The night before the last day there is always a little ceremony acknowledging the feats and contributions of the volunteers, organizers, and riders. This year was a little different in that in addition to all the rest, we were all spellbound as the story of two riders who had faced tremendous obstacles and are with us on the ride. Those tales are for a later post, but they were indeed inspiring.
It’s a very warm day. Very warm. And sunny. We left the Franklin Pierce campus and were greeted almost immediately by several New Hampshire style uphills. The kind that aren’t terribly steep (at least by White and Green Mountain standards) but they go on forever. A few of those, then back to Massachusetts where the riders can smell the barn. Quick rest stops. Long pace lines. Nothing stands in the way of getting back. Because as much as we all love the ride, it’s been seven long, hard days on the road and the site of one’s own home and hearth is most welcome.
So we’re all in. And all on our way back to where ever it is we came from.
See you next year.
Join us July 11 – 17, 2009 for the 2009 New England Classic.
Join us
GPS data of the final day:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6284032
All downhill…and a beautiful descent through Ashby…then all flat.
Michael Foley
michael01612@hotmail.com