Tag: ms150

Home on La Grange. 

Since day 1 of the MS-150 was called off, we had a leisurely morning in Houston.  Day 2 will start in La Grange at the courthouse, and our riders’ team arranged a place for them to overnight at a beautiful ranch outside of town.  

We spent the afternoon exploring the historic downtown. 

La Grange is the county seat of Fayette County.   Texas has some of the grandest old county courthouses.   The one in La Grange is a good example.  

 

After lunch at Orsak’s Cafe and bluebell ice cream at Latte on the Square we headed to the ranch to drop off riders and bikes.   What an amazing spread.  

 

I spied a purple martin house by the pond.   

 

Yeah, I’m a sherpa. 

Three of my girlfriends have ridden in the MS-150 for nearly each of the last 15 years.   It’s a 2-day Houston-to-Austin cycling event and fundraiser to help find a cure for multiple sclerosis.  And when they do ride, I go with them as their sherpa.  My duties consist of helping schlep things as needed, keeping the wine flowing Friday night, delivering them to the starting line Saturday morning, and making sure their vehicle gets back to Austin.   It’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it. 

This is the first time I snagged one of the bandanas for myself.  🙂  Please consider donating to help fund a cure. 

This year’s ride is impacted by the recent rains.   Notifications went out this afternoon that Day 1’s ride was cancelled, but we’re in Houston tonight and will do what it takes to get our riders on their way.  

Apr 16, 2011

Ready to roll.

This is the weekend of the MS-150 ride from Houston to Austin.  Each year up to 13,000 cyclists participate in this 2-day bike ride  / fundraiser for multiple sclerosis.   For 10 years, several friends of mine have done the ride.

I don’t ride, but I am proud to be a sherpa.  🙂  In the last few years, Irene has joined us and we are co-sherpa’s for friends Lori and Laura, and until the last 2 years Doray, too.

We have an annual ritual:  we take off the afternoon the Friday before the ride, then everyone piles into one car with the bikes.  We drive from Austin to Houston.   Check into the hotel.  Stop by the St. David’s team hospitality suite.  Enjoy a lovely beverage.  Go to dinner at Lomonte’s (delicious!).   Then back to the hotel.

Up the next morning.  Get the bikes and riders ready.  Schlep the riders’ overnight gear to the trailer.  Take the riders to their start and bid them adieu.

Then I drive back to Austin and am home Saturday morning before 10 AM.

The bike riders, however, get home Sunday evening.

I think I have the better deal.   🙂

Either way its a fun thing to do with friends…and it’s for a good cause.