JULY 1st AN AMAZING HOMECOMING!!
Good morning everyone!! Yesterday was quite a day for all of us. Mr. Bardos, Emily, and Sammie were up and out early to beat the heat. The rest of us tried our best to rise early, but in the middle of the night when we started hearing thunder we were all up to put the rain flies on our tents. No one wanted to start the evening totally enclosed given the oppressive heat. Fortunately, we didn't end up with much of a storm, but better to be prepared than drenched at 2:00am.
Excitement was high the whole morning. We were doing our first day in reverse, about 37 miles from Stillwater Campground in Groton State Park to school. More downhill than uphill compared to the first ride on this route and with the excitement of seeing our families, pets, friends, etc we knew we could make the ride in half a day rather than the almost full day it took us 13 days ago, even with the heat and aa few stops for cold water, snacks and even for some to submerge in the Waits River.
The welcome home started way up in East Corinth where Michelle Mahikoa was there to cheer us on, cow bell and all. So fun to have her there again on the way home!! Next we gathered at the Park and Ride in Bradford, leaving a couple of vehicles there, picking up Mrs. Surprenant, and biking the last leg as a full pack rather than separate pods. As we pulled into the old Cumberland Farms in Fairlee to set up for the students to get in the front of the pack, we noticed a state trooper near the bridge at the Connecticut River. Hmm....What's up?? When he pulled out in front of Shannon with his lights flashing we each realized we had found the next step in our welcome home!! Some of us thought Mrs. Surprenant had arranged it, but she had no idea it was happening either!! Chills came out on my arms and tears flooded my eyes as I heard the excitement in the kids' voices when they realized he was there to escort us home. It turns out the officer was doing routine rounds and noticed the crowd at school, so he pulled in to find out what was going on. Mr. Galli explained and said how wonderful it would be if he could escort us home. So glad he liked the idea and there were no New Hampshire trooper emergency needs in the area while he waited for us.
The last welcome home came as we pulled into the lower parking lot. TONS of people there with signs, horns, cheers, smiles and cold drinks and treats galore! THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT YESTERDAY AND ALL ALONG THE WAY!!! This was an amazing trip that none of us will ever forget!!
(My home internet is too slow to put more than a few photos of yesterday up right now. I will repost this with more photos after a trip to the Hartland Library or up to school in a few days)
Good morning everyone!! Yesterday was quite a day for all of us. Mr. Bardos, Emily, and Sammie were up and out early to beat the heat. The rest of us tried our best to rise early, but in the middle of the night when we started hearing thunder we were all up to put the rain flies on our tents. No one wanted to start the evening totally enclosed given the oppressive heat. Fortunately, we didn't end up with much of a storm, but better to be prepared than drenched at 2:00am.
Excitement was high the whole morning. We were doing our first day in reverse, about 37 miles from Stillwater Campground in Groton State Park to school. More downhill than uphill compared to the first ride on this route and with the excitement of seeing our families, pets, friends, etc we knew we could make the ride in half a day rather than the almost full day it took us 13 days ago, even with the heat and aa few stops for cold water, snacks and even for some to submerge in the Waits River.
The welcome home started way up in East Corinth where Michelle Mahikoa was there to cheer us on, cow bell and all. So fun to have her there again on the way home!! Next we gathered at the Park and Ride in Bradford, leaving a couple of vehicles there, picking up Mrs. Surprenant, and biking the last leg as a full pack rather than separate pods. As we pulled into the old Cumberland Farms in Fairlee to set up for the students to get in the front of the pack, we noticed a state trooper near the bridge at the Connecticut River. Hmm....What's up?? When he pulled out in front of Shannon with his lights flashing we each realized we had found the next step in our welcome home!! Some of us thought Mrs. Surprenant had arranged it, but she had no idea it was happening either!! Chills came out on my arms and tears flooded my eyes as I heard the excitement in the kids' voices when they realized he was there to escort us home. It turns out the officer was doing routine rounds and noticed the crowd at school, so he pulled in to find out what was going on. Mr. Galli explained and said how wonderful it would be if he could escort us home. So glad he liked the idea and there were no New Hampshire trooper emergency needs in the area while he waited for us.
The last welcome home came as we pulled into the lower parking lot. TONS of people there with signs, horns, cheers, smiles and cold drinks and treats galore! THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT YESTERDAY AND ALL ALONG THE WAY!!! This was an amazing trip that none of us will ever forget!!
(My home internet is too slow to put more than a few photos of yesterday up right now. I will repost this with more photos after a trip to the Hartland Library or up to school in a few days)
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| The back group is ready to ride out of Stillwater! I wasn't awake enough to remember to get the first group who departed at least an hour before these guys. |
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| A police escort blocks traffic for us to make the final turn of the trip! |
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| Such an amazing crew!!!! |
Yes! Amazing people and journey! The "Ripple Effect" in motion . . . Thank you too for sharing your pics and stories. I so enjoyed them. I hope the whole world hears and reads about your journey. I think there is book in there somewhere . . .
ReplyDeleteWelcomer home! I knew you all would make it! I shared your miles, sore muscles and rain storms on my own cycling adventure through France this past week. I cannot tell you how many times I thought of all of you! I too just returned home and was glad to read your blog of the adventures. I hope you take away from your journey memories to last a lifetime. Your fearless leader was my rock when I just couldn't climb another mile and I know she was the same for all of you. I hope sometime I get to meet you all and thank you for the wonderful postcards. Here's to the road! Stephanie Lewin (Story's first cycling partner)
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