Day 62 Sussex to Jersey City

Today was our last day for the bike tour. Fred and I left at 7:30. It was a little drizzly, but again fairly warm. We had our last breakfast from the camp trailer and every one was in a pretty good mood, most being excited to finish the tour and see family again.

Some NJ people who had a roadside water stop the previous day also set up a refreshment stop along the route today. We stopped there and then began the hills again right after that. Fred had a front tire flat at around 10 AM, a good time for me to eat my sandwich. Shortly after getting going again, some other NJ people had a snack and refreshment stop. After staying there for a while I noticed Fred's front tire was flat again. Not a good sign. So Fred replaced the tube and on we went. Five minutes later we heard the tube blow again. Three flats in less than 10 miles! We were by a Shell station now and it was obvious that a new tire was in order as Fred's existing one had a hole that a new tube would again break through and burst. It was about 10:30. Fred contacted Julie W, one of our SAG drivers about the need for a new tire. To make a long story short, Fred finally got the new tire at 12:15. We had to be at the rendezvous spot with all of the other cylists for our group photo at 1 PM and the Kearney police were going to begin our final 10 mile trip to Liberty State Park at 1:30. We had less than 1 hour to get to the meeting place and we were quite aways away yet. So we cycled like madmen, picking up Theo B (BC)and Kaitlyn K (ON) on route. The sweep riders Alex V (AB) and Peter K (ON) caught up to us about then and we all got to the meeting place at with just a few minutes to spare. We missed the group photo, but caught the more important police escort. What a relief!

The police escort was pretty cool. We had to go at a slower pace through the streets and neighborhoods of Jersey City and were given a whole vehicle lane to get to the park. People in vehicles going the other way honked and waved, no doubt wondering what was going on. Quite a sight I'm sure. The police would block the intersections so we wouldn't have to stop, sirens going and all.

We got to the park boardwalk and began to look for the Statue of Liberty. Finally we saw her and the end was in sight. Fred and I biked on the right side of the path and I soon saw Shelley and Elly. Fred E was there too, camera clicking. We stopped for a kiss and a hug from our wives and then carried on to the water front. I saw our children then too for the first time in two months. Talk about excitement and a bit of chaos. We all said the Lord's Prayer together then the cyclists went down to the water to dip tires.

From there we were bussed to Eastern Christian School (45 min drive) where we could get our belongings. Then off to the Everett's home for a shower (10 min drive) and a quick refreshment. The final dinner was at 6 PM followed by a Celebration Service at Cedar Hill CRC.

Fred E and his business partner drove us to our Manhatten apartment, an old renovated building built in the 1800's, after the service. We got there probably close to 11 PM. Quite an action packed day.