Sore Knees and Fried Kale

Jerry and I took our first real ride on the trike, and I'm feeling it now. It will take a while to get used to the new position and the use of different muscles. My replaced knee was a little sore after the ride so I iced it. I realize how ridiculous that sounds-- how can a prosthetic knee hurt? I should clarify it's all the real muscles around that prosthetic knee that are aching.

We took off from home because the trailer we plan to haul the trike around in had a flat. We headed down a pretty narrow frontage road and then turned on to 2nd to head out to China Camp. At least that was the plan. Turns out most of China Camp was closed to traffic because of a run. But we did get in some hills and they were damn hard. Perhaps I shouldn't say hard, but we were cranking away and going 2 to 4 miles per hour. And these hills were nothing like what we are going to face on the ride. So, we've got lots of training to do.

After we got home, showered and had lunch, I headed over to Berkeley to speak at a fundraiser. Lee and Cheryl are roadies. Lee will be driving a supply truck and Cheryl works gear and tent. It was a small gathering, but I think the message hit home. First I showed John Hershey's slide/video of last year's ride, then talked. I tried to keep the talk upbeat. Sometimes I think ALC is a bit too morose, dwelling too much on those we have lost. I want to celebrate the lives of those living with HIV and who are being helped by the AIDS Foundation. That was the message I tried to impart. Then I went in for the kill. I really tried to ratchet up donations. Lee seems to think I succeeded.

It's funny how easy it is to raise funds for someone else. I'm behind on my own fundraising, but I could never make that kind of presentation to my own friends. I asked these people to donate $200 or $300, larger than any donation I have received. It's hard for me to ask for ANY amount, and I know I have friends who could afford to give more.

Lee and Cheryl had quite a spread of food, but what I zeroed in on was the crisp fried kale. It wasn't oily at all. It reminded me of the little fried sage leaves that sometimes decorate dishes in Italian restaurants. The kale was salty, crunchy and addictive. I'm going to have to make some soon.