The First Three Days… Awesome to Say the Least
Lunch and rest in Garberville set me up for smooth sailing into Leggett just in time for dinner at The Peg House with my family. Local grassed beef burgers and wild line caught salmon hit the spot! Never Don’t Stop.
Two big climbs over Hwy 1 to the coast were killer, but felt great. I was in a zone. I met the family for a picnic between climbs as they happened to catch up with me right in front of a great picnic area. The wind has picked up here on the coast, but it is mostly at my back.
Camped last night at the sand dunes of MacKerricher State Park as planned, and today head for Point Arena.
The first two days we were out of cell range so had no network coverage, but we intend to post more frequently when we are able.
Thinking today of a few awesome sponsors…..Adventure’s Edge, GoPro, and Alchemy Construction. The trip so far has been better than could have been imagined thanks to these generous donors. Also, my cousin Margaret who works at Apple, made it possible for us to have an iPad which enabled us to put this video together of our first three days. Enjoy!
Before the ride started I had already raised $536 for the Center for Integrative Health and Wellness, and I am uncertain about the Breast Health Project, but now that I am in cell range I will see what we have raised so far and keep you all informed.
Music by the beautiful Katie Herzig (currently without permission, but if you like her music buy some and maybe she won’t be mad at me)
Yeah Nicole! What an awesome journey. Wind at your back all the way!
Wahooo!!! Love, Mom
WOW… I am in tears. So sweet, and beautiful. You all are in my heart, and I am feeling so inspired by you. Glad to hear that you are in the zone, and feeling great.
love- Jules
Hadn’t seen the video when I wrote the above—OK, so now the two of you have a new career in filming. That is a BEAUTIFUL clip with PERFECT music. And I loved seeing the kids and HONU—thought he’d be too big for the Westphalia and everything you need, but I should have known better
)!! Love you all immensely, mom/Gita
Oh my god, what a perfect video. tears of joy.
If nothing else, this video really shows how little real estate highway bikers have. Share the road, cars! Good luck, Nicole.
Sigh. That was a good cry! Okay, that video was wonderful and I think I speak for many of us when I say we were hoping for an update today! You look so gorgeous and vibrant Nicole. And Garrett and the kids cheering you on when you ride in to town? So precious. And you even brought Honu. I am loving this family.
So very lovely…
Thank you for bringing us all along with you on this special ‘family vacation’. A very emotive journey to be sure. The energy, love and deep gratitude you have for all the incredible resources surrounding you (from the big wild naturescapes to that sweet cheerleadin’ family in the night-night bus) shines through brilliantly. may you always know such abundance and joys! xo -d
Thank you for sharing your journey:)
What an amazing trip, thank you for sharing the incredible experience and hopes for continued success(and winds at your back) in the last few days of your ride! Go Nicole!!!
Amazing Nicole! Thank you so much for sharing your awesome journey with us! I love the video and what an incredible family! Hugs!!!
how incredibly sweet life is. thanks for reminding us all of that.
Nicole,
Thank you for the video and the commentary. You have so much support out here, more than you know. We’re all riding along with you.
Love and Hugs,
Amazing video – seriously I can’t believe you just threw that together on the road! Love seeing all the smiling faces. Thinking of you 4 every day with love and hope.
Nicole, This was such gift from you and Garrett to all of us who are following along with you on your ride, virtually. Thank you! Nicole, you look beautiful, strong, full of good energy, peace and love. Garrett, you look handsome as captain of the Westphalia ship, confident and ever-supportive, with those cute mates Taylor, Asher and Honu. The movie made us cry – this is a very special trip, for sure. We love you all, very much.
Mary and Sherif/Mom and Dad
Nicole! My mom works at Marin Specialty Care and she forwarded their press release and your blog to me. I am so glad I took a look! I just wanted to let you know what you are doing is amazing and the video is so good. You are in my prayers. Thank you for sharing yourself with us!
Ohhh, I LOVE MacKerricher. My wife and I stopped there on our honeymoon, shortly after my last cancer surgery.
