WEDNESDAY, Annapolis, Maryland: 3,008 miles from Oceanside, California
So finally it is over. The three thousand miles from coast to coast were
completed this morning, east coast time, when we, the United Eight, rolled
into Annapolis, an attractive town packed with naval history. I can't see us
soaking in much of that history, though, for we are wrecked; physically and
emotionally we have all been at the absolute extreme.
To have seen America like this from the saddle of a bicycle has made the
country epic viewing. To have got across, from California to Maryland, in
under seven days was an astonishing achievement. We have stormed across this
continent at a pace of just under 20mph. We have also raised close to
£90,000 for CLIC Sargent, the cancer charity.
Perhaps the best part of the finish was the fact that the Surley Boys - also
known as Adventures for Cures or the Fixies or the Fixed-Gear Crew - had
waited to see us in. If you have been reading much of this blog, you will
know that we had been in a dogfight with these guys for the last three days.
It was brilliant competition played out in brilliant spirit.
When one of our team went past one of the Surley Boys on Monday night, he
reacted by screaming to the moon: "No f***ing way!" And then within minutes,
we were all stopped together at the next T-junction, pouring over the map
and directions, deciding all together which was the way to go.
So there they were at the finish, having beaten us and finished 30 minutes
earlier. They had champagne for us, a large entourage (they are local to
Annapolis) cheering us in and then we even started swapping shirts.
A mutual respect is what you come away with after something like this. They
know what we have been through and vice-versa and they, like us, know what
America looks like from this angle. It looks amazing, a view I will
certainly never forget.
TUESDAY 4:45PM, New Creek, West Virginia (2,766 miles down, 248 miles to go)
The end is now in sight which just about makes the pain possible to bear. Greg
LeMond once talked of the pain of the cyclist where "even your
eyelashes ache". I have come to understand a little of the meaning of
those words - though LeMond didn't spend his nights sharing an eight-bed RV
on the move with nine adults all looking for a space to rest their heads.
However, when I was woken, in the foothills of the Appalachians this morning,
feeling about as rough and unathletic as I have the last five, the thought
of getting back on the bike and riding towards the Maryland finish didn't
seem quite so bad for once.
To cross this country in this way has been an epic experience. The Americans
themselves have provided an interesting backdrop too. Of course, they think
that biking across the land of the free is utterly absurd, but as we crossed
Indiana and Ohio, the route occasionally took us through more suburban areas
and folk would watch us cycling by and come out to applaud us.
My team - the United Eight - have been
wearing pink race jerseys, to match the livery of CLIC Sargent, the cancer
charity for which we have been fundraising. We suspected that the pink would
create a stir, a bit of obvious adverse reaction, but we have had nothing of
the kind.
Congratulations are in order! What an amazing story and an amazing ride!
Ann, Pasadena, CA, USA
Its a fantastic ride. We cycled the route of the race on recumbents over 10 years ago in a more sensible 5 weeks and even that was exhausting. Seeing the people in the race go past us was inspiring but the racers who do it solo are made from something else. Good luck with the last 1000 miles!
Jon, haywards heath,
I found the blog! Not far to go now guys...
Angus Gardner, London, UK
Good luck with the summer heat.
I assume that the trip is being made from the West coast to the East coast because the major wind pattern is in that direction.
P. Brooks, Palm Bay , USA