Day 7: Bethlehem PA to Lawrenceville NJ- We're baaack!
The last day of the ride is always sweet and bittersweet, but it's a day on which we continually remind ourselves to keep our heads in the game- it ain't over until the fat bike sings....
The last day is a short day, 55 miles over familiar roads to the picnic as we bike along the Delaware River in Pa, before crossing over the river at Philippsburg.
lush fields on either side, mountains in the horizon, and hundreds of butterflies fluttering around us. NJ still has some of my favorite cycling roads to this day...
Our ride co-chair, Tim Quinn was at the SAG, with his arm in a sling from a tumble he took when he biked over a milled section of road on Day 2. His co-chair, Julia, unfortunately had a much worse crash on Day 6. She was hit from behind by a car in a freak crash. The car that hit her was trying to carefully pass her when an inattentive and probably distracted driver of a pick-up truck speeding in the opposite direction crossed the yellow line, sideswiping the car that was passing Julia causing that car to hit Julia. Julia hit the windshield and went over the top of the car. She was attended to immediately by other riders as soon as she landed, an ambulance arrived quickly, and fortunately came out of the crash not requiring any surgeries but sustained some broken ribs, a broken nose, a fracture in her third vertebra and hairline fracture in her hip. She was smiling and joking at the hospital. We are so glad she is okay.
Speaking of safe, we are happy to report that my room mate, Jack, made it to the picnic in Pennington safe and sound. His boys, Ben and Gabe, faithfully stayed by his side the whole week, and the rest of our crew formed what we called the "Jack Bubble" as we made sure Jack stayed upright the whole week.
At the picnic, we had lunch, and ice cream (!) and put on our new jerseys in honor of being back in New Jersey (actually in honor of having completed the 39th Anchor House Ride for the Runaways!).
From the picnic, we did our traditional parade ride to Quakerbridge Mall with a police escort and neighbors and friends cheering along the route.
At the mall, it's a time for being grateful for an amazing week, and for getting back and safe and sound, and for saying good bye to all the amazing people who participated in this ride and adventure.
At the mall ceremony we learned that we had now raised over $460,000 and we fully expect to break a half million dollars for the kids of Anchor House. We are so glad to do something that we love for a cause that we love. Sweat equity for the sweet reward of helping others.
I want to extend a big thank you to all of my amazing riding buddies, to the Anchor House Ride Organizing Committee, and to all the incredible support people on the ride, to Pete Garnich for saving my bacon by providing me with his personal bike, and to Barbara and my family for their love, support and patience. I want to extend a big, big thank you to my good friends Silvia and Clive for putting me up (and putting up with me) both before and after the ride. And a big thanks to all who have read and followed the blog, and to those of you who have supported me (or supported other riders) on this ride to help support the very deserving kids of Anchor House.
The last day is a short day, 55 miles over familiar roads to the picnic as we bike along the Delaware River in Pa, before crossing over the river at Philippsburg.
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| On the road for Day 7! |
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Once we cross over to NJ we are on very familiar roads. We cycled along the Delaware on stunning River Road, and carefully crossed the railroad tracks where Jack fell cycling on this exact route two years ago. We biked through the lovely central NJ countryside. There's this one road we love outside of Milford withlush fields on either side, mountains in the horizon, and hundreds of butterflies fluttering around us. NJ still has some of my favorite cycling roads to this day...
We got to our last SAG stop in Stockton, and had our last bite of the lovely watermelons we've been enjoying all week. And had the last peanut butter concoctions we could get down- SO MUCH PEANUT BUTTER this week.
Our ride co-chair, Tim Quinn was at the SAG, with his arm in a sling from a tumble he took when he biked over a milled section of road on Day 2. His co-chair, Julia, unfortunately had a much worse crash on Day 6. She was hit from behind by a car in a freak crash. The car that hit her was trying to carefully pass her when an inattentive and probably distracted driver of a pick-up truck speeding in the opposite direction crossed the yellow line, sideswiping the car that was passing Julia causing that car to hit Julia. Julia hit the windshield and went over the top of the car. She was attended to immediately by other riders as soon as she landed, an ambulance arrived quickly, and fortunately came out of the crash not requiring any surgeries but sustained some broken ribs, a broken nose, a fracture in her third vertebra and hairline fracture in her hip. She was smiling and joking at the hospital. We are so glad she is okay.
Speaking of safe, we are happy to report that my room mate, Jack, made it to the picnic in Pennington safe and sound. His boys, Ben and Gabe, faithfully stayed by his side the whole week, and the rest of our crew formed what we called the "Jack Bubble" as we made sure Jack stayed upright the whole week.
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| Jack's supporters |
From the picnic, we did our traditional parade ride to Quakerbridge Mall with a police escort and neighbors and friends cheering along the route.
At the mall, it's a time for being grateful for an amazing week, and for getting back and safe and sound, and for saying good bye to all the amazing people who participated in this ride and adventure.
At the mall ceremony we learned that we had now raised over $460,000 and we fully expect to break a half million dollars for the kids of Anchor House. We are so glad to do something that we love for a cause that we love. Sweat equity for the sweet reward of helping others.
I want to extend a big thank you to all of my amazing riding buddies, to the Anchor House Ride Organizing Committee, and to all the incredible support people on the ride, to Pete Garnich for saving my bacon by providing me with his personal bike, and to Barbara and my family for their love, support and patience. I want to extend a big, big thank you to my good friends Silvia and Clive for putting me up (and putting up with me) both before and after the ride. And a big thanks to all who have read and followed the blog, and to those of you who have supported me (or supported other riders) on this ride to help support the very deserving kids of Anchor House.
Ride safe, ride smart, and do the things you love especially to help those that need love and support. The Anchor House Ride embodies all of this. It's why we we keep coming back every year.
So sorry that Julia had such a frightening accident and glad she was able to be a part.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a job well done! Now on to the hills and valleys of a family wedding! xo