6 Day Southeastern CT Tour 2
Day 7, Friday, August 23, 2014
41 miles, 13.2 mph, 3h 6m 67s
Norwich, Franklin, Sprague, Lisbon, Griswold, Volunton, Preston

Today was another perfect cycling day. My hope prior to my 6 day RFA cycling event was for NO RAIN for the entire week and it came true. Absolutely great weather all week! It was a pleasure to have Dale Hoxie and Lou Ciardullo join me again for my final ride. It was especially great that my son Jon also rode with me today. By the way, Jon is my website manager. I write the blogs and take the photos. I then email it to Jon and he posts it on the site.

There was a very challenging hill for me, just east of Baltic. I had to stop half way up for a one minute break and then continue to the top. Dale, Lou and Jon went straight up - easy for them. They are much stronger riders than I am.

The route from Baltic to Jewett City had a lot of hills. Most of the route today from the Alzheimer's office in the Norwich Industrial Park out to Voluntown was on RT 138, and back on RT 165. I couldn't resist taking pics of the Baptist Church back to back sign (see photos below). Actually, I missed it on the ride and drove back in the car Sunday. I'm sure that the signs have caused interesting conversations with people driving by and by those that read this RFA blog.

Close to the end of the ride we made a stop in the Norwich Harbor for a short break. There is a very nice waterfront park. I recommend that if anyone reading this blog hasn't stopped by and hung out for a while, they should.

We arrived at the Norwich Alzheimer's office and were met by a happy cheering crowd of supporters. There was a large tent and a catered buffet luncheon going on from noon to 3 PM. This event was a celebration of the 16 year effort Donna and I have had with the CT Alzheimer's Association.

It was so great to see and share this with so many happy supportive people. The President of the Connecticut Alzheimer's Association, Eleonora Tornatore-Mikesh, made some opening remarks and presented us with appreciation gifts. Donna was given a beautiful bouquet of flowers and I was presented with a new bike. I was shocked! [Editor note: His bike was very, very old and had endured thousands of miles. The bike was actually rusting out and in danger of breaking. So this bike was a much needed and deserved "thank you" from the Association in partnership with Mystic Cycle Shop.]

I then was given a chance to speak and I had a hard time starting. I spoke about the history of RFA, and told some special stories that occurred in the 16 years of my effort - The Buffalo Story, The Vivian Story (the purple bear on my bike), the 10 mile Climb up to Monarch Pass (11,312 ft elevation) in Colorado and the Dear Abby Story. We both spoke about the "transition" of my riding involvement with RFA to a mentoring involvement with potential cyclists in CT to do something similar to what I have been doing for 16 years. We all hope that the legacy and the spirit of RFA will live on.

The photos below are from a collection of sources. Seven photos were taken during the ride today. In addition, Rose Vigdal, Central Region Development Associate of the CT Alzheimer's Association, took another 61 at the Celebration Luncheon. My stepson Ed also took several photos. And I received other photos from lots of other people as well. All their pics are great! They capture happy, sensitive sharing people - having a good time. This was a very emotional and uplifting gathering for me and I will treasure it forever.

(Click on the images below for a larger view of each photo.)

Dale, Lou, Jon, me
	Tough hill ahead
Pachaug Pond	Construction is a pain
Me, Jon, Dale, Lou	Alzheimer's information
Vintage Memory Walk T-shirts	Items at each place setting
Rick owner Mystic Cycle Centre	Rick and Donna
Rick, Donna, Stacy	Ladies chat
Rider - Anthony Vellucci	Kristine Johnson & Mike Maranachio
Janet, Ed & Rob Bareiss with Mom (Donna)	Granddaughter, Olivia Clark
Nancy and Tom Downie	Nancy, Tom, Donna
Colleen and Charlie Miller (both former students)	Stacy & Donna
Stu Miller	Stu Miller
Stacy Chavis & Rose Vigdal	Jonathan & John arriving
The happy arrival	Jon, Lou & John
John & Jon - Kristine cheering	Arriving
Colleen & Charlie	Colleen & John
Father & son	John
John & Vivian	Stu, John & Al Harary
Donna	Donna, John & Jon
Louis Ciardullo (rider) & Donna	Bikes
Carolyn & Donna	Guests
Kristine doing Intro.	Eleonora, Rick & Christy with a bike?
Presenting the bike to John	Presenting the bike to John
Presenting the bike to John	Christy, Donna & John
Flowers for Donna	John & his new bike
John telling stories	John telling stories
John telling stories	Vivian
Vivian	More stories
More stories	More stories
Al Harary - our first Alz. POC in 1999	Tom & Nancy Downie
Louis Ciardullo - rider	Jonathan
Eleonora, John & Donna	Kristine, Eleonora, John, Donna & Mike
John’s family front: Calvin, Alyssa, Donna, John.. Back: Rob, Janet Ed, Ethan, Kristen, Olivia, Jon	Eleonora & Al
The three sons & Donna	This bike is LIGHT!
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