in the Research Triangle...

After a quick and lovely breakfast provided by the Samuelsons, we were on our way to UNC-Chapel Hill to visit the North Carolina Children's Hospital. It is too bad that they didn't win the NCAA national championship in men's basketball this year. The children were a little bit scattered around the clinic; some receiving treatments, some just finishing, some waiting to do so. A group of kids were painting with watercolors, guided by a generous volunteer (who will play another generous role in today's story), one was painting a basketball, one a fish and one created a very impressionistic and somewhat experimental-looking "colorscape." The whale hats were particularly well-received, and we had a surprising request to replace a defective Aflac duck (it wasn't screaming "Aflac" anymore) for one of our gift-bag recipients.

The Outback Steakhouse fundraiser luncheon drew in a particularly generous donation from the children's art instructor volunteer whom we met at the hospital. A good time was had by all and the staff and food were, once again, great. Angela, a friend from the Blair School (P and A's alma mater) stopped by to buy some Rally t-shirts and to chat. She is an actual researcher from the Research Triangle (Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh)...

With the help of our hosts we decided to give our "Sag Wagon" (this is what Austin's car turns in to when Claire drives it very slowly, full of support items, behind bicyclists) an oil change. Our miscellaneous afternoon activities included catching up on sleep, getting organized and thinking about important things. Dinner from the Samuelsons was wonderful (again) and we visited with some of their extended family over wonderful, home-made chess pie (2 flavors - we all ate both again).

Tomorrow we will ride again. We are ready...


~Paul, Austin, Claire