Cindy's Silver Valley Ride to Defeat ALS 2021

Team Gleason decided to do the ALS fundraiser bike ride at the normal location.  The ride was virtual again this year but I am sure next year we will get the full experience.  We did our best to recreate the experience.  We started at the trailhead in Kingston, Idaho across from the Snake Pit restaurant.  Peggy and Bonnie did their speed walking and Sheila and I biked the Trail of the Coeur d Alene's.  

Sheila could have had me hold her bike or she could have used the asphalt path to the restroom but NO!  She hauled her bike up the stairs.  

And there they go, the speed walkers!  They saw a bald eagle on their walk!  We did not see the bald eagle riding bikes. 

This trail is so beautiful.  

No diving or jumping off the bridge.  That was not a temptation at all.  

I was riding my bike when I took this picture and didn't know if I would capture the fishermen.  I did. I am getting pretty good at taking pictures while moving.  HA. 

We went across the road to explore the other side of the trail.  It started out looking great. 

We discovered that this was some sort of a quarry that created lots of dust.  We turned around. 

We finished our ride and walk and headed to the Snake Pit.  The Snake Pit usually provides an outdoor BBQ after the ride.  Trying to make the experience as close as possible to the real deal meant we had to eat at the Snake Pit.  Of course we did!

See that grilled cheese sandwich?  It was the best grilled cheese I have ever eaten.  That says a lot because I have eaten a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches.  

I appreciate these ladies and their continued support of my ALS fundraising efforts and of me in general.  Good friends, good food, good exercise for a good cause.  Thank you for joining me and being such good friends. 

Cindy's Silver Valley Ride to Defeat ALS

Ready to ride!!!!  Not a huge team but the best team ever.  

We started in Kingston, Idaho and rode along the Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes. Bonnie and I had planned to ride about 12-15 miles.  It was our first ride of the season.  Trish had been riding more so pretty sure her goal was much higher.  

The official ribbon cutting!

Beautiful scenery along the route.  There was a moose in some of the official pictures but we didn't see it!

I am pretty good at taking pictures while riding my bike.  It's a talent!

I wanted to stop for these pictures because of the reflections in the river!

First rest stop!  This was the last time we saw Trish for awhile.  We thought the next rest stop was at 10 miles and we would see her there but it was farther.

We took off and rode past the 10 mile point. No stop.  Bonnie and I were ready to turn around because at this point our ride would have been 20 miles.  We kept riding trying to find Trish and the rest stop.  We didn't want to turn around and have her waiting for us so we kept going. No cell service so we couldn't text her.

The rest stop had to be right around the corner, it wasn't.  Another corner, nope!  We finally saw Trish coming the other direction.  Our 12 mile ride ended up being 25 for me, 26 for Bonnie ( she had to back track because I was talking instead of riding), and over 27 for Trish!

These three men were not with the group but they were riding all over the area.  Lots of miles.  They matched.  So cute!

We did it!  Boy it felt good to get off the bike for sure.  That is a long ride for the first time out.  It was worth it and for a great cause.

Food time.  The entry included a fabulous lunch made by the The Snakepit!

There it is. Yummy and so good after biking!

Thanks to Trish and Bonnie for joining me.  We had a great time and creating a world without ALS is something I want to see soon.  No cure and no treatments but progress is being made.  Time is one thing ALS patients don't have.  Join us next year for this ride!