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California AIDS Ride 8
Day Four -- June 6th, 2001
Paso Robles to Oceano
70.25 miles -- 4 hours, 20 minutes, 50 seconds
Argh! Tom started out the day with another flat. Couldn't believe it. But after that, we were jamming.
Philip Wood cheers on riders on the Evil Twins Today's highlight is the "Evil Twins." These are two hills, with a little tiny downhill, as a break, between them. We stopped at the top of the first Evil Twin to cheer on other riders, then rode our way to the top of the second.

There's an ongoing debate about which is worse, the Quad Buster or the Evil Twins. I'll put a twist on that question and ask which is better? Definitely the Evil Twins because at the very top is the halfway mark of the Ride and the most beautiful vista you can imagine (just look at the photos!). Last year, this day was shrouded in fog, so not only couldn't we see the view, but the very long, very fast downhill was freezing cold. This year everything was perfect! Lorri at the halfway vista

We stopped at the halfway point to take photos, then flew down the hill. I finally met Tim Taylor, another Schwabbie who I'd emailed many times, but never met. He and his wife just had a baby this spring, and I knew he really missed her. I told him how proud she would be when he someday explained that he'd done something incredible by completing the California AIDS Ride.

John and Christian at the ice cream shop About five miles before camp is the Avila Hot Springs. We'd all brought our bathing suits, so we stopped and sat at the pool for a while. We met up with John, Christian, and Fitz (who we never saw since they hammer) and decided to ride into Pismo Beach to get ice cream before heading into camp.

Tonight was the AIDS Ride Talent Show. Every night in camp there's entertainment (usually a local band), but this one night is special because riders & crew perform. We'd talked about putting together an act from Team Schwab, but we never made it happen. But Thomas Lister was going to sing, so we were all very excited.

Comedy acts. No Thomas. Song parodies of the Ride. No Thomas. J. Mark (Drew Casado's friend) performing a flag dance -- amazing! But still, no Thomas. We were all getting tired, but wanted to see him perform. Finally, the fifteenth (and second to last) act, Thomas sang. And everyone was in tears. Yes, he has a beautiful voice, but everyone was moved by his public acknowledgement that he is HIV+. Thomas had told me this a while back, and I know he struggled about whether or not to out himself during the Ride. It was a brave and beautiful decision.....

See all my photos from Day Four (in real size!)
Just click on the film to go there now!
View them as a slide show for best results.


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Created on June 30th, 2001 by Lorri Lee Lown
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