Day 30: EFI Dreams

When we left Everett on July 10^th and arrived in Monroe (mile 34), Tom pointed out we had ridden 1% of the trip. Today, 16 miles out of Williamsburg after an early morning of quiet, tree-lined, roads in the mist and shade, Tom made the point we were 99% done. Then Williamsburg, then down the Colonial Parkway towards Yorktown, then a regroup with everyone getting together in a rest area for a final, double-wide, 40 person pace line to the beach. Many pictures, standing in the water with our bikes, and lunch. Then back to the hotel, stuck between a Dairy Queen and a Hooters (where this is being sent from, something about the wireless in the motel…). And then it was done. Every freaking inch (EFI) of it, across the country, in 30 days, 3420 miles, now we’re taking the bikes apart.

So what to say in closing? Tom is still figuring out if this was a “Fun” or “fun” ride, but glad he did it. I don’t need to do it again, but I really, really like being on a bike, so the right question is what trip will be next. Then there is our inspiration, Gerri\Tucson, who today finished his 7^th cross country trip at 71 years old. And Jerry\MN who completed the 2010 tour after having to leave the 2007 trip at the Mississippi. Everyone here has a story… 34 years after I got the idea in my head and 9 months after Tom’s “sounds like a sufferfest” response when I asked him about joining me, it’s over.

The best lines of the trip, a quick recap:

“guys, if you want to be serious about cycling, the first thing that needs to go is the family” Australian Jonathan, explaining how he could take so many long trips.

“well, I have these big ones in the front and these little ones in the back” Doug the farm equipment repairman, a friend of Jerry’s, when asked what kind of gearing he was running.

“why don’t you pick on someone your own age?” Tom, speaking to me, in the middle of another viscous attack by yours truly up a hill in the last couple days

“thanks for trying” Vicki, to Scott, after Scott got done pulling the group along. Actually she said “thanks for pulling” but we thought it was pretty funny the other way.

"riding across the country is 90% a mental thing" Lon Holloman, to whom all problems are simply a contest of will

What to leave you with? Lots of Bruce Springsteen lyrics on my brain during the trip (getting wasted in the heat\Backstreets; Well keep pushin till it's understood, and these badlands start treating us good\Badlands), recently some Led Zepplin (So I'm packing my bags for the Misty Mountains\Misty Mountains Hop) and of course John Denver (Country Roads). But when riders in the group doing their first cross country trip talk about the journey they always use the word “dream”, they “dreamed of doing it”. So to close my random set of lyrics that drives Tom slightly crazy when I yell them out while riding down the road… here’s Abba:

I have a dream, a fantasy, to help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile

See why it drives Tom crazy J

Thanks to Janelle, where it all began, to everyone who donated to Tom’s Baltic Studies match program (raising $10,000!) and to Kathy and Laurie for saying it was ok. And the roadkill for those that care: 2 squirrels, a deer, 3 raccoons and an opossum.

Best –

Michael and Tom