Well the time had come to finally meet Terry and to place a face with a name;  a name and a cause that had kept us focused for almost 5 months. Our meeting came after only minutes of having arrived at the Canine Assistants facility in Milton, GA. Terry, along with her new service dog “Butterball” greeted us with open arms, a beautiful smile, and a spirit that seemed to envelope her and all those around her. We were all touched by the thanks and praise we received from Terry and the wonderful folks at Canine Assistants. It was a moving experience for the Dublin Dog Foundation team to see the fruits of our labor transform from good intentions into a reality that will forever change the life of Terry and her family. So we sincerely thank everybody who helped us in this quest to assist a very deserving woman receive a service dog after having waited for 4.5 years. The pleasure was all ours and we look forward to the opportunity of helping serve those who need our support. And to Terry and her family, we truly wish you and Butterball all the luck in the world. We are grateful for having had the opportunity to meet you and to help write a few sentences in the chapters of your life.

“Ouch my Butt”….was the anthem of the day. After hours in the saddle our bums were slowly getting accustomed to the bumps in the road. The morning provided beautiful weather and everybody was excited to get rollin’! We spent the morning in downtown Greensboro watching a 4th of July parade. Jason and a few others headed to the closest bike shop for some minor adjustments and extra gear. After a full day of riding, we packed up the bikes at close to get some quick shut eye at the closest RV Park. Let’s just say that we rolled into what could best be described as the Griswold’s Family Vacation hot spot. It was certainly a trailer park, but hey, “When in Rome….” We hunkered down with 12 pizzas, that’s right, I said 12 pizzas! Somebody’s eyes were much larger than their stomach. However in hind sight, they proved to be a valuable commodity later in the trip.  About 248 more miles to go….

The Dublin Dog Crew rode long into the night. From 12:01am until 4:30am, riders and crew navigated through the darkness, into the hills, and down the valleys. There is nothing quite like riding among your friends and colleagues at 2:45am as deer peer up from lush pasture fields, and the noises of the night serenade our team of riders. After hours of riding, we found an old church along the side of the road, where we pulled our caravan of RVs and SAG vehicles over for 3 hours of shut eye. Some opted for beds, pillows, and a comfortable floor at that point, while others took their bags outside and slept under the stars. The one thing in common, we were all excited about what the morning had to offer.   With 50 miles under our belts, we headed off to Greensboro to hit a 4th of July parade and refuel on carbs.

It’s 11:30pm and we’re about to get on the way for 400 miles of pure excitement, pure pain, and pure adrenaline. A very special thanks to Bicycle Sport for providing additional bikes for the ride, along with our Platinum Sponsors, Presbyterian Endocrinology & Osteoporosis Consultants, and American Pet Cross. We truly thank you, along with all the other companies and individuals that helped to make this dream a reality. We’ve got a good crowd here at the Thirsty Beaver and are waiting for the clock to strike midnight so we can clip in our pedals and head out. We’re lucky enough to have WXRC 95.7 “The Ride” leading us out of Charlotte, with music and lights. What else could you ask for.

Washington DC, here we come!!!!