From: Kassandra
DiMaggio [mailto:kassandra14639@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Wednesday, September 29,
2004 1:43 PM To: 'Ridecamp Guest' Subject: FW: Patriot Day Ride
Here is an email I just received from a
rider who participated in the Patriot’s Day Ride. Emails/letters
like this made all the effort worth it! Thank you to all who came and
rode and supported this ride. The Greenville Rotary club not only paid
the expenses $6000+ but had a substantial amount left to give to the
“Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund” and pay for their charitable
functions.
Our ride secretary was activated by FIMA just
a few days after the ride as a result of the hurricanes in Florida. She will be back this
week. I hope to work with her and have some pictures from the ride posted
on the website, patriotsdayride.com.
Hope to see you next year, 09-10-2005
Kassandra DiMaggio
From: Lois Wifall [mailto:wifall@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004
7:57 AM To: Kassandra14639@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Patriot Day Ride
Hi!
I did fill out my ride questionaire but I was too hungry at
the time to do it justice!
First, this was the most organized ride I've ever been to.
For a first year ride to be this together was amazing. Thanks to you and all
your wonderful volunteers.
The Ride Camp was also great my only regret being that I
didn't get back in time to go swimming!
The ride was hard but I get more satisfaction finishing a
hard ride than an easy ride. I have a good horse so finished but I think some
people would have a problem with the difficulty level and being able to finish.
Yes, I could have done without "the rocks" but the trails were nice
and the scenery gorgeous. We train in the same kind of country so I love
the single track in the trees. I loved the section along the lake, very pretty
and a chance to relax a bit. The ride was mostly very well marked. I did get
lost a couple times, not because it wasn't marked but because there
wasn't chalk marking those turns and I was obviously riding with my nose in the
dirt! The problems I had were because of my horse, not the trail per se (i.e.
my wound up horse couldn't decide whether to jump the ditch or gallop through
it - from a walk - it didn't work quite like it should have). My horse did fall
once going over those big dirt piles across the road - could have happened
anywhere on any ride.
I liked my completion award! I am going to put little
hooks on the bottom edge and use it for keys!
As far as suggestions for next year --- ???? It was a great
ride! I'd like to see that beginning part of the trail a little less narrow and
rocky but you have to go with the trails you have. All in all it was a great
ride.
