day six

While it started out sunny in the morning, by mid-afternoon, the rain was upon us once again. I don’t remember much about Day 6, except that we rode through French countryside filled with stone houses, and that while answering nature’s call, Sha got a most unfortunate rash from stinging nettles. I think that by that time, the miles and the weather and the difficulty of the ride were beginning to take their toll.

I think I stopped less and took fewer pictures. I just wanted to get to camp. By this point in the ride, many riders had given up. Between the hours on the bike, the cold, and the wet it was more than some were prepared to take. I heard that as many as 100 had asked that their bikes be “sagged” all the way to Paris and that they would meet us there. Then they got on a train and headed for Paris to get out of the rain and sleep in hotels. It made those of us still riding feel sad, and a bit abandoned. Throughout the ride, we all relied on each other for physical and emotional support, keeping each other’s spirits up during the tough times. There was some resentment and indignation towards those who left, but we knew that they had to do what was right for them, and those of us who were left became closer for it.

There had been a Pallotta photographer along with us taking pictures. That night he set up all the shots he had taken under a big tent. He had a few good shots of Sha, but we couldn’t find any of me. It’s funny, the only picture I have of me actually riding is one that he took of me on the road during the 2001 Northeast AIDSRide. It’s a great shot. I’ll have to scan it in one day.