Nicole, you continue to be in my thoughts….seeing this video made me cry as well….it shows all the beauty of you, your family, and the beloved Northern California byways… Thank you so much for doing this. You are such an inspiration….stay strong, ride safe, and sending lots of love and light!
My 10 month old danced and I cried while I watched. Hope you’re drinking in the beautiful sunshine, mama.
so very sweet!
I have only ever seen you all around town – never actually got to meet you,… but wanted you to know how touching and empowering your journey is for so many people! Much love to you all as you ride through life with such grace and power!
That was beautiful. I’m in tears. Love you all!
Beautiful woman, beautiful family, beautiful ride, beautiful scenery! Sending so much love.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Beautiful, beautiful family! Keep pedaling Nicole. xoxo
Nicole and family, our thoughts are with you on your sojourn to health. The mix of solitude, beauty and family in this poignant video made us all appreciate what we have and wish we were there with you. Please, when the pedals grow hard to turn, think of all of us behind you and push on.
So beautiful, and so inspiring. Blessings to you, Nicole, and Garrett and the kids.
Beautiful Video Nicole. Thank you so much for sharing
Feeling my heart swell with love and good thoughts for you Nicole , Garrett and sweet children……and honu too….thank you ♥
<3
Way to go Nicole!!!! I can’t wait to see you relaxing on my swing, feet in a big old pot of therapeutic warm water and watch your family in all their sweet ways.
I just have to say to anyone who might be reading this….there is a comprehensive, wonderful story to read only to be found (I believe) by hitting the donate button to the right. It is the press release put out by the center in Greeenbrae…it is worthy of a read (even if you are not in a place to donate) BUT I was thinking….even if a bunch of folks threw in $10 it sure would all add up with all of us supporters out there!!!
Hey, by the way is there anyone out there who is not a little fitter than they were, or a little more grateful for ever moment than before….has not everyone of us had at least one tender moment when they noticed something they may not have noticed before being inspired by Nicole’s story and emboldened attitude??? Just thought I’d put the idea out there….because I have a feeling her ripples are impacting the world in great, sometimes subtle ways!
Here she is, that wonderful inspiring woman I met almost 15 yrs ago and luckily never changed – go Nicole what a great trip! Greetings from Hamburg!
Your video was shared on Facebook, witch led me here. Wow… What you are doing is so inspiring. So much of the community is behind your pedals. Go Nicole! XO Taylor and Asher look so cute in their side by side car seats. I’m sending healing thoughts your way. Please give me a call if you need any services at the salon. Clairissa
What a beautiful journey and a beautiful family! Mom power! Twin power! You are awesome!
Nicole, you are an inspiration! I live in Greenbrae and am a recent graduate (breast cancer) of the Marin Cancer Institute. I know your wonderful team of doctors – you are in good hands! Yes, Leah Kelley is awesome. And the nurses in the chemo center are, hands down, the best! The Center for Integrative Health & Wellness has also helped me – thank you for making them more visible. I am following your blogs, rooting for you and your family, and plan to be there to welcome you on Monday if I can get anywhere close! I have great faith in your treatment and recovery. Much love…
I had a good cry too and all the comments above say it all. I am sending this on for some media attention and this must be picked up.!! post somewhere how people or media can reach you or your husband???
Barbara, I asked Nicole if I could contact the media and she have her blessing. I’ve just been simply calling and emailing the tv stations and papers along her route. She has great local press following her journey. Not sure what’s been done further south. I wish we could have arranged a welcome wagon for her in every town!
