Day 32
To the beach!

DAILY REPORT:  It's hard to believe we've come across the nation in such a short time.  It seems just a minute ago that we were dipping our wheels in Costa Mesa and preparing for our journey.  Or was it a lifetime ago?  We've endured and prevailed...to here.  But for now, we have one more day of riding.  I told the riders to savor the last day, but we had to keep moving since we have our banquet in the evening and need to box up all the bikes, etc.  But first, we have one more day to focus before we can celebrate in Amesbury.

The first order of the morning was the final luggage load...then it was off to breakfast.  Everyone was in super spirits as we packed the van for the last time and rode off to breakfast in downtown Keene.  The riders didn't even let construction right out of the motel stop them from their appointed stop.  But it wasn't such a good start for Rob who made a wrong turn 300 yards from the motel...could be a long day with a wrong turn so early.  I know the cues from there wouldn't make any sense for the rest of the day.  Luckily, it didn't take long for him to figure he'd gone awry and he got back on track before the breakfast stop.  We chowed down in a neat little locally owned pub and cater place.  The breakfast was abundant and relatively fast.  We'd told them we were in a hurry to get going since it was going to be such a challenging day, but we needed the fuel to get going.

Right after breakfast, it didn't take long for the riders to get a smack of reality and experience what stood between them and the beach...Gilsun Hill, Sullivan Hill, Pitcher's Mountain and Joe English.  These are 4 of the toughest climbs we'd have the entire trip.  Only 3 miles from the motel, we started up Gilsun listed as a 13% climb...just a warm up for Sullivan.  Sullivan is listed as 13% also, but there's no doubt it pitches to 20% or better in places.  As I stood near the top of Sullivan, it was interesting to see how the riders tackled the challenge.  Some rode it as a piece of cake while others less prone to enjoy hills struggled a bit.  But struggle or not, all completed the climb and felt a great sense of accomplishment as a result.  Three weeks ago, I think this hill would have been more than some of them could have completed...but not now after 3400 miles and countless other climbs already behind them, they all topped the summit with aplomb.

After the first SAG, the riders tackled Pitcher's Mountain...a mere bump with gentler slopes but a longish climb of about 6 or 7 miles.  By the time they got to the climb at Joe English, 15% was nothing and at the top, they were at the last high point of the day...there was plenty more climbing to be done, but it rolled down the rest of the day.

My plan was to go with Barbara to lunch and then get on my bike and mark the remaining route to the beach.  We didn't want anyone to get lost during the final miles so I marked every turn all the way to the rendezvous point 5 miles from the beach.  By the time we got lunch set up and I was preparing to get on my bike, the lead riders pulled into lunch...yikes, I needed to get going!  I jumped on my bike and took off in time trial mode.  I enjoyed the hard effort but the stopping and starting every few miles did take a toll.  My fear was that since this was a new route, that I'd get lost someplace.  As it turned out, we've done so many rides in this area, I did recognize most of the routing even though we'd not ridden on these roads on this particular ride before.  I kept looking over my shoulder as I sped forward stopping at every turn to put down arrows.  I took a little time to call the van to check on the progress of everyone to give me an updated ETA for the rendezvous point.

As it worked out, I arrived at the rendezvous point about 40 minutes ahead of the first riders...I guess I didn't have to ride so hard...but it was fun for a change.  I hadn't ridden that hard since riding with the Poodle Boys in Kansas.

Everyone arrived at the rendezvous within our estimated target time and waited until everyone arrived before the final assault to the beach.  We planned to take the whole family to the beach at one time.  All cheered as the final two riders arrived at the rendezvous point and appointed them leaders to the beach.  I took the helm with all the riders in tow for the final miles.  Passersby cheered us as we neared the beach.  When we made the final turn to our beach head, family and friends who had gathered for our welcome, cheered and gave us our final encouragement and endorsement of our accomplishment.  We'd done it!  We were at the beach!!!  Now the celebration began.

Emotions flowed as the riders savored the feelings of accomplishment.  Friends and family shared in the celebration taking photos of the wheel dip and water transfer formalities.  Bob Long did the honors of pouring the Pacific water into the Amesbury Atlantic.  Guenter contemplated what it would take just to keep going east to his homeland.  I told him to go for it, but it would take more than a bicycle.  Pam and Vic were the only ones to completely dive into the chilly waters.  All at one time or another got swept up in a wave that filled their shoes with sand and sea water...but who cared? 

After our celebration at the beach, it was time to get to work to secure shipment of the bikes and get ready for the evening's activities.  We had to delay the dinner for 2 hours because of the long day.  After boxing bikes and taking people to the bike shops for shipping, we were ready for the banquet and closure to our adventure.  It was hard to believe it was over.  Check back for the wrap up and final entry.   
 

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