Sometimes a Great Notion

Seems I’m past due for an update here, been too busy enjoying life.

I recently completed my 26th Cycle Oregon, a fantastic week for me and one I wasn’t sure I’d be able to experience.  When first told I had cancer I asked my oncologist if I was crazy to think I could do Cycle Oregon this year.  He told me it would be my body that decided, not him.  Well, Sparkplug’s body responded with a resounding yes.

Daughter Tracy and husband Keith came out from Virginia to ride with Dad, their first big bike trip.  The loop route featured southwest Oregon timber country, climbed over the coast range twice, ran down our gorgeous coast and up the Rogue River.  I rode the entire week, some 354 miles, including two hellacious hills, one 15 miles of +7% grade.  Tracy rode with me that day and when we reached the summit she shouted “the guy with cancer and the kid with no training did it!”  Judy wisely suggested I  try to have as normal a ride as possible and not make cancer the focus of my week.  While I did pretty well with that, cancer is part of my life now.   I talked with a number of survivors and people with family in the battle but didn’t meet anyone actively taking chemo like me.  The first photo below fairly captures my emotions for the week.  Being able to still do what I’ve done for nearly three decades and sharing it all with Tracy, Keith and my good friends Tom and John made this one particularly special and a ride I’ll never forget.

So, on the cancer front, things are stable almost seven months after diagnosis and 11 cycles of chemotherapy.  I have no pain and take no pain meds at all.  Had my third CT scan yesterday, we will get the results when I meet with my oncologist next week. Praying for the same positive news we got last time.

Riding on …