Day 54 – And Then There Was One!

This is it the morning of the final day and it was kind of like we didn’t want the day to start for fear of what was at the end. It could have been the home and the comfort that it brought but after enjoying a fabulous breakfast and fun with family we finally got on the bikes at 9:00. This is nearly the latest that we have left all trip. The day called for rain and even before we started it had begun. With the rain, the short day planned, and temperature outside, I decided not to take the monkey that usually rides on my back. The CamelBak would not be taken. I also decided not to take any liquid fuel but only a water bottle filled with water. It was nice and appreciated not carrying around the extra weight that would only get heavier as it got soaked with rain.
I have watched a lot of sports and listened to many interviews after games and there is usually one question that drives me nuts when they ask it, “How did you feel about . . .?” First of all, the player in the excitement or devastation of the can remember how they felt during the game. Secondly, it is painfully or joyfully obvious how they feel at the moment of the interview. It is just the first question in the “Interviewing For Dummies” book that reports read and seems to break the ice the best. With all of that said I decided to answer this very question since I did slow my mind down enough during the ride to think about and answer this very question and I am not sure that you would understand how I felt during the final day of the trip (maybe you don’t even care but here it is anyways!).

75 MILES TO GO – Pictures must be taken of every part of this day so the beginning is important. We didn’t end up taking too many pictures along the way though because it was raining when we left and when we ended the day and never stopped or seemed to let up anywhere in between.
70 MILES TO GO – We came through the cities of Lacey and Olympia, WA. We followed the bike paths that seemed to come and go. Like the men painting the lines and determining the widths of the roads were trying to keep us on our toes. It worked and the drivers were generally nice and moved over to get around us.

The capital building was nice even through the rain that filled the air.

The boats that filled the harbor spoke of the favorite past time for many of the inhabitants of the city.

The round-abouts are a bit tricky and takes a little bit to get used to them. Thankfully mapquest.com gave us fantastic and easy to follow instructions!
65 MILES TO GO – The junction Old Olympic Hwy and US8 brought a little bit of fear. What will the shoulders be like on this divided highway? Will traffic be kind if the shoulders are small? Will the rain ever stop? We knew the answer to that one unfortunately and the other two were quickly answered. As we turned on to the road we saw a 10 foot shoulder that was as smooth as glass. With my little amount of faith, I thought that it would not last long but it basically lasted all the way to the coast! WOW! I then noticed my cyclometer. I knew that we were excited about the end coming but I did not expect to be able to sustain the speeds that we were going up the hills. I decided it was a good tailwind and I was right. Whatever it take to make good time is fine with me!
50 MILES TO GO – McCleary, WA gave us an opportunity to stop but we had only gone 25 miles so we decided to go to the next city of Elma, WA only a few more miles farther. The rain continued as well as the wonderful shoulder! It was a fine trade off especially with the wind.
43 MILES TO GO – Elma, WA gave me an opportunity to call the girls and tell them that they could leave to come meet us at the coast. It is hard to pull a phone out of a soaking wet cycling jersey that is under a wet and dirty rain jacket and then take it out of its plastic bag to take or make a phone call. We got our first cup of hot chocolate of the day and told the girls that they could leave to meet us. They were almost ready and would be on the road soon. The desire to get warmed back up pushed us back on the bike. That desire outweighed the desire for rest, which was great. We did get warm soon enough and enjoyed more tailwind!

20 MILES TO GO – We entered Aberdeen, WA and said goodbye to a good friend. US12 has been a good road to us and we finally came to its end.

The parting was such sweet sorrow. We crossed over an old nonfunctioning drawbridge and found another convenience store where we got our second and final cup of hot chocolate. We contacted the girls and they were quite near so we waited for them. Dad was beginning to get chilled and shake so as soon as the girls arrived he got his jacket on and we hit the road to get the blood flowing again. This is when the sentimentality really began for me.

