Today was the first day that I didn't get up early to repack my panier bags and mount them on my bike.  Instead, I got up and put business clothing on and went to my office.  I drove a car, something I hadn't done in 65 days.  Fortunately for those other drivers and pedestrians, I remembered how to drive (it's like riding a bicycle...once you learn, you never forget).  I arrived safely at the office and was reassured when I saw that they hadn't moved and had forgotten to tell me.  My office was in the same spot and my stacks of files were exactly as I had left them...they seemed to beckon me to get busy.

I learned that I was now sharing my office. I have a roommate who just happens to be the new Managing Partner of the office.  I was told that he liked my location...hummm?  I haven't had a roommate since college.  I hope he isn't noisy and does his own dishes.

I forgot how to log on to my work computer and needed to ask Chris to help me.  When at first I counldn't log on, I began wondering if there was something else they hadn't told me while I was away but Chris reminded  me of the log on sequence and I was in...phew!  I think I broke into a sweat thinking about not riding today...I had a new "point A to point B" routine to get back into.  Somebody suggested that I could put a stationary bike behind my desk and duct tape the keyboard on the handlebars if it would make me feel more at home.  I actually thought they were serious.  Maybe this is like coming back from a serious illness...I shouldn't work a whole day but gradually work up my stamina.

The folks at work had been printing out my blogs and taping them to a file cabinet.  Everybody I ran into had questions about the ride and how I was feeling.  It was good to be back among work friends. While I was away, my friend Brian married the women he has been dating for 20 years...I thought the world was coming to an end. Run, and tell the others.

Tomorrow after work I will go to see my personal fitness trainer.  He will not be happy with me because my body has been busy consuming the muscle he help me build before I left on the trip.  I think we will be starting all over again.  He will call me names like girly man and junior high swimmer boy.  He really knows how to motivate.

My week now has work days and weekends.  While on the ride, I just had days.  This is no small differentiation but I'm not sure how I feel about that yet.

Last night there was a women sleeping in my bed! And I fed a dog this morning and took out the trash.  Hummm...I remember this stuff from before. What's this...no convenience store breakfast burrito in the morning?   You call this normal?

Day 65 – Hanging out in Cape May and Wildwood

Miles today – none

Total miles – 3606 the official final total

Sunday is my birthday and the day that I will make the ride “official” by dipping the front wheel of my trusty bike into the Atlantic Ocean.  You probably remember that I began my ride by dipping my rear wheel in the Pacific Ocean.  So the pictures that follow make it official…Coast to Coast in 65 days through 14 States and the District of Columbia.  I turn the pedal crank an estimated 1,360,000 times, drank 30 gallons of Vitamin Water, ate 300 Shot Blocs, crossed the Continental Divide 7 times, climbed to 11,600 feet above sea level, went through two sets of tires but didn’t have a single flat (amazing!), endured countless storms, saw elk/moose/wolves/eagles/cows/camels/kangaroos, rode on a variety of road surfaces, met amazingly wonderful people, slept in all kinds of weird places, toured with best friends, and discovered America in the best possible way…on a bicycle!

Here's the rear wheel dip in  the Pacific on June 5th...

The front wheel dip was really fun.  I carried my bike down the beach followed by a pack of friends. 

People on the beach also gathered around asking questions.  “What’s this all about?”  When we told them, several asked to have pictures taken with me.  I guess I’ll be in their family vacation photo albums as the crazy guy who biked America.  My friend H.P. brought Aquavit, a strong liqueur from his native country, Norway and we did shots on the beach.  On the way back to the hotel, a large family enjoying the beach applauded as we walked by and the beach patrol drove by and cheered.  What a feeling…what a way to cap off the trip.

Following the wheel dip we walked up to the Congress Hall Hotel for a party on the Great Lawn overlooking the ocean. 

The partygoers included my family, Donna’s family, my neighbors from Hershey’s Mill Estates, friends from Willis (work), representatives from the Arthritis Foundation and anybody who happened to walk through the lawn.

They had an amazing cake made.  Check this out…

I cannot express the feeling I had when I stepped back for a quite moment on the porch to observe the crowd.  I was overwhelmed by how blessed I am to have friends and family around me.  I felt their support every day of my ride.  Sorry to get gushy but I hope every one of you has the opportunity to experience in your lifetime what I felt as I looked over the gathering.  

