Day 58......0 miles, the end

As I sit on the airplane from Jacksonville to Philadelphia, I can’t help but review the last 58 days.

I can’t believe it’s over. I’ve left the biking bubble and am on my way home again (albeit via Philadelphia) and the real world. I’m not sure life will ever be the same…..

It was with a tinge of sadness that I watch my Jamis Coda being lifted to the top of the van today for transport to the shop for packing and shipping…..as I walked the streets of Old Town St. Augustine, I missed my bike, I really did. Now I’m wondering how I’ll make it until it arrives in Phoenix

I owe a debt of gratitude to many people for making this journey possible. First and foremost my wonderful husband Paul, who is the one who encouraged my final decision to commit and embark on this awesome task……..

To family, my sisters, the one who rode with me every day, and the one who supported from afar, logging many hours travelling back and forth from AZ to PA to support dad in the care of my mother while we were on the road, to brothers who supported with prayers and encouraging emails and phone calls…….

To LaVerne and the “Ladies” and the Saturday rides that started the process of getting me in shape and teaching me the rules of the road. To Charlie and the Sunday riders, that helped me further hone my riding skills ……….

To all those who believed in my cause for Connecting to Serve and spoke loudly through their generous donations…..

And finally to the incredible 24 women that were there every day on the ride, each one made a difference in my life and made this journey possible. The laughter, the tears, the riding encouragement, the support, the drinks, and the cheesecake…..

Since the arrival at the Atlantic Ocean many people have asked if this was a life changing experience or how my life will be different. I’ve finally come up with an answer……. Ask me next year, after I’ve been out of the biking bubble a bit longer and maybe I’ll have an answer

So here we are at the end of the blogging experience, thanks for reading my daily posts, and perhaps I’ll see you out of the bubble…..

Day 57........ Palatka, FL to St. Augustine, FL 47 miles

Here I sit in a hotel room in St. Augustine, FL and I did not ride in a car to get here!  I'm still a bit dazed, I can't believe I rode my bicycle across the United States.  One year ago, I could barely ride more that 10 miles at a time....and yet, here I am!

It was amazing, as we left the hotel this morning we were all eager to get to our appointed destination, the St. John's Fire House by 10:30 am, a 40 mile ride.....around mile 34 we realized that just about all of us were riding together, in one long beautiful ride...there was singing and laughing and I'm sure hidden somewhere some tears.......

We arrived at the firehouse in plenty of time, and there were our escorts, a police car, a police motorcycle and a police SUV.......we began our last ride together to the beach at St. Augustine with much fan fare.....lights flashing and occasional sirens.  We did not need to stop for one red light, they stopped traffic for us...(we did have to stop while the draw bridge was up) people stopped and waved along the route, and then, there it was the Atlantic Ocean, friends and family, holding signs and calling out....even my dad was there holding a sign along with niece Sara and her children Jasmine and LJ...what a treat to be welcomed like royalty....I also had the fabulous treat to ride the day with my sister....the one that inspired me....off to the farewell dinner....more tomorrow...

Day 56 ......High Springs, FL to Palatka, FL

Wow what a day.....73 miles....the rain cooled things off last evening, so glad it waited until we were finished with dinner....this morning, it was cool, and bright, and yes, that big ol' blue sky was there and that bright yellow sun...all ready for our last major ride before hitting the beach at St. Augustine tomorrow.

In so many ways it seems like we just started yesterday, then in other ways it seems like we've been at this forever.  It will feel pretty strange to get back to regular life out of the biking bubble....plastic chairs in parking lots, dinner on our laps (scrumptious food I might add) and always having someone around to laugh with.

We got teary-eyed at dinner tonight, our last one in true tour fashion in the parking lot.....as we each shared our favorite part of the tour...mine of course was happy hour.....and the increase in my personal biking skills.  I have each member of the tour to thank for that.  Each in their own way has helped me increase my skills...for that I am grateful.

I've also grown as a person, and have learned that I can accomplish what I've set out to do.  I look forward to going home.....

Eagerly looking forward to tomorrow and the Atlantic Ocean!

Day 55 ..... Perry, FL to High Springs, FL 76 miles

What can I say?  Just another great day of riding the Florida countryside.  I was struck by how rural and agricultural it the views are....ranches (in Lancaster County, PA where I am from, one would call them farms)

My riding is strong, but the "end days" gloom has set upon me....I'm feeling the pinch, three more days then back to reality.

High Springs was a cute little town, upon arrival we managed to find a small cafe with ice cream and sandwiches...just the thing after 76 miles.  Then some shopping to pick up last minute end of tour items...there was no reason to hang out at our no star hotel, no internet...so that's the reason for the late post of day 55.

Tomorrow, our last full day of riding, before we  head to the beach at St. Augustine...

more later...

Day 54......Wakulla Springs, FL to Perry, FL 51 miles

That bear that I ate the otherday, got eaten again today........another personal best!  We left the park after 8:00am this morning, turned right, and never looked back.  The conditions were perfect.  Bright sun, but still cool, the road was smooth, and a nice shoulder and FLAT.

The scenery was a bit boring, pine trees and scrub pines....miles and miles....when we pulled into the town of Perry, looking for a place to eat lunch, my average mph was over 17!  It's amaing what a day of rest will do....and yes, perfect conditions.

I do wonder if I will ride when I get home....will I be motivated?  Will I ever want to get back on the bike?  Well, I guess I'll just have to wait and see.  I dont' have long to wait...three days of riding left....

Day 53 ........ Wakulla Springs, FL 0 miles

Our rest day at Wakulla Springs State Park was just that REST!  We had a feroucious thunderstorm early morning on Sunday, and it poured until early afternoon.  We were all glad that we were not on the bikes.....

We spend some time in the lodge lobby watching a DVD about the park, it's history, and the wildlife.  The neat connection for me was that the builder/developer of the park, Edward Ball was married to the sister of A.I. Dupont and apparently DuPont money financed the building of the lodge and the personal private retreat that later became Wakulla Springs State Park.  As some of the readers may know I was born in Wilmington, DE and early years were spent on a farm owned by A.I. DuPont, directly across the street from the DuPont estate....so on my day off, I learned a little history and thought about Wilmington, DE, the house on Rockland Road and many happy times.

While Wakulla Spings was beautiful, probably not my favorite choice for a day off location.  It was hot, humid, buggy, lousy cell service, no internet (thus no blog) and no TV in the rooms...but if this trip has taught me anything, it is flexibility.  So we made our own entertainment and read books and rested, getting ready for the last four days of riding.....

Day 52.....Quincy, FL to Wakulla Springs, FL

Some days you eat the bear and some days the bear eats you.....or so they say.  Well today, I ate the bear...I had one of my personal best riding days ever....ok, so we only rode 40 miles...but when I pulled into the Wakulla Springs State Park, where we would enjoy our day of rest on Sunday, my average speed was 15.4 mph.  I have never done that before. 

The bummer part about being early was that we arrived around 11:00am and our rooms were not ready until 2:30....so....time for a hot dog and an ice cream cone from the park snack shoppe and a snooze on a picnic table bench rounded off the day.  It also gave me a chance to catch up with some friends and family by phone......