Day 50 Manchester NH to Portmouth NH

Day 50 The End of the Journey

Fifty days ago, some 55 individuals left the gray Pacific Ocean at Astoria, Oregon, bound for the Portsmouth New Hampshire, on the Atlantic seaboard. Some were avid cyclists and some were not. Some were in shape and some...were not. All had come to fulfill their own personal quest. All were changed along the way and all but one completed the journey. And everyone found something new inside themselves.

Day 50 started like most all of the previous 49. We had only 60 miles left to pedal and the weather was accomodating. It was cool in the New Hampshire woods, ready made for perfect cycling. The roads and traffic were accomodating as well, as we wound our way through small communities over the back roads of this beautiful state. I discovered early on in the morning ride that my camera battery was dead. So there are no pics until we get to the shores of the Atlantic at Wallis Sands State Beach. And then only because of the genorosity of Helen who loaned me her spare camera.

So we met and massed at Rye Junior high parking lot and were then escorted by the city police chief through the small community and to the beach, a distance of some 3-4 miles. Everyone was wearing the red white and blue jersey of America by Bicycle. At the beach it was pure chaos. Many familly members were on hand to meet their riders and the public joined in the impromptu celebration. The beach was crowded even though it was a Monday.


Some of the more adventutuous dove in the surf although it was chilly.

Others raised their bikes overhead to celebrate the event.

This is Mike and Matt from the LA area. They are a father/son team who rode a tandem. Great guys. Matt is going to be a senior in high school this fall. Think of the story he can tell of "what I did this summer".

Here's Margo with our two Swiss boys. These two police officers came all the way from Zurich to ride. And New Jersey Mark and his beautiful bride! One of my favorite guys!

Dan from Indiana on the left, Bill from Boulder, CO and moi. I spent more time riding with these two than anyone else. They are great guys and excellent cyclists. Thanks, guys!
Many of us pedaled off to visit Maine, albeit, for only a very time since we had to get back to the motel and dissamble our bikes for shipping. That's Nan on the left pic and ....your hero on the right. Yeah, we see ya!

And finally the ultimate triumph. A terrific and difficult endeavor.