Our party was planned from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  At 8:01 the skies above the party turned black, lightening and thunder flashed and rumbled, and the rains came.  How appropriate…a perfect finish to my ride…more rain!  Some of us sat on rocking chairs on the porch of the Victorian hotel and watched the light show over the Atlantic.  It was dramatic enough to gets some oooohs and aaaaahs from those assembled on the porch.  When the rains abated, we dashed to the car to join some partygoers who hadn’t had enough partying and came over to our house in Wildwood Crest for more food and drink.  Thanks to Arky (my mother in law) and the “girls” for putting together the party after the party…it was wonderful (especially the food).

As promised, I will continue to blog for a while so check back.  I’ll let you know how reentry to normal life is going.  I am pleased to report that Dakota, my dog, recognized me and was very happy to see…well, she doesn’t see that well so probably…smell me when I got home.

David

August 9, 2009

Day 64 – Harrington, DE to Cape May, NJ

Miles today – 48

Total miles – 3606

The adventure is almost finished.  I arrived yesterday in Cape May…greeted by family and friends as I got off of the Cape May Ferry accompanied by my friends Walt and Mark.

I wanted to let you know that I will be continuing the blog for a few more days so please check back.  I’ll be sharing some reflections about the ride and my re-entry into a normal life.

The final day’s ride began in Harrington, DE.  Walt, Mark and I decided to ride south on busy Route 13 so we could catch country road 18 East into Lewes, DE.  It was Saturday and summer vacationers were hurrying to the Delaware beaches.  We definitely wanted to stay off the major highways. 

About three miles into the trip we heard a load “ping” from Walt’s.  He had snapped a spoke and the rear wheel began to seriously wobble.  We stopped to duct tape the spokes together to prevent further damage and try our best to true the wheel so he could continue riding. We did an adequate job but Walt acquired a new nickname…Wobbly Walt.  Mark has fallen and he can't get up...actually he was setting the timer on his camera so we could all be in a picture.

A few miles later we turned east on Route 16 and discovered another Delaware road with a generous shoulder and pleasant scenery.  More States Highway Departments should take a lesson from Maryland and Delaware on how to properly build a bike friendly roadway. We dropped down Route 5 and onto Route 9 toward Lewes, DE.  We arrived at about noon and met my brother, Bill who had ridden down on his Harley to provide us with a motorcycle escort.

At 12:45 we began the smooth ferry crossing to Cape May.  We sat on the outside deck with pina colatas enjoying the sea breeze and the smell of the ocean that always signals pending relaxation when I get to the beach.  What a great feeling.  Toward the final minutes of the voyage, we went down to the bow of the boat and saw a crowd of friends and family who had gathered to great us at the ferry terminal. 

I particularly looked for my friend Bob Murray because he promised he would bring cold beer. 

As we rolled off the ferry, we were greeted by 20 friends and family cheering and hold posters that the kids had made.  What a heart warming scene. 

We gathered under a shade tree, popped Champaign, laughed and hugged…and celebrated a safe conclusion to my 3600 mile journey.  My friend Jack Yelverton had sent me an email at the beginning of the trip that simply said, “Have fun. Don’t die.”  Mission accomplished!

After our lawn party celebration, Mark, Wobbly Walt, John (McEnroe, who had biked down to meet us) and I rode the seven miles to Wildwood Crest. John and Mark continued on to Avalon.

Tomorrow I will do the official Atlantic Ocean wheel dip and then Party Like It’s 1999.

David

August 8, 2009  

Days 62 and 63

Miles – 0 on Thursday and 56 on Friday

Total miles – 3558

On Thursday I took a rest day because I am two days ahead of schedule and I love Annapolis.  When I lived in Baltimore I always enjoyed visiting the historic town with its shops and restaurants along the Chesapeake Bay. 

Again, my friend Mike Ortman had arranged visits by all three major TV stations in Baltimore.  I donned my riding gear even though I wasn’t riding today and from 10:30 to 12:30 all three networks showed up.  They had me biking up and down the street in front of my hotel while they filmed.  Appropriately, it rained during one of the tapings.

