Day 48 - Saturday, August, 14th

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Clarksburg, MD to Washington D.C. - 55 miles
Riders of the day on day 48 riding into Washington D.C are Allan, Andrej, Ash, Beth, Brian, Bruce, Caroline, Catherine, Chris, Courtney, David V, David F, Erin, Gerry, Gray, Jeanette, Jennifer, Jessica, Joe, John, Justine, Kacy, Katie, Kelsey, Lucija, Matt, Paula, Scott B, Scott M, Steve, and Zack. Each of these riders has graduated from Big Ride University, Class of 2004.

 

I had hoped for a nice easy 54-mile ride into D.C., but it wasn’t to be. We rode through western Maryland horse farm country for the first 25 miles. All of it was quite hilly, and beautiful as well. We then joined the River Road, which was the hilliest river I’ve ever ridden on. I was graced with a bee sting under my helmet strap, followed by a rock, which ricocheted off my ankle then bike frame. It just wasn’t going to be an easy day on the last day. The rain did hold off though. We had packed up in a dry camp, and rain wasn’t’ expected from the hurricane until later in the day. As it turned out, it started sprinkling just as we got to our destination, and we hardly got wet at all.
The rest of the ride in was on the River Road, then the trail on the canal next to the Potomac. The trail was busy on this Saturday morning, but we were excited and made great time for the last ten miles to our destination.
We met at a café in the Old Post Office building to regroup, have some lunch, and prepare for the final mile of riding. Our friends and family would be waiting for us and we could hardly wait. We left two by two from the Post Office with a couple of minutes interval between us so that we’d arrive on the Mall where our reception was waiting with plenty of time between groups.
Scott and I were last to leave and enjoyed our cruise up past the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. Our Big Ride was ending, and we wanted to savor every minute. As we rode up to the scene of the reception, Scott raised his hand, and we held hands high as we rode across the finish line. Jeff was waiting with a certificate, Shelley and Jackie with big hugs and kisses, and the accomplishment of 3300 miles of riding across the country was firm in our bones, our muscles, and our hearts. Day 48 of the Big Ride was finished with Day 49 and beyond to follow. In a way, we’ll be on the Big Ride for the rest of our lives as we keep climbing the hill we’re on, one day at a time.

Our group shot as we left camp on the morning of Day 48.

A peaceful morning ride past the gorgeous farms of Western Maryland.
We all turned up the wrong road past this pond, then had to retrace our steps, so we got to see it from both sides. Scott rides past a nicely painted barn. Those white windows exist only as paint by the way.
I found my fourth Corgi just two blocks before the end of the ride. This was an incredible coincidence and another sign that we have been looked upon from above on this ride. He's a young male and his name is Skyler, This is a tunnel on the trail going into D.C. This tunnel was just before we left Maryland.
Our reception committee was quite varied. Here are three of the young scholars who were waiting patiently for our arrival Kacy's friends drove all the way from Texas to visit her in Gettysburg and greet her here, along with other family members. Katie also had a large contingent waiting for her.
Identical jerseys one more time as we cross the finish line. Jackie and Shelley were waiting as well. It was so nice to see them after being on the road for so long. Do I look happy?

 

The email I'll use this summer is brucesherman@mac.com. Send mail to this address to say hello and I'll be able to read it on the ride.

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