Monday, July 15, 2002

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Even though Sheila is still in training, she has set the standard for all support drivers.

After loading all of the luggage, cleaning the windshields, loading and unloading the bicycles, getting ice for the cooler, filling up the Camelback packs...

She even brought John breakfast on the front stoop.

The ride was a tough one for us.  A two lane road that does not have a shoulder and is predominantly uphill.  Fortunately, not much traffic to contend with. 

We were first aware of the County Sheriff's patrol car when it pulled up alongside of John's dad.

"Joe!"  John hissed under his breath.  "If they haul my dad off to jail, just keep pedaling and we can pretend that we don't even know him."

Fortunately, for John's dad, the officers, Cheryl and Kaye, were friendly ones and they provided excellent escort for us through Newberry county.

Unfortunately, with the law behind us, Joe could not use the TAC (Truck Assisted Climb) to climb the hills, of which there were many.  But just to prove to the world that he is as good as any other left handed, right footed, Protestant, Italian, who can't tell time, Joe grudgingly pedaled upwards in the footstep of John.

Soon after the long arm of the law was gone, Joe did what he does best, and that is, as evidenced in the picture on the right,  pushing that big heavy truck up that hill.

Animal has been quiet through all of this.  Joe continues to give Animal furtive glances, half expecting retribution.  Suddenly, without warning, Animal leaps up, smacks Joe on the side of his head, and runs back to the truck and clings to Sheila's leg.  Not knowing whether it is a snake or some sort of North Carolina Tasmanian Devil, Sheila shrieks, thereby, letting her leg come off the clutch of the truck, causing it to leap forward, whose wheel narrowly misses running over Joe's Pathfinder foot.  With a sly but cunning smile, Animal apologizes to Joe for the close call.   

Hoping to divert attention, Animal yells, "Holy cow, John... look at the holy cows."

Despite his efforts to avoid culpability, Animal sees Joe, waiting... just waiting... for the right moment. 

Lane continues to impress his elders.  Because of the road conditions, neither Lane nor Chelsea could ride.  Hopefully, tomorrow!  In the meantime, we have dedicated two long, steep hills in South Carolina to Lane and to Chelsea.

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