Day 56- Epic Finish

52.2 miles- Enumclaw to Ballard, Seattle, WA

PEOPLE CAN BE EASILY PLACED IN TWO CATEGORIES
THOSE WHO ASK, WHY HASN'T SOMEONE DONE THIS AND
THOSE WHO ASK, WHO IS GOING TO STOP ME!

Back through Missouri I thought every few hours what I would do when I made it. Through the Rockies I thought about it only every few days. Now that I am here, I have absolutely know idea what to do. I imagined myself riding up with weight and collapsing onto the front lawn. I planned on stopping and putting beer in my water-bottle holders waiting to be opened after the last fateful spin of the legs. I thought I would be exhausted as soon as I got to the end.

What actually happened is this: I was woken up this morning by the preacher of the church I was camped out in. As I hadn't asked permission, he was not pleased. I assume he thought the rain I had received during the night was punishment enough as he let me pack up and be on my way. If he had been more annoyed, I would have told him that I just couldn't wait for Sunday mass.

I hardly stopped for breakfast before heading into the city. People in Seattle sure do love their hills- my last day was a bit of a roller coaster ride. After coming up the east side of the city on Rainier St. I found a bike path along Pugeot Sound and gazed across the water thinking- what in the world have I done. As I headed back into the streets from the bike path, my uncle, Charlie, and cousin, Georgia, were waiting in the car. After throwing my bags in the back, I rode the last 8 miles in wondrous weightlessness. I nearly fell off during my first pedal after the bags had been taken off- the wheel was unbelievably sensitive! Up and down a few hills and I was there! Had an enormous sandwich, a few beers, and haven't moved since. I cannot thank all the people who have helped me along the way enough.

Being here has not hit me yet. However, I imagine when I wake up in the morning and realize that I do not have to bike 70 miles during the day, I will be in full realization. After 3,828.6 miles in 56 days- averaging 75 miles a day (not including the 5 days off)- I am ready to sleep very very satisfied.

[I will post again in a couple days with closing thoughts, and get the rest of the pictures up and attached to the last few days.]

Day 55- Chinook Pass and Rainier Mountain

114.1 miles- Selah to Enumclaw, WA

The feeling as I reached the summit of my last climb of this trip was unexplicable. I felt like yelling as loud as I could for as long as I could. As it turned out, it was a good thing I went straight down as I did not get into Enumclaw until after 8pm. The top of the pass was 70 miles uphill for Selah and Yakima, with a steep grade for the last thirteen. As the pass only opened last week, the banks of snow on each side of the road were ten feet high in places. Attempting to keep my balance, I ran my hand through the banks to feel the snow turn to slush as it passed through my fingers. Really, the only way to explain this day is through pictures... Which will be up soon.

I am on the west side of the Cascades watching the sun go down with all the mountains in the United States at my back. I am less than 50 miles from Seattle. As I have not taken a day off in over 20 day, I am very very much looking forward to MY LAST DAY!