My Dearest Friends(Thanks for scrolling& deleting)

I must get my mind off the horribleness of WAR and become positive in Family Activity.

I just read the life story of Lance Armstrong (conqueror of Cancer)...And marveled at his most disciplined mind & body. Winner 5 times of Tour de France which starts today in Liege, Belgium & ends July 25th in Paris, etc.

I'm focusing on my three sons...who have made achievements in Biking.

John& Jim just did the "Ride of the Rockies." Biking over 300 miles last week (for the fourth time) celebrating their 60 Birthday's.

David was climbing at 17,000 feet in base of Everest in Tibet & biking from Seattle to Portland.” (3 times.)

Ann & Jim fly to Copenhagen this weekend to bike in Norway, Sweden & Denmark for two weeks.

C.C. Heidi & Abby fly to Ireland for biking next week, celebrating her retirement from professional School Teaching. This to me is great.....positive and healthy.

So here is a memory: Today I wore my Pike's Peak Shirt to class and reminisced!

In July, 1974..at 5 o'clock in the morning I drove out to Manitou Springs, and with two other men went by Van with bikes to the top of Pikes Peak.(14,110 feet high)

After acclimating ourselves for a few minutes, & feasting on the fabulous view of the surrounding mountains (with Colorado Springs’ buildings and it's Airport in the far distance) we mounted our Bikes. We put on earphones & got ready for instructions for the ride.

(I have climbed Pikes peak 4 times during my residence in Colorado for over 40 years... Even for my eightieth birthday with twin sons, I climbed it)

I can remember so many different experiences:

Trudging through snow, heavy rains, sleet & hail...Even sleeping on the trail once. Nearly always, having a special tea at the half Way -Fred Barr Cabin. For $5 you could spend the night there hearing the sounds of little animals and the winds blowing down the slopes. The mountain cottage is just below the tree line, which is about 11,000 feet.

Imagine standing at the summit of this 14,110 foot historic pinnacle of the Rocky mountains; contemplating a 20 mile ride you'll never forget.

It was here that Katherine Lee Bates (a visiting professor from the East who was spending the summer at Colorado College) received her inspiration for the poem she wrote: "America The Beautiful."

Summer 1993 was the 100th Anniversary celebration of this classic song so meaningful to all Americans.

In my Audubon Back Pack I carried binoculars & my camera for this special day.

"Challenge Unlimited" is the name of the Company that operates all over the world in arranging exciting unusual adventures such as our bike trip.

They provide all-weather clothing, helmets, walkie-talkies, and the bikes & van transportation to the summit.

The Guides are well versed in the history of the area, as well as the flora-fauna and animals we encountered on our descent.

Although I spent over 5 hours in this

amazing experience, for me, the actual bike-riding time was about 3 hours. I was riding a 21 gear mountain bike down a circuitous dirt & paved highway.

There were vans at the front & rear of the

ride alerting the two bikers to animals, or vehicle coming either direction....Usually, there are 10 bikers in a group; but that morning there were cancellations, so the two of us received lot's of attention.

Making one narrow U turn about half way down, I fell off my bike and the EMT (emergence medical technician) who brought up the rear...spent several minutes bandaging my left knee. Four days later I had to spend two days in the hospital with a very serious infection. Still today, at 92, I am aware of a puffy left knee that has to have antibiotic attention every now & then because of puffiness & infection in the inner knee.

Because of the great automobile traffic, the Descents are only made at 6 am or 4pm each day.

For me, I was there in Manitou before 5:30 a.m. eagerly anticipating the day. The sun was rising behind my back as I drove into the gathering place for a continental breakfast.

Of course I took many pictures of the crew & my New York companion; beneath and around the Summit sign & the 30 foot, hand-carved words of "America the Beautiful"

Going down we stopped several times in addition to my bike-fall.

There are five distinct vegetation & animal life zones. As I remember that day, we saw Bighorn sheep, Elk, Deer, and scores of Marmots. Plus Eagles & other soaring birds.

We finished the ride with a Steak & egg breakfast, and pancakes if we wished them, at the foot of the mountain.

I am glad I biked the Peak as I have hiked, & cog-railed it, so many times.

In closing, I am so glad that at a special place on this mountain there is a little turn-off place in a grove of Bristle cone Pine and Evergreens. It is in this special place that I have placed Carol's ashes,& mine will be placed there also.

Last year In September I lay on my side by the special place for our Family, on the Mountain and Cell phoned (until the battery gave out) relatives and Carol's sorority sisters around the country. At the turn off to our special Grove one can see in four directions. On a clear day, on this wonderful mountain, near our Special place, one can see seven States and the "Amber Waves of Grain."

Caleb Elroy Shikles

P .S. July 4th will be our 67th Wedding Anniversary. I feel that Carol is very much aware of my feelings.

My mind reaches out to my family, & Lance Armstrong in these great days.