78 miles ridden – 4318 feet climbed.

I’m not sure if I have ever been equally excited and wistful in the same way as I have been today. Excited to complete the achievement and see Sue, family and friends again,but wistful that this amazing experience will reached a conclusion.

Over this trip we have ridden in different groups and alone depending on mood, terrain and weather and today we seemed to do all of them in one ride as if we were re-living a summary of the trip. A big group left the hotel together in order to have a big photo at the New Hampshire state line:

Left to right – Ernie, Murray, Jennie, Fred, Heather, Darin, someone else.

Then I rode a bit on my own, a bit with Heather, then Darin joined us. After the first SAG we rode for a bit with Paul and Ernie and then Darin, Heather and I took of as a trio, and Murray rode with Jennie. Like yesterday we were very consciously sucking in all sights, sounds, smells (Bengay and butt balm excepted) to make sure that we savoured the day. We rode through a few beautiful towns like Keene and Greenfield (bottom photo) where we stopped for lunch:

Our tapering continued with small chicken mayo rolls and one scoop of ice cream and we sat on tables outside the country store in Greenfield listening to the church bells periodically interrupted by Greenfield’s very own Dukes of Hazard in their pickup truck. It ended up with 8 of us there and Darin, Paul and I recounting our favourite Monty Python sketches.

By the time we reached second SAG we really only needed a water top up so we were on our way through the twisting, tree-lined New Hampshire lanes to our last overnight stay in Manchester.

Tonight is our end-of-tour banquet where everyone is encouraged to come in clean, non-smelly clothes and celebrate our achievement. It does seem premature in some ways but tomorrow will be busy with all the family and friends expected and it would be very difficult to handle it any other way.

The end of the ABB bubble is looming and normal life will soon return. Many are back in work on Wednesday, some of us will remain for holiday, but either way normality will have to seep back in.

I have not driven a car for nearly 8 weeks, certainly the longest period since I passed my driving test. I haven’t worn shoes or trainers for more than an hour or two, haven’t worn long trousers or sleeves, shaved every day, or eaten 5 portions of fruit or vegetables a day either.

I don’t think 30C/85F is too hot any more, I feel cold in air conditioning, I miss The Archers.

I have a lot to think about but first, at around Noon tomorrow in the Wallis Sands State Beach car park, I get to hold Sue in my arms.