Day Fifty

The last hours have been packed. Starting with the skit, Bill and I had a great time and the crowd seemed to enjoy it. I was very nervous and stuck to the script but Bill had the nerve to do some improv - at my expense of course. Two other groups sang songs, Joel and Mike Miller did an ABB version of Simon and Garfunkel's "Homeward bound" which was quite charming and had the whole room singing the chorus.
HK then passed out certificates and each of us had a chance to speak a few words. BS was the first one called and handled it quite well. Must be all that courtroom experience. I of course got a little choked up, but started with my limerick: there once was a group from Astoria, who rode ABB with euphoria. We biked many miles and shared lots of smiles and I'd go on and on but I'd bore ya.
The last day was cool and grey with predicted thunder showers. We had to get to the high school by 11:30 in order to get the police escort, and there were many rolling hills around a huge lake that took more time than many thought, and of course there was that bakery along the way that we had to swarm, so the pressure was on.
We gathered like a herd of cats and started to take pictures of each other, then, the big moment came. The police car started, followed by Silver (the two support vans were named by color) then the whole pack of us in our matching ABB jerseys. Bill borrowed a staff member's bike and rode the last three miles with all of us, which just added to my "reasons to bawl my eyes out" list.
We got the shore and most of us took off our shoes and walked our bikes into the sea. Bill dipped his mangled wheel from what was left of his bike - see above "bawling my eyes out" statement.
Rain looked imminent so BS and I, joined by Ralph, rode to the hotel. We took an unintentional detour and ended up doing a few extra miles and since the bakery had run out of goodies by the time we got there, my blood sugar was dropping rapidly.
We got to the hotel, put our bikes in Silver to take to the bike shop, ran to McD for a recovery shake (my last one!) and got to the hotel in time to see an impressive thunder shower with a deluge of water. We watched it for awhile because being from SoCal, we couldn't think of the last time we saw rain. Once again, we were lucky not to have to ride in it. The triple was not so lucky and Will and family came in looking rather grim, but pleased to be in safe.
We ran some errands by taxi which was cool because I've never done that "hey, can I say, follow that car?" and got back in time to start the social hour which started with beer brought by Mark's wife, then the San Fransisco treats and their significant others joined us in our room for wine and cheese, then BS and I took a cab to Maine for dinner.
We walked along a river which had an impressively long and consonant-filled name, and walked over the bridge to New Hampshire. We stopped for a after dinner beverage at a local hangout then called it a night.
Our hotel room was graced by flowers from PR, JR and SR, and also by a final card from GR. Thanks for the thoughts - it was quite cool coming back to see those reminders of you all in the room.
Our last load is today, then a shuttle to the airport, then home again. The real impact of this will take a while to sink in, but to you readers, I thank you for being with me and carrying me through. Wishing you all well, MA