Another trip comes to an end! It’s always hard to know what to say at the end of these rides; each of them is different, and I feel a sense of pressure to come up with some kind of grand overarching statement about what I learned from the trip, etc. But the dominant feeling this time is just of having a good time with some old friends and meeting some new ones.
The ride itself on this day was fine; a short ride, about 25 miles on easy roads into the rest stop, then another 15 or so down to the ferry, a long ferry ride to Seattle and 20 minutes of urban riding into the hotel. Then a nice celebration ceremony with sandwiches and beer, a speech about Multiple Sclerosis and our donation. It was great to listen to how the Swedish center uses the money; they have interesting “adventure” programs for the folks with MS to give them access to things they might have felt they left behind, like skydiving or cycling. Then it was showers and milling around until it was time to go to the bar, which we closed down, then closed down a second bar. Some highlights included the Ukrainian-inspired Red Ale at the Flying Bike brewery, and meeting Mason, a friend of Don’s who was one of the “original 4” that rode in 2007. I have a dream of doing a photo essay about all our jerseys and maybe Mason can help out.
It was great to make new friends, like Nikki, Cassie’s friend with MS who came, and Chelsea, a local from Seattle that just showed up to have a good ride. I am rooming with Dr. Nick, Nick Patrone, and I was reminding him about a lunch he bought me on my very first Trans Am ride, and how I had no idea what this whole thing was going to turn into; a genuine community.
Oh, we also talked about a BTUSFMS Ragbrai trip next year! That would be so fun.
Can’t wait to see folks for the Gap/C&O in six weeks!
https://www.biketheusforms.org/olympic-peninsula-bike-tour/
