My feelings can not be described ... happy ... relieved ... satisfied ... content. These, and many more emotions poured forth when dipping the front wheel of my bike in the Atlantic Ocean (just east of Orleans, MA ... a small community on Cape Cod).
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh ... my ride is done! Just under 5400 miles and just under 16 weeks.
Bike and panniers are packaged and on the way back to Arizona. I will be flying back to the warmth (extreme heat??) of the desert on Tuesday, Sept. 21.
New England and Cape Cod are stunning ... leaves are beginning to change, but "peak change" is probably three weeks away. Not seeing the "peak" this year will allow me to return in the next couple of years.
I am spending time with friends (Nancy McCarthy and Peg & Wayne LeProsta) in Cape Cod ("Thank God the tourists are gone", as we locals say.) Weather is beautiful ... first ride in a vehicle other than my bike is a boat ride on Pleasant Bay ... a pleasant ride it is.
Back to Arizona ... looking forward to some bone-warming heat ... looking forward to seeing friends and family ... looking forward ...
Indeed, life is good.
Well, Randy. Now that I know how easy this posting a comment is, I am just in time for you to return. I suppose you will have to go on another adventure so I can follow AND COMMENT. Anyway, it has been great reading your blog. Of course, I sit here with envy-envy for the freedom, but not for the wayside bed situation. You truly have accomplished something significant, something most of us just dream of doing. It will be wonderful to see you again. Perhaps you will be the catalyst for the volleyball group to begin playing again. See you soon! Mary
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!! 5400 miles is a wonderful accomplishment. Hope to see you soon.
ReplyDeleteHey Randy~
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS! What an amazing accomplishment my friend!
I will miss your blog! Could you just make up stories and keep the blog going? Haha~
Happy Homecoming!
NO'B
Congrats Randy! This is Arturo, Chris' buddy. Amazing feat sir!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Randy!!! Your trip sounds absolutely amazing. You are an inspiration for us all to get up and do something. Not sure I have 5400 miles in me but you have definitely proven that anything is possible when you put your mind to it. Well done on your ride, and great job on the blog. I think you should be considering a writing career, pick up a publisher and get out there and do some adventure writing!
ReplyDeleteLate on the Congratulations but CONGRATULATIONS, even so! What a huge accomplishment! (I like the adventure writing idea, by the way.) I look forward to seeing you soon & celebrating with you!
ReplyDeleteWay to go Randy!!! After 5,400 miles, home does feel great doesn't it?. Thank you god for a safe trip!..We also passed up the leaf color and drove the VW van up to Bar Harbor, Me. instead after Ron finished the ride with the "group" at Hampton Beach, NH. and 2 days later, Gloucester, Ma. On our return trip home, between seeing a lot of National parks, Ron climbed back on the bike and rode a few more miles when we were near bike trails. We arrived here in Pt.Townsend just before Labor Day. Rarely having used motels or restaurants,(except Mc D.), it seemed funny to sleep in a bed and eat at our kitchen table after eating at picnic tables and sleeping in the VW van for 2 months. Strange but, Ron and I miss the trip and camping with our VW van, "Buttercup"... as time passes and fall is slipping into cooler & wetter weather, we are already planning our next adventure. Maybe to take our motor home south for the winter would be fun?
ReplyDeleteWe have enjoyed following your travels and feel you may have missed your calling...you really weave a story into your adventures...Let us know if you need a "Sag VW"...we may be going your way...your sometime fellow traveling companions...Kathy and Ron Desjardins
Very late with my congratulations (been on the motorized road myself). Randy, I am very happy for you and impressed with the feat. Hope you are warming in the sun by now. By the way, GREAT pic of you dipping your tire - who took that one?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed meeting you yesterday with the Bike and Breakfast crowd. I'm sorry I didn't take the time to ride and talk with you more; my loss. I hope you'll become a regular. Claire will be back this week and you will meet her soon. I've made a number of comments on your great blog. Thanks for helping me relive our trip once again. I wrote 30,000 some words about our 13 month trip at New Bohemians.net The sub link is Tandem, An American Love Story. You might enjoy parts of it.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo! You are just radiating. Or maybe that happy, shiny look is just beads of sweat rolling off your brow.
ReplyDeleteA very belated congratulations. We are still hoping to talk you into joing us for a ride in South America.
Best,
Amaya