The Fat Lady is Singing…..

Hello Everyone,

I would like to thank each and everyone of you who followed me on this wonderful adventure across this great country of ours. I am continually amazed at the beauty of the countryside and the warmth and generosity of its citizens. Everywhere that we went, folks wished us well and offered words of encouragement. I can’t tell you how much your kind words, prayers and thoughtfulness helped me each and every day.

I have done at least six week long (plus) rides and on each and every one of them I hacve witnessed someone being seriously hurt because of a bike crash or encounter with a motorized vehicle. This is the first time that no one was seriously hurt because of an accident and I am deeply grateful for that.

Fo rthe ride to the beach, we all assembled and started off in groups of 2 or 3 at 3 minute intervals. Tracy made sure that as each group left th hotel complex that there was plenty of hooping and hollering. I rode with Herm and Tim . We rode about 12 miles and then reassembled as a group about 4 miles from the Revere Beach. A van led the procession to the beach and we followed in groups of 2 riders abreast. Another van followed to insure that we were protected from any traffic. Many drivers and folks along the route tooted and yelled encouragement as we cycled to the beach.

WE went up a hill and there it was in front of us, Revere Beach. We did do a 90 degree turn and rode down the beach  a couple of hundred yards and then started the approach to the stopping point. At 100 years from the finish, I stopped, dismounted , hoisted by my bike overhead and walked the final 100 years. My Cannondale had carried me faithfully for 3400 miles and the least I could do was carry it across the finish line.

tears were shed, fists bumped, hugs exacted amid a myriad of bright smiles. We had done it. We had crossed the United States of America by bicycle. It certainly was not lost on myself or the group that the pioneers had taken months and years to cross the same country amid extreme danger. The end was bittersweet as we dipped our wheels in the Atlantic Ocean. We left Manhattan Beach as strangers on a common mission and arrived at Revere Beach as lifelong friends who felt joy at each others accomplishment.

It was an honor to ride with such a talented group of folks. As Yoda said, “Try not do”. This was a bunch of doers who never asked “why” but instead worked on the “how”.

At the Celebration Dinner, Tracy gave some a very good speech on the ride and commented that no cross country group has encountered more head winds than this group. It will be hard to get back to civilization in a few days and the real world. It will be hard to leave my new found friends, but as I found out from the first group that i rode with, many of us stay in touch and I was very thankful to hear from some of the XC 12 group on this ride and even had the pleasure of seeing several along the way. Very, very special….

Michael had some special T-shirts made for the group to commemorate the ride and i want to thank him for that treat.

I would like to thank everyone who made a contribution to the Wounded Warrior Project and just say that the donation window will remain open for some time. Small donations are appreciated as well as large. A common theme through the 15 states that we raveled was commemorations to veterans via parks, highways named in their honor, stars proudly displayed on homes, and memorials.

I will try to do 1 or 2 more posts selecting on the ride and what I may or may not do differently if I decide to ride again. If anyone has any questions on the undertaking or is thinking of attempting a similar feat, I am happy to help in any way that I can.

Once again thanks for following my journey!

 

Tailwinds

Chuck