VANCOMEX: 09/30/12

Our last day of 'The Big Ride' - it does not seem possible that tomorrow we will not be cycling all day - it has become a way of life. Last night we ate at the Flying Pig in Oceanside, and after investigation of the map it was suggested there was 110kms (65 miles) to the Mexican border so we agreed a late start of 9am after our final hotel breakfast – yes!!

As it was Saturday, traffic was relatively light, and we made good early progress passing through San Elijo and Solano beaches and the seaside towns of Leucadia, Encinitas, Del Mar and Torrey Pines. Del Mar bought back memories for Chris and Brian and they had spent a few hours there looking round before the tour started – seemed a lifetime ago!!

Although traffic was light we were swamped with hundreds of weekend cyclists, most of them young and athletic and whizzing past us. It was good to see that cycling is so healthy in southern California!! After passing Torrey Pines we had the only significant climb of the day up to La Jolla Mesa where we had lunch before continuing our journey through San Diego.

Maurice led the team expertly along a mesmerising array of cycle paths through San Diego to the Coronado Ferry – a short 20 minute ferry hop that gave us a short breather before the final push to the Mexican border. We estimated a 6.00pm arrival at the border, but shortly after departing the ferry Maurice recieved a call from Margy saying that the State Park closes at 6pm sharp. The competative spirit in Team Vancomex stirred and Maurice led our pelaton on a final push at an average speed of around 21mph to the border. This ensured we reached the finish line at around 5.30pm. We’d been so fast that we beat Scott who was bringing in champagne to celebrate the end of the tour.

After the obligatory pictures (see below) and champagne at the Mexican border we had a 40 mile car journey back to Maurice and Margie's house. This gave us some time to reflect on what Team Vancomex had achieved. In just over 3 weeks we have cycled the length of the USA through Washington, Oregon and California covering just over 3,000kms (1900 miles) in distance, climbing 85,000ft and sitting on those little uncomfortable saddles for more than 125 hours. It’s been a wonderful adventure with a group of guys that have worked as a team to achieve the goal of cycling USA!!

Margy had laid on a fantastic barbeque to celebrate the end of the ride and we were joined by John McKenna (who cycled John Lands End to John O’Groats with us in 2010) and his wife Lori, Scott’s sister and Maurice’s two children Brittany and Amanda. We apologise for boring them silly with our tour tales for a few hours!! It was a great end to the tour and the evening concluded with the final TWIT of the day debate and judgement for TWIT of the tour (see below) and judgement of the Wiggins sideburn winner.

So the tour is done. A few important thank yous:

To Maurice for just making the tour happen
To Maurice, Margy and Brittany for sorting all our lodgings out
To Maurice and Margy for their hospitality both pre and post tour
To Scott our driver: who serviced our bikes, suggested routes, found us food during the day and beer each night
To the Vancomex Team for their individual efforts to make this a truely great experience
To all our sponsors who have helped us make a contribution our chosen charities

This is the final blog entry. The site has had 6,000 page reviews so it feels like we have created some content that has interested people. Thanks for your interest in our adventure and for all your comments and words of encouragment whether on the blog site or all the other communication messages.

Until next time!

A team of jurors decided the TWIT of the day. Tom was close to winning, but in the final two miles Simon decided to stop for a lone unannounced pee-stop, he then followed a random car to the beach and not the Mexican border. He got himself lost in the final mile!! Simon you have a hat-trick of 3 consecutive TWITS of the day.

Have we not seen enough seals now! Our final
seal spot at La Jolla MesaAdd caption

The TWIT of the Tour needed only minimal discussion - only one person was considered and Tom was duly awarded.

The Bradley Wiggins sideburns competition was won by Chris with Brian second. One one else came close.