Well, the morning started with the same routine; wake up at 5:40, find coffee, get dressed, get sun screened, get packed, take bags to lobby, get bikes, check out and ride to camp. This morning camp is right across the street and there is a buzz in the air.....the last day and everyone wants to say good bye and have a chat since it might be crazy at the end of the ride.
We are greeted by the same breakfast we have had for the last three mornings...I really wished I had had breakfast at the hotel! Only so many bowls of sticky oatmeal and scrambled eggs! but who is complaining!
We head off before 8AM for a flat long ride through the Ventura and Camarillo farm fields and take our first break at the Navy Air Base museum near the beach. We are in familiar grounds now - as this is a common training ride along PCH.
Tom is riding today - his leg is a little sore but almost better and he has had three days to rest - so of course he is kicking my butt! He didn't ride 86 miles yesterday!
We head on towards the county line only to be greeted by a little bit of rain - the first of the ride - and hit the midday checkpoint - but we know where the next Starbucks is so we head off to get coffee - only to find there are three big hills waiting for us......but the last ones of the day!
As we drank our coffee we watched numerous other riders come along and join us - there is some excitement in the air to be finally finishing the ride and having gone so far in such a short time!
We get back on the bikes to navigate Malibu....a dangerous stretch as we have to watch for traffic and for parked cars and people getting out of cars......a slow steady ride to the next stop..Gladstones. We almost didn't stop - but were glad we did - there must have been about 100 bikes there and many friends all enjoying one last beer before the finish line!
It was a quick trip from there to the park in Santa Monica where we all gather before one last long train of 250 bikes rolling through 5 miles of streets to the Yahoo! Center for the final farewell. Huge crowds were waiting for us - and we all got a medal for finishing - and could finally say we did it....EFI.
This ride a a huge success - both for fundraising - but for endearing people to a great cause - and for creating terrific friendships. About half of the riders this year were returning vets...and it turns out that my husband announced on the way home that he has already signed up for next year!!! He did not sign me up...he knows better....but I sure would love to do it again! I guess we will be training some more....and maybe I'll get a new bike for Christmas!
Thank you to all our our supporters for sending us good wishes and support along the way. Don't be put off by the hard days...come ride with us and see the sights for yourself...if I can do it...so can you!
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