Day 50 Manchester NH to Wallis Sands Beach NH

Day 50
Manchester NH to Wallis Sands Beach NH
Miles Ridden 52.5
Climbing 2100 Ft.
Total Miles Ridden 3691
Miles To Go 0


Last scramble to get packed and loaded into the vans without leaving something behind, last bad motel breakfast, and last warnings to stay safe out there, etc. all happened today.

Abbe from NJ. 85 pounds of determination in running shoes

After an unpleasant exit from grim Manchester over busy, broken roads we were quickly back into the pristine countryside of New Hampshire, although the roads were still pretty bad. No need to hurry as we had plenty of time to make to the gathering point by 11:45. Evin and I rode with as many riders as we could at a pace that allowed us to have last conversations. The forecast was for highs in the mid-90's later on but it was clear and pleasant in the morning.

Our last SAG stop was about halfway through the ride. We were under orders that bananas had to be eaten. Bananas are one of the staples of the ride. I usually had 4 or 5 a day and they went through hundreds of pounds of them but had overbought at the end.

Last coffee at Me and Ollie's in Exeter

About ten miles from the end we gathered in the upscale town of Exeter for a last coffee and pastry and then cruised into the junior high where we were to wait for the police escort...that never came. Michael, who had the accident in Michigan that resulted in four broken ribs and a concussion showed up. He said he wanted to ride the last 5 miles but his wife and doctor said no. He looked like he was still suffering the after-effects of the concussion. Hope the recovery is quick.   We sat around for about half an hour taking pictures and then the staff decided to go without the escort. 

The women of Across America North

Jon from the Bronx. Slowest rider and most likely to be in a van

 We rode slowly down to the beach entrance where a large crowd of relatives and friends greeted us, loudly. The tradition calls for us to take off our shoes and carry our bikes down to the water's edge ehere the rear wheel is dipped in the ocean. Then pictures are taken and a designated rider pours the water that was carried from the Pacific into the Atlantic. I'm pretty sure no invasive specie could survive seven weeks in the back of an uncooled  trailer.

Evin and Marsha 

After the ceremony and more good-byes, Evin and I loaded our bikes into the van that Marsha had rented and headed to the  hotel where the luggage was being dropped. I picked up a rental car, took a shower in their room and was off.

Much of the rest of the group brought their bikes to a shop where they would be packaged for shipping home. Most stayed overnight in Portsmouth and then took a shuttle to Boston in the morning for flights home.

It's over now and I'm home. I'll try tomorrow to put down some thoughts on what it all meant to me and what I got out of it.

Thanks for reading.