Day 0: Check-in and Orientation

After checking in, we had our first group dinner and some short speeches. Terry, the ride’s founder, read a message from a long-time rider named Steve. He was in the tent next to mine two years ago. Steve’s message was that his cancer has returned after 17 years and he is currently at Sloan-Kettering for treatment and is sorry to miss this year’s ride. But his oncologist tells him that the options for treatment are so much greater now than 17 years ago, and part of that is due to the funds raised by this event. He will be missed by many riders this year.

l-r: Steve, Jim, Ted, Rob, me. Jim is a first-timer from my town. The other three are guys from North Carolina who I rode with two years ago.

Impromptu block party outside my tent after dinner. Now off to bed. Breakfast at 5:30 am tomorrow.