The Finish Line - Washington DC

I am writing this blog from my room at the State Plaza Hotel in Washington DC.  My tent is set up in the room drying out so I can pack it and load if in the truck for the trip back to Seattle.  Charlton and Lynn are driving the cargo truck back to Seattle so I am having them haul my gear and bicycle with them.  I crossed the finish line in Freedom Plaza around noon on Saturday August 3rd after a 40.7 mile ride from Poolesville Maryland.  All 14 riders who started the ride in Seattle finished today.  One by one we entered Freedom Plaza to a cheering crowd.  When we got to the finish line we dismounted our bikes, took off our helmets, and were presented a medal from Charlton and Lynn and a Certificate of Achievement from Tom( our mechanic).  The ride capped a 48 day, 3332.4 mile adventure across our great country.  The friends I have made and the experiences we shared together will not be forgotten and will become part of the fabric of who I am.  Special thanks to Charlton, Lynn and Tom for keeping us safe and helping us along the way.  And thanks to everyone who supported my dream of cycling across America.  The dream has become a reality.  I will be flying home on Monday August 5th on the direct flight from DC to Seattle.  What took me 48 days and countless calories will be 'undone' in a mere 5 hours and 40 minutes.  I look forward to going home and being with Kirsten, seeing my kids, and going back to work again.  But the adventure will continue on...I will be meeting on Monday morning with one of the riders who competed in the Race Across AMerica (RAAM) this year to get the scoop on the race and start planning for 2015. 

Charlton DuRant - Ride Director

At the Finish Line in Washington DC