Gas Pains
Tom grew up in Milwaukee, bartended in Wauwatosa in the '70s and moved here in 1984.
Commentary, observations and musings about the outdoors, life in general and maybe Tosa politics and personalities will be the order of the day. He savors a lively debate as much as terrific cooking.
Trench Foot, Monkey Butt, and Road Rash - All for a Good Cause
Last weekend I set out on an annual summer pilgrimage - my 16th consecutive one - riding the Scenic Shore 150 on behalf of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Wisconsin. This is a two-day bike trek from Mequon to Sturgeon Bay that raises funds for blood related cancer research and patient services.
940 riders this year - a far cry from barely a hundred riders at the first event 15 years ago. With a fund-raising goal of $550,000 - there is $525,000 already in the bank and more checks rolling-in daily. These funds stay in Wisconsin.
Saturday dawned with rain. Followed by more rain. I had to turn-on my strobe so traffic could see me in the fog. My buddies and I kept thinking that with the equivalent of a cup of water in each shoe we stood a reasonable chance of getting trench foot.
Spend a day in wet bike shorts and you might contract a bad case of monkey butt.
Speaking of rashes - rain has a tendency to work all of the sharp debris out of the tarmac leading to a rash of flat tires, low visibility, diminished brake performance and road rash from riders dumping their bikes.
Anyway - I'm tooling down the road and some guy passes me. He's wearing a Cranky Al's jersey.
I ask - Hey, are you from Tosa?
He turns to me and says - Yeah.
I think - I know this guy from somewhere.
I say - Hey, you're Krol. Jim Krol, the Alderman.
Small world.
Alderman Krol is one tough hombre. He rode an additional 25 miles earning bragging rights for riding 100 miles the first day followed by 75 more the second.
Conditions were drier by the time we reached Sheboygan.
Big party at the overnight camp at UW Manitowoc. A couple of live bands, pasta dinner and Sprecher beer. (Free beer)
And the usual silliness.
Sunday morning it was back on the road with a glorious July day busting-up the fog.
A finish at Potawatomi State Park with a BBQ and corn roast cookout, live music, more Sprecher beer and a massage.
The beer was free - not the massage.
More coverage courtesy of Fox 11 News.
A big thanks to the 125 volunteers who supported the ride. Managing the logistics of this event is mind-boggling.
If any of you want to join in the fun next year as a rider or volunteer just see me - Captain - Team Swill.
Tom
Oh - by the way - no flats, crash or rash (for me anyway).
0 COMMENTS