The final day of the Northern Transcontinental was kind of a blur. We awoke 30 minutes earlier than usual (5:15am) and enjoyed our final pre-ride breakfast in the posh breakfast room of the Hampton Inn and then we were off after 6:30am. We would reach Williamsburg in just 60 miles or so and then another 15 miles to the water in Yorktown, but we still had to complete the ride and do so on quite a hot and humid day. It was a very nice final route, on Virginia back roads, filled with many historical markers and nice houses.
The plan was to regroup a few miles before the beach, which ended up working out fine. The final 15 miles to the beach was on the Colonial Parkway, which connects Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, in kind of a wooded preserve, shielded from modern influences. It was a great feeling to have our first whiff of salty ocean air and a view of the water (actually the York River) as we made our way to the regroup point. After everyone had assembled, we rode as one big group in a double line for the final two miles, rather dramatic in our matching green Northern tour jerseys.
It was great to have my parents at the finish, where the PAC Tour crew was ready with a tape line and big banner. Considering that all of the ride across the country was done without much attention, it was fun to finish with a cheering crowd of friends and family at the beach. We spent quite some time splashing about in the sand and water, startling the surrounding beachgoers. After photos and whooping it up, it was time for one final PAC Tour lunch at a picnic spot on the water, which my parents were able to enjoy as well.
Then we had to ride back 15 miles to the hotel for the worst part of any PAC Tour, which is disassembling our bikes and packing them for trip home. It’s a terrible scene in the parking lot, signaling with great finality the end of the great ride we had across the country together.
But we weren’t quite done. All of us and visiting guests then went next door for a pizza party and then back to the hotel for a slideshow and awards presentation. It was really fun to re-live the tour through the many great photos that the crew snapped during the trip, accompanied with fun music. The 30 days had a tendency to blend together, but I was surprised how many specific scenes I remembered with great detail.
PAC Tour gave us each a commemorative plaque, with photo and also a unique t-shirt with an elevation profile from our climbing day on the Bighorn in Wyoming. It’s really amazing what Lon and Susan put together while we’re in the middle of the hustle and bustle of a 30-day tour.
I might post some final thoughts later, but I’m looking forward to going home and seeing my wife Holly and our two cats Henry and Burlington, who lost their sister Chessie while I was gone.
The final pictures are:
- Williamsburg town sign
- waiting at the re-group point for all riders to arrive
- made it to the beach
- celebrating riders
- map is now complete
- bike packing in hot parking lot
- our wonderful crew
- Lon conducting the traditional map auction
CONGRATULATIONS! I look forward to pictures from Mom. Anne and Julia stayed over last night with us and are headed in the city today. Anne said she and Aunt Mary had a great time visiting with you.
x k
Congratulations! I have faithfully read your blog during this tour. It has been very interesting for me to read. Your words have helped me to experience to some degree your tour. From what I can tell, you were very prepared for this tour. It almost appeared that it was very challenging for you… you made it look so easy.
I do wonder if you would do it again and what would you do different? Another PAC blogger wrote what worked for her on this tour which I found very interesting. I’m wondering what worked for you on this tour as well.
Nice job, Charles. It sounds like you had a lot of fun and really enjoyed yourself in the PACTour biosphere bubble across the continent. Look forward to seeing you back in the Twin Cities as you return to ‘normal’ life again.