Maple - Erin - Hockley 200K Ride Reports: June 30, 2002

Ride Organizer's Report
by Marilyn Freeman

First of all, a great big thank you to Tony Kaduck and Paul Dicks for aiding us when Dan collapsed from heat exhaustion at Jane and King Rd. Paul for using his professional lingo to get the ambulance to us and Tony for everything, including coming back and picking me and the tandem up after the ambulance took off with Dan, and "for just being there".

I briefly considered walking the tandem back to Maple (it's too big for me to ride the front)but quickly gave up on that idea. Tony's sprint down Jane and efficiency on coming back to get me would have precluded me getting all the way back anyway.

Other than the mishap and the disgusting conditions, the route was beautiful, especially the part through the Forks of the Credit and, of course, the Hockley Valley descent - ever so good on a tandem.

There is a small correction to be made on the route sheet: After we come north on CR 136 (which is dirt) we are directed west with a left turn onto the Caledon/E. Garafraxa Rd toward C Line. It should read: go east (R.) to C Line. (Always carry a map and trust your instincts.)

Dan is still recovering from his ordeal. He's out of energy and sitting around and sipping liquids. He didn't get IV at the hospital. We determined that he hadn't lost enough weight (4 kilos weren't enough!)and after snoozing on a bed in the cool emergency dept. of York Central in Richmond Hill, vital signs being normal and no more vomiting, we checked him out and took him home. I think he's a little disappointed in not finishing the ride. Later in the evening he said, "You know, if I had rested under that tree maybe another 30 min. I could've pushed back to Maple." Yeah.

Again, my thanks to all and my congratulations to Bill Mercer. I figure I missed you by about 5 minutes as I was sitting and waiting under the tree.

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