2018 PMC Weekend Report: Rain, Sun, and a Snapping Turtle!
Hannah
Before I get started with the weekend recap, I have an unfortunate update regarding our team’s 2018 Pedal Partner.
Hannah, our team’s 2018 Pan-Mass2018 Pedal Partner, earned her angel wings early Saturday morning, August 11. Though most of our teammates did not have the pleasure of meeting Hannah in person, she touched all our hearts and inspired us throughout the PMC weekend.
Rest in Peace Hannah.
Fund Raising Update
With a surge in donations in the month of July (and over PMC Weekend) totaling over $5,000, I am within only $500 of my $10,000 goal!!!
If you are reading this and have yet to donate, here’s your change to bring me across the $10,000 mark (and beyond...)
http://give.pmc.org/mm0373
Pan-Mass Challenge 2018
It was another great weekend reuniting with friends; riding through good and bad weather to raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. As I have mentioned a number of times, since I turned 50 this year I am riding for a number of friends who will never see 50. They are prominently displayed on my PMC 2018 jersey. When I pin these photos on my jersey it is a good time to quietly reflect on why I am riding. These aren’t just pictures of people who lost their battle to cancer. They also represent the friends and families who fought alongside them and are now dealing with continuing their lives in their memories.
The Weather
Rain was in the forecast but that didn’t stop us from rolling out at 5:30 on Saturday morning. We were hopeful that we could beat the rain to the Mass Maritime Academy in Bourne. Some did, most didn’t.
“Pedal Fast” was the advice given to us in order to try and stay ahead of the rains, which were to come later in the day. The first 70 miles for our group was dry but steamy with the humidity. We rolled into the Dighton Lunch Stop (mile 70) dry. When we left it had started to rain. It was a moderate rain and not the heavy rains that would come later in the day. The remaining 40 miles we rode in a steady, warm rain.
Below is a before and after picture of Oxford, around mile 13 at 6:15 AM. It was dry when we rolled through but had flash flooding after the riders passed through. The “flooded” picture was taken between 11:00-11:30 AM. The heavy rains probably hit the same time that the tornado touched down just a few miles south of Oxford in Webster. I feel like we threaded the needle this year in terms of weather.
The Franklin Water Stop
The Franklin Water Stop at mile 41 is a homecoming for most of our team. It is where our weekly training rides begin. Also, it is where most of our families wait for us to cheer us on. Lizzie is always so excited to see me when I roll in :-)
"Thank You For Riding”
All along the PMC route there are people and signs thanking the riders for riding. It is often very humbling to see the impact we, as PMC riders, have on other people’s lives.
Day 2: the Cape
Another year, another morning riding the length of Cape Cod, no big deal ;-)
The weather was “moist” in the morning, but the sun broke through and we had a beautiful morning riding to Provincetown. Day two is the day where our team makes a concerted effort to ride together as much as possible. There are various “pace compatibilities” amongst our team members so this can be a challenge. However this year a number of factors, and happy accidents, resulted in all our team members riding within just a few minutes of each other.
In Welfleet, mile 56 of Sunday’s ride, we were able to get one of the most complete team pictures ever on the “Ice Couch” at the Welfleet Water Stop!
“Turtle!”
At roughly mile 70, as our pace line was finishing up the final Route 6 stretch in Provincetown, an odd thing occurred. We saw cars stopped ahead for some unknown reason and then the cyclists ahead were slowing down. Something was going on. Then, through the forest of cyclists in front of me, I caught a glimpse of a big turtle crossing Route 6. “Turtle!” I yelled. It was a big snapping turtle scurrying its way across Route 6 as our pace line was trying to avoid it. It was the fastest I ever saw a turtle move! We made it past the turtle and the turtle made it across the road. Whew...
PMC 2018 Provincetown Snapping Turtle from Martin Middelmann on Vimeo.
In case you didn't see the snapping turtle in the video
The PMC 2018 Recap Video
The PMC already released their 2018 Recap video! I don't think that video intern got any sleep ;-)
2018 PMC Weekend from Bill A on Vimeo.
Not too late to donate…
BTW, if you have reached this point in this post and you haven’t donated to my ride this year, don’t worry! I am still accepting donations :-)
http://give.pmc.org/mm0373