“Great joy in camp!”: Meriwether Lewis, when the Corps of Discovery came within view of the Pacific. (Remember, it had taken them 554 days!)
Last night's program wasn't over until 11:00 and breakfast was at 5:30 this morning so it was a short and somewhat sleepless night. The morning weather looked pretty good and it was much warmer than the past few days. This resulted in fewer jackets – I don't think even the guys from Trinidad, who are always cold - wore jackets. So there were 50+ America By Bicycle jerseys, an impressive sight.
Our route was mostly on rural roads and most of these were lined with houses on large country lots; they looked fairly new. I noticed that none of them have brick veneer construction like we have in Dallas. They all have some sort of siding and many are painted. -- I expected the route to the coast to be downhill but this is New England and there was more climbing than anticipated. But, like everyone else, I was pumped; I rode fast and even caught a group faster than I usually ride with.
Why did we load and leave so early when we only had a 48 mile ride to the Rye Junior High School? I'm sure this is part of the ABB plan; they really know how to conduct these rides, both logistically and socially. So it was more than coincidence that 10 miles before the Jr High we find the best bakery of the entire ride. Everyone stops here, even though it's only been 9 miles since the sag stop. But we realize we only have 12 more miles to the Jr. High and we have a lot of time.
Our group, 51 people of all ages from all walks of life, most of whom didn't know anyone else on the ride, first met 50 days ago. Gradually, some small groups formed, even the individuals who did not ride in a group developed relationships and sometimes rode with each other. By the end, the groups and non-groups knew each other and their quirks, and we seemed a fairly cohesive group overall. But today everyone was much more friendly to everyone else, beginning at the bakery. For instance, I walked out of the men's room, and for no reason (that I'm aware of) got a big hug from 21 year-old Jane (reenacted in photo); we hadn't been close the entire ride. I guess the pressure to finish the ride was over and accomplishing the mutual goal fostered more community.
The camaraderie continued, even accelerated, when we got to the Jr High staging area. Everyone was congratulating everyone else; there was hugging and photos, and remembrances and promises to meet again.
Then the police arrived and the 3 mile escorted caravan to the Atlantic began. First down tree lined residential streets for maybe a mile and a half, then we turned left and were on a road paralleling the coast. At the final right hand turn into the state park, I could see a small seawall, but couldn't determine how many sunbathers there were (and there were hundreds of them, even on a Monday) and how many were there to welcome us. All sorts of people were cheering. I was surprised to discover that hundreds of them were family and friends there to cheer us, even a detachment from the US Navy with a big banner (Jeanie's charity is Operation Life Transformed, which helps disabled military vets). Walking over the seawall, picking up my bike and carrying it over the loose sand and trying to observe the best bikinis without falling, I believe I was the first rider to put my wheel in the Atlantic.
Here's the most amazing thing about this ride: 51 people started in Astoria, Oregon with the intent of riding the entire distance and THE SAME 51 FINISHED THE RIDE! Usually, on a ride like this, there is a 10 % attrition rate. Not us: EVERYONE OF US COMPLETED THE RIDE! Our last group photo, 3 miles from the Atlantic!
"The journey not the arrival matters." -- T. S. Eliot
Day 50, 53 miles, 1,744 feet climbing, 3.6 hrs. 3,751 miles so far
Ride complete.
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