My friends Mark Matje and Walt Brod are biking to Annapolis today to meet up with me and ride.  Mark and Walt had arranged to meet at the trail head of the B&A trail at the BWI airport and ride together to Annapolis.  Simple, right?  Mark would ride the NCRR trail from York, PA to Hunt Valley, MD; hop on the light rail train to BWI.  Walt would grab the Amtrak train from 30^th Street Station in Philly and ride to BWI where he would meet Mark.  What’s the saying? Man plans, God laughs.  Mark’s part of the trip went  well…Walt’s, not so good.  Walt’s wife, Diana drove Walt to the train station where he learned that his train was delayed an hour.  When it was time to queue up for the train and he approached the gate with his bike, he was told that he was not permitted to take his bike on Amtrak unless it was a folding bike or disassembled and boxed.  His only option was to have Diana turn around and return to Philadelphia and drive him to Annapolis.  We finally all joined together.  Diana decide to stay so the four of us went into town to have dinner at McGarvey’s.  As we left the ice cream parlor, I noticed somebody on the deck of a 52’ sail boat moored across the street, the Gusto II from Camp Hill, PA.  I grew up in Camp Hill and was curious so I crossed the street and approached the boat. 

I asked the skipper his name…Bill Balaban! Bill and I both graduated from high school the same year but he went to Trinity and I went to Camp Hill High.  We traveled in the same circles and, while we weren’t close friends, we knew each other.  I hadn’t seen him in 40 years.  He is the second oldest of 13 children. His Dad was a prominent lawyer and the former Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner.  Bill was an attorney and had taken over Dad’s practice.  He invited all of us onboard his boat for adult beverages. What a great boat and it just doesn’t get any better than sitting aboard a yacht with a view of historic Annapolis as the sun goes down and the town fills with summer tourists.  Bill had brought the boat over with his good friend a sailing buddy, Jim.  We had a great time telling stories and laughing.  Again…what are the chances that I would meet up on the trip with a fellow Camp Hill resident after 40 years?

Day 63 – On Friday, my good friend and fellow Willis associate, Ed Amos, agreed to pick us up in his SUV and transport us over the Bay Bridge.  Bikes are not permitted on the bridge and the shuttle service that had performed this service had been a casualty of state budget cuts.  Ed came down and had breakfast with us and we loaded up the bikes.  Once over the bridge, we decided that Route 404 would be too dangerous, so Ed directed us to Route 18.  We assembled our bikes along the side of the road and shoved off on our way to Harrington, DE our home for the night. 

 Mark, Walt and I decided to stay on country roads.  With the help of my map, we rode on a series of secondary roads through Maryland farmland on generous shoulders with very little traffic. It was a perfect weather day providing sun shine and a slight breeze at our backs. 

We finally crossed into Delaware and arrived in Harrington, found our hotel and jumped into the swimming pool.

Tomorrow is the last day of my ride.  It hasn’t really hit me yet…the last day of my ride.  I glad to be sharing it with my friends.

David

August 7, 2009

Day 61 – Arlington, VA to Annapolis, MD

Miles today – 32 (I can explain)

Total miles – 3502

My day started early but not on the bike.  I needed to be in Bethesda by 7:30 because my friend Mike Ortman had arranged a live TV interview with FOX 5’s morning show.  I arranged a van cab to take me.  I had my bike and I had put all of my clothing in trash bags that I had gotten from the hotel.  I showed up in front of the studio and began to take the bags out and put them on my bike.  The security person saw me out there and, thinking I was a homeless person, came out asked said, “Can I help you?”  I replied, “Yes, I’m a guest on the morning show.  Can you direct me to the studio?”  She didn’t say it but I know she was thinking it…”Yeah, sure you are, buddy.”  But what she said was, “What is your name?” and she radioed to confirm that I was, in fact, a morning guest.  She directed me to the studio entrance.  I was interviewed by Allison, the morning host, live. 

Then I moved to a studio to be interviewed by FOX 29 in Philadelphia.  They put an ear piece on me and put me in front of a camera.  The interviewer was Jenn from the morning show in Philadelphia.  I was half way through the answer to her first question when she interrupted me by saying, “We love your story but we have breaking news.”  They went to a story about two journalists returning to America with some ex-President and some eccentric dude in North Korea.  What’s the big deal that this pre-empts the Arthritis Foundation?  Oh well.

On the street in front of the studio, my new challenge was how I can get from Bethesda to Annapolis.  The only safe way I could determine was to hop on the Metro train to the New Carrollton Station and take Route 450 east to Annapolis.  I rode up to the station but the security guard there reminded me that bikes are not permitted on the train until 10:00 am.  (My second encounter with security).  While I waited the 15 minutes a gentleman in uniform approached and began asking me about my bike.  I asked him about his military service and he told me he was a doctor at Walter Reed Medical Center.  Turns out he is a Psychiatrist working with solders returning from Iraq and was working on a self help book for solders and their families.  Charlie Hoge, MD is another hero I got a chance to meet.

