I did it.
And I am elated. The mass of us (almost 100 riders) left the start line at 8:30am in beautiful sunshine but the air was still cool. The medics all knew about me – I went and introduced myself right away when I got to the start area. The two lead medics checked in on me all weekend. Hugs and praise from one of them right at the start when I told her I had emergency snacks and my glucometer with me on my bike. Made me feel so proud of myself. It also made me feel better about my choice to ride with a pannier bag when most other riders had nothing. (One rider even questioned my extra bag at the end of the day, letting me know that bags can be sent on ahead. I thanked her (I think) and said, ‘I know. This is for supplies I needed.’).
Day 1
was gorgeous- hill climbs and mountain views and even a ‘hello’ from a black bear that popped up out of the ditch and stood in the road about 30 feet ahead of me. He stopped my coasting momentum down the hill past Slocan but it was lovely to have a moment with him/her. Just the two of us, standing on the road staring at each other, before he wandered across the road and down into the ditch on the other side. And then another 10 minutes further and I catch sight of another one disappearing into the bushes.
Our lunch break was in Winlaw. I had been stopping at every rest stop and eating 1-2 servings of carbs, sometimes checking BG, sometimes not. At Lemon Creek I was 6.8 and I remember thinking ‘ that’s not going to get me to lunch (about 14km further). 
I remember I had 30g granola bar at that point and some sport drink. (I always had one water bottle full of one of those sports’ drinks. I picked up the powdered mix and went through 4 bottles of it plus snacks on day 1 and 5 plus snacks on day 2). And I remember the nurse was there too and she asked me what my BG was, I told her and assured her I was eating.
When I got to lunch my BG was at 7.7 and I shoveled food in. Just took a half unit. My sister is an EMT in Winlaw and they had set up an event table at our lunch rest stop so I ended up sitting with them while I ate. When the other lead paramedic pulled up he saw me there (sitting with the ambulance crew) and looked concerned. I called over “I’m ok, I’m visiting my sister and her team,” and he comes over to talk to her (our communities are small and emergency crews often know each other) and says “Your sister is the diabetic?” Hahaha!
Probably not the best place to sit because my doctor (he was on the ride too) comes over, looking worried. I assure him too, I’m just visiting my sister and she pops out from the ambulance to give him a hug. “I just wanted to make sure this one is ok.” “Yep, she’s good.” So much love and support during this ride!!
The rest stop before 49 Creek hill was when I really started to panic about that one – it’s steep and long. My doc was coming up to it at the same time and I told him my fear. He said “It’s all psychological, just don’t look up.” And we all dump water on our heads (because it’s somewhere around 30 degrees Celsius) and start up.
And I didn’t look up. And I made it up the hill. Without having to walk my bike or stop to catch my breath, as I have done in the past. And I didn’t have an instant hypoglycemic collapse. I was too shy to yell that I wanted a hug to the volunteers (that were cheering us on) and other riders at the rest stop at the top. I couldn’t believe that I did it!!
And after that it was down Granite Road and into town.
I rode a lot of Day 1 alone. Well, by myself but not alone. The medics and volunteers were constantly driving the route to check on all the riders. It was good. One of my favourite parts of cycling is the ‘aloneness’.
When I got to Lakeside Park at the end of Day 1 I yelled for a hug and got two big ones. And a fist-bump from my doc.
It was awesome and exhausting.