Final day of 50 miles. The bike wheels have made 3 million revolutions. We set out early for the Atlantic coast in order to assemble as a group at 11.30 am at Rye High School. We made good time and were able to stop en masse at a bakery in Exeter for a coffee and pastry. At the high school we began the goodbyes before the police escort arrived to guide us as a unit to the beach. With flashing lights and sirens, we rode the last 5 of 3,750 miles down to Wallis Sands and arrived to applause and cheers and greetings from friends and relatives, Robert amongst them. Then the ceremonial walking with your bike to the ocean. Hugs and kisses, tears and laughter all around as we said goodbye. My friends met Robert, and then we loaded "The Tank" on to the Honda Civic and pulled out of the parking area, heading for Vermont. We passed many cyclists heading for the motel where they would spend their final night before shipping their bikes and dispersing all over the world, back to their real lives. Robert and I have three days in Jay Peak before heading back to Larchmont. I will write one more blog entry before I close, with some reflections on what it all really meant. Until then, my heartfelt thanks to all the staff, riders and friends who have followed my odyssey across a continent and made it so enriching.
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