3232 LaGrange to Austin

Sunday morning we slept in and missed the free continental breakfast.  Which really isn't a big deal when you've eaten a huge Mexican food dinner at 10:30 the evening before. 

 The day ahead was about finding a great place in the shade to set up our chairs and ice chest and wait for #3232 to arrive in Austin. 

 It could be as early as 1:00 p.m. according to Chuck so we all hurried! 

(Picture a sheep herding dog ...Chuck... nipping at us to hurry and get there.)

Cameron's first text to us that morning was that she had run

 in to a friend of ours at the lunch stop.  

Shout out to Kim!

Small world.

We found some shade, set up our camp and
 watched bikers and supportive families give hugs.
It's a wonderful feeling to watch these bikers come off their bikes
after they cross the finish line.

So we watched....and waited.


And waited.

It was hot. 
Some were forced to make their own shade.

Or find an inch of shade by a port-a-potty.


The dogs were out to show their support....and their tongues.

After sitting for hours, eating picnic food, getting up to walk around and take pictures, and seeing millions of bikers...one begins to lose focus on looking at individual bikers....so imagine my surprise when, from my chair, I looked up and I knew the biker walking right past me!

It was my friend Carol and her family...who have ridden in the MS150 for at least 8 years.

 Carol and her sisters being greeted by their mom.

Jim, Carol's husband.

Jim's bike.
This bike has a sentimental meaning to me.  This was my cousin Paul's bike.  Paul died from Pancreatic Cancer in '04...and I was with him during those last few weeks. I brought his bike back from Dallas thinking Chuck or Will would use it.  But after a year or two of gathering dust, I handed it over to Jim who dusted it off and fixed it up with new wheels.  I can't tell you how much it means to me that this bike is being used and for such a great purpose.  Paul would be proud.

So after that excitement....we waited some more. 



And some more.

Jordan and Chris waited on the other side for awhile.

This is the curve the bikers take right past the finish line. 
So we kept our eye out for #3232 here.

This is my brother-in-law Kim and his hairy hat that we gave him for his birthday.
Cameron said she spotted his hat as she came around the corner.

And there she is! 
See her waving?

#3232

In the yellow jersey.

#3232

She may kill me for this backside shot, but I had to show you the A&M maroon flag that she tucked in her helmet as she came through the finish line!
Whoop!

She immediately wanted ice to sit on.  Apparently her Boo Tay was killing her.
Kim and Chris are providing her some shade.
When you've just finished the MS150, you get the special treatment.
Did I mention it was hot?
Well, if I mentioned it to Cameron, she informed me I had no idea how hot it was.
Hot was being on a bike in spandex with sleeves and leggings to protect her from the sun. 

It was so much fun to have Catha and Kim with us.
Cameron appreciated the support.

Cameron stayed behind in the FMC tent to eat and drink

and then shower and head home on their bus.

Backsides of Jordan (behind the light pole), Kim, Chuck and Chris.

We loaded up our stuff...and there was a ton of it...and headed home.

A million bikers, hours of waiting in the hot sun....and I would do it over and over again. 

Nothing feels as good as seeing your child grin with accomplishment.

And we can never forget this is all about finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.

The cure is out there. 

The scientist who will discover it is out there.

It just takes time....and money.

And prayer can't hurt.