Day 52: 23 July 2007
Manchester, NH (210 ft) to Portsmouth, NH (Sea Level!).
54 Miles.
Blog Address:
http://bikeboyglovach.blogspot.com
Videos on the WWW
http://public.box.net//greg98266
New Videos:
Day’s Theme:
From sea to shining sea!
Weather/Terrain:
A perfect day on all accounts – beautiful weather, finishing the ride, and being greeted by family and friends.
To top it off, there was harpoon IPA everywhere!!
How I’m/we’re feeling:
Thrilled – we are all thrilled!!
I am blessed – I thank God for many blessings, especially family and friends who encourage and support me always, a healthy body to do this ride, a country where we are allowed to enjoy it like this, and the good fortune in life to be able to afford and do this.
Notable Events:
All of us seeing the ocean for the first time in 52 days, and moments later, the wonderful family and friends that were there to great us.
Rider Profile: Greg Glovach, 44, from Waltham, MA.
Born and raised in Providence, RI, I now live in Waltham, MA – near Boston. I am a “temporarily” retired information services professional.
I started to seriously think about riding cross-country in 2001 when I did RAGBRAI with my cousins Frank & Guy from PA. Living in NH at the time, every time I went for a ride, I would ride off the road into this Gilmanton, NH school and ride my bike across this painted map of the United States in the school parking lot. I would slowly ride across it on my bicycle, and think “I will do this someday….”. Today was that day!!
My hobbies include bicycling, running, golfing, hiking, snowmobiling, and playing cards. I am an avid National Geographic reader, and in my dreams I work for NG and go global to write about and photograph the world!
From a “travel/vacation” perspective there are two things I have always wanted to do – ride my bicycle across America (complete), and go to Antarctica (stay tuned……).
I say:
“Life is not a race – it’s a ride. Go long”
Pictures:
What’s Happening:
Leaving Manchester, we travelled along nice country roads, and towards the seashore terrain.
Today I rode with Rocket and Erin Go Bike – as you can see, the America By Bicycle Shirt was the shirt of choice today!
I rode and hung out quite a bit with these two – they have become good friends and helped make my trip as enjoyable as it was.
Yes, for whatever reason, probably Strange brew in Manchester last night, we are all tilted left and 13 degrees around parallel.
Our group was a great group, and Robert and I enjoyed our time together.
Many friendships will survive this trip.
I will have to go to France and see how good his golf game is sometime soon………..
We gathered at Rye School for our procession to the beach.
Herb, Robert, Cliff, and Arlene led our procession to the beach.
Arlene, forever prepared, double checked the directions before she followed the police escort – just in case the police officer, yes the police officer from the town we were in, led us the wrong way!
We could smell it first, but this was our first glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean!!
We proceeded as a group up Route 1A, and to the beach.
We did it!!
We dipped our wheels, and looked pretty for a few more photographs.
This is my “little” cousin Justin.
He and my cousin Donald made the trip up to see me.
Notice his shirt? That is a picture of me (probably in my early 20s) and him as a little kid – 3+ feet ago…………
My family was there to great me – Lori, Lana, and Dad (Pete). That was awesome.
I also was greeted by my girlfriend Joan, and friends Lisa, Donna, Juliet, Barry, Mike, Paula, and the Kingman (Jesse).
I have been blessed with a great family and great friends! It is good to be home! J
Closing Note:
There were many signs and messages that crossed our path as we crossed America, and this last one was there for us as we left from our dinner at the Portsmouth Brewing Company.
I am Bike Boy Glovach, and for now, “I’m Out!”
But, hopefully, in the words of another good friend T4 – “I’ll Be Back!”…………….
