What a difference a day makes. That’s what I was saying Friday afternoon when there was no wind in Delta and at the same time yesterday we were battling 35 MPH gusts. Why couldn’t the days been shifted? Then Sunday rolls around and it’s rained all day.

The last two years we suffered rain on the ride in from Delta. Mother nature miss by one day this year and served us up spectacular weather for a memorable day with both new and old friends on the bike. It was inspiring to see the dozens and dozens of riders meeting at 6:30 in Delta to ride to the Huntsman. There was lots of excitement in the air. The film crew that showed up Friday night to document the ride made the event seem very ‘official’. The crew interviewed several of us Friday night and Saturday morning busied themselves recording stories of why people were up at 5:30 to ride the Huntsman 140. Later they told me the theme from everyone was the same but the stories were all different and inspiring. Filming the event and talking to a few people hardly touches the surface of emotions and brotherhood that develops on the road. I wish the ride had been 500 miles so there would have been more time to chat with those who joined with us in Delta. They brought tangible energy to the ride and made the miles just float by for me. But that energy was not limited to just those on bikes. It came from families, and friends of riders, the Huntsman staff who made this work, those that helped with the lunch and those who road around in those fancy cars, what great people they are. As bad as cancer is, it seems to bring out the best in people and makes them even better. What a privilege and honor it is to be associated with such wonderful people.

There is not enough time to say everything that should be said about the seven men I road with and the 4 who provided support for the ride from Reno. This is the 4th time I have made this ride, three times with Jeff, and twice each with Coleman, Joe and Jason and now with Scott, Steve and Ravel. The road is the same, the motels are the same, even the grouchy waitress in Austin is the same, but each ride is different. Each ride has it’s own unique character. That character is set by those that ride, the weather, the events that happen along the way and the support staff. This year the weather did not play a very big role but the story lines, within the stories, within the events did. It might be 5 flats the first morning, or 4 guys working together to change a flat, or someone suffering from exhaustion or a bad stomach, or Ravel’s ‘egg beater’ legs, or Jeff’s peddling style, or Joe’s miraculous recovery, or Coleman’s everything is great attitude, Scott’s push to best Larry on a climb, or Steve’s awkward gate that churns out power on a bike, or the rocket Jason ignites on a down hill run. These few words conjure up many memories in the minds-eye of those who road all 5 days. Saturday is the icing on the cake, but Monday through Friday is the cake.

The 30-40 riders who were with Jeff as we road under the balloon arch at the Huntsman surely felt the rush of accomplishment of completing the day and knowing some help was going to those with cancer. But my most touching moment was not at the arch, but a half mile away. Steve had attached a child’s bike to his to so Echo could ride with us the last mile to the Huntsman. Echo is a little girl of about 7 with a smile that reveals 2 or 3 missing baby teeth. She lost her right leg to cancer and was struggling with her prosthesis to keep it on the bike peddle as it went around. Matt, who had lost his leg from just above the knee down to cancer about a year ago suggested we tie her foot to the peddle. Those of us riding from Reno had a blue ribbon around our arms. We stopped, Matt took mine and tired Echo’s foot to the peddle. When Steve started again Echo could now peddle the bike. She looked up at me with a big toothy grin and that was it for me and the sweet on my cheeks was washed away by tears. This is why we do this ride! I have done Lotoja and the Moab Skinny Tire event, both to raise money for the Huntsman Cancer Institute. These rides are fun, but do not match the real connection to people with cancer like the Huntsman 140. Come join us again next year for a life changing event.

Day 6. Delta to HCI
If you are wondering is it over? Yes and no. This year’s ride from Reno officially ended yesterday. After 680 miles and 25,313 feet of elevation gain we are off the bike. The need for continued research persists. Will there be a next year? If the sun rises another 365 times then yes.

The most memorable moment occurred at the last moment. Traditionally we gather as a group just before then entrance to HCI with Jeff and other cancer survivors leading the way. This year Steve a recent cancer survivor put a little girl on a tag along bike (A tag along bike is an attachment which connects to the seat post of a standard bicycle, it has its own seat, handle bars, and pedal set with a wheel). This girl, Echo, is a recent amputee as a result of Cancer in her right leg. There we were humble assistants as Steve and Matt put Echo on that tag along. She was grinning ear to ear as she struggled to pedal; this was a completely new experience for her, her first time on a bike. Steve powered his bike while the tail wagged the dog all the way to the HCI; we witnessed a new hope being born in Echo. As we approached the balloon banner and the cheers from the crowd began, I repressed the urge to weep. It is so humbling to be among these great individuals and to be schooled by Echo, a young lady that may just barely be old enough for the first grade. Live life to its fullest. Enjoy the moments, the struggles, the adversity, good heath, friends and family, the mundane, the adrenalin, as all of these are simply living.

