Atlantic to Pacific Cycling Journey 2011: Day 59 Eugene to Florence Pacific Ocean

Sunday, July 17, 2011

WE DID IT!!! 4,109 MILES, 59 DAYS

Miles 65.09     Total   4,108.82 miles     Daily Avg. 69.64
Avg Speed 15.7 mph    Max Speed 34.4 mph     Alt Climbed 1319 ft

Our second day of cool and rainy weather. We left the hotel in rain and 56 degree temperature.  The thoughts of us finishing today made everything about the ride wonderful. We even enjoy the sprays and splashes coming off the trucks and cars as they speed past. Within a mile of leaving the motel we were soaked. The ride took us through dense rainforest's with tall spruce, fir and pine trees, the ground was covered with moss and ferns. With the weather today we could see why everything was so green.

Our route required us to ride through a mountain tunnel. Oregon is so cyclist friendly they provide a button before entering the tunnel which lights up a sign warning motorist that cyclist are in the tunnel and lowers the speed limit to 35 mph while we are passing through.

Once we passed through the tunnel we are in the final 20 miles downhill ride to the Oregon coast. We pulled in to Florence at noon and were greeted by Joey, Justine, her husband Jim and children Joan, John and Justin. The kids were holding homemade congratulatory signs noting our accomplishing and tossed confetti and silly string. What a terrific greeting from a wonderful supportive family. Following the celebration in the parking lot we carried our bikes over the sand dunes onto the Pacific beach to dip our front wheels into the Pacific Ocean to signify the journey's complication. Joey, Kelly, Roxy and I soon took our own dip into the Pacific and shared a champagne toast to a safe conclusion of our journey and to celebrate the memories and life of our beloved wife and mother Sharon.

I would like to thank everyone, family, friends blog followers for your support and time you have spent following our blog. I hope you have enjoyed our journey as much as we have. It has been an incredible adventure which will provide many future memories. America is a beautiful vast country with many wonderful and friendly people. The kindness and interest of the American people we met are some of the more memorable experiences which I will always remember.

Thank you to everyone who has made or has considered making a donation to the The Thomas Palliative Care Unit Kelly, Joey and I greatly appreciated you thinking of Sharon as we made this cross country trip.