Thanks for 2011 and Happy New Year!!

My cycling journey for 2011 is just about over. Only a few more hours until the clock strikes midnight and the new year will begin bringing with it a new year of riding opportunities and challenges.

I have put the last entry in my riding calendar for the year and my total mileage for 2011 is 3,124. My personal goal was to get to 3,000 miles (up from 2,400 in 2010) and I like to think that, not only did I ride further than I had expected, I rode better as well.

I give lots of credit to my new cycling friends, John, Neil, Tom, Tony and all the members of PMC Team Access who adopted me as their mascot this year (a better bunch of friends and riders could not be found anywhere). Not to mention the various cyclists that I met on the road and with whom I formed a quick camraderie. When it's you, a loose configuration of metal/carbon fibre, rubber and very little padding rolling along as fast as you can over a somewhat smooth asphalt surface, there tends to be a common purpose that makes it easy to share motivation and experiences with others. Thanks to all these friends for challenging me, laughing with me and helping me be a better rider and a better person.

My ten year old Lemond Nevada City continues to respond whenever I ask it to do something for me. I think that it somehow knows that I am the older and the weaker of the the two of us. To me it is more than an inanimate object, it is a friend that listens to me while I curse on hill climbs, responds when I decide it is time to sprint, eases my bones when we ride over railroad tracks or unavoidable pot-holes and rarely complains. All it asks is to be cleaned after wet ride and tuned regularly, all of which I am more than happy to do.

I like to consider myself a cyclist, although I am regularly reminded of how little I am capable of when on my bike. I hope I will continue to learn and grow into an ever stronger, smarter rider. A large part of my motivation to do so remains the Pan Mass Challenge and what it does to help my friends and family who have been affected by cancer. It is a great cause and whenever I feel tired on a ride, I remember the cause and redouble my efforts.

A few days from now, registration for the 2012 Pan Mass Challenge will open and I am already chomping at the bit to sign up. My plan for the coming year is to consider adding miles to the official 190 mile weekend.

I look forward to many training rides with Tony, Tommy, Neil and John (they always make me remember Velomenati Rule #5)  and to all that 2012 will bring to me on the road. If the past year is any indication, it will be a blast!!

A long time ago, my Dad taught me that it is important to challenge yourself. That is how you grow.

I am glad that my cycling journey will continue.

Cold Weather Riding

I have already mentioned in this blog that I am not a morning person. I will confess now that I am not a cold weather person either so I guess this makes me kind of a wimp when if comes to Winter cycling. I have some cool weather gear but when the temp is below 50 degrees, I start to lose motivation to get out on the road.

Don't get me wrong, I have a good Ascent fluid trainer and am perfectly happy to put in 60 to 80 miles a week in the comfort of my own studio (usually while watching football). These indoor rides are not just flat spinning exersizes: I force myself to get out of the saddle for high-gear sprints every five or ten minutes. Despite my efforts to tell myself that my indoor training is just as good, I know deep inside that it's not the same.

A good friend and fellow cyclist reminded me yesterday that "It's not the weather, it's the gear." So, time to go buy some real cold weather gear (balaclava, leg warmers, good gloves and thermal jersey) and get outside and do it.

I let you know how it goes................if it goes. The studio is awfully nice.

Two Versions of Fall Cycling

On September 30th, I joined a great group of PMC friends for a riding tour of Martha's Vineyard, a small island off the southern coast of Cape Cod. It was a beautiful early Fall day: clear sky, warm temperature and fantastic scenery. All that and warm camraderie among our gang of 13 riders made for a very good 60 miles around the island.

Today, I rode 35 miles from Boston to my home. It was a grey, raw day and I rode solo so it was a huge contrast to my Friday ride. Both were good rides but in different ways and, as always, any time on a bike is time well spent.

Oh, have I mentioned that I don't like hills. I know that, like Castor Oil, they are good for me but I don't have to like them.  

September: Gateway to Fall

Let me start by saying that I am not a morning person. The thought of getting up at 5:30 to ride before work is not just daunting but impossible. I can hardly hold a coffee cup before 6:30. So, for me, riding in the evening is the correct path. From April to August, this is a good plan. I can be on the road at 5:30 or 6pm and get in a good 1 1/2 to 2 hours and still have daylight at the end. This works well for me and is another reason I really love Summer.

