Our Adventures Continue...

From riding east to riding high My writing is too clumsy to adequately describe the joys of our final days of riding all the way to the coast, and my words are too limited to properly express the gratitude that I feel to so many. Thankfully Katherine's words aren't as clumsy and she already wrote a wonderful post (see www.fullercenterbiketrip.blogspot.com ) for our last day's ride down Victory Drive (that was the real name of the street), so that leaves me with "only" needing to attempt to express the tremendous sense of gratitude I feel towards so many. Here goes...My biggest thanks and "Oyee" goes to each of the riders who boldly responded to the call, including Chris Cosby who was ready to sign up for it even before I was ready to announce that it was happening! Thank you for putting your faith in us and for putting your faith into action. You are the heroes of this trip.But you aren't the only heroes. How could we say thank you enough to each of

Can't Stop Singin' (or getting flats) First off, thanks to the Shenks for hosting a great post-goodbye-party goodbye party. Oyee Colin for a delicious meal.For those who did not attend, came late or were preparing food, and especially for Auntie "M", here is the full Savannah version of the O Susanna song.And, by the way, when I got back to the RV my front tire was flat. Anyone have more than 13? O I left my home in Michigan for Californ-i-ay. I was headed to Savannah, gonna make it any day. San Diego, O don’t you cry for me, ‘cuz I made it to Savannah, just my bicycle and me. –repeat after each verse I’m from Chattahoochee Valley, I’m a builder don’t you see. And as well a lifelong cyclist, what a perfect ride for me. Well, we both came down from Jersey, though from vastly different exits; and a person from New Jersey is the only one who gets it. Well, I went out West from Florida, the sunshine was the same. Soon’s I set foot in Savannah I’ll be off to Notre Dame. I’

Thanks for hanging in there for Tony, he made the Atlantic and dipped his front tire into the water. The bikers were overjoyed to be at the finish line, but this is just the beginning of a lifelong commitment for them to help others and spread the word! Final statistics for Tony’s bike trip across America Total days: 56 Total biking days: 45 Average miles per day: 75 Total miles: 3322 Less truck driving days and breakdowns (broken spokes, etc): 404 Miles biked by Tony: 3017 (probably among the top 3) Total broken spokes by Tony: 5 Total broken spokes by everyone else: 0 Total flats by Tony: about 13 Total flats by everyone else: unknown – one person only had 3 Total money raised to date: $5,088 which means somewhere in the Democratic Republic of the Congo an entire house will be built with the funds raised by my friends and relatives – THANK YOU!

We stayed at Richmond Hills, United Methodist Church for the night and they fed us dinner. Great people, showers and air conditioning. It was an 85 mile day but with 3 or 4 rest stops it went fast and the folks were in. Some of Chris' folks came to be with us. We had a presentation and showed our video. Bed early. Up at 7:00am helping Chris cook breakfast. What a great group this is the all chip in and help. They biked 15 miles into Savannah and I brought the trailer in to the First Presbyterian Church. We all went out to dinner at Blue Moon Brewery down by the river. What a feast. It began to rain at 3:00pm and we scurried back to our homes. Tomorrow is the last 15 mile day. Let's ride!

These Bikers have kept me so busy, with their gettings up at 5am and their pool parties and their house renovations, I have not had time to get my thoughts together.  Tony is having the time of his life and enjoying every minute of it. Right now he is zonked out on the RV bed zzzzzzzing! They had a 110 mile day today from Americus Georgia to Hazelhurst. I followed along, they sang, they laughed, they ate and drank gallons of water. In the end they were one happy group when the contact at the United Methodist Church of Hazelhurst packed them all in the church van and took them for showers. We ate at the local Chinese Buffet, yum! and they might have danced the night away but Tony and I (the ole folks) are tucked away for the night in the RV. These kids are awesome. I say kids loosely. One in his 50's one in his 40's, the rest in their 20's or almost and then there is Tony my 61 year old kid. Here are some pictures of the team, 8 biked all the way from San Diego