As I look back over the last 680 miles it is odd how the pain has faded. On day one when the agony started around 138 miles, Day 3 when nausea threatened, Day 4 when the wind Buffeted and slowed us to an agonizing crawl, all of these seem like a distant memory. But the good things still seem fresh:
• Watching Ravell sprint with a cadence of 120 + to catch on to the wheel of anyone descending faster than he is going or has he sprinted to the top of what will forever be known as Ravell pass. Viewing with awe a few of the photos that he took during this trip. I had no idea he was so incredibly talented.
• Seeing Scott in the distance fly up a steep grade in an effort to be the first to the summit. Knowing I am going to climb that same grade at half the speed. Scott rode all the same miles but just got stronger as we went. He is a man after my own, working with his hands and head to make a living, not afraid of grit, grease, or sweat.
• Having Steve block the wind during seemingly endless miles, then at dinner tell stories from his past. Always with a smile showing he knows the value of living.
• Coleman, always light hearted, even when he was struggling, joining the ride to show support for his big brother, Jeff.
• Joe making a remarkable recovery every day. It would seem that he was struggling and then he would appear looking fresh and pedaling like a superstar.
• Larry, what can I say about this incredible man? For my way of thinking he is a tremendous combination of strength, intelligence and compassion. The cap and gown of his PhD never gets in the way of getting his hands dirty, wiping sweat from his brow, helping a fellow human to become better.
• Jeff Warren. It has been said and I am in full agreement: heart of a lion, will of iron. Jeff like Steve has a new life perspective given to them by their personal struggle and current involvement with the battle against cancer.
• Me, I feel like a boy among men. Despite the accomplishments each of these men have achieved there truly is not arrogance in any of them.
• The gathering of cyclists in Delta to participate in the Huntsman 140. Riding along with the fellow club members from BMBBC and with those I have only just met. We had a few comments from impatient motorists. I am always amazed how a sane person can get behind the wheel of an automobile and turn into a raging idiot, willing to endanger the life of someone on a bicycle because their time is too important to slow down, move over, or even wait for 5 minutes, they forget that the individual on the bike is a person with a job, family, and friends.

In less than a week I have been thoroughly schooled on the bicycle, about life lessons, with the most resounding lesson coming from a six year old girl. I hope some of the lessons stick.

It is nice to be home, for this father’s day and what will be my 46th birthday.

One final shout out to the individuals that drove support. Without their help this would be a drastically more difficult task. They gave a week of their life the same as those of us that rode on a bike, Thank You.
Last and certainly not least, thanks to all of you that have followed along on this journey and that have made contributions to assist with research.

This morning was great seeing all of the supporters and riders who came to Delta to help bring Jeff home to the steps of the Huntsman. What a great ride it was to Salt Lake with all of the conversations I had with other riders. Learning their stories really touched me. As for our group of 8, the band of brothers as I would like to think of them, I want to thank each and everyone of them for being there . I would ride 700 miles with you any day.
I had a few moments on the ride that really affected me emotionally but there was one that has changed my perspective forever. That moment was as Steve “the superman”, Matt, an amazing rider who was the gentlemen with the artificial leg and I rode to the post office to meet Echo, who shares the same cancer doctor as Steve and also has an artificial leg . I didn’t know what to expect as Steve set up his bike with the rear attachment bicycle for Echo. When she got on that bike and started pedaling with Steve it blew me away emotionally as it did Larry and Jason. To see the mile wide smile on her face as she rode down “Echo Mile” was the most touching thing I’ve ever seen or participated in. That made the trip all worthwhile not that everything else didn’t before that but this was much bigger.

I

We started this ride 6 days ago in Reno with one purpose. To raise money for the Huntsman. For me I came out with much more from this ride. I learned a lot about Jeff, Coleman, Joe, Jason, Ravell, Larry and Steve. We have a camaraderie that before this, I’ve only found when I served in the Marine Corps and that’s really hard to come by these days. I’ve had a great time riding across the desert, valley’s and mountains with them and can’t wait to do it next year.

This morning started off great having breakfast with Larry, Ravell, Steve and Jason. This led into Larry showing us his laptop with the mapped out “recovery ride” course of 53 miles. Yeah. We left at 8:30 am and it actually turned out to be a fantastic ride. Ravell and Jason took a shortcut and headed back while Larry and I rode and talked. There were some fantastic headwinds we got to push through before making it back to the hotel.

Upon arriving at the hotel we all went and had a great lunch with milkshakes.

Then it was time to get our bikes prepped for tomorrow. Ravell has got to have the cleanest bike in Utah. I got schooled by Jeff on the proper way of bike cleaning. Thanks Jeff.

Tomorrow morning is the Huntsman 140, the end of this journey on the loneliest highway in America. It’s kind of saddening in a way to end this because getting to know everyone, laughing together, at each other sometimes has really been fun. It’s exciting to me to raise money for a cause like this and in this way and I am so happy to have met Jeff so I could be a part of this.