Ride Against Hunger

Riding Day 3

Stockton to Pine Grove, California

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Word of the Day: Disappointment!

Unfortunately, we lost two members of our team today. Tim Viall, Director of the Emergency Food Bank, took a bad spill and reinjured two cracked ribs from an accident two months ago. He made a valiant effort to go on with the ride, but was having trouble breathing and experienced a lot of pain. He therefore reluctantly decided not to continue on the ride. John Viall, Tim’s brother then decided that he also would not go forward with the ride.

The idea for the Ride Against Hunger came from a discussion with Tim over two years ago. Tim is terribly disappointed that he cannot continue, and I will also miss my good friend as we move forward. While leaving the effort was absolutely the smart thing for Tim to do, it may have been one of the hardest things he’s done for a long time. He feared that he would let many people down. We encouraged him to decide on the basis of what was the right thing to do for his health, not on the basis of who would be “let down.” We will miss Tim and John immensely.

So now, Joe Ossmann, Chuck Bohme and I will continue, Chuck plans to ride to Billings, Montana. We are trying to talk him into staying for the whole trip. Fortunately, Tim and his wife Susan will join us tomorrow night at the Kirkwood Inn for dinner and a toast.

The quick summary of the day was that we were sent off from Stockton in grand style with Mayor Ann Johnston hosting and sponsoring the Second Annual Mayor’s hike and Bike Event. Hundreds of riders and hikers moved around Stockton’s downtown neighborhoods. We were introduced and led out the ride…then headed out of town toward Pine Grove, CA, a town that is about a third of the way up the Sierra. It was a beautiful but hard day with miles of ever so slow climbing up long inclines. We are camped in a beautiful spot called Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park. Two friends of the Ossmann’s blessed us with a wonderful chicken and rice dinner.

Tomorrow is one of the hardest days of the whole ride--50 miles, but almost all of it up hill. We will climb from 2300 feet elevation to 8000 feet. We are all rather anxious about the day.