And So It Begins

Tomorrow at 5am, Team Udderly Pink will meet downstairs in the  lobby to catch the shuttle for the Opening Ceremonies of the Susan G Komen 3-Day, a walk to raise monies for breast cancer treatment, education, and research.  Our team has spent the last year having yard sales, playing bingo, and asking our friends and families for contributions to this cause.  We've spent weeks training to prepare our feet for this event.  As each team member arrives at our hotel, we get a little more excited.  We think we know what it's going to be like.  We think we're prepared.  We know we're in for an amazing experience.

This is a window of what we'll be doing:

Friday: Approximately 20 miles
The San Francisco Bay Area 3-Day will begin with an inspirational Opening Ceremony at the Village at Corte Madera. From there, we will make our way through Corte Madera, eventually heading south towards Mill Valley and Sausalito. Entering Sausalito, we’ll be greeted by a cheering station at Dunphy Park then will pass through the quaint, bustling downtown section of Sausalito. We'll enjoy the views of San Francisco as we continue to make our way south. We'll eat lunch under the amazing grandeur of the Golden Gate Bridge and then walk over it! Once across the bridge, the route will travel through beautiful Crissy Field, Marina Green, Fort Mason and into Fisherman’s Wharf. The highlight of the day comes when we catch a ferry from Fisherman’s Wharf to camp on Treasure Island, our home away from home for the weekend. On Treasure Island, the route will take us along the west side of the island, revealing a view of the city that truly captures the beauty of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Saturday: Approximately 19 miles
On Saturday morning, we'll rise and shine, ready to hit the trail. We will tour the East Bay. A bus will take us to the starting point in Emeryville. From there, we’ll head north along the beautiful San Francisco Bay Trail and into Berkeley. Enjoy the best of Berkeley as the route meanders through quintessential neighborhoods such as 4^th Avenue, Solano Avenue, Thousand Oaks, the Gourmet Ghetto and the UC Berkeley Campus. We’ll also pass by the historic Claremont Hotel and skirt the Berkeley Hills. Don’t miss the amazing view point from Indian Rock Park between pit stop 2 and lunch. After returning to Emeryville, we’ll hop on a bus back to Treasure Island for another night of community, camaraderie and fun. 

Sunday: Approximately 16 miles
The final day of our journey includes one last ferry ride after we make our way to the pier by walking along the western edge of Treasure Island, catching the morning light on San Francisco. After we dock in Fisherman’s Wharf, we’ll walk west towards the Golden Gate Bridge to get on the amazing Lands End trail and Sea Cliff. We will follow the trail south and take in the incredible views of the Pacific. We’ll pass by the Cliff House and stretches of beach along the Great Highway. We'll enjoy lunch under a historic Dutch windmill before winding through the heart of Golden Gate Park along the way to the Civic Center, where our long, beautiful weekend will end with a celebratory Closing Ceremony.

With each mile, we will be thinking about those who have experienced breast cancer - those who are survivors and healthy, those who are in the middle of their fight against this disease, and those whose sweet memories are all we have left.  These are the names I walk for:

Marilyn, Graves, Emily Galloway, Mary Magee, Ann Morgan, Elaine Riley, Peggy Wright, Tammy McCoy, Suzanne McCloud, Libby Spicer, Ann McAlister, Barbara Dorris, Debbie Jacobs, Betty Goldzweig, Marie Mullins, Karen Lasher, Lisa Libidinsky, Margie Needham, Christi Turnage, Melissa Hudgens, Jamie Nixon, Kim Patisaul, Liz Goodwin, Delores Stadola, Linda Stadola, Jill Gorges, Julie Gregory, Robin Rheda, Sandra McGaha, Nonie Partin, Susan Neusenberg, Lee Ann Brown, Evelyn Lantz, Becky Hinshaw, Josie Dwyer, Faynetta Loesch, Grace Gottfried, Eva, Jill, Carol, Judy, Patsy Frazier, Jaime Price, Norma Morgan Lewis, Susan McCain, Karen McKee, Terrell Tye, Terri Hodges, Roni Angel, Leesa’s Aunt Alice, B, Julie Englesman, Belinda Raymond, Julia Robinette Crane, Carla Anderson, Shirley Anderson, Dorris Lehning, Vicki Hopkins, Barbara Miller, Peggy Chappell, Cindy’s Mom, Helen Verven, Stephanie Floyd, Florence Johnson, Debbie Sporich, Terri Cummings, Marilyn Gill, Shanna Cummings, Dorothy Stevens, Ann Allen, Debbie Davis, Jennie Davis

As I so humbly and proudly walk for these women, I am also so honored to walk with my team.  They have encouraged me and inspired me and kept me going.  Thanks and love to all of them -

Karen Barnes     Molly Davidson     Karen Phillips

Jo Sanders     Sharon Williams

You may not hear from me until Monday, when I return to Nashville - until then, keep us and that list of names in your thoughts and prayers!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  shopping downtown with KB; cab ride and driver man; hotel lady; lunch with KB and orange chocolate ice cream with KB and Sharon; dinner with the Karens, Jo, and Sharon; post-dinner walk to nowhere with KB, Jo, and Sharon; Molly's safe arrival in San Fran!