The Fireweed 200 Bike Race

My Dad and I were crazy enough to ride 200 miles across the Alaskan landscape. What a day!!! It started when we awoke at 4 a.m. to drive to the start line (in the middle of nowhere). It was rainy and foggy and 48 degrees, not a pretty start. But, most importantly, the wind was with us for the first 75 miles. It was sobering when we turned south at about 100 miles and saw a sign saying "Valdez- 100 miles". But then the clouds cleared up and the sun gave us much needed warmth! It was a beautiful landscape, as the pictures show, and we had great weather for the next 50 miles. But that all ended when we turned into the wind, and then had to climb 15 miles up to Thompson's Pass- all against the wind. We eventually made it after a lot of blood, sweat and tears (and legs on fire!), and then a lovely down-hill most of the way to the finish line.

April and my Mom worked hard as our "sag" support, and we couldn't have done any of this without them. Thanks April and Mom! We all had a great time, but that was one experience that may remain "once in a life time."