Day 54
Miles – 20
Auburn, ME – Freeport, ME
LAST DAY!!!
Took our time this morning, timing it just right to meet Laureen’s parents and JoAnn and PopPop for our celebratory ride into Freeport, ME…only 20 miles! Eh, we could do it in about 2 hours. No big deal…there’s no more pain, just excitement and awe at what we were about to complete. As we mounted for the last time we wished we had champagne, like Lance Armstrong on his way to the Champs de Lise to claim his victory in the Tour de France.
The last day wasn’t without problems. There were 2: 1) Not a quarter mile into the journey, a flat tire; and 2) a dark raincloud hovering over us, which stopped us for about 15 minutes until we were able to see in front of us again. By the time we came upon Freeport, we were soaking wet from the rain and dirty from the mud kicked up by our tires.
The end went by quickly and relatively quiet, the only sound being our parents clapping alongside total strangers and a few “WooHoo’s” as we entered the ramp to the water. We all celebrated in our own ways–Matt and Jonathan by submerging their entire bodies in the water they worked so hard to reach, and Laureen talking her parents’ ears off about all of their adventures. We spent some time there by the water, looking out into the horizon, trying to process what we’ve just accomplished. For everything it was, we did it!
