Me, & my little trike are off again. This time our journey will take
us to San Jose, CA, & then on to Sunnyvale. At 4:30AM my brother called
to make sure that I was awake. I asked him to, because I just bought a
new alarm clock, & wasn't sure if I knew how to set it. The clock let's
you go to sleep, while listening to a thunderstorm, or a babbling
brook, etc. I met my brother & we went to Denny's for breakfast. At that
hour their was nothing else open, & I knew that this was my only chance
to get a good breakfast. Then, after we ate, we went down to the
Amtrak bus stop to wait for my bus. It Arrived almost 10 minutes late,
but it arrived. That is my most difficult lesson, allowing myself to
depend on someone else. In years past, I would have climbed into my van
& driven to San Jose, & not given it a second thought. Now, a 1000 mile
trip requires lots of planning. My 1st bus took us to San Bernardino,
where we transferred to another bus that will take us to Bakersfield,
where I will get on a train. The train will be a much smoother ride.
Well, here I am in Bakersfield, waiting for the train to depart. The
conductors gave my trike a safe place to ride. My next transfer stop
will be Stockton, CA. Then it's another bus ride to San Jose, where my
friend George will be waiting. AT least, I hope he will be waiting
there, because I forgot to bring his phone number with me. Whoops!!
I met George at the 2004 TPI symposium. He is one of the many people
that I talked to about cycling w/PD. What sets George apart is that he
took my advice, & bought a trike & is currently enjoying his new
medication {his trike}. I'm anxious to meet George & his wife, Alice
& hopefully we will find some time to ride. George was kind enough to
volunteer a room in his home for the time that I will be in the San Jose
area. Thanks George.
As the bus pulled into the San Jose train station, I saw a white
bearded man with a cane, sitting at the bus stop. I am not sure why, but
I sensed that he was George. He did look familiar. Shortly after greeting
George, I met his wife, Alice. Then I was introduced to their friend, &
neighbor, Clark, who had offered to transport my trike in his mini-van.
But the real surprise was yet to come. For when we arrived at George's
home, Clark offered me the keys to his van for the duration of my stay.
This just proves more, my theory on angels. Thanks Clark.
------------------------------
 
Today was going to be exciting, but at the same time, a challenge of
meeting new people, & driving someone else's car through Bay Area free-
ways. All of which would be testing. I left George & Alice's with, what
I thought would be enough time to get to a place, I'd never been before.
As it was, I was due there at 10:AM, & I turned into their parking lot at
9:30a. To my surprise, as I drove past the front door of The Parkinson's
Institute, I saw a sign that said "welcome Parky". After my long trip,
seeing that sign, told me that my decision to come to TPI was the right
one. So I parked the van & walked into the front lobby, & that was only
the beginning of a really special day. I got to meet Marilyn, Debra, &
everyone at TPI, & later, after the physical therapy classes, I was given
a special tour of their facility. The therapy classes were a lot of fun.
Many of the people attending got up enough courage to try to ride TPI
trike. Marilyn would help them control the trike while I rode along,
beside them. I think that all will agree, that the day was a complete
success. Even George brought his trike up to share with the people. His
trike is similar to mine, except that his trike is foldable & can be put
in the trunk of most cars.
----------------------------
 
This is the day of the symposium for TPI. They said that I should be at
the Marriott Hotel at 8:AM to get set up. Again, I had the van (thanks Clark),
or I would have had to start riding at 6:AM to get there on time. I setup
right beside the PPSG booth, & over the course of the day I talked with
many interested people. Again, another positive response, making the
trip to Sunnyvale, worthwhile. My friend Elliot did not get to see all the
interest that was generated, because of him, making my trip possible.
----------------------------------
 
This day was used as a day to enjoy, & to get better acquainted with
my new found friends, George & Alice. Alice is a great cook, so
George & I kept her busy making brownies. She made batches, &
sometimes, double batches, only to have them disappear overnight.
Everybody agreed that there had to be a mouse. Alice was convinced
that there was two. I have stayed at people's homes in the past, but
never have I have felt more at home than I did during this week.
Alice even made a matching pair of monogrammed safety flags for my
trike. (Thanks Alice).
----------------------------------
 
This day George & I will set up our trikes at the Village's Health Fair, & talk
with visiting people who might have questions about our trikes, or about
cycling in general.
Day - 6
(Leisure day)
I used this day to go for a very hilly bike ride, & to pack for my trip home.
We also took time to have some more "Brownies"!
Many thanks to: The Parkinson's Institute
The PPSG
George & Alice Pratte
Clark & Gretchen Tossy
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