There were majestic birds on the courses, like the great blue heron:
There were birds of prey, a red shouldered hawk and an osprey:
A little blue heron and a white ibis were helping find my [...]]]>
There were majestic birds on the courses, like the great blue heron:
There were birds of prey, a red shouldered hawk and an osprey:
A little blue heron and a white ibis were helping find my ball:
And like everywhere I go, I spotted these common birds:
I seem to attract them!
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Then, for what seems like a lifetime, the yelling was all about #4, Brett Favre. Here’s a picture of my mom at the recent 21st annual Crotte family fantasy football draft. Yes, that’s a little shrine to St. Brett.
He might do it, I’ve seen him play and he’s good, but Aaron Rodgers has some mighty big shoes to fill. But no matter, she’s still screaming and yelling at the TV.
And we love her like that!
]]>Day 3 was tough. Everything hurt. We got up at 4:45 AM to catch the shuttle from our hotel back to the bikes, then a quick breakfast, filled up the tires and water bottles, and were clipped in to our pedals before 6:30. It was dark, cloudy, and drizzling at the start, but not for long. It turned into two or three hours of a cold, drenching rain in the morning, making the road a bit hazardous. We were not part of the many slips and falls of the morning. We got through okay. Then the day broke out into another partly sunny but majorly windy day, I’d guess about 15 to 20 MPH winds from the way the flags were blowing. It was coming out of the west, so it was mainly a crosswind for most of our north-to-south ride, with occasional turns into the wind which would slow us way down to about 12 MPH, and occasional joyful bits with the wind at our backs. The last thirty miles were pretty hilly, but by then we were energized for the impending finish.
We were greeted by our “Wish Child” and his family. Make-A-Wish hooks us up with a specific child that we ride for. Michael C had leukemia and got his wish to go to Disney World two years ago. He is in a remission now and feels well. Seeing the kids takes all our own pain away, and makes it all worthwhile!
I am grateful for my health and vigor. I am EVER so grateful for the opportunity to do the ride this year with my son, Kevin! He is a joy to be with, and I couldn’t be prouder! I want to express a special gratitude for the dear family and friends that supported my ride this year! Thank you! With your help, Make-A-Wish will be able to provide 250 more wishes this year! That’s what it was all about!
Here is a part of our team. We are all ready to do it again next year!
So right now I am majorly sore, after spending 7.5 hours on a bike in really hilly terrain. It’s not what you think. It’s my neck, shoulders and legs that hurt the most!
And tomorrow we’ll do it again. And then again the following day. It’s exhausting and great fun at the same time. And the real beneficiaries are the Make-A-Wish kids. The moneys donated will pay for many wishes!
Here’s our team at the end of the day:
We’ll take off tomorrow at 6 AM, and bike 100 miles to Big Rapids, MI.
I’m very excited! My [...]]]>
812 riders will be doing the 300 miles this year. We loaded our bikes onto 6 semi trucks, and the riders onto 10 buses. We arrived in Traverse City and are unloading bikes, etc.
We’ll take off tomorrow at 6 AM, and bike 100 miles to Big Rapids, MI.
I’m very excited! My son, Kevin, is joining us this year. More later.
Well, an exciting round 2, and I’m shocked I’m still on the board. #7 out of 20.
I am still in a suspended state of disbelief that Wake Forest lost in round 1. I can’t accept the humiliating way that turned out. When I get back to Winston-Salem, I might just have to stop at Wake [...]]]>
Well, an exciting round 2, and I’m shocked I’m still on the board. #7 out of 20.
I am still in a suspended state of disbelief that Wake Forest lost in round 1. I can’t accept the humiliating way that turned out. When I get back to Winston-Salem, I might just have to stop at Wake and slap those girls around a little bit. Damn!
Without 2 teams in the final four, I will continue to gradually fade away. But I have good reason to still be excited. Carolina and Duke are still in it!
BTW, the solid leader in The Crotte Family Hoops Pool is my niece, Charlotte. She’s my brother Ed’s daughter, and a Michigan State graduate, and she is a tough competitor! I don’t really mean it, but “Go, Charlotte!” ; )
]]>My home team!! The [...]]]>
Thrilling and agonizing! This may be as good as it gets for me, #2 out of 20 in The Crotte Family Hoops Pool as of the end of the first round! You’d think I’m on a roll, but my most important pick LOST in the first round!!! Arrrggghhh!!!
My home team!! The Deamon Deacons are out! Ouch!!! I had picked Wake Forest to play my other fav team, Carolina, from just down the road (Hwy 40), in the finals, and to win it all!! And now they’re out!! In my heart, I thought Carolina was the better pick, but how can you not support your hometown team?!?
Arrrgghhh!!!!