Day 51

 

 

DAY 51 Monday RE-ENTRY
SLEPT Sunday night FROM 9:30 pm to 8:00 am Monday. I think that was a record of consecutive sleep hours for me. I am recharged and grateful to be home to family and friends.
Stopped by work at Weymouth Funeral Home to a warm welcome. I’ll be back soon but need a couple of acclimation days 😃.
THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO FOLLOWED MY RIDE FOR ALZHEIMER’S WE MADE A GREAT TEAM 🚴😏
RONA

Day 50

DAY 50 SUNDAY
AFTER LEAVING LOS ANGELES AIRPORT THIS MORNING AT 1:00AM MY CHARLOTTE CONNECTION WAS CANCELED TO NEWPORT NEWS SO “ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN B” I FOUND
A FLIGHT TO NORFOLK. I WAS GREETED BY
ALAN,GUS AND VICTORIA WITH A SIGN AND FLOWERS.
GRATEFUL TO BE HOME SEE YOU SOON❤️🚴
RONA

Day 49

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FIRST I MADE IT SAFELY TO THE PIER IN SANTA MONICA . 49 DAYS AND 2417 MILES FROM CHICAGO TO SANTA MONICA . THE RIDE TOOK US FROM GLENDORA THRU LOS ANGELES , YES I SAID WE PEDALED THRU LA. THANKFULLY I MADE IT IN ONE PIECE.
I AM GRATEFUL IN SO MANY WAYS FROM YOUR SUPPORT, BEING ABLE TO BRING AWARENESS AND FUNDRAISER FOR ALZHEIMER’S AND RIDE ROUTE 66 ACROSS OUR COUNTRY SAFELY.
THIS IS A JOURNEY THAT ENDS WHEN I GET BACK HOME TO YOU ALL. I FLY OUT OF LAX AT 12:25AM SUNDAY AND PRAY TO LAND SAFELY IN NEWPORT NEWS SUNDAY AT 10:22AM.
TO DONATE TO ALZHEIMER’S :
ronasride.wordpress.com

 

Day 48 – Friday

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STARTED MY DAY WITH A 5:30am (MY TIME) CALL INTO WNIS 790 AND TONY MACRINI FOR MY LAST UPDATE OF RONA’S ROUTE 66 RIDE FOR ALZHEIMER’S. IT WAS AWESOME TO HAVE WNIS SUPPORT MY EFFORTS AND ALLOW ME TO CHECK IN WEEKLY.
TODAYS RIDE TOOK US OUT OF THE HIGH DESERT AND INTO THE GREEN GRASS AND TREES OF SEVERAL SMALL TOWNS ENDING FOR THE DAY IN GLENDORA CALIFORNIA. LORI MY BIKE BUDDY AND I STOPPED AT A COFFEE SHOP WHERE I HAD MY FIRST REALLY GOOD CUP OF COFFEE IN 48 DAYS. I SHARED OUR JOURNEY AND MY RIDE FOR ALZHEIMER’S WITH COURTNEY AND CORINA THE TWO REALLY NICE YOUNG LADIES WORKING AT THE COFFEE SHOP. IT WAS A GREAT STOP ON THE WAY TO OUR MOTEL.
IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE TOMORROW SATURDAY JUNE 16th IS OUR LAST RIDE ENDING ON THE SANTA MONICA PIER WHERE WE WILL CAPTURE PICTURES OF THE SIGN “THE END OF ROUTE 66.
FROM THERE I WILL PEDAL TO THE BIKE SHOP IN SANTA MONICA TO DROP OFF MY BIKE TO BE BOXED AND SHIPPED HOME TO MY BIKE SHOP.
THEN A WALK TO OUR HOTEL FOR A SHOWER BEFORE WE GET TOGETHER FOR A FAREWELL DINNER. THEN I AM OFF TO THE LAX AIRPORT TO TAKE A RED EYE HOME TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN MY INSPIRATION AND
STRENGTH ON THIS JOURNEY. I WILL BE BACK TO WORK AND PLANNING WITH OUR WALK COMMITTEE FOR WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S 2018 ON OCTOBER 20th AT PORT WARWICK. UNTIL TOMORROW 🚴🚴🚴😃
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT,
WITH APPRECIATION 🚴❤️ RONA