Then there was today. After a long day, I wrapped up work at about 5:45 and headed out on the bike at 6. The weather was fine (close to 80 degrees) and a few clouds in the sky. Traffic was reasonable and I headed out on one of my usual routes: a 25 mile circuit through several neighboring towns. While I had not ridden for 5 days, I had been out running a couple of times so the legs and lungs felt ok too. I was aware that the sunset was at 7pm today but I thought that the difused evening light would be enough to keep me safe. I was not, however, thinking that the trees lining the shaded streets would not let the dusk light come through. Duh!

I was about 4 miles from home when it was getting really quite dark. I was actually more concerned about not being able to see the road surface and all its pot holes and other imperfections than I was about the cars being able to see me thanks to my yellow, white and red jersey. The headlights from the oncoming cars were pretty blinding and there were a couple of times when I held my breath as I road over rough surface I could not see. The last mile was totally dark as I road up High Street with no street lights or traffic of any kind.

What did I learn from this experience? Fall is nice and I like weekend daytime rides but I no longer can head out later than 5pm or I am going to have a very dark and, potentially, dangerous trip. Evening rides will most likely be inside from now on.

But there is good news: Spring is only six months away!

Pan Mass Challenge 2011

A Cause,  a Commitment,  a Common Experience

The weekend of August 6^th marked my second year as a participant in the Pan Mass Challenge, a 200 mile bike ride to raise funds for cancer research. I approached this years’ event with more confidence than I had last year as I had not stopped training since completing my first PMC ride. However, I was still a little nervous because the route that I had chosen for this year was longer (an extra 30 miles on day one) and more challenging (2,500 vertical feet of hill climbing).

Saturday, August 6

It was chilly at 4:00am when Gail drove me out to Sturbridge, MA to the starting point of the ride. By shortly after 5:00, I had found my riding partners, John, Tony, Neil, Tom and Dan and, at 5:30 in the grey light of the coming dawn, we were off on our 111 mile journey.

As we rode through the hilly country of Charlton, Oxford and Sutton, I was struck by the serene beauty of the farm lands and calm lakes which we passed. I think that we riders were all focused on finding our individual pace as we rolled along quietly to the gentle hum of high pressure tires on the road surface and the occasional cheers of PMC supporters camped out on the side of the road. The muscles were warmed up and the sky had brightened nicely by the time we paused briefly in Northbridge at the first water-stop of the day.  

                “First 25 miles done. Feeling good. Beautiful day.

                 Love,

 D”

[First of the Status e-mails sent to Gail to mark my progress]

The second leg of day one was through more beautiful countryside, the small, former mill-towns of Uxbridge and Whitinsville and into the suburban communities of Bellingham and Franklin. The scenery had changed from rural to residential and, since it was now a more reasonable 7:00 am, there were lots of supporters by the roadside to cheer us on. I am sure some folks had come out to see Lance Armstrong, the latest star to join the PMC, but everyone yelled and whistled, rang cowbells, waved signs expressing gratitude and thanked us regular riders for making this effort to help find a cure for cancer. Our little gang of riders was in good form and good spirits as we put mile after mile behind us. We rolled into the water-stop in Franklin to be greeted by PMC volunteers wearing grass skirts (both men and women) and big smiles, welcoming us to take a break.

                “Hit Franklin at 43 miles. Making good time. I think the worst of the hills are

 behind me now.

 Love,

 D”

We topped off our water bottles and ate fruit and peanut butter sandwiches to restore our energy before climbing back into the saddle and heading back out onto the roads. There is a street in Wrentham named Cherry St which has become a PMC legend. I am told that most of the families living on this short tree-lined avenue have had cancer touch their lives in one way or another. As a means of showing their appreciation to the PMC riders for raising funds for a cure, the residents of Cherry St came out in force with signs, banners, red ribbons tied around the trees at the roadside and lots of cheers and thanks. There was even a jazz trio and a home-owner dressed as a clown to lift our spirits. We stopped briefly for a couple of photo opportunities and then, to the sound of cowbells, it was back to work.

The PMC riders who started in Wellesley (as I did last year) merged into our route shortly before our lunch stop. As our ranks swelled with these additional forces, we climbed a steep hill to the sound of a lone bag-piper who stood, in kilt and full regalia at the top. There was a magical quality to the reedy music and the realization that the PMC forces were unified when we rolled up the driveway at Dighton-Rehoboth High School and our third stop of the day.     

