You're going to have such a fun time!

"You're going to have such a fun time." and "It sounds kind of boring, sitting in a car so long" Those are the kind of comments I got from well meaning friends before I left for Oceanside, CA to be part of the JacAttack crew. I had no idea of what was up ahead. I guess it could be boring. I had visions of watching movies on my iPad... maybe do some sketching and see parts of the country I've never seen.

I've been back home now for a couple of days. To answer my friends, who are asking how it went... it was not fun. It was hard, and nonstop. There were days I didn't even have time to brush my teeth. I slept with my shoes on, in case I had to make a quick dash. A shower was something I didn't think about, and the one I had in a hotel that we rented for 3 hours, was quick as we were all where trying to get a few drops to wash away some grime.

I ate as we went. There were many days that I just forgot to eat, until late in the night. Peanut butter and jelly kept me alive and Starbuck Double Espresso vanilla coffee drinks and gallons of root beer kept me awake. (I gave up soft drinks over 10 years ago!)

My first shift (4 p.m. to midnight) was in the follow van called Lola. I spent most of it standing up watching the traffic behind and then watching Jacquie up ahead. I would open the side door and hand out water and food to her as we were moving. When Jacquie stopped, I jumped out and ran to her, to support her bike and do whatever needed to do at the time. She needed to stay riding as long as she could.  Sometimes I would drive and I needed to be  as close as I could to let the lights on the van further illumine her way.

My second shift was midnight to 8 a.m. We were in Pablo the support van. Our job was to run around and get supplies and do anything the Lola peeps wanted us to do. One of the main things we did was go head of Jacquie, pull the car off the side of the road, and clap, and dance, and sing and do anything to show our support as she rode by. At night, we were just strips of reflective material moving in the night. It helped her focus on the road ahead, and to let her know that the people who loved and believed in her where there for her every stretch of the way.

My third shift was 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. We rode in Harvey, the RV and sometimes got some sleep. Other times were spent in laundry mats and grocery stores.

Our focus was on Jacquie. How could I do my part to make it go smooth? How could I anticipate, not only her needs, but my fellow crew family to make sure food, drink and whatever was needed was there before they asked. Most of the time, it went smoothly. Some of the time I felt like a Three Stooges routine, as we were all running around and sometimes running into each other. It's amazing we didn't drive off without someone.

As much as I loved coming home to Bruce I was missing the crew. I felt guilty taking a long shower, and laying in a bed with sheets and my shoes off. I went to work and thought how boring this is and hoping things were going well in the race.

I couldn't have done this without Bruce. He encourage me to go, to support our dear friends John and Jacquie. He never complained, he never told me of concerns back home. He dove right in and became "Blogger Bruce" and let the world know with his humor and love of the Schlitters what was going on.

What it fun? Hell no. It was the most incredible time and adventure with many new and old friends that have become family. Fun is totally overrated.

This is my favorite photo of my trip. It shows Maria Parker, last years RAAM winner running along with Jacquie. Her sister is dying of brain cancer and yet she and her husband Jim were there for support.

These two women are my heroes.

And to my crew family. Love, love, love

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Race Across America is a grueling, relentless battle and we are so inspired by Jacquie taking it on to end brain cancer. If you missed your opportunity to get a raffle ticket, you can donate at www.3000milestoacure.com or check out the Hope documentary here https://vimeo.com/ondemand/15720.#jacattack #jointhebrainstorm #impossibleisunacceptable  #curebraincancer #RAAM2014  #RAAM

The hardest thing I've ever done

I rode cross country years ago with a group of young missionary's ready to change the world. That was difficult, but not hard. ....  we had our small part in changing the world.

I can honestly say these past few days going cross country, has been the hardest thing I've ever done. Watching Jacquie do the impossible brings tears to my eyes. She inspires me. Her determination, one pedal at a time to reach her goal of riding across the USA in less than 12 days is life changing ... To all involved. We really can do anything .... One pedal at a time. Angel wings on you my friend.

Critters and coffee

I'm glad I grew up with "not so neat" parents. Our small duplex with 5 kids and a dog was always a flurry of activities. It's a good thing we lived in southern calif. All our really messy projects of fort building and booby traps were outside. Our neighborhood in Ventura was surrounded by orchards and fields before the shopping center came in and took our imaginary lands away. 

I'm glad I grew up with "of course we can make it" parents. We didn't have a lot of money, but we had a lot of tools. Hand tools, power tools and welding torches. My brothers were always taking things apart and putting them together. I don't recall my sisters building much other than      Barbie empires, but they have that gene.

I always felt more comfortable in the power tools arena than the Barbie one.

I was thinking this morning, as I watched a roach crawl over my sacred coffee maker, and trying real hard to be totally grossed out, that all the good and bad of my life has brought me to this point of "going with the flow" of RAAM.

I will be traveling cross country with  a dozen people. Such varied personalities and stories. Super couple and super friends John and Jacquie. Tomorrow Jacquie starts her trek across the states on her bike. Crew chief Jim, my fellow coffee lover. Two Okies - Retired pilot Craig who has stories of world travel another retired guy (FAA) Scott. I hope their navigation skills transfer to roads, not just from the friendly skies. Young smiling Ben and I have been battling with thumb wars. He currently is in the lead. I will have to pull out my "old lady/you wouldn't beat your mother" card at some point. Dale in his shades, looks like he should be an agent in "Men in Black". Larry, another retired guy would rather ride a bike than do anything else in life. To balance all the testosterone we have the "tough as nails" biker chicks Joni and Beth. Joni has gone on a solo walking pilgrimage in Spain for a couple months. She is a nurse. Thank you Jesus! I want to say Beth is the most extroverted person I've ever met... But then there was my dad. He knew no stranger and would stop and talk to anyone. 

Today we get all the vehicles inspected.

If they did a background check in everyone they would find a motley crew of adventurous people with a common goal - Keep Jacquie going.

I'm ready for anything and I don't know what this next week will hold. It will be "not so neat" and "of course we can make"

I enjoyed my freshly ground cup of coffee (thanks Perq) roach and all 

Judy's Big Adventure

RAAM - Race Across America. One of the world toughest races. West Coast to East Coast. First one that gets there wins. Extreme weather... extreme terrain. There was a time, not too long ago, that I believed I could do anything. I really do feel like that inside.  My spirit knows no tired muscles and aging bones. It's not until I look in the mirror and see the white hair, the skin not so tight, and wrinkles, that I sigh. I have a great life. I am surrounded by family and friends that love me, support me and share in some crazy things.

Tomorrow I am leaving for Oceanside, CA to join the team as Jacquie Schlitter goes on her solo quest across the states. I am part of about a dozen people that have come together and our sole purpose is to love her across the states - the support crew will be in three vehicles - sprinter van called "Lola", the RV called "Harvey" and "Pablo" the passenger van.

It will take a village to do this. We have mechanics, a nurse and fellow cyclists. Some of them have done the race before, some have crewed before, and some are newby's. I'm a newby. I really don't know what I've gotten myself into, but I do know one thing. I love Jacquie and she inspires me to be better at everything I do. She is like that. An inspiration.

John & Jacquie Schlitter

Where have you been..... it's about time.

Has it really been so long since I posted on my blog? The death of both my parents, and trying to deal with the emotion of it all brought me to here in the first place. It's time to pick it up again. Stay tuned.