Day 29: And Then There Was 1

Day 29 in the books, 122 miles and 5,200ft of climb, a big peice of it in a 3 mile climb that started the day (at the top was Shenendoah National Park) and then a great descent and roll out to first rest stop and we were on with it. The only thoughts are annoyed drivers (I'm gonna get me to church so get outta my way!) and pretty country roads. And always lurking: stay safe, just stay safe. Lots of up and down rolling hills, some lagging legs certainly from the flat country folks for whom 10,000ft of climb yesterday were truly special. But brains were elsewhere. Discussions about airport drop offs and who is staying in DC or getting picked up vs flying home. I don't think most people are out of it physically, we could ride day after day, more that it's almost over, time to get one with what's next. I know I could keep going from riding perspective, it's now automatic, the PACTour processes (wash hands, bring down bike, breakfast, rest stops, wash bike) and the eating model (powders in the morning, electrolytes at every stop, liquids and ice cubes in the afternoon) seems figured out for survival. Everyone stayed up with rubber side down, nobody went down (so far!) with a broken bone so seems like we'll all get there tomorrow. The corn fields and the wheat fields of Washington seem a long, long time ago.