Raleigh, North Carolina - Done

Day 47 - Since the day's ride was fairly short, we got to sleep in a little and leave a little later. The ride took a big group of us through Frederick, Maryland which has a beautiful historic district. After passing through and getting a quick lunch it was not that much farther to Clarksburg, Maryland where we set up camp for the night. Riding through Maryland offered some very nice rolling hills and wide open fields. For being such a small state, Maryland is incredibly diverse.

Dinner at camp that night was a little quiet. There was a general bittersweet vibe running through the entire group. I suspect that everyone was a little torn between having to leave such an incredible experience on one hand but also the feeling of relief on the other hand.

Most of us cleaned our bikes up that night as to look presentable for the ride into DC the next day and afterwards, around a big camp fire, a bunch of us stayed awake being loud and obnoxious and laughing at each other for the last night.

Day 48 - It was a strange feeling to pack up my tent for the last time. After a quick breakfast, a large group of us rode out together through the beautiful Maryland rolling hills. We were shaded by trees on both sides and big fields beyond them. I once again found myself riding with Noah and we rode in silence to our first rest stop.

After regrouping Noah and I set out for DC with a bunch of other riders. We rode through the busy streets and highways on the outskirts before finally getting on a very crowded path that took us right alongside the Potomac River before spitting us out just a little ways from the finish line near the Lincoln Memorial.

After getting lunch from the Greek restaurant of a past big rider, Ed, Austin, Greg, Chad, Noah, Simon, Catie, Rachel, Letty, and I rode together towards the finish line at the intersection of 23 and Constitution to conclude the 2008 Big Ride Across America.

The experience was all together too much fun and too incredible for me to be happy that it is done. I have learned so many things about myself and while I do not think that I will behave any differently, I definitely think much differently.

To all those that sponsored me, thank you for your financial backing.
To my fellow big riders, thank you for the good times.
To friends and family, thank you for your support.

Thanks for reading and I hope that you all enjoyed it.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania - Day 46

Day 41 - After waking up late and hastily packing all my wet things I left with Reuben, Austin and Ed. The first stop was at Kent State University; which, for all you history buffs, was the setting for the Kent State protest shootings in 1970. However, being famously unaware of everything, I knew it as the part-time college of writer and Raleigh native, David Sedaris. The ride was short and relatively flat so most of us got in to our lakeside camp in New Waterford, Ohio with a lot of time to spare.

Day 42 - Today was another short day; however, crossing over into Pennsylvania we began our tour of the Appalachians. Thus, rolling hills turned into mountainous climbs and descents. The upside was that the scenery became much more beautiful and tall trees shaded us from the beating sun. Early on, just after crossing the state line, we passed by a nuclear power plant which was pretty awesome-looking and after a short breakfast stop we kept on going and eventually Ed, Austin, Reuben and I caught up with Chad and Greg and rolled into camp in Washington, Pennsylvania with them.

Instead of taking a shower that night, I opted to jump in the pool and swim around for a little bit with Noah and Simon. As I nonchalantly watched Noah toss in a pair of his freshly-used bike shorts and rinse and wring them out right in the pool, I realized that my mother is probably going to be disgusted by my new standards of hygiene when I get back home. That night, for the first time of the entire trip, we started a fire. Unfortunately, we did not have any s'more material, so shortly after some campfire chatter we dozed off.

Day 43 - Today's ride took us through some beautiful trails and back roads. In the densest part of the woods the canopy above us filtered the bright sun in through the tall trees and made the road speckle and dance with bright lights. Sadly, since there was very little light exposure during this part I was unable to take any clear pictures.

Eventually, we came to a small town and after taking a wrong turn up a monster hill and then back down we met up with the other riders on the Yough River Trail. Although the trail was mainly limestone, the riding was relatively smooth and the lack of traffic was refreshing. After a lunch stop thirty miles from camp, Reuben and I left together and finished out the rest of the day on the trail leading right into Confluence.

Day 44 - Today we had the options of riding along a flat bike trail or climbing Mount Davis, the highest peak in Pennsylvania.

Of course, the people I usually ride with and myself decided to do the climb. It was an incredibly rewarding experience. Still though, it worried me when I had to stand up and put weight forward on my bike for fear of popping a wheelie. The climb was beautiful and the foggy morning was a peaceful contrast to my ready-to-explode heart.

That rest of the day featured a few smaller climbs and rolling hills. We ended up in Bedford at a campground right next to the Cannondale factory. Dinner that night featured hamburgers, turkey burgers, veggie burgers and lots of salad. After a beautiful lakeside dinner a few of us stayed around just chatting and realized that going back to civilization is going to be so strange. I feel as though I have forgotten about nearly all social conventions. Forgive the awkwardness, please.

