The Grand Finale!

Well, the Sea to Sea Bike Tour 2008 has officially ended. What an incredible feeling of accomplishment! What an awesome memory! It's hard to believe that it is all done. I have mixed feelings about that... sad that the fantastic sense of community is no longer... sad that cycling every day through gorgeous landscapes is over, but grateful that I do not have to cycle up such large inclines anytime soon!!

Our final day began with a buzz! We were feeling some pressure to cycle the 80 km. to our staging area by 1:00 p.m. Thankfully, Pete and I were able to get started by 7:30 a.m., so we could afford to stop for a few brief breaks. We began in light precipitation again. That was a bit stressful as it was somewhat foggy and the roads (including some steep areas) were a bit slippery. We had some tough climbs again -- though not quite as tough as the day's before. Much of our cycling was in urban, built-up areas, which were not as much fun for me. I dislike riding with a lot of traffic.

Along the way to Jersey City, Pete and I stopped for a second breakfast at a little cafe enjoyed by the locals. There we tried out the local "Taylor ham" with eggs and cheese on a bagel -- yummy! Our friends, Gayle and Rob, happened to pop in at the same venue, so we enjoyed a hearty conversation with lots of laughs over this second breakfast.

Pete and I continued the rest of the way with no major stops... Gayle and Rob took advantage of an ice cream joint along the way (and unfortunately, had to deal with a flat tire just before arriving at the staging area). We made it to our staging area before 1:00 p.m., so there was time for a snack and then the official "group photo". At around 1:30 p.m., we were instructed to line up and cycle 3-4 abreast in order to take up a lane of traffic. Police escorted our ride for about the last 20 km. Some significant highways were blocked so that we could carry on as one group. What a sight we were, filling up the road with our matching jerseys, a blue and yellow stream of bikes! It was an incredible feeling! The excitement was contagious as cars honked at us and people cheered and clapped along the route. We eventually cycled into Liberty State Park in Jersey City, situated right across from Ellis Island, the place at which immigrants were admitted to the U.S.A. for so many years. During our final stretch, Mom & Dad, Nancy, Meridan & James greeted us with blasts from horns and clapping and cheering -- fabulous! Upon reaching the boat launch, we lined up several people deep and took turns dipping tires in the Atlantic Ocean. That's when reality hit! What a celebration!

After some words were shared, we were shuttled to a school in Wyckhoff, NJ, where we could pick up our bikes (also shuttled in tractor trailers) and gear. It was a time for setting out wet tents to dry, showering and getting ready for the "final supper" and the final Celebration Rally. Nancy met Pete and me and took our gear & bikes back to the hotel while Pete and I went to the dinner for the cyclists. We enjoyed another feast, this one hosted by Cedar Hill CRC. We ate and laughed with fellow cyclists, Dave V. and Rick D. from Pete's church and riding buddies, Gayle and Rob. Following the meal was the Celebration Rally, which I really enjoyed. The singing was great, the speaker inspiring and the testimonies enlightening! We were challenged by the speaker who had studied with Dr. John Perkins from Mendenhall, Mississippi, and had helped to bring transformation to a community in Boston, to think of ways to bring transformation to our own communities from the grassroots level. Dreaming of what the community would look like in the future helped pave the way for change, one step at a time. Now our job is to listen to/find what God is doing/where He's moving in our communities and tap into His design. There is hope for every community!

With that challenge in mind, I said my farewells to newfound cycling friends and await what God has next in store for me.
As I finish writing this, I am safe and sound at home, having spent 12 hours on the train from New York City (Penn Station, Manhattan) to Aldershot, ON today. What an enjoyable way to travel. Mom & Dad came along for the train ride while Nan & Pete and kids transported all the bike gear home in their van. I spent much of the day dozing in the train, but managed to catch some pretty scenery along the way. It was a relaxing trip home, but now the real life begins... School starts in two days!

The tour has been intense... I am still sifting through my thoughts/reflections and will add more posts in the next couple of days. I also hope to post some of the photo highlights. Stay tuned...