2011 "Pushing it to the Limits" Bike Ride: It's really over

I can't believe that it's really over. After months of thinking about the trip, training and preparing for the trip and actually riding over 3,300 miles for 50 days. IT IS OVER. Luckily, I have friends and memories for a lifetime.

I have been in a fog since arriving at Logan airport in Boston to head back to Minneapolis. At the airport I became very emotional. On the plane I fell asleep before we even took off. It's amazing how your thought process changes during a trip like this. On the plane I was thinking about what I would do on Wednesday. The only thing I had planned was a haircut. I kept thinking, well I won't have by bike back by tomorrow so how will I get to my haircut. For about 30 minutes I kept coming back to this. Then I realized, I could actually drive me car. The thought was so foreign to me that it took me awhile to even think of it.

When I arrived in Minneapolis, my luggage was lost. Before the trip (as you all know) I would have thrown a fit. This time I thought, no luggage = no laundry, so I just waited for them to call me. They called a couple of hours later and brought the luggage to my home on Wednesday afternoon.

Re-entry into the real world has been a bit overwhelming. A LOT of sensory overload. It makes me really appreciate all of those hours on my bike, just me and nature - Total Peacefulness. It's difficult to not have a schedule to follow. My first day home, I was up at 4:00 AM. I just looked around, not believing I was really home - not sure what I was supposed to be doing.

I know this will shock all of you. I am in complete "bike withdrawal". My bike is being shipped so I have not been riding in 3 days. Today is a beautiful day, a perfect day for a bike ride. I cannot wait to get back on my bike!!!

Today I wanted to share more pictures with you. Tomorrow will be my last post - What I learned from this experience...