Finally on the train, a very funny thing happened.  I guy got on the train, looked at me and said, “Hey, you’re that guy riding across America who was on television last night.”  I guess the awareness thing is working. 

I arrived in New Carrollton and asked a security guard (number three) how I get to Route 450.  As I headed east I noticed that there was what looked like a trail running along parallel with 450 and it looked safer.  It was the WB&A trail so I hopped on.  After about four miles the trail appeared to end.  Had I missed a turn?  Where I was trying to sort this out, a young girl stopped and asked me what happened to the trail.  So, Stephanie and I both tried to figure it out.  We decided to head north and while riding, we stopped and asked a road crew if we could back on the trail.  One of the workers confirmed that we could if we rode north about another mile and a half and sure enough, there it was.  Success!  Not so fast…one mile into the ride, the trail abruptly stopped at a river with no bridge to the other side.  This fact was left off of the trail maps!  Our only option was to retrace out tracks to 450 and head east.  In a short while, we met Bob who was riding a nice road bike.  He confirmed that we would get on a nicer, safer road if we continued on Route 450 so we did.  Route 450 becomes West Street in Annapolis which took me directly to my motel.  I said farewell to Stephanie whose Dad was picking her up in Annapolis.    

At 6:00 pm I walked done to Hell Point Restaurant in Annapolis to meet friends from the Maryland Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and the Willis office.

Annapolis has always been one of my favorite places.

What a great day…. television, trains, riding and dinner with friends.

David

August 5, 2009

Day 60 – Mr. David Goes to Washington

Miles today – 0

If you haven’t seen the coverage of my ride that aired on Channel 7 in DC, check out the link:

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0809/646297.html

I took a rest day to take care of some media and politics.  After breakfast I took the Metro into Washington, DC to meet with Jennifer McBride who represents the Arthritis Foundation “on the Hill”.  Jennifer had scheduled us to meet with Sen. Robert Casey’s and Sen. Arlen Specter’s staff.  The Arthritis Foundation wanted to be promoting its position on Healthcare Reform and to get support for the Arthritis Prevention, Treatment and Cure Act.  Jennifer prepared me with discussion points and we headed over to the Capitol Senate office buildings. 

Bob Casey has already signed on to our Act so we used our time there to discuss aspects of Healthcare Reform that we view as priorities for kids and adults with arthritis.  Then it was off to Sen. Specter’s office.  While we waited for his staff person, Arlen himself came out of his office so I had an opportunity to introduce myself.  He was with a few other people so I didn’t press for the photo opportunity.  Specter has not signed on as a sponsor yet but his staff advised the he supports much of our agenda.  I think we had good meetings and I hope that good things result.

Jennifer and I went into the DC Chapter’s office and talked to some friends there.  Always good to see Dr. Patience White on her home turf.

I took Metro back to Crystal City and caught up on some work then jumped back on the Metro to Bethesda and Comcast SportNet’s studio.  Their Washington Post LIVE show airs from 5:00 pm to 6:00 and focuses on sports topics.  I was live on air in DC for about 10 minutes.  It was fun being on the set in the studio of a live show.  I think it went well.  Ivan, the show’s host, was great and he plugged the Arthritis.org website.

Tomorrow I will be live on FOX 5 in DC and on FOX 29 in Philadelphia at around 8:45 am.  This media stuff is exhausting…I hope I can find some time to finish the ride.

David

August 4, 2009

Day 59 – Winchester, VA to Arlington, VA

Miles today – 78

Total miles – 3470

First…I forgot to post this picture from West Virginia…

The Honeymooner’s Gun Shop???  There has to be a joke here but I’ll leave it to your imagination (i.e. was it a shot gun wedding? etc.)

Note…the blog site was down over the weekend so; to get caught up, you need to read days 57, 58 and 59.

Jerry and Julie warned me at dinner last night that Route 7 going east out of Winchester was not a safe road for a bicycle to ride.  Many locals work in the DC surrounds and travel 7 in some kind of hurry to get to work.  I appreciated Jerry’s and Julie’s warnings but figured I had already survived some dangerous roads…I’ll be fine.  I aimed east at 7:30 and just out of town, the road became a two lane highway with no shoulder and people driving all sorts of vehicles as if they were stuntmen for Mad Max, Escape from Thunderdome.  Can’t you people relax and drive like normal people?  The clincher was a wide load truck that came so close to me that I had to bail out into the road gutter to keep from being wacked in the head by the front end loader he was hauling…total disregard for my presence and right to be on this road.  Ahead the road split and I decided to try Business Route 7 toward Berryville.  I figured I would encounter fewer cars but I also knew from the map that this country road rejoined the demolition derby in about four miles.

