Day 2 and The Journey Continues...

Day #2

Slept pretty good! I was very warm and comfortable, can't say much for my tent mate though! She had a thin mattress to sleep on, while the rest of us slept like queens. HA! (I did offer her my bed the next night) I am just kidding Lia. It was a little crazy though, you do hear the biffy's (porta pottys) opening and closing, people starting to wake up at a VERY early time, so of course I can't go back to sleep. So I think we got up around 5 am. Then off to breakfast and then we starting walking at 6:30 am.

My calves were pretty sore! I walked down the hills on my tippy toes! But once I started moving, it wasn't as bad.

We met Barry who walks every single walk around the country to raise money for breast cancer - that's 14 walks x 60 miles = 840 miles a year. That would be like walking from the border of Mexico and California along the 5 freeway all the way to the Oregon. He is featured in a calendar that is put out every year that features men who walk or crew the breast cancer walk. The web address is http://www.60milemen.org/ . You must check it out. Barry is Mr. April 2009. Oh, and he's 59 years old.

We met a man who lost his wife to breast cancer 8 years ago. They have 3 children and the youngest was in 3rd grade when she died. This year for the first time, his youngest child was able to walk with him. His team's website is http://www.teamihopeyoudance.org/ . The reason they walk is obvious.

The best part of this day was at the end. Our feet were killing us and we had that last 1 1/2 miles to walk to get to camp. So we decided we would walk on the beach without our shoes. It was amazing! It was like getting an exfoliation of the feet, but even better. The sand between our toes felt so good and then dipping our feet in the cold water was rejuvenating.

Then as we were walking back, Stacey and I stopped to put our shoes back on, so we were a little behind Lia and T. Then I heard what I thought was "Is that Debbie?" (and this was from very far away) I thought ah there is another Debbie up there, then I heard "I think that is Debbie" and I recognized the voice it was Heather Gonzales and then I heard Tanya Nelson's voice. I saw the two of them and ran towards them, crying and I just hugged the two of them for the longest time. That was the best moment that day. To see two of my good friends there cheering a group of us from Ivey Ranch. I just was so happy!

On this day we walked from Mission Bay through Point Loma, Ocean Beach, Sunset Cliffs, and back down the Mission Bay boardwalk. With another 20 under our belt, we checked into camp at 3:00 (around number 1000). After dinner that night we walked up to the remembrance tents. These are white tents that are set up at each walk and are covered with people's writings. They are lit from inside and shine on the top of a hill like a guiding light.

The beginning of a new day

Getting ready to walk again!

View from the street!

Friends Are Stronger Together!

This man we saw many times all weekend. He had many different costumes. At this moment he was a doctor... His sign said "Free Breast Exams". I wish I knew his story! He was the mystery man!

Even the Firefighters were cheering us on

Tanya, Me and Heather... A very special moment!!! A GREAT memory!

Yeah, my sweet friends!

That group there, are moms from our kids elementary school. One of our teachers and friend of mine from elementary school and my children's kindergarten teacher is a survivor. She is doing great and cancer free :) I don't see her until day #3.

End of day 2!

Remebrance Tents

Lia getting her feet massaged

Me getting my feet massaged!!! Oh my heck that was the best!!!

Until another day....

Day 1...

Ready to go!!!
Our luggage

Stacey
Truck J

Anything goes on this walk

Stacey and Lia taking their bags to truck J

Harley in a tu tu... see anything goes, really!!!

These are the safety guards that help us cross the street

Day 1

We had so much junk in our trunks!!!

Beginning of Opening Ceremonies

Lia bought these bracelets for us

Survivors walking after opening ceremonies

in line, heading out for our 3 day journey

crossing Coast Highway 101

T ready to roll

Stacey and one of the supporters

one of our many beautiful views...Del Mar Beach

More supporters

View from Torrey Pines, our first pit stop

Lia and Theresa walking up Torrey Pines

Stacey and Me

These ladies were out there all 3 days

Hookers supporting Hooters

La Jolla Cove

Shall we take the next SAG? NAY!!!

Lia's parents came to see us the first day!!! That was such a wonderful moment!

My girls and their first drink at Ta Ta Taverns (little shot of beer) They were in heaven!!! I have never seen 3 women so happy.

The beginning of our 1 1/2 mile to camp

Are we there yet?

Best Friends!

CAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

End of Day #1

Beautiful Sunset

Famous Pink Tents

Lia so happy to have her shoes off!

3 days, 60 miles, 1 unbelievable weekend. We crossed the finish line at 2:30 Sunday afternoon.

Day 1
Lia's sweet dad picked us all up at 5 am and off we went. We arrived at 6:00 for opening ceremonies at Del Mar Fairgrounds. Our bags headed to truck J, and after an hour of anticipation, we set off. As we started our journey and crossed coast highway, I saw all of the SAG buses. Those are the buses that pick you up if you need a little lift :). Each bus was decorated differently and the drivers were all dressed in different attire, cheering us on. I had this overwhelming emotion and started the first of many cries. As we headed south to Torrey Pines and along the way we met Lisa. Lisa is a 44 year old woman from Poway who was walking alone. Her team walked with her for the first 3 years but then decided to only support her monetarily. She has been walking solo for the past 4 years. She is a breast cancer survivor as is her 31 year old sister and her mother. Her grandmother died of breast cancer in her 40's. They have all tested positive for the gene and Lisa fund raises year round so that she can walk this event every year. This year she raised almost $12,000.

Time to head up Torrey Pines, our first killer hill. It really wasn't bad! Then, it was time to eat, mile 10ish. So we sat and had a sack lunch, sandwich, chips, water or gatorade, and a cold salad. I swear I was so hungry that I devoured that lunch in 2 minutes. My teammates looked at me in shock. I guess I was hungry.

At mile 14, we were taking a break at a pit stop when we met a couple in their 60's who were holding hands. They sat near us and as the husband took off a shoe to tend to a blister, they told us their story. They walk a few times a year at different 3 day walks. They pick 1 or 2 each year and raise money to walk those cities. This year they walked San Francisco and San Diego. They walk because they can, they told us.

As we neared camp, they told us we had 1 mile to go! Well that last mile was the longest mile I have ever walked. Come to find out on day two, it was really 1 1/2 miles. We got to camp at 3:30 (walkers 906-909) on day one only to find out that after walking 20.1 miles, we had to walk another 200 yards to find where our tent was to be set up. Two young girl scouts helped us set up our pink tents as we sat in disbelief that we had to do this all over again the next day, oh yeah, and the following day too.

Time to head to the showers and then to dinner. We were so excited to take showers. Again the little things in life we look forward too. We took showers in Semi trucks, yes semi trucks. Showers on Wheels!!! And it was the best shower ever!

At dinner that night, we met two men from Chico, Ca who have each been married for 40 years and each have 3 daughters. Earlier this year while camping with their families, they were sitting around a fire when they began talking about cancer and how we need to find a cure. One of their wives told them about the walk and with too many beers in their system they decided to do it. A week later, they signed up and began training. They came to San Diego with their wives and while their wives shopped and lunched at nice restaurants, they walked. They told us they are walking because they are surrounded by beautiful women and they want to stop the spread of this disease. Oh, and they also said that sleeping with 4000 women was on their bucket list. Check that one off.

After dinner we headed to the mail tent and gift tent. We then just hung out, put our feet up, read our mail to each other that we wrote to each other. And then it was lights out at 9:00. I couldn't wait to go to bed... But going to bed only meant waking up at 5:30 ish to start a whole new day!!! Unitl tomorrow!!!