The downtown Seattle street lies empty; nothing between me and the towering Space Needle that marks the end of the latest peg of my journey to make a difference.
It wasn't an easy 45-miles to complete. Despite having a nickname like the "the Emerald City" because of the lush evergreen trees in the surrounding area, I saw more hills of the concrete kind than I expected. Pushing my way up those streets and taking the steep declines sparked visions of San Francisco. And being on an unfamiliar bike certainly didn't help. But then, this is a "Challenge." If it wasn't difficult, what would be the point? And there was plenty of wonderful scenery along the way as we cruised by the waterfronts, the grey and cloudy skies of the early morning keeping the riders bristling in the crisp air.
I rode with cancer survivors, their family and friends and people carrying the memory of their loved ones with each turn of the wheel. We talked at rest stops and on the streets as we pedaled the course, each enthusiastically sharing their reasons for riding. It was easy to be touched by their stories.
So I finished the Seattle LiveStrong ride, bringing me two steps closer to crossing off one more item: Completing all four LiveStrong Challenges. Philadelphia and Austin will have to wait until 2010, but for now, I can bask in the enjoyment of a truly memorable trip.
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