Day 47

DAY 47 THURSDAY

ANOTHER AMAZING HAPPENING TODAY ON ROUTE 66 WHERE I MET TOM. I STOPPED TO TAKE A PICTURE AT THE BOTTLE TREE RANCH AND HE AND HIS WIFE HAD STOPPED TOO. THEY ASKED WHERE WE WERE GOING AND TOM WAS SUPER IMPRESSED AND EXCITED FOR US.
I TOLD HIM I WAS RIDING FOR ALZHEIMER’S. BELIEVE IT OR NOT TOM VOLUNTEERS AT SENIOR CENTERS AND MEMORY UNITS. HE IS A HAND DRUMMER AND ENTERTAINS AND NOW VISITS REGULARLY. HE SHARED HIS EXPOSURE TO SO MANY WITH ALZHEIMER’S AND HAS MADE IT HIS PASSION. WE HUGGED AND MADE A SPECIAL CONNECTION THROUGH A HORRIFIC DISEASE.
TODAY’S RIDE WAS CHALLENGING WITH THE MOST TRAFFIC I’VE SEEN ON ROUTE 66. TOO MANY TRUCKS AND LITTLE REGARD FOR BIKERS. OH YES A HEADWIND BUT THAT’S A REGULAR THING, REMEMBER IT BUILDS CHARACTER 😳. THE SUNRISE WAS IN BARSTOW AT ABOUT 5:45AM AS WE SCRAMBLED TO ROLL OUT AT 6:30AM FOR VICTORVILLE.
2 RIDING DAYS LEFT AND PRAYERS FOR SAFETY ARE MOST IMPORTANT.
YOU ALL HAVE HELPED ME ALONG THIS JOURNEY AND I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL.
❤️🚴RONA

Day 46

DAY 46 WEDNESDAY AT BEST WESTERN IN BARSTOW CALIFORNIA

Meet Hope she is from Barstow California truly a desert town with mountains in the distance. I introduced myself to HOPE when I came to the lobby to learn of the Alzheimer’s impact on a small south-west community. She hesitated for a moment and then shared the connections she has through her husband’s family and friends. She expressed how good it is to see commercials on TV and in print talking about Alzheimer’s Disease. IT REALLY HIT ME WHEN SHE SAID HER BIGGEST FEAR IS GETTING ALZHEIMER’S AND THE THOUGHT OF NOT KNOWING HER FAMILY.
IT WAS A POWERFUL CONNECTION AND I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK HER FOR SHARING AND LET HER KNOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO FIND ANSWERS. AS HER NAME IS HOPE WE TOO HAVE HOPE FOR A WORLD WITHOUT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE.
Today’s ride once again was shortened due to hot temperatures so they dropped us off 24 miles out near the Baghdad Cafe famous for a 1987 Movie filmed at the Route 66 restaurant site. I enjoyed the ride despite headwinds and temperatures knowing we have 3 more long days and climbs to come !!!
Hard to believe three more days of this 49-day journey. I am blessed and grateful for this challenging and purposeful experience. Raising awareness and donations for Alzheimer’s has given me the challenge to give back to a cause so important to us all.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support but please keep me in your prayers for the final 3 days of safety on the amazing journey.

🚴❤️❤️❤️❤️Rona

Day 45

DAY 45 Tuesday

Monday was our last night in Needles California Best Western. They make popcorn 🍿every day so I was so happy 😊
I caught the sunrise this morning before breakfast at the Giggling Cactus next to the motel. By the way, it was 82 degrees at 6:00am. Because of the extreme heat, we modified the ride and we were driven 28.5 miles before a Dairy Queen IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE where everyone rode to and waited till all riders came in. GOOD SPOT TO WAIT☃️
Everyone rides at their own pace. Then we took the van to Barstow California where we are staying for 2 nights. Tomorrow will be another 100+ degree day so we will get dropped off around 25 miles out and ride back to the Motel. After that, the weather should be more forgiving going into Victorville, Glendora, and SANTA MONICA!!!!!BY THE WAY THAT IS MY BIKE COMING OFF THE ROOF OF OUR VAN AFTER TRAVELING BACK FROM OUR DAIRY QUEEN RIDE.
THE DARK AREAS IN THE DESERT (LAVA)ARE FROM A VOLCANO IN THE BACKROAD. THE EXACT DATE OF ITS ERUPTION IS UNKNOWN PERHAPS 20,000 YEARS AGO BY ONE ESTIMATE.
SHOUTOUT TO BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS FROM DAIRY QUEEN NEAR LUDLOW CALIFORNIA.
BIKE FRIENDS IN FRONT OF THE MOHAVE DESERT SIGN.
Thank you as always for your support and inspiration! LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING HOME SAFELY ✈️✈️SUNDAY MORNING JUNE 17 INTO NN AIRPORT
❤️🚴Rona

