12 Baggies, all in a row

I just finished most of the packing for Jerry and me. 12 two-gallon plastic bags, labeled for each day of the ride. Of course, except Day 1, because we will be wearing those.

It was a fun mix and match effort. Since we ride a tandem, Jerry and I geek out with matching jerseys. I even tried to match our shorts for a lot of days. We even have matching socks for a couple of days. We're so cute it could make you throw up.

Jerry is just back from visiting his mom in Texas. Her lung cancer is back for the third time, and she will head to Houston or Dallas-- I forget which-- for Cyberknife treatment. She had that a couple of years ago at UCSF when I was working there, and it kept her cancer at bay for a while. Her husband underwent chemo for his cancer and she hated what it did to him, so she's trying to avoid that. But while Jerry was there, his mom gave him a substantial donation for the ride. With our other checks in hand, he will climb over the top of the $3000 mark.

A far cry from last year and the year before when we raised close to double that amount. And it's too bad. No, not because we won't get the "special" jersey. But because with budget cuts this is a real life or death ride. The more we raise, the more people will get services. The more people living with HIV will continue to live. My hope is that as we cycle down the coast, the message will ring loud and clear with people and more folks will get donations and more money will pour into organizations who are keeping people alive.

So tomorrow, we once again see the safety video, get our tent assignment and spend the night with Thom and Jeff in Daly City, trying to sleep, but kept awake with anticipation, excitement and adrenalin pulsing through our bodies.