 In Berryville I saw a man preparing to put gas in his car at the corner gas station so I asked him if there would be an alternative route to Purcellville.  He told me that I had two choices…wait an hour and a half until rush hour traffic reduced or allow him to load my bike in the back of his Jeep so he could drive me past the unsafe part of Route 7 and drop me off on a country road that would safely take me to Purcellville.  Option one would cause me to miss being interviewed by two DC television stations so, I opted for option two. We stuffed my bike in the back of his Jeep and rejoined NASCAR-like Route 7. During the drive we struck up a conversation.  I learned that my new friend was a self-confessed car addict. He owned a Land Rover, a BMI, a Porsche and I believe 3 classic MGs.  He knew all of the back roads because these were his favorite roads to put the MGs through their paces.  Is this my luck or what?  The guy I happen to meet at the corner gas station is a fellow car geek who just happens to know safe back roads and is kind enough to help out a complete stranger.  Over the ridge he took a right and dropped me off on Snickerville Road.  He introduced himself as Mark English…what a great name for a guy who owns and restores MGs. Thanks, Mark for making the world a better place.

Snickerville Road was peppered with some of the nicest estate homes I have seen so the ride was not only safe but beautiful reminding me of the country roads around my home in Chester County.  I followed Mark’s clear directions and soon arrived in Purcellville.  I asked a nice women working in her garden if she could direct me to the W&OD bike trail…turned out I was only three blocks from the trail head.  The remainder of my day would be on the fantastic Virginia/DC trail system, one of the best in the country.

My friend and fellow Arthritis Foundation volunteer, Mike Ortman had arranged for two television interviews today.  I needed to be in Reston by 12:00 so I stopped and examined a trail map and calculated the time I would need to make these appointments.  Had I not taken the ride from Mark, I would have missed both opportunities to promote arthritis awareness.  I cruised into Reston, did both interviews and had lunch in Reston Town Center.

I got back on the W&OD not really knowing how I would get to Crystal City, my home for the next two days.  I called my friend Walt (who previously lived in Reston and often rode the trail).  He consulted his iPhone and advised me to take the W&OD until I could connect with the Mt Vernon Trail and head north.  There would be an “exit” off the Mt Vernon into Crystal City. I rode on and his iPhone assisted advice was perfect.  Along the way, I got another call from Mike…he had arranged an interview with DC channel 4.  They would meet me at my hotel.  Does this guy ever let up?  Chris, the cameraman from channel 4 called me while I was riding and gave me some confirming directions to my hotel and met me there shortly after I arrived.  We did the interview and shot some video. 

You will not be able to turn on a television in DC tonight without seeing my bearded face and learning about arthritis thanks to Mike Ortman.

David

August 3, 2009

Day 58 – Romney, WV to Winchester, VA

Miles today – 42

Total miles – 3392

My friend and Neighbor, John and I arose to a rainy overcast day in Romney, WV.  Mr. Mezz came up to the B&B to have coffee and wish us well as we headed out to a day of climbing. 

We were only doing 42 miles and John and I discussed that it was probably better to do the day in the rain than in heat.  We knew we had two fairly big climbs.  Route 50 didn’t have great shoulders and John and I rode side-by-side and talked which made the ride go quickly.  John rides with a mirror so he can see what’s coming behind us so he took the outside and I took the shoulder.  We entered Virginia under rainy skies.

We arrived in Winchester at about 12:30.  I pedaled on to my hotel.  John said he would meet me there after he changed. John had brought his camping shower equipment and found a spot out of public view and showered behind his car!  We met at my hotel for a late lunch and John drove me out to the Supersuds Laundromat so I could do some laundry.  While I was there I got a call from Julie Rhyne, a Winchester local and an active volunteer for the Arthritis Foundation’s Virginia Chapter.  She had arranged to have Winchester Channel 3 come over to my hotel for some filming and an interview so I grabbed a cab back to my hotel and changed back into my riding clothing.  Julie and her husband, Jerry invited me to dinner.  It was great to get to know them and hear Julie’s story and how she has coped with her Rheumatoid Arthritis since being diagnosed at age 14.  She and Jerry are courageous people and I really enjoyed our conversation.

David

August 2, 2009