Day 44

DAY 44 MONDAY

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REST DAY IN NEEDLES CALIFORNIA, FIRST STOP IN CALIFORNIA.
THE TEMPERATURES ARE REFLECTIVE OF THESE TIMES TODAY 8:00 am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm 5:15pm,5:20pm, and 5:25pm AT OUR BEST WESTERN MOTEL.
IT IS WICKED UNCOMFORTABLE HAVE BEEN SO LAZY TODAY. TOMORROW WE ARE CUTTING OUR RIDE SHORT FOR SAFETY.
STAY TUNED FOR MY DAY 45 TUES UPDATE 🚴
🚴❤️RONA

THANK YOU ALL FOR TRAVELING ON MY JOURNEY FOR ALZHEIMERS AWARENESS AND FUNDRAISING

Day 43

DAY 43 SUNDAY

WE ROLLED OUT AT 6:00AM TO GET A JUMP ON A 100 DEGREE DAY HEADING TO NEEDLES CALIFORNIA 72 MILES. I MUST SAY IT WAS SOME CHALLENGING CLIMBS, SMALL TOWN DONKEY SIGHTINGS, BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS, COLORADO RIVER VIEWS, PEDDLING INTO OUR LAST STATE CALIFORNIA, ONLY 6 MILES ON THE INTERSTATE 😊SKYS AS BLUE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE AND NO WIND YES NO WIND. THIS WAS MY FAVORITE RIDE SO FAR I EMBRACED THE CHALLENGES AND SOAKED IN THE BEAUTY.
I KNOW MY PICTURES ARE ONLY FROM A PHONE AND DON’T DO JUSTICE BUT USE YOUR IMAGINATION TO FIND THE DEPTH AND PEACE OF OUR RIDE. I LOVE SHARING MY JOURNEY AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE CHALLENGES, EXPERIENCE, AND SUPPORT FROM EACH OF YOU WHO CHECK IN ON ME.
6 DAYS LEFT OF THIS 49 DAY ROUTE 66 RIDE. FOR ME IT HAS SO MANY LAYERS BUT BRINGING AWARENESS TO ALZHEIMER’S AND FUNDRAISING IS SUCH A BIG PART.
UNTIL TOMORROW ❤️🚴

RONA

Day 42

DAY 42 SATURDAY

TODAY WAS A 59 MILE DAY WITH IMPENDING HIGH TEMPERATURES 90’S AND STRONG HEADWINDS. WE LEFT PEACH SPRINGS ARIZONA AT 5:30 AM YES 5:30AM …. I HAD MY 2CUPS OF COFFEE AND A FEW BITES OF CEREAL THEN OFF AND RIDING AS THE SUN WAS RISING ONTO A BEAUTIFUL BLUE SKY. ALL WAS GREAT, NICE DOWNHILLS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC AND RIDING ROUTE 66. ALL CHANGED WHEN I GOT TO MILE 50. THERE WAITING PATIENTLY WERE WICKED HEADWINDS. OH WELL, WHAT’S NEW, TOUGH IT OUT AND 9 MILES LATER I WAS AT THE COMFORT INN IN KINGMAN ARIZONA OUR LAST NIGHT IN ARIZONA😮. 7 DAYS TO SANTA MONICA WITH SOME PLANNED MODIFICATIONS DUE TO 110+- TEMPERATURES AND STRONG HEADWINDS IN THE NEXT FEW TOWNS NEAR THE MOHAVE DESERT. OUR SAFETY IS A PRIORITY TO OUR GUIDE CINDI AND FOR THAT I AM GRATEFUL. SHE IS AN AWESOME LEADER STAYING FOCUSED ON WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT.
RIDING TODAY WITH BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS OFF IN THE DISTANCE, THE BLUEST SKIES I HAVE EVER SEEN, I FELT GOD’S PRESENCE IN HIS CREATIONS. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE FOLLOWED SOME OF MY POSTS I AM BLESSED WITH YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
I AM GRATEFUL TO TAKE THIS CHALLENGING JOURNEY FOR ALZHEIMER’S AWARENESS AND FUNDRAISING. THE DIFFICULT DAYS PASS AND THE SUN RISES AGAIN ON A NEW DAY.
SEE YOU TOMORROW FROM CALIFORNIA 🚴❤️

🚴❤️ RONA