SigEp Bike Across America 2013: Day 63 / The Last Ride and Celebrating

I made it!!! A final 63 miles and there it was the Pacific Ocean. I didn't cry, I thought I was. It actually felt really weird I didn't know how to wrap my head around it. So much pain and time and it was finally over. Now I don't know what to do with myself when I wake up in the morning haha!

My parents flew out and Matthew Newcomer drove down from Portland to watch me finish. And of course my 3rd SAG driver Joe led me to the finish line. If it weren't from him and my other SAG drivers I'd still be out there biking. So we biked into the town of Florence where Matthew popped into a small donuts and deli shop and the owners were so nice they gave us a whole box of free donuts to celebrate! Thanks Big Dog Donuts and Deli!! My dad also bought some champagne and beer for the finish.

This will be my last blog post so I guess I should try to sum up the experience. So what all did I learn? Erase the word unrealistic from your vocabulary. People told me I wasn't being 'realistic', I wanted to say you're right and I like it that way. Why be realistic when you can be extraordinary? Only those willing to go too far can possibly find out how far one can go. Push yourself and never give in to pain or adversity and you'll surprise yourself on where your limits truly lie. I have decided to take my experience and all my thoughts and put it down on paper. I wrote along the way and now I'm going to put my notes together in a book. Biggest lesson I learned which lead to the title of the book: You'll never know what you'll find, who you'll meet or what you'll learn until you JUST DO SOMETHING!

One last thing, embrace those who support you and forget everyone else. Thank you my friends and family and brothers. All of you made this possible. Special shout out to Chris Gassman. There's no way I'd be where I am today if you didn't push me to always be better. You always say what I have to hear even if I don't like it sometimes. You're a mentor, a brother and a role model. Thank you. To the chapters that housed me and showed me experiences I'll never forget thank you so much. Can't wait to see you all again someday. Mom and Dad Carolynn and Sean, love you all.

REFUSE MEDIOCRITY! Thank you Zach Miller for the inspiration to start a dream and accomplish it. This was all because of you. I think it's time you wake up buddy.