Saturday, June 23, 2018

Cindy's Ride To Defeat ALS, 27 Miles of Fun!

Why in the world haven't I done this before???  I am not sure.  It was so much fun!  I wasn't going to make a team but Trish persuaded me that a team was a must.  Here we are Team Gleason ready to ride.  It was a beautiful day.  

We took the drive to Kingston, Idaho to start the ride.   The trail head was right by the Snake Pit restaurant.  The drive was about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  
There was a silent auction and a raffle! 
 Friends!!!!!!

I thought Trish should have been singing the national anthem.  She has a beautiful voice, really it is beyond beautiful.
 Getting ready to roll!  Becky had some information to give us.


 Then Nathan!
This is our before picture.  All geared up and ready to go!  Our plan was to ride 20 miles.  We rode 27 miles.  Next year maybe more!
 Here goes Sheila!
 This is the Snake Pit.  They supplied the food after the ride!
So beautiful.  I have said it before.  God loves us so much and he created this beautiful scenery for us to enjoy.  You might ask how I was taking pictures.  I can take them while I am riding my bike.  Some turn out blurry but most are AOK!   One hand on the handlebar and the other on the camera! I haven't crashed yet.

 There was a moose on the trail that others saw but we didn't.




 A thunderstorm was expected later in the afternoon.  Skies are blue here!



 5 mile rest stop with random strangers in the picture.


Off we go again!  The lily pads were amazing.  I missed getting a picture of a spot that had hundreds of lily pads!
 We didn't get to see the moose but we did see a lot of horses!




 We are at the half way spot.  Snacks and a quick stop!

We picked up the pace on the way back.  Not as many pictures.  If you click on this picture and make it bigger you can see a group of bikers on recumbent bikes.
No White Flags! We did it! 27 miles of beautiful scenery on a fabulous day.  The weather was perfect and the thunder storm never arrived.  I have some pretty great friends that support me a lot.  I am so thankful!!! One day we will hear that there has been a treatment discovered or even better a cure discovered for ALS!
Wow!  What a great lunch.  I was thinking burgers or something like that for the BBQ but no!  Rice, BBQ beef and pineapple. So, so good! The BBQ was included in the fee for the ride.  Well worth it!
 Still no rain!
I can't wait to do this again.  I know that Trish and Sheila are in for next year.  The great thing is you can ride 1 mile up to 63 miles.  You can turn around anytime.  The route is pretty level and the scenery is amazing.  Not to mention the BBQ and most importantly it is for a great cause.
 To top the day off we had a raffle winner, Trish!!!


Our 18th Wedding Anniversary Date

Simple and perfect.  Mike thought it would be just right to go to Coeur d Alene, Idaho and walk around then have a great dinner.  Perfect idea.  It was relaxing, enjoyable and fun.  18 years married to this guy.  Love him!
Flowers, flowers everywhere!

Mike wants a new truck.  This is a great truck but it isn't for sale and it is older than what he wants.  The color is good!
I know it is against the photography rules to take a picture into the sun but sometimes the pictures turn out so good!

 We walked around on the boardwalk.  This lake is huge so for sure the boardwalk doesn't go all the way around the lake.  It just goes around the hotel.
A cross in the sky is a great reminder that God is here and he has blessed our marriage for sure.

Love the sun rays in this picture.  When I was young I always thought that the sun rays were Jesus watching out for me.  Now I know he is with me always and always watching out for me.
 I found an eagle!
We had a great dinner.  It was good to just spend time together with no interruptions from our regular life.  Just the two of us.  We talked about what the next 18 years would bring.  I for one am looking forward to spending each year with Mike.  I know God is working in our lives in ways we are not even sure of yet.  It will be an adventure that I am excited for.  Love you Mike Gleason!!!