| Day One, page two Thursday, June 21, 2001 Raleigh, NC, to Lawrenceville, VA 108 miles |
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| Welcome to Tent City! Here is the beginning of tent rows D, E, F, G, H, I... See the little yellow and white cards on the ground? Those are the stakes telling riders *exactly* where to put up their tent. Our luggage, tagged with our tent row and space, is set beside the card. All the Ryder trucks held one row's luggage and tents. Tent City is assembled while we're riding. I do believe riders have the easier job. |
| Home sweet home--tent D-31. Many riders aired out clothing on the tent, but took it in before bed. In the morning, the clearing where we camped was slicked with dew. Jen's Alaska AIDSRide bandana is airing out on the tent. A tarp beneath the tent kept it dry--for one night. |
| Camp Services, a collection of tents including massage, medical, rider services, and a general store for the things you tend to forget (like toothbrushes!). Each rider got one massage for the entire ride. I used mine the first day! |
| Waiting in line for dinner. Feeding about 2,700 people is a huge undertaking, especially since most people went back to the lines at least once. The lines for breakfast, lunch, and dinner moved very quickly. There was a separate tent for drinks. |
| Here is the Midway! The large tent is the dining tent (what I called the Mess Hall). Mobile shower trucks lie ahead; the tent rows are to the left. |
| This is how we entered camp each day--under a banner with an inspirational message. I came into Tent City in the afternoon and was cheered on by those who rode in before me. By evening, this area was crowded with people cheering on incoming riders. Even those who could not finish the route and had to be bussed in were cheered. |