We left with a foggy start at O'dark thirty - and I don't just mean foggy in that it was so early. It was a beautiful morning. We walked through downtown Redmond and ended up on the Sammamish River trail. It's a nice trail that winds it way behind all the business parks in Redmond on one side and the slough on the other. Trees throughout gave us shade - though it was a bit chilly because of the time of the morning. But the air had that crisp fall feeling and smell to it. God I love that smell.
Eventually we took off the trail and headed West toward Totem Lake (Kirkland). At the top of a hill - which I thought would be a monster and it proved to be nothing at all - was our first cheer station of the morning. Our fam would be at the top cheering us on.
A quick note about the cheer stations. While all along the route you were likely to be cheered or someone say thank you, the cheer stations were - well - AWESOME. Once you can hear the crowd, and see them cheering (and we were usualy in the head of the pack so our cheer stations were small by comparison to what I heard they were like later in the day) you're filled almost immediately with a sense of pride. I've been proud of myself many times in my life for accomplishments I've achieved, but this was different. This was knowing that these people were there helping me change the world. Their lives - most likely - was touched by breast cancer and they were someone's rock! They were amazing. They said thank you to us, but really, it meant the world to us that they were there.
*sniff sniff
Anyhow, so at the top of this hill stood the fam.
I know that's a bad video, but it kinda gives you an idea.
So remember in yesterday's Day 1 blog I mentioned cramp issues. And remember WAY-BACK-WHEN when I had blistering issues on the bottom of my feet? Yah well that came back - only this time I got a diagnosis with it. Apparently I bruised the ball of my left foot - AND THEN - a blister formed. Oh goody. So by the time we hit this cheer station I was in all shades of pain. I wanted to save myself to walk as much on Sunday as I could. So I hopped in a sweep van.
A little something about the Sweeps. They had 8 sweeps roaming the route picking up the walking wounded. Each sweep had a theme of some sorts. This year it was a bit disappointing as only three of the sweep vans are going to be memorable to me at all. ONE such van was tricked out in hippie-ness. They were amazing people. Driving the route yelling and screaming and asking walkers if they were okay. And so as luck would have it, this was the sweep that swept me.
They took me to the next pit stop where I met Blueberry and BigBro. The rest did me good. The tootsies were hurting more and more as the day progressed. Every step was like daggers being shoved up my leg. Good times. It didn't take BigBro and Blue too long to hit that pit stop, so we were off to our next stop which was lunch.
Lunch was a long the beautiful Kirkland waterfront. HikerGirl and her Beau met us there to chill and give support. We quite literally walked right past her house. I was tempted to take a slight detour and use a real bathroom instead of a honey bucket.
After lunch we headed through the Juanita neighborhood of Kirkland. This area was where we handed out "we'll be in your neighborhood" cards a few weeks back. Naturally we thought there were more people lining those streets than any other. We did a good job. This particular neighborhood is lined with multimillion dollar houses. In fact, if all my readers and I got together - we'd still not be able to afford a house in this area. The pit stop at the end of this trail I was done. My feet were yelling at me. But not before we took photos.
So remember in yesterday's Day 1 blog I mentioned cramp issues. And remember WAY-BACK-WHEN when I had blistering issues on the bottom of my feet? Yah well that came back - only this time I got a diagnosis with it. Apparently I bruised the ball of my left foot - AND THEN - a blister formed. Oh goody. So by the time we hit this cheer station I was in all shades of pain. I wanted to save myself to walk as much on Sunday as I could. So I hopped in a sweep van.
A little something about the Sweeps. They had 8 sweeps roaming the route picking up the walking wounded. Each sweep had a theme of some sorts. This year it was a bit disappointing as only three of the sweep vans are going to be memorable to me at all. ONE such van was tricked out in hippie-ness. They were amazing people. Driving the route yelling and screaming and asking walkers if they were okay. And so as luck would have it, this was the sweep that swept me.
