Finally....The Atlantic

After getting a good sleep in the basement of the church, I got up with only 4.5 hours of sleep to complete my final duties on sweep-serving breakfast- on the final day. It had rained, poured most of the night and we woke to a cool overcast morning. As I dished out the oatmeal, I was determined to greet each person by name. I think I only missed one or two, I had hoped to know each cyclist by name and am proud to have done a fairly good job of that as well.
I headed out on my ride by myself. Most of the tour this is how I had journeyed so it felt like a good way to send. Also I had decided to be the last one in the pack for the day, again taking the place I had occupied for most of the tour.
As I headed up the first incline, once again people greeted me as they passed, it felt familiar and right. All except Rob, who decided that one more day of fun was in order for us. We caught up with Marge and Peter and discussed when we would be having our fall reunion....on Rob's new front porch!
The weather was perfect for cycling even with the humidity building. Although we had a deadline for the staging for the final 10mi escort, Rob and I were pacing fine and were able to have a relaxed ride. Of course, it wouldn't have been a ride with Rob if we didn't include a hunt for ice cream so I was in charge of spotting. We found a great place just inside the city and enjoyed the best mango, vanilla custard, gelati treat as we lounged on the front porch and watched some of the cyclist go by. My friends Margaret and Cora also flagged us down on their way to Liberty State Park to cheer us and their husband's in.
I guess that is when things were going to well. The route had some extreme inclines through the city. I knew we were in trouble when we had to turn onto Long Hill Rd....those are never down hills!
An annoying knocking was happening in the front of my bike as we progressed. All I could think was that it was payback from Josh. He had snuck something into my bike and now I had to find it. I was going to kill him! However, another cyclist said it sounded like my shocks so I loosened them up and sure enough that helped. Josh's life was spared and I will have to have those looked at when I get home.
Also there were several local support groups with water and treats that you just can't pass by. If some takes the time to sit in the sun/rain for hours just to treat and greet you, it is ungrateful to just whizz by...a few minutes of time is never too much.
As we headed to our second last turn, only the sweep was behind us and we got our first glispe of the NYC skyline. We were tight on time but very close. We took the next turn to the unfortunately hiss of a flat tire. Sadly, I prayed that it wasn't mine...I know, I know but Rob would be able to deal with it better than me!
It was Rob's back tire and we quickly pulled over to do the fastest change we could. The sweep team flew by soon followed by Besty in the SAG van. Besty pulled over to check our progress. We were doing fine, even a local guy who had seen us had come over to offer the assistance of an automatic pump. As Rob switched out the tubes, I checked his tire and found a 1 inch slash which we repaired with duct tape as there was no time for the super glue.

We could hear Betsy on the phone with Ed" Yes they are OK, only a few miles to go. I'll get them on the road."
With the tire fixed, we hopped on our bikes ready to fly. Although we had wanted to be last, we hadn't wanted to be this late. Besty went ahead of us and soon we saw her at the next turn. Whew we had made it! But much to our dismay, she waved us pass calling "1 more mile!" You have to be kidding.
Kicking into high gear, we soared the last stretch at 42.6kms/hr and seeing Ed and the police escort waiting for us. I started honking my horn so they knew we were there and zipped into the procession....much like my entrance into the Grand Rapids staging.
Unfortunately, Rob wasn't the last flat of the tour as Gerry experienced his first just minutes before we were to leave. A bunch of guys worked with him to repair and the procession started it's parade to the ocean.
It was amazing being in the rear watching the group as they moved en mass, the NYC skyline as the back drop.
The cyclists had taken off their saftey vests for this last part and a few had been dropped. Rick Gritters on his low recumbant was able to scoop them up then came up beside me for a pass off as I tossed them in my basket!
We were greeted with cheers and honks and a few of us grabbed the last of our Sea To Sea Card and passed them out along the way. Passing through a few rough neighbourhood, we were once again reminded of the people this tour was really about.
Finally we edged along the waterfront and reached the boat launch at Liberty State Park. We lined up, prayed and moved forward for the final dip into the Atlantic.


I was honoured to be side by side with Peter,Marge and Rob.

We had done it.
The eight cyclists from my home church gathered for our final photo.

Josh and I found each other, cracked open our cokes and toasted our victory! A good journey, well done with a great friend.

With many wishes and much joy we completed our ride. Loading our bikes into the truck, Josh and I jump onto the school bus for a ride back to the school. Karen and Melissa joined us at the back for some giddy antics like we were back in school. The bus ride was wild over the interstate and with some pretty nasty bumps, Josh and I got some serious air trying to stay in our seats. We realised that it was going to be about an hour and Melissa asked what I was going to do about my hair. I told her I would be cutting it before the final dinner and then working on unbraiding it on the trip home. I mentioned it would have been fun to have it all taken out for the evening to see if anyone would recognise me with normal hair and she said, "We've got time and people right now...let's do it!" I found my jackknife and let Josh have the first cut. Karen then took over cutting the braids to my regular length as Melissa, Steph, Hilena and I unbraided...

Josh was mesmerized by the whole process(photo courtesy of Josh Nyenhuis).
We got about 20 of the 100 braid undone by the time we got to the school and so a few of the other women came to help. By shower time about 1/2 of the braids were gone...good enough.
An amazing dinner was hosted by the Cedar Hill CRC which finally satisfied my summer long craving for BBQ ribs! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
After dinner, we ended with an incredible celebration service

where I got to meet Brian's mom, Cathy who has been following this blog.

Yes it was done. Time to say good bye...with moments with Marti, Josh, Brian, Peter, Marge and Rob....promises that this was not good bye but until God brings us together again.


Marti, kindly, put these comments in her blog...
"Gayle Harrison astounded us all by completing this whole arduous climbing ride on her heavier-than-lead hybrid in time for dinner! She is a real trooper and I'm proud of her to have completed this immense ride from Coast to coast on "that" bike, with all the health and other challenges she had to overcome. Gayle, I am totally speechless and in awe of what you will have accomplished tomorrow despite all odds! Congrats Girl!!! I doubt if I could have done it if I were in your position!"

I will add more photos soon. Also, I will be blogging until September 9, 2008....there is some reflecting and unfinished business that needs to happen to complete my journey that I want to share with all who have been my blog community throughout this adventure.