                “Hit the lunch break at 70 miles. We are doing great.

                  Love,

                  D”

Eating lunch at 10:30 in the morning is a slightly odd experience but, when you are hungry and you still have another 2 ½ hours to ride, it is important to make sure to get the right mix of carbs, protein and fluids. The day had heated up considerably and riding rule number 1 is not to allow yourself to get de-hydrated. So our gang ate, drank and rested and stretched but soon it was time to get back on the road. With the addition of the Wellesley riders the ranks of our little band were now up to more than a dozen. The terrain was significantly flatter as we traveled through south-eastern Massachusetts heading toward Cape Cod, and our pace increased to reflect the easier terrain. It was only 18 miles before we stopped in Lakeville. The weather was now hot and humid but Lakeville held a special treat for all of us.

                “At Lakeville water-stop. Will look for Linda, Joey and family.

                  Love,

                  D”  

Some PMC riders form teams to sponsor children and young adults who are receiving cancer treatments. Lakeville is the location where those being sponsored gather to meet with their sponsor teams and celebrate the day.  My riding partners were all members of Team Access and, as a team, they gathered around the two young people for whom they rode, Callie and Robert, sharing an emotional and happy moment. I searched for, and found, my family friends Linda and David, their grandson Joey and his parents. Joey is a two year old boy who has been fighting cancer for most of his life. While I was not riding with an official team, I envisioned myself as a team of one for Joey. He was enjoying the sunny afternoon playing with a balloon and his seeming unawareness of his illness on a fine summer day was touching. Spending a few minutes with Linda and David and meeting Joey and his parents, Danny and Jamie, gave me a good feeling about the reason I was riding the Pan Mass Challenge. Team Access and I said a fond goodbye to our friends and got set to head out for the final 25 miles of day one.

Once our muscles were warmed up once more, we resumed our quick pace and enjoyed the flat roads, views of salt marshes and thoughts of finishing the day in good shape. There was a final water stop before the last 10 miles prior to the finish of day one in Bourne but we decided to skip that stop and carry on to make up for time spent at all the other water-stops. As we approached the Mass Maritime Academy which was the finish line for day one, our day ended as it began: cloudy and cool. The final five miles through Onset and into Bourne seemed long but only because I knew that I was close to the end of the day and success. The air seemed cool until I turned the corner onto Academy Drive and saw Gail waiting for me, a big, proud smile on her face. As always, she lit up my heart and I knew that I had experienced a great day. She waited patiently while I checked in with PMC officials, and then whisked me off for celebratory ice-cream to cap an exceptional day.

 Sunday, August 7

I woke at midnight to the sound of heavy rain outside the motel where Gail and I spent the night. I hoped for a passing shower but when I woke at seemingly hourly intervals and the rain was still pouring down, I became resigned to a wet day. When we climbed into the car and Gail drove me back to the Mass Maritime Academy, the rain had slowed to sprinkles. I was wearing cool weather gear and had a rain shell in my cycling jersey pocket and was prepared for the worst. To my delight, by 5:30 the rain had changed to mist and the ambient temperature was close to 70 degrees. I shed the cool gear, kept the rain shell in my pocket and, impatient and unable to find my friends, I launched solo for the first leg of the day. Last year I watched the sun rise over the Cape Cod Canal, a sight which raised my spirits for the morning. This time, I was happy that, although there was no sun, there was no more than mist to ride through. The canal ride was easy but there were a couple of challenging hills that were a wake-up call for the morning. One of the nice features of the cape is the rolling terrain which allows cyclists to use momentum from a down-hill run to help overcome the corresponding up-hill climb.

I experienced something as I rode along on my own early on Sunday morning. I realized that I was totally involved in the moment: what was behind me did not matter nor did the miles ahead. My concentration was focused on each pedal stroke, each breath, each rider whom I passed or who passed me. This singular focus struck me as similar to what a cancer patient must go through each day, every day. They may not allow their thoughts to dwell on what has happened in their past and the future may be too uncertain for them to consider. What must matter to these brave men, women, boys and girls is the present, the day, the hour, the moment. It must be an incredibly intense and, potentially, very lonely journey. I only wish that I could lift this burden from their shoulders. If the PMC can help by bringing us closer to a cure and helping these folks to see a future, then it is a cause I will always be behind.

