QMDC Final Day 7 Wrap

Wow, where to start. This was a day of many mixed emotions and a feeling of 'last' experiences. The last breakfast, last morning greeting from the mechanics at On-Support, last drop of the day bags and luggage to the "Luggage Angels", and last rollout of the hotel to the final stop of the ride and finish in La Jolla Shores. We were all excited to be reunited with family and friends awaiting us as well as seeing Luvo, who was hopefully going to be walking on his own new legs for the first time since they were violently sheered off by a train 17 years ago.

I lingered at the rollout until near the very end and Brian Brillo, Adam Beck, and I decided to ride out together on this last day and cruise down through Laguna Beach together and just enjoy this final day. We had a fun and laughter filled time as we talked about the various fun times during the week, like shuffleboard - "Do you know who I am?", and furniture stacking in rooms, clown noses, and various encounters with strangers talking about why we were doing this ride for Challenged Athletes. Candi and friends caught up with Brian, Adam, and I in Oceanside as we rolled through and were about to really get a first class escort.

It all really came together as we hooked up with Garmin including Christian, Matt, and Pete, and had a police escort rolling through Carlsbad all the way through to the University Park where we pulled up to gather for the formal roll-in to La Jolla Shores. We even got to have one last hard push up Torrey Pines, which was for me a view from behind as the Garmin boys just put a little power to the pedal and left the rest of us behind a bit. I had a personal best time up the climb @ 6:15 per my Garmin and regrouped with the big boys at the top which was pretty awesome for me. We got to have some fun in the park taking some fun photos and hanging with Cody, Rachel, and all the riders who we started this adventure with some 22 weeks ago while we waited for everyone to come together.

We rolled all together into the finish to an awesome crowd of family and friends. It was really special and a great finish to an amazing event. It is going to take some time for it all to sink in I'm sure and I will pray long and hard as to whether I will be coming back again next year. Either way, it has created, for me, a number of new friendships and a tremendous appreciation for the perseverance of those who are less fortunate than I.

As always, keep riding and keep smiling!!!!!