Today’s Date: August 7, 2024

Today’s Start Point: Swansboro, North Carolina

Today’s End Point: Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Total Miles: 30.28 Miles

Cumulative Miles: 4,940.61 Miles

The last day. I can’t believe that it is here. It wasn’t going to be a very long ride, but I knew it was going to be a wet one.

Leslie was not flying into Jacksonville, North Carolina until noon so I could sleep in so she would be able to be at the finish when I got there. In addition, another good friend from law school (these guys are the best), Paul Peralta, was coming over from Charlotte, North Carolina, to cheer me on.

Paul and his wife Elizabeth were part of a core group of friends in law school and we have been close ever since. As you can tell from this blog, I am fortunate to have a group of friends, from law school or otherwise, that have helped me on this journey.

It had been raining all morning when I left at noon, but at this point only a slight drizzle. I was familiar with the roads today since I have been on them many times while visiting Jenna and Brandon. Traffic was light because who in their right mind would be out during a tropical storm with tornadoes.

It was only 15 miles to Camp Lejeune, and the rain shifted from light to downpour, but once you are wet it really doesn’t matter. According to the weather report I was supposed to have a headwind but fortunately the report was wrong and it was a tailwind. I was at the base quickly and met Brandon at the gate. In order for me to get on base, I had to put my bike in his car and have him drive me (you can deduct 200 yards from my cumulative miles).

While we were unloading my bike, an MP stopped to see if everything was alright. After an exchange of IDs, he let us go on our way but he told me to ride on the cycle path for my own safety. Unfortunately the path was flooded so it took a little more time to navigate.

Paul had picked up Les at the airport and they were at another base gate. I left Brandon and he went to get Les and Paul on base. If our timing worked out, we should all end up at the beach at the same time.

From the entrance gate, I had another 15 miles to Onslow Beach. The beach is on the base and is a beautiful place when there isn’t a tropical storm. Appropriately, it took me a minute to find my way. The promised headwind appeared but it stopped raining. There were even a few peeks of the sun. After a day of constant rain, it looked like I might have a rain free welcome at the beach. Hallelujah!

I turned onto the short road that eventually led to the beach. Awaiting me at the end was Les, my daughter Jenna and my grandson Sam. Brandon and Paul came a few minutes later with a bottle of champagne. Hugs and high fives all around. Extra hugs with Sam. The rain graced us with its absence.

The pedaling was over. The only thing left to do was to push my bike through the sand and put my wheels in the Atlantic Ocean. It was harder to push my bike through the wet sand than some of the climbs. I savored the moment for a short minute until a Marine lifeguard came to tell us that there was a tornado warning in effect and that we had to leave the beach. Oh well, just another page in the adventure book.

It was back to Jenna and Brandon’s house for some charcuterie and an Old Fashioned (Brandon is an Officer and a Bartender).

I finally accomplished what I set out to do a few months ago. Although I knew the end was coming, it seemed to happen quickly. Everyone was asking me how I felt, and at this point I honestly don’t know. I am going to get a good night’s sleep, one where I will not need to worry about the weather tomorrow, will my bike be ok, will my legs work, where will I be sleeping and will I be able to get to my next stop based on the weather and my stamina. I will do my last post tomorrow with some closing thoughts, but I need to decompress with my little buddy Sam.

Goodnight everyone.