The roads and riders were in good shape and the supportive crowds that voiced their appreciation made the day brighter for me as I rolled into the first stop of the day in Barnstable where I hoped to reconnect with my gang.

                “ Launched solo at 5:30. Just got to first stop. Legs are fine. Stowed the rain

                   gear.  All seems ok.       

  Love,

  D”

Happily, I did reconnect with my friends at the stop in Barnstable and once we were all refreshed, we headed out. One of the exciting features of cycling with friends (and riders you trust) is the ability to form a “pace line”. A pace line is a line of cyclists where one rider leads the pack and the rest ride in a tight, straight-line formation behind the leader, enjoying the reduced wind resistance. Matching the pedal stroke or pace of the leader while your front wheel is only inches from the rear wheel of the rider in front of you requires a lot of focus but is very exciting.  As we continued across the rolling Cape Cod terrain, several of us formed a pace line and motored along like a freight train. We all took turns pulling the pack along and this practice allowed us to increase our pace to an amazing speed. We seemed to be riding ahead of the rain and the camaraderie of our combined efforts kept our spirits high. Waving to the very vocal supporters and high-fiving their kids who were all gathered along the route was an added bonus. We rolled into the water-stop at Nickerson State Park with adrenaline flowing and lots of smiles about our performance. The peanut butter sandwiches tasted better, the watermelon sweeter and the ice cold towels handed out by the dedicated PMC volunteers were a much needed treat.

                “Second rest stop at Nickerson. 38 miles. Pulling the pace up and riding strong.

                  All for one cause: beating cancer!

                  Love,

                  D”

Again this year, I have to give a tremendous amount of credit to the 3,000 PMC volunteers who get up before dawn, stand in the heat and humidity or cold and rain, slicing fruit, handing out Advil, mixing huge vats of Gatorade, wandering through crowds of sweaty cyclists with trays of food all with smiles on their faces and lots of words of support and comfort. These dedicated souls, assisted by lots of local police officers, manned countless intersections, controlling traffic to keep us riders safe. They answered the same questions hundreds of times, put up with tired (occasionally surly) cyclists and never complained. Hats off to these wonderful volunteers. We could not do this without them!

Portions of the ride from Nickerson to Wellfleet were along the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a reclaimed, paved rail bed that was great for cycling. We resumed our pace line and seemed to rocket through the next 18 miles. Once off the rail trail, we rode along the coast of the National Seashore; a breathtakingly beautiful expanse of Atlantic coastline on the outer cape. We rolled along and, when we made the short climb to the final water-stop, we were already anticipating the end of our ride.

                “Last stop in Wellfleet. Riding hard and fast. Having a ball. 20 more miles to the

  finish. What a great cause and fantastic event.

                  Love,

                  D.”

Truro has some interesting climbs and they set the stage for the final leg of our two day journey to help beat cancer. Our pace line continued and we pushed right along. Our route took us along Route 6 for a while and, as we rode toward the end of our trip, the honking horns and waves from drivers and passengers in passing cars helped remind us of what we were doing this ride for. The headwinds as we crossed the neck from Truro to Provincetown were not overwhelming and, when we turned toward Race Point for the last five mile push, we redoubled our efforts so that climbing the dunes seemed much easier than last year. A big grin was on my face as I rode the final mile toward the finish area by the Monument in Provincetown center. When I made the turn into the final hundred yards of the two day trek, I was greeted by cheers from hundreds of PMC fans, cancer survivors, riders’ families and, most importantly, my loving wife who was waiting for me with a hug and kiss to welcome me to the end of a fantastic two day effort.

I may have overcome the rigors of a long bicycle ride, but that pales in comparison to the trials faced by those afflicted with cancer and the efforts which they make every day. I truly feel that my job was an easy one. I rode this year for Chet, June, Jeanne, Grahame, John, Brett, Amy, David, Linda,Mary, Mary Ruth, Lynn, Roberta, Frank, MArion, Steve, Sharon, Kathy, Joey, Jared, Dave, Gill, Byrdie, Geoffrey, Joanne, Puffin, William, Paws & George (woof) and Hazel (woof too).

