of the flatest straightest ride we've ever done. I think we we're getting bored of each other by the end. I had lost my Cateye that morning but it turned up a day later in the lost & found.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/P6030111.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/P6030110.jpg

Triple tandem, but they weren't moving very fast? I kept passing them. I'd like to draft behind Marco, Ramon and Tim on that sucker...Woo hoo!

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/P6010035.jpg

Was gettin lonely out in Salinas...Broke back Artichoke

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/P6020083.jpg

Pregnant Brittany with child

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/P6020100.jpg

Big Lisa with friends

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/P6010047.jpg

Freezing in Santa Cruz evening:

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/P6010058.jpg

My little brother and bride to be in Santa Monica

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/IMG_3037.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/P6010035.jpg

This was my first Lifecycle and it was probably one of the greatest experiences of my life!

By Wed., I had already signed up for next year.

I met, and was surrounded my some of the nicest, compassionate people I've ever met.
It was really humbling.

Anyways, I think I saw you a few times out there Taxi but didn't get to meet you, but congrats on the ride!
Rest Stop 4 is the best!

Here are my pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ry.l.hunt/AIDSLifecycle2008

See you out there!

This was my first Lifecycle and it was probably one of the greatest experiences of my life!

By Wed., I had already signed up for next year.

I met, and was surrounded my some of the nicest, compassionate people I've ever met.
It was really humbling.

Anyways, I think I saw you a few times out there Taxi but didn't get to meet you, but congrats on the ride!
Rest Stop 4 is the best!

Here are my pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ry.l.hunt/AIDSLifecycle2008

See you out there!

Hey, I missed this post, Lot's of shots. Hope you stopped for Cinnamon buns! That was one of my favorites. I'm doing it too next year. See ya there.
Pete

Taxi777, I think I just saw you on the coverage for the parade. How cool is that? It's on my tivo(1), I'll try and figure out how to get to it for online usage.