Day 26 - This is the end my friends.

I've debated my wrist throughout this ride. I've worried about it. I've prepped for what I thought would be the worst and what I thought would be the best. Ultimately I think it was extended time in the saddle and the climbing that did me in. When I'm climbing it's difficult to ride in a position that doesn't weight my wrist. I've consulted my family and Julia, everyone unanimously feels that I shouldn't continue on. My stubbornness wants me to continue to ride, riding uphill in a sitting position using one hand. But that just isn't realistic.

Monaca, PA, is in the end my final destination point. 2000 miles from my origin, Jackson, WY. I've met amazing people who truly proved to be the highlight of this trip. I've seen the small towns of America. The back highways. The towns that used to be. The cities that still are. I've pushed my body to the limits of what I thought I'm capable of and realized I'm capable of even more. I tested my ability to achieve something that for so long seemed insurmountable. The journey that I anticipated is truly the journey that I had. The hours of time to sit and be with my thoughts. The emotional struggle through barriers and towards goals, large and small.

I hoped and fantasized about doing amazing things for the advancement of mental health rights. I may not have realized them to the full extent that I dreamed, but I have come to understand that anyone can take on an issue and work to make a difference. Sometimes just talking to people about it is enough. I'll have to wait and see.

Amazingly the actual riding was the easiest part of the trip. What I thought would be a grueling slug fest of a fight across the country came to be an ordinary exercise of discipline. A full time job in which you have your ups and downs. Everyday is a struggle, but the ups truly make the struggle and the downs worth it! The immense sense of accomplishment after climbing a hill, or achieving the day's distance goal.

Most importantly I set out on this journey hoping to find what I wanted to do with my life. To let go of my attachments to my material possessions, and the everyday life that becomes routine and an inadvertent hurdle to pushing towards my dreams. To pull together all the motivation, fear, and resistance to Graduate School and fully appreciate what it is that I want from this life and how I'm going to make that happen.

But most importantly I want to thank everyone who became interested in what I was doing. Who gave me verbal, physical, financial, and cyber support. I'm now headed up to Vermont to work with Jim Geier making custom wood rocking chairs, www.vermontfolkrocker.com and spend some time with my girlfriend's family www.jerrygeier.com . I'm now ready to push forward into the next phase of my life.

Day 25 - Pennsylvania

They're backkkkk! The hills are here. It's amazing how quickly they've come back. It's not as I imagined they'd return. I anticipated a gradual increase, a slow acclimation to climbing. But it's more of a here were are! As they jump around the corner and yell surprise. A nice change from corn fields and flatness. The best part is the winding downhills! Imagine a 30 mph downhill with sharp curves around corn fields and rock walls. It's majestic.

I stopped at a gas station this morning about 30 miles out of Sugar Creek. Two Amish men approached me as they had seen me the day before in Walnut Creek. We talked for about 10 minutes about my ride and where they were headed. They are working in construction and had hired a younger non Amish man to drive them. One of the men also had his kids with him. I'm not sure what they do all day while he works. They couldn't have been more than 4 and 6 years old.

The ride today is a bit grueling. I'm climbing so much that my wrist is getting wrenched on. Normally I have time to rest it by dropping into my aerobars, but I can't say I didn't expect this. I made sure to take full account of all potential problems, and this was one of them.

I rode 115 miles today. About half way through the day today I had to ride one handed. My wrist is just getting to the point where it can't take the strain anymore. I'm staying in Monaca, PA, for the evening. I'm a little worried about camping here. I've ridden through some of the worst ghetto's I've ever seen, notably East Liverpool, Ohio. I think I may have even spoke with a verifiable pimp. I decided not to talk with him about women's rights.

As I approached Monaca today a dark looming thunderstorm system was rolling in. I've decided to stay in a hotel, as I'm also questioning my fate for the rest of this ride. I'm getting some outside pressure to not risk further injury to my wrist. I can't say that I don't agree. Having already faced potential surgery on it, I really don't want to risk having a bone graph, which will happen if I've broken the bone off.

The hotel I'm staying at has nicely given me a discounted rate! In addition they upgraded my room to a jacuzzi suite! Sweet! Now it's time for some bubbly relaxation.

Day 24 - The Amish Country

Today is the leg into the back country of the Amish, or what it really is the back Tourist country of the Amish. From Upper Sandusky to Sugar Creek, Ohio. The family I'm staying with is 10 miles further from my actual stopping point yesterday which only adds about 30 minutes to the ride.

I tried to get up earlier than usual and get a nice early start, my plan was foiled as I apparently needed the sleep. I slept in a little bit then got going with a little food from the family. The sunrise was beautiful today. It poked through the clouds in a remarking resemblance of what I remember the ideas of heaven looked like from my Catholic childhood, but now I know it's just a beautiful sky. The riding through Ohio has continued with this pressing headwind. It doesn't want to give up. It keeps me at a consistent 11-15mph, which isn't terrible but it does eat away at my self confidence. When I'm moving this slow for so long it truly feels like a constant uphill struggle. As though you are fighting this invisible force, it's an amazing personal struggle! But one that I can see will be a great lesson for the workforce, and for continuing my education.

As I approached Eastern Ohio the roads have become a bit more hilly. The terrain has given way to wooded areas as well. The countryside is beautiful here! The houses all resemble early era farm houses but are mostly in immaculate condition, especially those of the Amish and Mennonites.

I have an admiring sentiment towards the Amish way of life. Their is something incredibly luring about the simplicity of life without cars and electricity. Where everyday life is about your family, food, and community. I guess you just have to hope that you have good family and neighbors.

I had the opportunity to speak with a couple Amish people. Their were all very intrigued with my ride. The were also surprised at how far I was able to ride in a day, and overall. Everyone here in Ohio is incredibly nice and generous!

I ate at an Amish restaurant that night, curious about what Amish food is like. Basically it's what my Grandmother would cook when I was a kid. A very nice man and wife offered me a bed at their home. I had already setup camp very near to the restaurant and found myself longing to just lay down as soon as possible so I did unfortunately decline. But they did convince me to stop in for breakfast! I was really looking forward to the discussed bacon and eggs, but I again overslept! This time I didn't wake up until 7:20. I think these long days are a bit harder on my body then I realize. Although I did ride for 11 hours, so it is to be expected.

My campground is behind an Amish store, and in front of an Amish home that is now used for tourist walk throughs. Apparently free with water, and electricity. My tent really does feel like home when I set it up, it's a nice feeling.