Gar's #14

Live Oaks - St. Augustine,Florida (The Final Furlong)

The penultimate day of the trip has undoubtedly tarnished the whole experience. With andy coming off his bike early in the day, and the events that followed, and then even when it did clear, phillipousis and the stone both coming to a halt, it seemed everything was against us. The stroms continued, torrential rain, and even when we got to Live Oaks, we were treated to the (what seemed to be) 'standard' tornado warning we had come to expect from the South East. There's only one thing you can do to make yourself feel a little better in a time tlike this... An all you can eat chinki.

Things could only get better, and the fact we awoke to the final day to fantastic sunshine only seemed to rub salt into yesterdays wounds. A re-jig to the stating off's, due mainly to radio commitments, and away to go, stoney and myself hiting first. Easy roads, great conditions, no dogs to contend with, all was good. The next leg was a tough one, after about 300yards, The phone rings. 10minutes later and after a converstion with Jonesi, and it's time to get on the bang to catch up with the Stoney was has continued to spin onwards.

The final two legs, is back to normal, rich and myslef make good distance in time as were met by the other cyclists for the final stint. Although gutted following the day before, this is probably when realisation of the trip begins to kick in, helped a little by the St. Augustine city limits sign.

There seems to be more of a procession feel as we enter the beachside resort than a feeling if celebration, as we literally crawl to the coast. Finally we get there, and dyffers and chatsy miss their que and make us go around again.

We've reached the Atlantic, the fuss about ariving at the local fort means that there's no beach here, and apparently it's too damn dangerous to jump in at this point, but frankly, I dont think anybody would have jumped right in even if it was accessible. Team photo time, but there's one guy missin. Doesn't feel right.

A quiet drink was all that got sunk last night, but the music scene was enough to keep you glued to your pub stool, regardless of how shagged you felt. It's now 8am, and the sun has woken me sliding through the broken blinds in our hostel room, and although it hasn't ended as it should, the feeling of achievement has started to creep in.

It has been an amazing experience. The weather has helped and hindered us as we've dealt with extremes on both sides of the scale, there were two days when the mileage wasn't what it should had been, not through our tiredness, but there's nothing we can do with regards to snow and tornados.

The group on the trip have been great, everybody bringing their own to the mix. Although the sights have been superb, and we have seen a fair bit in two weeks, it's the people that have made this trip. The welcomes we've received along our journey have only intensified the experience. The welcomes at Taos, Houston, Mobile and now St. Augustine. The people we've met who have encouraged and supported us along the jouney, from the various retautants, diners and motels en route, and the messgaes from back home.

Now that it's over though, I can't bloody wait to go home and see my ladies. 3 weeks away from home is a damn long time, and at least up til now, we've been slightly occupied by things to do, place to get too. One last job before we do leave, gifts...I don't think a route66 fridge magnet would suffice.

Tomorrow, it's off to Orlando, our last port of call, drop of the vehicles and away to gatwick. What odds on the flight being delayed- wouldn't be suprised.

So that's it, job done. Big thanks to everyone who has sent messages to all the guys along the way, and to all our families for the support over the last 2years, the experience has been well worth it.

Finally, thanks goes to everyone who said it couldn't be done, some who are close mates, some who aren't. There's no doubt that fear of failure and proving all you buggers wrong was a massive motivation in doing this, especially to the Irishman in the old O'neills, Cardiff City Centre, Wales vs Ireland 2007- the 'pinky and porky outside the window with wings' comment...get stuffed!

Would I do something like this again? most definitely, would it be as enjoyable...who knows, but wherever it's done and with whoever else, it would need to be one hell of a trip to compare the country we've seen, the people we've met and the welcomes we've had. Bloody fantastic.