The Tour de DREAMS is a 540 mile bike tour from UC Berkley to UCLA all for the DREAM Act. This is the second year and more riders participated from last years. This ride was not only dedicated to all the DREAM Act students out there, but to Tam Tran and Cinthia Felix who passed away earlier this year. Tam participated in the first tour and her brother Lolly rode in her honor for this tour.
I wasn't able to make it to the tour this year, even though I wanted to do the ride. Life happens, but even though I wasn't able to do the full ride, I ended up meeting with the tour riders when they got to Oxnard by tagging along with some friends. We met up with them in the evening and saw them off to sleep. We then got up at 4:30 a.m. to cook breakfast for them. We saw them ride off and got started on lunch. Things didn't go as planned because of the farm we were staying on, so lunch was very much improvised for the riders when we met up with them at the beach,. half way to UCLA.
It was an amazing experience and to be able to share in that journey that everyone took physically and spiritually was an honor. To put themselves on the line, riding 50 plus miles everyday, the physical and spiritual endurance all 35 and volunteers showed was inspiring. I have only felt that kind of raw energy a hand full of times. There is nothing like it.
When they all reached UCLA, I felt the energy they projected. They just finished a 540 mile bike ride. They've been sleeping in sleeping bags, couches, riding all day and sleeping all night. I felt and saw all those frustrations and feeling of relief in their tears and hugs. That have done something not many people can do and all for the DREAM Act. Because that's how much they believe in it, just like everyone else who sacrifices themselves for the cause. I can't say how grateful I am for being a part of it, even if it was only for a day and a half.