17 MILES TO GO – Before leaving today we counted up the days that we had faced inclement weather and came up with 6 days. To me this is phenomenal! We have been riding for so long and covered a lot of country and to have faced this few days of rain is amazing and another testament to the LORD’s goodness and grace. There was another fact that hit me. Before we left I was telling people that we needed to have a flexible schedule along the way because one of us was bound to take a fall, get hit or something else that would cause physical injury. The LORD, and Him alone, has kept us safe and upright for the entire trip! I am so thankful for this answer to prayer! So many days I stood amazed at the tailwinds, good roads, and health because I am so undeserving. Then one day the LORD reminded me of a verse from Matthew that says, “how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” The LORD not only gives when we ask but He also gives because He loves us and enjoys giving His children good things! What a good God I serve and love!
15 MILES TO GO – Life is about people!! If you miss opportunities you can never get them back and so must take Paul’s advice and “REDEEM THE TIME”! We must “Seize the day”! There have been many people along the way that have kept me encouraged and motivated to keep my legs going around in circles. Jim and Nancy Korteway have been a constant source of encouragement from our church. I cannot get back to share with them the blessing that they have been face-to-face! Don and Katrina Hines are friends from college and every time I see their little faces in the comment box, the memories of time spent together come flooding back! Pictured Rocks rock because of you guys! My family also provides loving comments! Thanks Carrie for being the most faithful and frequent comment leaver! Thanks Joe, Joy, Beth, Laurie, and Jolene! Often there would be days that I would need to talk to someone and there would be a message from my good friend Luke! You are the man and love the talks that we have had! Jim Troxel and all those from Fab Masters, I can’t wait to see you again! Thank you all for reading and responding!
10 MILES TO GO – After spending time with someone for almost 2 months straight, you learn much about people, even those that watched you grow up. Mom, you have made so many sacrifices and have done so much for us! Thank you for putting up with our loud, rowdy, and different family! Thanks for the carb friendly meal schedule, setting up the camper each night so that we could just come it and not have to do it when we arrived, and driving back on several occasions to bring us watermelon and drinks! May the LORD bless you for it. Hope when you get home you enjoy sitting and cross stitching since we kept you from it so often this summer.
8 MILES TO GO – It is a good thing that the LORD brought the wife along that he did! I fell head-over-heels for a dark haired dark eyed beautiful girl when I was in college and married her as soon as I could. The LORD knew what I needed even before I did and am glad that He has all things planned! My wife has willingly and honorably waited on my hand and foot and did it with a joyful attitude. She has kept the children in line while I was of having fun. She had to just look at pictures on my camera of the wonderful things that she was not able to stop and look at and enjoy herself. She rubbed my sore neck, back and arms. She set up the air mattress bed each night. She let the dog out 95% of the time in the rain, shine, and mosquito infested forests! She deserves so much better than what she married and I thankfully fooled her long enough to marry her before she realized who I really was! She is the best!
6 MILES TO GO – Joshua and Annamarie have grown up before our very eyes this summer. Joshua is learning to ride his bike without training wheels. Annamarie is beginning to help her mother more and more and is such a good mother to her baby! I thank the LORD for you guys too!

3 MILES TO GO – It isn’t often that people have or take the opportunity to do something this monumental and they certainly don’t often get to do it with quite possibly the best friend that the LORD has ever given me, MY FATHER! Our relationship has changes with each passing day as he has seen my flaws and doesn’t laugh at me for them for which I am grateful! He has put up with my stubbornness and graciously keeps it to himself when he is right and I am wrong. He has joyfully paid for all expenses and has never once brought it up as something to make me do things his way because of it. I will tell one thing at this point that I was very surprised about. A few days before we left Dad and I went out on a 30 mile ride. It was windy and hot. By the end of the ride he was worn out and as I rode home I commented to Abigail that I would just have to resign myself to going much slower than I would like to on the trip. All day today, Dad was in the lead and set a very nice and challenging speed. My fear of feeling frustrated with his slow pace never came to fruition and he is truly a man of steel! 60 years old and pushing me to my limit sometimes! Great job Dad and thanks for making me feel good by saying that you had to keep up with me when often it was the other way around! Thank you Dad for everything!
1 MILE TO GO – It is almost over and though I am not sure I want the trip to end, I do want this day to end so that I can get DRY!!

We arrived at West Haven State Park and found our way down to the beach and took the final picture of our ride!

The feeling of accomplishment was overwhelming! 3945.1 miles of biking! Not bad!