They took me to the next pit stop where I met Blueberry and BigBro. The rest did me good. The tootsies were hurting more and more as the day progressed. Every step was like daggers being shoved up my leg. Good times. It didn't take BigBro and Blue too long to hit that pit stop, so we were off to our next stop which was lunch.
Lunch was a long the beautiful Kirkland waterfront. HikerGirl and her Beau met us there to chill and give support. We quite literally walked right past her house. I was tempted to take a slight detour and use a real bathroom instead of a honey bucket.
After lunch we headed through the Juanita neighborhood of Kirkland. This area was where we handed out "we'll be in your neighborhood" cards a few weeks back. Naturally we thought there were more people lining those streets than any other. We did a good job. This particular neighborhood is lined with multimillion dollar houses. In fact, if all my readers and I got together - we'd still not be able to afford a house in this area. The pit stop at the end of this trail I was done. My feet were yelling at me. But not before we took photos.
The MomUnit and our Walker Stalkers picked me up and we drove to the next cheering station. Apparently before this cheering station was a MegaMonster hill, that I am SOOO glad I missed. Blueberry and Ric popped to the top of the hill and I think very glad to see the top. If both of them had issues with it, then I know I would have.
The MomUnit and stalkers dropped me at camp. I went directly to the Medical tent. Did not pass go. Did not collect two hundred dollars. Instead sat swatting at a bee that wouldn't leave me bee (hahahha get it?) Finally the doc stopped by - we discussed my issue and he politely told me there wasn't anything he could do. That the bone was likely bruised and only time and elevation could heal that. He did want to, however, check me for how painful it was. He went to touch my foot and I flinched. He was worried that it was THAT painful that I'd not let him touch it. But I quickly informed him that no, I was just THAT ticklish. So I rated my pain out of 1-10 as a 99 (joking...I was joking). He said to elevate it and if it was better in the morning he'd amputate. Ahhh a joker! Nice.
I sat and waited for the team to come in, then went over and met them. We stuck around camp for a bit, ate and headed home. We knew the next day would be a long, but fun day.
A bit about Camp
Camp was interesting. 3200 or so people stuffed into an area that really becomes like a little, mobile city. By camp, I really mean camp. Part of the 3Day experience is camping out in these little (key word little) pink tents. This photo only shows like one quarter of the tents.
The MomUnit and stalkers dropped me at camp. I went directly to the Medical tent. Did not pass go. Did not collect two hundred dollars. Instead sat swatting at a bee that wouldn't leave me bee (hahahha get it?) Finally the doc stopped by - we discussed my issue and he politely told me there wasn't anything he could do. That the bone was likely bruised and only time and elevation could heal that. He did want to, however, check me for how painful it was. He went to touch my foot and I flinched. He was worried that it was THAT painful that I'd not let him touch it. But I quickly informed him that no, I was just THAT ticklish. So I rated my pain out of 1-10 as a 99 (joking...I was joking). He said to elevate it and if it was better in the morning he'd amputate. Ahhh a joker! Nice.
I sat and waited for the team to come in, then went over and met them. We stuck around camp for a bit, ate and headed home. We knew the next day would be a long, but fun day.
A bit about Camp
Camp was interesting. 3200 or so people stuffed into an area that really becomes like a little, mobile city. By camp, I really mean camp. Part of the 3Day experience is camping out in these little (key word little) pink tents. This photo only shows like one quarter of the tents.
Camp also had other amenities. Mobile showers for example. Four huge semi trucks that had 6 showers in each. Small, but they did the trick. There was a 3 Day store, a foot massage tent, a post office, a cafe (sponsored by Pepperidge Farm - Yum), a food line and of course honey buckets.
For those of you who sent me cards and letters to camp - you are awesome. While I cried a bit, it was well worth it to feel the love from so many. Here are just a couple of photos of me with cards from Freak Magnet and my Sacrament ESP buddy.
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