Sussex, NJ to Jersey City, NJ

Well, this is it, the last day of the tour!!



Julie had to get to mile 19 for SAG today and everyone is getting going a half hour early today to make sure we reach the staging area, about 10 miles from Liberty State Park, by 1:00. So we were up before 5:30 and had to deal with putting away some wet bedding.



Everyone is pumped for today. It was still a 45 mile ride to the staging area, over more very hilly terrain. Is nothing level in this part of the country??! The day was again overcast until we reached the staging area and then the sun came out and it was hot and humid.



The cyclists all wore their SeaToSea jerseys today for the final ride. We were led from the staging area by a police escort, and we had a whole lane of the roads to ride 4-5 abreast. We were handed off from/to 3 police jurisdictions for the final 10 mile escort. What a great time we had hooting and hollering and celebrating enroute. We waved to everyone watching and had many cars honking for us and people waving, though they probably did not know what was going on.



We rode through tough parts of Newark and Jersey City on the way to Liberty State Park. As we approached the park we could see the Manhattan NY skyline, with the Empire State Building towering over all. It was erie, not seeing the WTC complex in the skyline.

Then as we rode through the park on the water edge, we rode by Ellis Island and the back side of the Statue of Liberty. It was then on through the park to the boat landing area, where the tire dipping ceremony as to be held. There were lots of people lining the bike path and I heard Julie calling to me. I had already passed and turned to see her. There standing next to her were our three sons, Jodi our daughter-in-law and grandkids, Jenni, Tyler, Sam, Ben and Lydia!!!!!! WHAT A SURPRISE!!!!! Julie and I had no idea they were coming to the end of the tour. It was a pretty emotional moment and I was so happy to be able to share the final end of the tour with them. This was the highlight of the tour!!!!

We did the tire dipping just after all the people gathered said the Lord's Prayer together. What an exciting moment. It still has not sunk in as to what we really accomplished as cyclists.

My family stayed for a great dinner held at the CR church in Wycoff, NJ that evening and a great celebration service held there also.

I am doing this post from a hotel as we are on our way HOME! We slept in the Christian Middle School hallway in Wycoff last night and stayed until noon Sunday to help clean up the trucks and dry our gear. The decals on the cooking trailer and semi trailer had to be removed. What a job as the decals are adhered to the trailers and pull off very hard, especially after baking on with the hot weather we had over the 9 weeks. When we left NJ, nearly all the decals had been removed, thanks to many from the tour that helped out.

I will post more final thoughts on the tour later, so check in again an a few days. Thanks for all your interest, support, and encouragement. The tour has raised over 2 million dollars to end the cycle of poverty for some people. I thank God for the health, safety, and strength I had to complete this great event.

To God be all the praise and glory!!

Love to all, P & J.