Last Day (Mitch): I get by with a little help...

from my friends.

By now you all know that we finished the ride. It took some planning, a great measure of luck, and a crew of folks to make it all happen.

Katie: for supporting me through all of my training rides to get into shape do do this thing, and for getting Henrik and I to Cherokee and up to Boone...

Susan and Paul: for doing the road support thing as well as it could possibly be done.

Aaron: at The Bicycle Chain in Raleigh for going the extra mile (or ten) to get Henrik's rental bike set up just right.

Perry: for lending the roof box that made it possible to fit 4 people and their 5 days of supplies into a Honda Element.

Jason: for all those long early Saturday morning tempo rides and Wednesday throw-downs.

Henrik: for being nuts enough to do this thing with me: joys doubled, sorrows halved.

We couldn't have had better luck with the weather. This has been the best solid 5 days of weather that I can remember experiencing... How many days in a row do you usually get in NC and VA with highs in the mid 70s and lows ing the 50s with no rain...

We had no equipment problems. Except for the time when I was searching for an easier gear that I didn't have, and shifted my chain into my wheel, (user error)

I had the idea to do this ride about 6 years ago, and once thought that it would never happen. It's a very gratifying feeling to be sitting here thinking that it all came together. It'll take a while before it all sinks in. It was really that much fun. It feels like we packed about a month worth of life into 5 days. It will be strange to wake up tomorrow and not start getting ready for another 7 hour day on the bike. It became normal around day 3.

Coming down the last few miles, I had some very strange feelings. First off, my knee which had been hurting for the previous 5 hours of riding started to feel better. As the mile markers got smaller and smaller, I was both excited and a little sad to see the end of the road coming. I kind of didn't want it to end. I mean I did want to actually finish the parkway and I did miss being back home, but I just really enjoyed the whole experience and wanted to hold onto it for just a little longer. I reckon that's the sign of a really good time. I guess I'll just have to plan another one of these crazy adventures, and see how it turns out.

///Mitch