Day 7- Bridgewater to Lawrenceville NJ: The Big Finish with a Splash

Day 7 is usually the easiest day of the Anchor House Ride, largely on familiar roads- just 53 miles overall. We got to sleep in til 7AM- woo-hoo!!  And we were on the road (after a Starbuck's breakfast) by a lazy 8:45 AM. Day 7 is also a day we remind ourselves that the ride is not yet over and to keep ourselves focused on getting home safe- we've had some bad crashes on this last day as riders overly relax as we get close to home.

Creative luggage transit by our friend Martin

A thank you message to the riders at the ride start

We rolled through lovely Somerset county, criss-crossing the North and South branches of the Raritan river and rolling past lovely horse farms.

Ken and Ben

Soon we were on the very familiar and lovely roads of Hunterdon and Mercer Counties, coming up and over the Sourland Mountains. It was a day to enjoy the last of this Anchor House adventure, and to say good bye to good friends

Some of our favorite riders on the Anchor House looking very stylish:
Dee-Dee, Rebecca, Chrissie and Joan

One of my favorite meadows on Saddle Shop Road in the Sourlands

DJ and Newell

Creative mailbox with bike pump for public use on Snydertown Road
 in the Sourlands 

Adam and Ben with Erin Drulis, one of the "Yout" riders from
last year and one of our favorite people!

About 8 miles out

Bringing it in 

The scene at the Dutkos picnic

Ten miles out we have our traditional picnic stop at the Dutkos, a family with long ties to the Anchor House. They serve us lunch, ice cream and a chance to take a dip in their pool. Perfect on a hot day.

A happy DJ at the Dutkos picnics. Some miles down the ride I heard:
"I shouldn't have had that 2nd ice cream"

We then did a ten mile processional  ride with a police escort to the big finish at Quakerbridge Mall. We had great luck with rain for the whole week, but we got absolutely drenched in a thunderstorm on the way. With teeth almost chattering from the rain and the wind the rain stopped about five minutes from the mall, allowing us to dry out a little before walking our bikes into the mall. During the final ceremony, we learned that the new total raised by the ride is $501,000. We're hoping that amount edges towards $600,000 as more donations make their way in,

Lining up for the ride to the mall

Damp Youts, waiting outside the mall

DJ, Ken and Newell during the end ceremony at the Mall

Post-ride logisitcs: Ken's best laid plans of renting a minivan to drive Adam and myself back home fell through when the rental car location was closed by the time we got there. Luckily our friends Silvia and Clive were clear-headed and quick-thinking. They knew the NJ Transit schedule so we were able to get Adam on a 4:30 train to NYC so he could make it to a 6PM dinner party (we had ten minutes to pull this off). Adam pulled off a quick change in the car, got his ticket and made his train!

A slightly stressed out Adam at the train station parking lot

Adam with his NJ Transit ticket, with Silvia and Clive cheering him on

I was able to get in a quick shower at Jack's house, catch up with Jack and check-in on his recovery from his surgery (so far so good), and grab a 5:48 PM Amtrak out of Trenton, with great logistical help from Gabe. Taking the train home was actually nice, and it allowed me to reflect back on quite a week. From my solo bike trip to Manchester NH, to being re-united with my Anchor House friends, to Jack's unfortunate crash, to spending a great week with my boy, and to enjoying the sights, sounds and great comraderie of the Anchor House Ride. And for getting (almost) all of us back safe and sound. And knowing that our efforts this week will literally help keep the doors open for the amazing kids of Anchor House who are so deserving of our love and support. Thanks to everyone for following along and to those who contributed. 

I dedicate this ride to my good friend Jack Hayon, who constant smile and good cheer transcends any physical pain or injury, and who I know will be back on next year's ride as determined and cheerful as ever.