Well, we will take a shot at comments on day two.  Hopefully, todays comments will be somewhat more understandable than yesterdays!!!!!!

We began the day by dragging ourselves out of the racks for a somewhat weird breakfast in Quartzite. The hotel people who are very nice supplied us with froot loops, honey buns, and powdered sugar donuts....not exactly the breakfast of champions!!!!!  We probably need to do a little work with the hotel next year on the food scene for sure.  The amazing thing....when cyclists are really hungry......all that "Im training and can't eat that" crapp goes right out the window.  At least 20 of the 30 riders began the ride by pounding mini donuts!!!!!!!

In the rush to get things done on morning two I began to see a stir in the riders and the staff.  This usually means either someone has done something dumb which everyone will use for ammo on the days ride or something is broken....which is usually from someone doing something dumb...everything comes full circle!!!  Not this time however!!!!  When I got closer to the group what I saw was Major Conner in full boots and uts.  This is what he looks like!!
 
Now, if you can imagine someone riding 108 miles in 90 plus degree heat across the sand dunes for 6 hours!!!! Major Conner is no doubt a hard core Marine!!!!!!  As he posed for pictures with all of the riders, it was amazing to me how our ladies on the support staff all of a sudden had a need to hep Major Conner in any way.  I beleive that I was run over twice by a support person because I got between them and the 6 foot 5 Marine in underarmor!!!!!! 

Once the ride began clearly everyone was in warm up mode.  If you have ever ridden 118 miles like we did the day before you will know that the legs get a little stiff overnight and take a while to get the cob webs out.  I looked at our Marines (Dave,Josh, George) and they had a look in their eye like..."are you guys really serioous?".  We we were... and we set off once again toward our final destination of Brawley.

The ride was mostly uneventful...we had the usual...Cars honk in support...others use their hands to tell us we were number #1!!!!!  As we moved through the agricultural lands the coarse began to move into large sets of rolling hills with a heat index that was beginning to climb with the terrain.  The hills got bigger  the legs were beginning to object for many of our folks.  As usual no what the pain level the team carried on.  As we appoached the dunes and worked our way through we knew we were getting close.  The day had gone fast but our riders were actually beginning to go faster!!!!!!  Sometimes when the riders can smell the barn they will run just like horses.....lets get this over wiith is the feeling among the group.  The problem of coarse being that some fo the folks were getting destroyed in the process.  Our ride Captain Chris Fusselman promptly put an end to the racing by telling anyone that wanted to go fast to "get to back of the line and push tired people if you have so much #%@!%@@^@ing energy!!!!!!

Once into Brawley we prepared for our dinner with heroes.  We opened the evening with a few comments from me about why we are here and what it means to have all the riders participate in this event.  I explained that everyone in the rooms efforts will combine to make a miracle in the life of a young hero.  I then introduced Lt Col Paul Thompson.

LtCol Thompson then gave everyone in the room the opportunity to witness the "Honor Table."  The Honor Table is an empty table set for those fallen heroes who are no longer with us.  Their is a full place setting...a rose...a bible....a lemon slice and an upside down wine glass.  Each of these items has a very special meaning. LtCol T. explained each of the items, their meaning and then played Taps over the sound system. It was without a doubt one of the most touching things I have had the good fortune to witness.  He did an incredible job as ususal.

LtCol T. then introduced Major William Conner who was in full Marine dress blues.  major Conner took his time to describe the lives and sacrifices of the heroes names who are on our wrist bands....Major Megan McClung,Major Ray Mendoza, LCDR Erik Kristensen, and Major Doug Zembiec.  He told us of the heroism of each of these great Americans.  He described their lives in terms that were more than just military.  He told us of the human side and why
they were such special people.  All four of these people left behind a legacy that will go on forever.  Major Conner finished his talk by reading a letter written to the children of Major Mendoza from after is death.  The letter was incredible and nothing I could ever write could do the letter justice.  Major Zembiec was killed in battle not long after writing the letter.  These four heroes will not be forgotten.

The evening ended with LtCol Thompson taking us through a history of his career. I had asked him many months ago to do this.  You see, PT as most of our riders call him, never tells anyone about what he does. Like other officers, he serves with a quiet dignity and honor that is befitting of any great officer.  I felt it was important that the riders know the sacrifice he has made for our country and our freedom.  His list of accomplishments is far too long for me to write, but suffice it say....LtCol Thompson is without a doubt a hero.

It was a wonderful evening with great friends, great food, and great stories.  We were all blessed to be a part.

(please excuse the bad spelling...I lost my galsses and Im in a hurry to EAT!!!!!)

Now......we move to day three....the big climb into Julian