I want to thank my supporters from the bottom of my heart. You are doing your part by digging deeply to contribute to the Pan Mass Challenge and funding cancer research. Together, let’s continue to work toward a day when a cure has been found and our efforts will no longer be needed

PMC 2011 Photos

PMC Route Map

Off Season Training

After my first PMC ride in August of 2010, I was determined to keep myself in reasonably good shape through the Fall and Winter unitl I could get back out on the road in the Spring.

I learned a hard lesson about post-endurance ride recovery. After the PMC, I immediately went back to my low carb diet, did not take any vitamin supplements and got back on the bike the very next day. The result of this was muscle breakdown and an exhaustion that felt like a two week battle with the flu. I won't do that again.

Once I recovered, I did hit the roads again and, while I did not manage to get another century ride (100miles) in before the weather got really cold and nasty, I did purchase a hydraulic trainer so that I could continue to ride inside all Winter.

The trainer was a great addition to my cycling gear as it allowed me to ride three or four days a week and keep the muscles in good form.

Sunday rides were the best as I set the trainer up in my studio and watched football (Go Pats!) on the big screen tv while I cranked along. Training doesn't get much better than that.

I continued with this regimen until the weather improved enough to get back outside.  I joined up with some friends from Scituate, John, Tony, Tom and Neil and we rode a 55 mile charity event for the YMCA to start the season off right. It was good to ride witih friends and be back on the road in earnest.

PMC 2010

Pan Mass Challenge 2010: My Ride for a Cure

Day 1
My first Pan Mass Challenge ride was approached with more than a little concern as I had not done any long distance riding for more than thirty years. However, my motivation was that a number of close friends and family members have battled cancer and my mission was clear: do the ride, raise funds for cancer research and promote the cause.
Saturday morning started out cool for a day in August but quickly warmed up. Gail drove me to the PMC start and stayed with me while I got settled into the starting line. I met up with Dave, an old friend and Bill, a new friend and, after an inspirational welcome from PMC leadership and one of the best renditions of the national anthem I have ever heard (sung by a PMC rider and professional baritone), we were off.

The first few miles were slow due to the volume of riders but, since we launched with the “fast” riders, we were able to move forward and find some clear road relatively quickly. The early miles went by pretty easily and we approached the first water stop at 23 miles in good time and good spirits. Unfortunately, Dave, Bill and I got separated in the crowd of hundreds of riders just as we got to the stop so, after a brief refueling, I got back on the bike and headed out on my own to Dighton for the next stop and lunch.

The second stage was much like the first: relatively quick and easy (all the training miles were paying off).  The encouragement we all received from fans and families along the route helped keep my motivation strong and my spirits high. I rolled into the 2nd stop to the cheers of the crowd and to a much welcomed lunch.

I have to say that PMC is a logistical machine.  They organized a crew of 3,000 volunteers who worked, seemingly, non-stop all along the way to take care of the riders. Everything from medical attention, bike mechanics, DJs (playing pretty good music) and, literally, tons of food was there for us. Anything we needed for us to have a successful ride was provided. Hat’s off to PMC for doing a spectacular job in taking care of all the riders.Dave, Bill and I left Dighton and rode on together with full stomachs and high spirits. My legs took a little time to get warmed up again but we picked up the pace and, taking turns leading our little gang, we powered into each of the three remaining water stops feeling pretty good about our abilities and performance.

I finally was able to connect with another good friend, John, at one of the stops (we had not seen each other earlier in the day). Thank goodness for cell phones and texting. After the final water stop it was on to the Mass Maritime Academy in Bourne and the end of day one. As we rode through Onset the crowds of supporters and well wishers were louder and more abundant. It was great to see the smiles on the faces of folks holding signs saying things like “I’m a Survivor” and “6 years in remission”. My heart was full as we made the final turn off Main Street in Bourne and into Academy Drive to the cheers of friends and families. Dave, Bill and I felt pretty good about Day 1 and we were all ready for a beer, some food and a good night’s rest.

Day 2
I was wide awake at 3:30 on Sunday morning and back at the starting area of the Mass Maritime Academy by 4:45. I waited for Dave and Bill for a while but, thinking that they might be ahead of me, I finally launched at about 5:15.

