The Walk to Defeat ALS in Orlando was a huge success. I, however, didn’t get to enjoy much of it with all the interviews and preparations that still had to be made to kick off the Tour. I didn’t even get my team photo taken or get an official 2008 Walk to Defeat T-shirt. Oh well there is always next year.
At 12:00 we assembled the masses to have a send off. Before I left I was presented wit the “ALS Across America Award” which is given to somebody who embodies the spirit of ALS Awareness. I don’t see where I did that, nor am I doing this for recognition for myself, but in front of all the press and onlookers I didn’t figure I could refuse it. It was an honor to be selected out of the whole nation to receive this award. After my father-in-law said a blessing four of us (Denny N, Rhonda R, Cedric C and I)and our entourages left Blue Jacket Park on my way to Washington DC.
So we are driving along a four lane road… and we got pulled over for going too slow (I usually get pulled over for going too fast). They wanted us to ride on a sidewalk and I officially nominate Winter Park Fl as having the least wheelchair friendly sidewalks…I even got stuck! Everybody dropped off after about five miles and I was on my own. The moron cop that pulled us over offered some less traveled roads to use…all that did was get me lost! DONUT MUNCHERS!
I now understand why Permobil wouldn’t give up some wheelchairs for the Tour…I have had nothing but problems with 2 of the chairs thus far. I thought Rhonda was just a bad driver when she kept weaving all over the place, but after I drove the chair, I found out it wasn’t her. The other chair’s battery lasts about 5 miles…I wasn’t prepared for the sudden stop when it ran out of juice.
We got to the hotel about 10pm and I was asleep before my head hit the pillow…and sunburned from head (what part of it my Red Sox cap doesn’t cover) to the top of my foot (my shoes were on, so it wasn’t to my toes).
Till tomorrow,
Ken
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