Day 19: 6/3/10 Orange, VA to Williamsburg, VA

Click below for today's route and ride stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/35581743

Awoke this morning with mixed feelings. 

On one hand, it's hard to believe its been just under three weeks since we have been on the road and that in 9 hours or so we will run out of road and hit the Atlantic Ocean.  We have become so accustomed to the daily routine (wake up, get dressed, pump tires, fill bottles, eat breakfast in the parking lot, ride for 10 to 12 hours, clean and fix bile, take shower, eat dinner, sleep ... repeat), the prospect of reintegrating the real world seems oddly unsettling.  This has been a great escape for me, a place where no one can find me, where there are no emails, voicemails and all that surrounds you is peace and the beauty of the countryside ... and a few snarling pit bulls which were fortunately chained in some one's yard.  Our biggest responsibility for three weeks was simply to pedal the bicycle down the road and try not to get too lost.  Ahh, here's to simplicity!

On the other hand, I miss my family terribly and all of the comforts of home.  I became a new uncle 2 days before the start of this trip and I can't wait to see my new niece.  My dad turned 70 so we will need to have a belated celebration.  Yes, although this has been a great adventure, it is time to get to the beach, celebrate for a moment and get back to reality.

While yesterday's ride was the Mont Ventoux, today is the Champs-Élysées, traditionally an easy-paced, ceremonial ride to the finish.

We began the morning in the parking lot with Lon providing some last minute ride instructions.  Traditionally, the last day of PAC Tour crossings have concluded with the whole group riding to the beach together, all wearing their tour jerseys.  Although our ride today was a flat 140 miles or so, we would continue to start in staggered small groups (as not to get too bunched together on the road - like a pee wee soccer game) and within the last several miles of the route, we would wait for all riders to assemble so we could do the group ride to the finish.  At 6:00 a.m., Lon asked the first group (these are usually the fast riders) to go ahead and depart.  While I don't really know Lon well at all, he strikes me as someone who's on the more reserved and understated side of things, which made his next comment pretty hilarious.  After a few minutes had passed, "OK, the mediocre group can leave now".  Everyone busted up.

We were on our way, and after a few miles of moving through the early morning quiet streets of Orange, VA, we were routed onto some even more tranquil, lesser traveled Virginia back roads, most of which were moderately winding, usually flanked on either side by tall tree cover and the smell of pine.  In the morning, we rode in larger pace lines, where we moved along at a swift, but not labored pace.  By the time we hit the 40 mile mark and our first refueling stop of the day, we found ourselves in my favorite town of the trip thus far, that being the town of Bumpass.  How fitting!

Lunch was served in a quiet park along the way which we had entirely to ourselves.  We could tell we were getting close to the ocean because the soil was becoming predominantly sandy.  After a nice big lunch, we continued in fairly large groups but slowed our pace considerably, with less than 50 miles to go and it being still fairly early in the day, there was no need to rush.  The tenor of the group seemed to be to savor these last few miles, enjoy one an other's company and reach the beach by 3:30 to 4:00.  As we arrived at the last SAG stop of the trip about 20 miles from the ocean, we got some news that one of our riders was back about 30 minutes due to some nagging flats and such.  So we basically took a very long SAG at which point I killed the better part of a 2 liter bottle of cream soda.  Yum!

Knowing our missing rider would be along shortly, we soft pedaled into busier streets and finally crossed into the corporate limits of Williamsburg.  Within a few more miles we merged onto the Colonial National Historic Parkway for the last 10 miles or so of our expedition.  This was a very scenic and green stretch of road, unfortunately, the roadway surface was very rough, not quite as bad as cobblestone, but just annoying enough to think that someone wanted one last shot at my aching hands and butt!  But alas, I win!

We rode the last mile to the beach very slowly in two lines.  Spirits were most definitely soaring to see the open waters of Chesapeake Bay and the vast ocean which lay beyond.  Susan and the rest of the crew were waiting for us with a finish line tape stretched across the road as we rolled onto Yorktown beach.

For me, it was shoes off and roll the bike through the sand as I carried it into the Atlantic to commemorate the completion of this fantastic journey.  The cool waters of the ocean and sand between my toes were heaven on earth.  Randy opted for a bit more celebration as he completely submerged himself.  We took pause for some photo ops, savored our accomplishment a moment longer and it was time to board up for the trek to our hotel for the night.  We actually rode past our hotel on the way to the Parkway, which was 15 miles from the beach.  Susan and Lon welcomed any riders who wished to ride their bikes back to the hotel but offered a shuttle option in the van.  Wouldn't you know it, there was not a soul who wished to backtrack on their bike an additional 15 miles!

As thrilling as it was to reach the ocean, it did not take long for things to get back to business, reminders that the real world was calling us again.  Back at the hotel, riders were busy breaking down their bikes, packing them and arranging for them to be shipped back home, plans for airport shuttles were being made, we were settling up on our tabs for all of the inner tubes, tires and bike parts we needed along the way to keep us rolling.  Good thing there was a Dairy Queen 50 feet from the hotel parking lot so I could de-stress from this flurry of activity.

An hour or more later, we all met across from the hotel at Pizza Uno for a wrap party.  A number of spouses and friends of riders were on hand who met up with us at the beach.  Following that, we all went back to the hotel meeting room for ice cream and cake (it was also Patrick's birthday).  Susan made a slide show set to music which reviewed hundreds of pictures of our journey across the country.  This was way cool. 

Susan and Lon presented plaques to all of the riders and crew as commemoratives of our trip together and those riders who completed all of the miles each day also received a certificate which qualified them to participate in the solo division of the Race Across AMerica (RAAM).  This qualification is valid for a period of three years.  I think somewhere in the neighborhood of 11 of the 19 or so riders completed qualification.  I consider myself to be fortunate to be among these qualifiers.  While training, endurance, desire and sacrifice have much to do with this, I am mindful that there are a number of factors beyond our immediate control which are equally important, like avoiding illness and accidents which unfortunately sidelined some of our very strong riders at some point during the trip. 

This is the point at which I hope my dear wife has discontinued reading this blog as I now begin to ponder what one might do with a RAAM qualification.  This of course is no small undertaking.  To sucessfully complete RAAM as an official finisher, I would need to shave 7 days off of the trip we just completed, a daunting prospect for most endurance athletes.  We'll see ... have lots of free time to play with this question.

Here are some pics I took (or stole from others) of our final day on PAC Tour.

Lon giving morning instructions.  "OK, the mediocre group can go."

Quiet back roads of Virginia

Bumpass, VA (fitting indeed!)

Don't go there!

After 3,000 miles, we felt entitled to travel this road.

All dressed up, and no GO.

This looks like the right way.

Onto the Colonial (bumpy) Parkway

Lots of cool bridges like this.

Getting close.  Somebody check if that water's salty.

Made it.  YES!

Rob and Randy

Randy opted for a swim.

Lynn

Group shot.

Pizza party.

The CREW.  They took exceptional care of us.

The EFM group.  Qualified for solo RAAM.