Day 1

I won’t lie to you, the first day feels like a blur. Let’s start off with the fact that I had to be at the Cow Palace at 4:15 in the morning. And honestly, who can turn their brain off at 10 the night before and wake up in complete darkness ready to leap out of bed? But I started to get pumped for the event as I put on my LifeCycle shirt on and zipped up my backpack. Let’s do this thing!

I had my hesitations about how physical the Gear and Tent tasks were gonna be, and I was right. It’s tough, that’s no joke. People pack TOO MUCH. I think people were SUPPOSED to be limited to bringing 60 pounds of gear, but it’s been on average more like 100 pounds! I felt like I was lifting a dead body with some of these duffel bags that were suspiciously heavy and very long.

But I lucked out. I was put on a truck with two awesome teammates, Darla and Sandy, who were ready to haul some serious-ass gear. Both of them have done the AIDS ride before as cyclists and Gear and Tent roadies. So I knew I was going to be their little protégé. I watched these chicks launch these massive duffel bags and overflowing backpacks with one hand. I’m in awe, girls. Also, Darla, a very loud and lovely woman, donning braids, overalls and good cheer, insisted that I learn how to stack things FLAT and SYMMETRICAL. I’m still fine-tuning my method, but by the end of day 1, I felt like I was getting the hang of it. I learned to Beware of Straps, as people like to strap five things to their bags with bungie cords that are ready to fling off and shoot you in the eye.

I also learned to ask people if they forgot anything before they hand over their packs. This is a key question because one cyclist today had one truck team unload half the truck because he forgot his cycling shoes.

Strangest request of the day: One roadie came up to our truck with a wild look in his eyes, carrying a bin with something brown smeared on the lid.

“Do you have any WIPES?” he asked, eyes pleading.

“Uhh, why?”

“I dropped this bin on the street and the lid landed in HUMAN FECES!” he exclaimed. He said a homeless guy had relieved himself on the sidewalk.

“Sir, step away from the truck. We have no wipes here.”

He ended up finding some wipes to clean the bin, and we ended up accepting the bin. But I tried to avoid touching it at all costs.

I admit I love compliments, and I loved the cyclists who came up to us and said we had such a tough job. What, us? You guys are the ones who are biking hundreds of miles! We’re just loading and unloading your stuff. A cyclist named Phil, with a stuffed platypus strapped to his helmet, said what we were doing was harder. He said he had ridden for the last five years on the ride to commemorate a friend who had died of AIDS.

So far, the event has had a wonderful, casual community feel to it – even with 2,300 riders and 500 roadies. You can pretty much approach anyone and people are ready to share their stories about why they are here.

After we packed up the stuff, we drove together – all 15 trucks – to Santa Cruz. Everything was going fine, we had stayed together on the freeway and were only 10 or 15 miles from camp, when one truck, Truck B, broke down. A line of 15 trucks turned onto the side of the road, and we all wondered whether we would be unloading the truck’s stuff onto another on the side of the freeway. However, Truck B was able to exit and call in for a new truck, while the rest of us were able to ride into camp. Poor Truck B. We helped them unload their luggage after they arrived later in camp.

So, the camp site is beautiful, pleasant, and lush. The cyclists are back and everybody’s enjoyed their hot showers in the shower mobile. And I’m looking forward to tomorrow and talking to more roadies as we continue on this adventure!

Comments

[Tom Osborne]

Erin, the riders are awesome but they know they couldn't do it without you. I'm glad you got through the first day in one piece, with both eyes, and with your hands clean and uncontaminated (I guess the roadies better add some wipes to the supply list!). I hope your spirits stay high and your truck never breaks down.

[Chuck Dazols]

Erin, Good to hear that your first day was a success. It is great that you and Julie decided to tackle this. Hope you stay upbeat and the rest of your days are as positive as the first. I am thinking of you while you are out there lugging those bags around. Take care, and know that what you are doing has a major impact on the success of this ride.

[Katie]

Erin - although we have never met know that you are doing an amazing thing. I have watched the cycle on the sidelines for a few years and want to become a roadie in the upcoming years. Having lost my uncle to HIV I want to say thank you for all you are doing to raise awareness!!!!

[Jean Terheyden]

Erin, I'm so proud of you, Julie and Lisa. THe Three Amigos reunited again.

Love Jean

[Maurice Alcock]

Erin: Gear Crew Rocks! I was on gear a couple times and had a great time and met a whole bunch of awesome people. I found if I got up early (4am) shower and breakfast lines were short then I was ready to spend the whole day helping people and cheering the riders when they come in especially the really late ones on those hard days. Yeah I remember unloading trucks cause someone forgot something, then again we got to sleep on the trucks, do they still do that? Hey maybe see you next year, I'm coming back, along with my sisters and nieces and who knows who else will show up-have a great ride experience and thanks for blogging to! Maurice