The climb over the Bourne Bridge was a wake-up call and got the legs moving. Once on the other side of the Cape Cod Canal, we were directed onto a bike path that paralleled the canal and were treated to a glorious sunrise. I smiled as I cranked along and thought that life was pretty perfect. I was reminded to stay alert and not lose focus as I saw several riders go down early on in the day. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but it pointed out what can happen when you take your eyes off the road even for a few seconds. Scary. I really enjoyed the stretch between the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges on the path but we were directed off the path and away from the water onto regular roads. Our greeting was a half mile climb at a reasonable grade followed by a left turn into another hill with an even steeper grade. By now, though, the legs were warmed up and up to the challenge.  Then it was downhill on the back roads to Rte 6A and lots of flat road interspersed with low rolling hills: great riding terrain.

I felt pretty strong and noticed that I had unintentionally ratcheted up the pace. I rolled into the first stop of the day in Barnstable ready to refill the water bottles and grab a snack. I checked for Dave and Bill but did not connect with them so I decided that the day would continue to be solo for me. Riding with friends is great fun and helps the miles go by more quickly but most of my training had been solo so I was not bothered. Besides, all the supporters on the roadside and brief chats with other riders as we rolled along kept me smiling.

I continued to increase the pace along the way and felt really good about my fitness level and stamina. Gail calls me the energizer bunny and I really felt that I could ride all day long.  The day was getting warm and I had to remember that hydration is crucial. I think I was drinking about two quarts of Gatorade or water every hour and still wondered if I was getting enough. Some of the roadside supporters had water bottles for us, others had hoses providing mist for us to ride through while more creative folks offered us lollipops or frozen treats (not a good idea for me but still much appreciated).

I rolled into the second water stop at Nickerson State park in Brewster really needing food. Low and behold, they had fluffer-nutters for us. I could not believe it. What a treat! I was also delighted to find some volunteers handing out towels soaked in ice water. These young girls were up to their elbows in big tubs of water and ice and, when asked if their arms hurt from the cold, they replied that it was no problem and that they were happy to do it. What great support from the PMC volunteers!

I launched off onto the next leg which took us on a great path through the state park and, eventually, onto the Cape Cod Rail Trail. More great riding. The volunteers had even been out with brooms to clear sand off the trail to reduce our risk. Unbelievable.When I reached the final stop in Wellfleet, I was ready to refuel and get back on the bike as the end in Provincetown was only 21.5 miles away. I e-mailed Gail that I thought I would be there by 11:00 and set off.  I kept trying to remind myself that I had been on the bike for three hours and needed to control my pace so I did not run out of steam before the finish (that would have been a disaster). However, adrenaline is a powerful thing and, as before, the fans, other riders and thoughts of all whom I was riding for kept my motivation very high and my legs continued to piston me forward. 

We spent a lot of time on Rte 6 which is a very busy road and I was grateful to the motorists for giving us lots of room and, occasionally, lots of cheers and honks of the horn. After we left Truro, I could see P-Town in the distance and started to get even more excited. The thought of achieving this goal was wonderful and, although there were a couple of long slow climbs we eventually got to an intersection where volunteers told us that the short route (one more mile) was straight ahead and the longer route (5 more miles was to the right). I will chalk up my decision to do the longer of the two to “seemed like a good idea at the time”. I had read stories about climbing the dunes just before getting into Provincetown but had told myself “They’re sand dunes. How bad can it be”?  After riding 75 miles, climbing the three “dunes” seemed like more like climbing mountains but once over the top, it was pretty level down the last mile.I found myself alone on the road when I made the last turn into the Family Finish area and was astounded to be greeted by hundreds of friends and family all cheering, banging cow bells, giving me riding high-fives and thanking me by name. I felt like a hero even though I was just playing a small part in the PMC effort to find a cure. It was a fantastic end to an amazing two day journey and finding Gail made it all the better.

I had made great time, arriving half an hour earlier than expected, and was very pleased to have accomplished this part of my mission.My ride was in honor of Jeanne, Brett, Amy, David, Linda, Mary, Lynn, Roberta, Frank, John, Marion,   Steve, Sharon, June (my mother-in-law), Grahame, Chet (my Dad), Kathy, Jared  and  Paws (woof).
Thanks to all who supported my ride with donations, kind words and encouraging thoughts. Thanks as well to Billy Starr, all the PMC staff and, especially all the volunteers (including the many policemen who donated their time to make sure the roads were safe for us). You are all wonderful and I am already looking forward to next year!