Saturday (June 11th) was the seventh and final day of the 2011 Bicycle Ride Across Georgia (BRAG). Finished yesterday having ridden just over 300 miles and woke up this morning with 36 more to go from Hinesville to Savannah.
Most of our team was staying at the Hampton Inn so the morning breakfast was lively. Plus the hotel was only about a mile from Snelson-Golden Middle School (home of the Soaring Eagles) so there was no need to load up the bikes this morning as we were able to start the ride from the hotel.
- Hinesville before the last ride
Rip and Mark left around 6, as they had to get a ride back to Hinesville to pick up their vehicle. Bob, Doug, Buck, Lee, Teresa and I left around 6:20 with Billy, Mary-Stewart, Doris, Sandy, Phil and Gary leaving a few minutes later. The first few miles were at a very casual pace but when we turned right on GA Hwy 144 things got interesting, and fast.
Led by Bullet Bob and the Diesel Doug Lane, our group of six lined up and started moving out. Soon after our line of six had become a line of twenty plus and the engines up front were pulling us at 20-21 miles per hour. I think there were several reasons for the fast pace. Today’s ride was fairly short and it was the last day so we wanted to finish strong. However, I believe the main reason was we didn’t want Rip and Mark to have ridden their bikes to Savannah, caught a ride back to Hinesville and returned to Savannah before we finished the ride. Pride and ego can make you do strange things.
About 4 miles before the rest stop, 10-12 of the riders that had been in the back of the line pulled ahead and took off. I waved goodbye to them and wished them well as there was no way I could keep up with them. Our smaller group rolled into Richmond Hill United Methodist Church having finished the first twenty-two mile sprint at just over 19 miles per hour.
After my last banana with peanut butter and jelly, we were off again. We turned on Hwy 17 and then to GA 204. Here we picked up our one and only police escort near the by-pass to downtown Savannah. A few more miles and we were winding our way through residential areas as we closed in on Armstrong-Atlantic State University. Bob had us line up in a “missing man formation” to honor Michael as we rounded the last curve that brought us to the finish line.
Lisa and Leigh were there ready to get our pictures as we finished up. My Dad and Mary were also there having driving their motor coach in from Missouri. We had hoped to get everyone together for a big group picture but some folks needed to get home for various things so the next hour was spent taking pictures and saying goodbyes. Doug, Leigh, Bob and Buck headed home first and were followed soon thereafter by Kathy, Mary Katherine and Wayne. Rip and Mark arrived with their vehicle, found Lee and Teresa and loaded up to head south. George tracked down his gear and was off as soon as his ride arrived. The rest of us strolled to the university dining room and had one last meal together before loading our respective cars for the hour ride home.
- The Finish Line
It was a long but fun 340 miles. As a group, I’m not aware we had any wrecks, flat tires or illnesses, which was great. But we did have a lot of laughs, good food and interesting conversations. Lisa has already informed me that I need to be ready for next year: Chattanooga to Lake Hartwell. We will have to see about that.