Day 51/52 – Captain’s Log: Supplemental.

Post-ride reflections:

It is so surreal being home.

On the morning of the “day after”, I woke up early in solidarity for the folks that were taking the 7am shuttle to Logan Airport.  After all, the alarm seemed permanently set around 5 or 5:30, so why mess with it?  A major group of riders had stayed overnight in Portsmouth as a staging point to begin their journey home, to various points in the US, … or to Holland, … or to Australia.  

We all said our goodbyes and promised to keep in touch.  I missed a lot of personal goodbyes yesterday in the emotional tumult of the ride’s conclusion at Wallis Sands beach.  And so, there have been dribs and drabs of followup emails and texts over the last two days.  

Joanne and I found a golf course in Tewksbury on our drive home and set out to play 18 holes.  It was brutally hot and humid and, frankly, I have never been more uncomfortable.  Not being able to hit a good tee shot didn’t help.  Not being able to hit a good iron shot didn’t help either.  Oh, and then there were the three-putts.   But the real problem was that I was just plain tired.  Dog-tired.  We mutually agreed to quit after nine holes and get back on the road.  Joanne drove for the first hour while I fell fast asleep in the passenger seat.

I usually love driving, but when it was my turn, I found it really strange to be behind the wheel.  After almost two months on a bicycle, the extra two wheels just seemed weird.  The stop-and-go traffic for the last hour didn’t help, but we made it home while the sun was still up.  I started up all three of my motorcycles – they’re still working.  And Joanne and I went out to our favorite spot for dinner.  I unpacked everything from the car including my stack of hotel room keys (that I still have to put in sequential order).  I went to bed a little after 10 and made a specific point to NOT set an alarm.  

Being home for the first time seemed so nice … and familiar … and … so … calm.  I slept a blissfully exquisite nine hours and awoke au naturelle this morning. The sun was streaming in and it took a few minutes to realize that this was much better than the last time I woke up this rested.  You may recall from my Day 45 post that I had overslept and had to chase the pack for 20 miles.  Not today.  No Sirree Bob.  

Even more striking, I did laundry this morning without having to go down to the front desk for a stack of quarters, or having to text the next person on the waiting list. 

I felt relaxed and calm and satisfied and happy, but, … I also started to feel some post-partum blues.  I will have to beat that away and not let it take hold over the next few days.  And yet, there’s really a question lurking in the background:  What next?

I miss my new family.  I miss the smiling faces and everybody’s positive attitude and determination.  I miss the excitement and the camaraderie.  I miss all of my new ABB friends. 

This morning’s dew will pass, I’m sure, but when I saw some of the personal notes, together with all the kudos that came in overnight on my blog and on Facebook, I just kind of lost it.  So, you’ll just have to deal with a moist post from your verklempt blogger.  

I made a second cup of coffee and headed outside to wash, clean and reassemble my bike.  The trusty steed carried me from ocean to ocean with nary a hiccup – save for a few flats – and deserved some major TLC.  Tomorrow, I go back to teaching my regular Thursday morning spin class and I’m looking forward to seeing all of my regulars and thanking them for following along on my journey.  It will be a “Road Trip” edition playlist, for sure. 

Ooh, first wash is done. I better call the next person to come down.

Thank you again for following and please enjoy a few photos.  

…Jeff