Yes, I did not ride today. I wasn't sure that I would ever ride again. But then Amy said, "Hey, maybe after the marathon, I should get serious about biking and we should ride across the country together." Ok, I'm in. How quickly we forget.
Two days ago I was only supposed to do 80 miles but I told Roger that I was going to go 100 because it may be the last time I ever do a century the rest of my life.
Then, Chris Haygood called today, Chris is a good friend who works at Bob Wallace Appliance (ask for him for all your appliance needs). Chris congratulated me and then said, "hey, I've got a favor, would you help me train and ride a century?" Ok, I'm in.
I really expected to be more emotional than I was at the end. I was even more emotional thinking about the end than I was at the end. However, I am finding it difficult to talk about the experience without being emotional as I get further from the finish yesterday.
Many thanks:
To God for his unfailing, love, mercy, patience and protection.
To the Shepherds of the Twickenham Church for their vision in affording me this opportunity and their continued daily Godly living and their daily Godly leading of the Twickenham Church.
To Amy for her love, her vigilance, her sacrifice, her support, her understanding of my need to do this, and for her ability to spend money.
To Kolton, Kooper, and Kody for surviving without their dad, steak, and salsa for 39 days.
To Lloyd Brooks, Brad Bass, Ben Logan, Jamie Kimbel, Jason Brooks, Suzanne Gass, Ben Logan again, Mark Thompson, Ed Sparks, Mark Chastain, Fred Tate, the Bass Family, and Roger Harwell.
Your friendship and sacrifice can only be described as Christlike.
To the Twickenham church family for your continued prayers, thoughts, blog comments, and survival at church in my absence. See, I told you I wasn't indispensable.
To all blog commenters. You will never know how much taking the time to post a comment kept me going.
To the faithful steed. (Ridden hard, and put away wet).
I am very concerned about getting yelled at by Brooke at Bicycles Etc., when he sees the condition of my drivetrain. It's not pretty. You guys at the shop prepare for the worst.
So, what's the moral of this story? I can't tell you right now. But you should hear lots of lessons in days to come.
The best part is, I'm still off for a month and a half.
We'll be home tomorrow. Kolton has football practice 3:30 PM. I may go and watch.
Final pictures.
Last Morning, Lake Butler, Fl..
That means "one more day."
We still have hills.
The family arrives for the big finish.
The long walk to the beach.(that's the Atlantic Ocean people)
It's a really long walk. The steed is not a great mudder.
I'm wet, I don't care.
Wow, the steed is heavy. I think I just hurt myself.
Who's the hot chick on the right?
A parting shot.
The steed, loaded for the last time and the ride home.
Merry Southern Tier Cross Country Tour to All and to All a Goodnight!
Lincoln
P.S. "COME ON PEOPLE GET OUT THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Location:Pensacola, Fl.