Day 52 (6/28/22): The Last Real Ride
Start: Washington’s Crossing, PA
End: Sue and Steve Peckman’s House, Manasquan, NJ
Miles: 55
Elevation: 1,277 feet
The real riding came to an end today with a very nice jaunt through Mercer and Monmouth Counties New Jersey. Tish dropped me on the PA side of Washington’s Crossing (she did NOT want to go over the very narrow bridge with the van again), and I started a casual beeline for the coast on a picture-perfect morning. . Somehow, the weather on New Jersey on the day of the final real ride was almost identical to the weather in San Diego on the very first ride on April 20. Not complaining. I was a little concerned about Jersey drivers, but they were quite courteous, and the shoulders were very generous as I wound through suburban and farm country
As I got nearer to the coast, the reality hit that this was the last true ride of trek. (Saturday is my sprint to the finish.) I reflected on how much I’d miss this type of riding, but I wasn’t sad. I just felt overwhelmingly satisfied I was able to accomplish so much so safely. I also was hopeful that in my small way I’ve made a different for Type 1 Diabetics. And then, simply because I can’t help myself, I started assessing the ride and planning how to optimize the day based on my progress. The thought process went something like this, “Hey, I’m going to finish faster than I thought. Tish won’t be at the meeting point for at least 45 minutes. I bet Sue and Steve live really close to where I am right now. Wouldn’t be cool to say I rode my bike from my house to my very good high school friend’s house? I wonder if they’re home?” Next thing I know I’m sitting with Sue and Steve (and eventually Tish) in their backyard sipping iced tea, fending off their puppy Aja (she knew a cyclist when she smelled him), and having a wonderful catch up. Tish also managed to come away some of Sue’s famous sourdough starter so we might get some good homemade bread while in NJ.
From there it was up to Colonia to my sister-in-law’s house. Got to see the my niece and her husband’s kids as well which was a huge treat. I also had a chocolate/vanilla twist soft serve cone from Colonia Dairymaid—something I’d thought about (let’s be honest, I fantasized about it) many, many times during the hot days of Texas, Oklahoma, and Virginia. After a wonderful dinner, I headed to my Mom’s house in Scotch Plains. So great to see her and Valerie and looking forward to having all my sibs together later this week.
I’m going to break protocol and substitute What am I Grateful for Today to answer 2 questions I’ve been asked quite often over the past few weeks.
What was your favorite place?
To quote Roman Maroni, “That’s a fargin trick question!!!” (anyone?) Not only is it a trick question, but it’s one I truly can’t answer. Almost every place was special in its own way. Give me an open expanse or a path under a canopy of trees and, at that moment, it’s my favorite. I simply can’t compare the mountain meadows of eastern San Diego County, to the desert of Arizona, to the desert plain (at sunrise) in New Mexico, to the Turquois Highway, to the surprisingly green and rolling farmlands and hills of Oklahoma, to the marvelous towns along Route 66 in Kansas and Missouri, to the Ozarks, to the sublime hills and forests of Kentucky and Virginia, to 50 miles of canopied bike path in Maryland, to Pennsylvania Dutch farming country, and to the Atlantic coast of New Jersey. It was all spectacular. Go see for yourself.
Are you going to do this or something like this again?
That’s a definitive “no”. I am so glad I did this. I’m so grateful I had the time ability to do this (Tish’s buy-in was critical as well). I’ll always carry the experience and learnings with me, but I’m going to leave it as is. As I’ve mentioned to many of you, I feel the same way about doing another Iron Man. I’ve already done it. If only I could get the marathon bug out of my system…