Summing up

I rode 3,038 miles, give or take a few.  One of the casalties of the trip, in addition to my bike shorts, was my bike computer, which began operating erratically early on and gave up completely last week,so there is a little guestimating in that total.  My duffel bag went in the trash yesterday after I unpacked, and the trunk bag for my bike needs some repair work.  On the plus side, I had only one flat tire, and that was a slow leak which I discovered before I rode out one morning, much easier to fix than if I were on the road, and I had no other major issues with my bike.  I also lost a few pounds on my pie and ice cream diet.

I'm challenged to believe that I really powered myself all the way from Seattle to Pittsburgh.  At the same time, I feel more connected to the entirety of the country than I've ever been before.  I don't know if a cross-country drive gives you the same feeling.  Last Sunday as I was riding through Cleveland suburbs, I thought back to a very different Sunday in Montana when I saw no signs of habitation for many miles.  With a few twists and turns, those two roads link directly to each other.  

I was about a mile from the end of the ride into Pittsburgh when a friend took this picture.

I rode on 51 days, and I did enjoy every ride, even if on a few days it was the sense of accomplishment that provided the satisfaction, not the struggle against the headwinds!