Words by Tracy Fawns
Another chat with Cat this morning! I am getting so lucky! As luck would have it, while talking to her crew this morning, Cat stopped briefly for some adjustments and I got to talk with her. She sounded a bit sleepier and not as perky today. She said, "Trace, I'm really tired". I just did the best I could to say the right things. I told her that problems and emotions will wax and wane throughout the remaining days of RAAM. Every bad moment WILL go away and she will soon forget those moments as they fade away by different hours of RAAM.
She was having some problems with sleepiness and just overall tiredness this morning. As I had the crew on the phone, they were getting some coffee ready to put in one of her water bottles. It's always hard work for the crew... the en route coffee perked Cat up but they were not able to find any non-dairy creamer or non-fat milk in the vans, so it had to be black. It's hard to always have the necessary items to please your rider, but you make the best of everything and just hope that it will do.
In addition to an RV break-down, one of the 2 vans has a bad tire. They need to get to a tire shop and get a patch. For now, they are limping along and putting air in it as needed. Prayers are also needed for this van. The RV was left behind with 2 of the crew members. They are dead in the water, so to speak. Until they have a replacement RV or van, they will remain stuck between TS #28 and 29. The crew is getting worried because, of course, that is where everybody sleeps. They can find hotel rooms, but this is an additional expense and difficult for the crew. The crew is also worried because there are so many supplies in the RV that they do not have access to right now and if they are dealt with having to get a rental van instead of an RV, room will be tight.
Otherwise, things are going great. One of the teams rode by Cat this morning and one of the riders, done with his exchange, rode with Cat for awhile and chatted with her. As a crew, you never know what words are exchanged, this is always between the two riders. Those moments are always heart-felt.... words between two cyclists that really know what the other is going through. Words that stick with you and that comfort you. I can only imagine the comfort and happiness that Cat felt by having another cyclist by her side for a bit of time this morning.
Cat had her usual 3-hour sleep break last night and they put her in the van for about 10 minutes this morning to help with her battle of sleep deprivation.
She has an amazing crew... one that works like clockwork. One person's job is to massage her as she falls asleep, the other's job is to get her undressed and get new clothes ready, the other takes care of her saddle sores, while yet another ices her knee or takes care of food.... this is the routine each night as she goes down. A well-greased machine, that crew of hers. Cheers go out to her crew.... without them, Cat could not do RAAM so successfully!
I shared the stats with the crew. As they are having better cell service, they are more aware of the standings from phone calls with other people. It is really comforting for a crew to know exactly where they stand and not be left to just wonder.
1400 more miles to go!! More than 1/2 way done and she's well on her way to a stellar RAAM finish!
-Tracy Fawns
