Last night we had a guest for Happy Hour and Dinner. Ann Hiltz and her late husband Fred first rode with IBTS in 1974 and knew Dr. Graves pretty well. Ann mas modest and didn’t want to talk much about Dr. Graves but did tell an amusing story. Any tine Dr. Graves had a flat tire, Katherine would fix it.
We woke up to fog but it lifted quickly. This was an easy, 40 mile day so we waited a while before starting. Last night the tour leader told us this was the most boring day. This was not the case. We had more fall color today than in the previous days combined. Red, and orange and yellow were everywhere. The ride was fast, 40 miles and mostly downhill – 1,676 feet of ascending and 2,494 feet of descending. In spite of our late start, we were in Keene by 12:20 pm. Tomorrow is an optional ride day; we’re going to rest since we’ve ridden the previous 6 days.
BRENDA’S BIOS
Valerie spent her career teaching science to mostly 7 & 8th graders. Her favorite science subject is Earth Science which she did teach for a few years. She grew up in New York and met her husband there. They first met during high school but then reconnected a few years later. She must have had a fondness for him because during her freshman year in college she placed a phone call to his home and coincidentally he was home on leave from the Navy. The rest is history.
Valerie and her husband now reside in California and have two daughters and 2 granddaughters, Madison, 9, and Chloe, just over 1. Currently she and her husband are full-time nannies for their youngest granddaughter.
Valerie rides with the ACTC club which is a local bike club and has also gone on trips with Women’s Tours.
Vickie Smith is married to Frank; however, he didn’t join her on this trip. They have been together since 1979. She is from Michigan and still lives there. Her household includes Frank, Buster and Peanut. Buster is a 9-year-old Jack Russell Terrier and Peanut is a 4-year-old parrot. Peanut, because of his life span, will get mention in their will to appoint his successive parents.
Vickie has an undergraduate degree from Eastern Michigan University in Library Science and a M.S. from University of Michigan, also in Library Science. Most of her career was spent as a Medical Librarian in the Veteran Affairs system.
This is her 26th BAC trip and like many others, her favorite ride is Mallorca. When not biking her hobbies include involvement in bike related volunteer positions. She was on the Board of Directors of BAC for 4 years and she also works at the local and state levels in Michigan with both Pedal Across Lower Michigan and also with the Ann Arbor local biking club. Other hobbies include volunteering as an usher for local theater groups and as you might imagine she is a voracious reader.
The photographer apologizes to Vickie for taking her picture with wet hair.
TODAY’S ROUTE
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