My Travels Come to an End

I was in Portland, OR from the 4th - 14th, so much fun to be had!! Including: playing in a CSz show, riding in the MS150, taking my mom out for her birthday, spiritual discussions with JKB, making jewelry with Rance's mom, hiking with Amy, meeting my friend Cristi's new love, leading a CSz workshop, enjoying a girls night with friends over Vietnamese salad rolls and wine, my 20th HS reunion, time out on the Scott family boat on the Columbia River, Brad's graduation party, and so much more!

It was such a great way to put a capper on my summer after spending almost seven weeks in Maine.

The MS150 was amazing and hot and grueling at parts and painful and so much fun! I rented a bike from a wonderful little bike shop in Portland called Veloce. I highly recommend it if you're ever in need for a good road bike or need to rent one in town for some reason. For just $100 for five days use I was given a $2000 dollar bike . It was fast and nimble and oh so light! But that seat, mama mia was that painful. It was like riding a 2" diameter steel tube for the entire time. My nether regions were screaming in pain! But I kept going and made it to the end.

We were a team of six women strong riding in support of Julie, our team captain. Both her mother and brother have Multiple Sclerosis and her father died almost two years ago. It's been a rough time period. We raised over $6,000 for the MS Society to continue their research, and we won best costume/jersey. We had a jersey of bright sky blue with sunflowers they were beautiful. It didn't hurt that all the women I was riding with were equally beautiful both inside and out.

I saw my brother for the first time in over 10 years. He was staying with my mom and helping her out around the house. It felt kind of odd and surreal. I mean here was someone that I grew up with at least until I was 8 or 9 years old and I had nothing to say to him beyond "hey, how are you doing?" I don't know if there could be a more opposite sibling. I was just glad to see all of the work he had done for my mom.

My travel timing seems perfect weather wise. Now back here in Chicago it's a cooler 81 degrees. I may have missed most of the heatwave. Huzzah!!