Day 45 - Our ride leaders described this day as the hardest day on the ride - the "final exam" if you will. The first forty miles featured several big climbs and quick descents. The last sixty miles consisted mainly of rolling hills and one last ridge to climb and descend over before we arrived in Gettysburg.

As per usual, I rode with Ed, Austin and Reuben. However, Patty's friend Chappy joined us today and she told him to ride fast. Being the idiot that I am, I tried to stick with him and thirty miles left to camp I just could not sustain his pace, so I found Chuck and Reuben who hauled me into camp past all the battlefields.

After showering and settling down, a bunch of us went out to dinner in downtown Gettysburg. Afterwards, Simon and I walked through the battlefields checking out the attractions and making our own tour in the extremely creepy nighttime.

Day 46 - Doug, Nick, James, Stephanie, Ed, Austin and I went to town for a spot of breakfast and afterwards Doug, Nick, James and I rode our bikes through the battlefields and stopped every now and then to read the plaques set up where important scrimmages and battles took place.

A dramatic interpretation of the Union destroying the Confederacy
(Note: Doug wearing a Team USA Jersey)

I am only two days away from completion and as I have said before, this trip has been incredible and I do not want it to end. Tomorrow I will end up in Clarksburg, Maryland and the next day I will be in Washington DC. Expect my last update complete with final thoughts sometime after I get back to North Carolina.

Burton, Ohio - Day 40

Day 36 - Our last full riding day in Indiana provided for some nice, long and flat riding. We passed by some very nice sunflower fields and although the day was fairly sweltering the ride was still enjoyable.

We ended up in Kendallville, Indiana that night and the mayor met us that night along with a group of friendly locals who cooked us a hearty portion of hamburgers. The reigning debate at dinner that night was "Would you rather fight an orangutan or a tiger?" After we bickered for about an hour, we decided that the only way to answer the question would be to acquire one of each. Shortly after coming to this conclusion we terminated the argument.

Day 37 - The same locals who catered to us the previous night provided a delicious breakfast of pancakes, sausage and eggs. Apparently they did not realize how much we eat though because one kind sir was sent to buy more eggs for pancake batter. I rode in a large group today and we crossed over into Ohio not too far into the day's ride.

Austin (dangerous...), Rueben, Doug and Chad

We ended up at the local fairgrounds that night in Napoleon, Ohio. After going to the pool and enjoying a beautiful summer day reminiscent to those of my middle school days everyone enjoyed a delicious meal of chicken and vegetable kebabs. Shortly before turning in to bed we also enjoyed a domestic disturbance across the street that involved a police car and bright flashing lights. You have to love small-town Ohio.

Day 38 - I did not feel fast today so I rode by myself. On the other hand, in slowing down I got to enjoy a lot of the beautiful Ohio countryside scenery. So far, I think that Ohio has the best small towns. They all look beautiful with houses similar to those in the Olde Raleigh historic district. That night we stayed at a KOA campground in Sandusky, Ohio and a bunch of people went to the Cedar Point amusement park while those of us who do not enjoy large crowds stayed behind in camp to relax.

Poor bird had a broken wing

Day 39 - Today took us through Cleveland on the way to Burton, Ohio. My sister Carolyn went to Case Western, so when I got to the university I got off my bike and wandered around the campus that I had visited once when I was only ten. Cleveland is a really great city right next to Lake Erie. There are a lot of great places to get lost in downtown and around the university. It is just such a big city that you really could not get bored. There is a small street called Coventry that is very similar to Franklin Street in Chapel Hill: a lot of college students and faculty sitting outside drinking coffee and exploring book shops.

Lake Erie

After leaving Cleveland and its suburbs, there were lots of hills to climb and descend. I feel as though as I approach the East Coast I am seeing more diverse landscapes and more trees. After getting into Burton and settling down Sharon cooked us a delicious meal of curry chicken with rice and naan. Following a short Beatles listening party everyone dozed off quickly while Nick and I dreamed about biking Europe next summer.

Day 40 - After an early wakeup a small group of us went out to breakfast and in exchange for a good bike cleaning Austin paid for my meal of biscuits and gravy, pancakes, eggs, and sausage. I then did some souvenir shopping and then got a haircut at a small barber shop.

Before our next rest day we will leave the state of Ohio and enter Pennsylvania. There are only eight more days left in this trip and already I have begun to dread the end. Expect my penultimate update August 7.

If you want to be there to commiserate/celebrate with me in DC, then plan on being there around noon on August 9. The finish is going to be at the intersection of 23 Street and Constitution Avenue. Give me a call if you plan on it and I can give you an updated ETA the night before.