OK I emailed my good friend Joss of the Rob and Joss show on the Froggy Radio 92.9 which would be perfect for her and can follow the last few days. Joss has been following my cancer journey and we did a breast cancer event with the ACS and is yearly the Hair Harvest in October. she is a total breast cancer supporter as her mom is a bc survivor too. I sent her an emergency email which she will get first thing in the morning. I am posting a comment on Healdsburg Patch but not sure why the guy at Marin Patch isn’t doing a daily post but you may need to do this on their site to drum up reader enthusiasm. Focus on the video as it is amazing and make sure when post that what mile number out of total she is at and what towns she will be traveling thru on what days/time line and route to post so people can come out. our county is big on following bike racers with just the recent TOC with Levi Leipheimer last week – folks love to get out on the street and cheer her on than get local Press Democrat to come out to watch and take pictures. need crowds and get the postings and shares going more. make the video into a YouTube video to easily share too. I do community support action work and social media support which I can do as I recover from my side effects from treatment. my chemotherapy treatment didn’t go well as have type 1 diabetes on board even though healthy compromised my system which was not told about by oncologists at Kaiser. Thank God she is going where she is to get the best care and quickly zap the cancer. Good luck and feel free to call me anytime. 707.479.9264. Are you traveling thru Healdsburg today or already done? could make some calls quickly with the Healdsburg Bar and Grill who are friends that are owners and for lodging could call the Camelia Inn across street and her mom died from breast cancer – sundays/mondays are slower and might donate rooms
Nicole,
I told you story to my students yesterday. They are impressed, amazed, curious and especially wanted to share a little Sunshine with you. I put it on our school’s page until I can figure out how else to share it. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150826704588201&saved
HUMBOLDT COUNTY BREAST HEALTH PROJECT and My Experience
As Nicole’s mom and a five year breast cancer survivor, I just want to add my two cents about the Humboldt County Breast Health Project and how important to Humboldt County women it is.
Five years ago in January 2007, Nicole, Taylor (5 months old) and I went there immediately after getting my diagnosis in Eureka. Neither one of us knew anything about breast cancer and without the HCBP it would have been just waiting for the appointment with my surgeon and internet research. Think how traumatizing that would be.
They are so welcoming in their turn-of-the-century house in downtown Arcata, with cosy chairs and sweet people who have been down the same road. If I’m not wrong, everyone who works (or volunteers) there has been through their own cancer journey. This is instrumental in why the Project works so well.
They call it consultation planning and the first thing they did was help with getting my thought and questions together for that first appointment using a questionnaire and though dialogue. Also, I was reactively already talking about just getting both breast removed and I wasa assured that there were many more things to be resolved before thinking that far ahead. Right from the beginning there is a calming influence that is priceless.
Of course, I went to a Thursday night support group (Sweet Nicole went to at least one of those also-they encourage family member involvement) sometimes throughout my treatment. You can imagine how good it feels to be with others in the same boat. Some of the women who come to the meetings have been survivors for many, many years. I hear now there’s a support group for younger women. That’s good—-different concerns and challenges. And now they even have a Fortuna support group, an advanced disease group (stage IV) and a gynecological cancer support group.
The group’s lending library is a great resource as well as wigs, hats, scarves and more. HCBP has women who volunteer to drive women to appointments or the grocery store, etc. if they need transportation. A bag of goodies arrives at the hospital if you have surgery: with a knit cap, lozenges, hints for recovery and more.
As I went through the deepest part of the chemo and radiation treatment and had frustrations over various things, I had a lifeline through the HCBP that gave me advice and solutions. They lighten the load
I should mention that breast cancer is not the only cancer that they help with. I wish I could remember everything—the myriad of services and I know I’m forgetting aspects, but I just wanted to give a big SHOUT OUT—–Hurray for the Humboldt County Breast Health Project, all the workers and volunteers and all that they are doing for everyone faced with hearing that unwanted diagnosis.
Please consider donations to them for they are very deserving!!
Sending you so much love and warm wishes Nicole! Hope you’re having a beautiful ride down to Marin. Loved the video!
All the best, Tenaya (Melinda’s friend)
I am in awe of your strength, confidence, and grace.
Thinking of you often,
jen
TEARS-LOVE-INSPIRATION-THANKS
Nicole – There may be smart cancers out there. I do not know. But you have very stupid cancer. It does not stand a chance against you and Garrett.
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