New York City

Barring an incident on the 70 mile ride from Southampton to my house when Des arrives back in the UK this is officially the finishing post.
So then here I go for the final time. Or maybe not?
As not to spoil my consistency I was the last to leave but actually I was pretty much on time as everyone else had left very early much was their keenness to get to the finish line. So, again over went my right leg and I fired up Des which no doubt woke up anyone within 200 meters! Freshly serviced from the night before he cruised us along a very nice and steady ride to the 'Big Apple.' It's funny, the many big mile days that had gone before made this 140 mile ride seem like my 12 mile commute to work. As the GPS indicated that NY was getting nearer and the traffic increased as it does when nearing all cities my thoughts turned to how I would react to seeing and then getting to Brooklyn Bridge and realising the end of what has of course been an amazing trip and an ambition of mine over many years. Watching 'The Long Way Round' the two guys had admitted to crying in their helmets as they crossed the bridge as their emotions came to the fore so I was interested to see how I felt about it. The imposing NY skyline loomed large on the horizon and I felt a little twinge of something but it was more in awe of the site of the Empire State Building surrounded by loads of other huge buildings than anything else. They got closer and closer until I passed through the Lincoln Tunnel and into NY proper. This was my second time in NY but the first one didn't really count as it was a yellow cab ride between the airports JFK and Newark, in think fog. Anyway, it was just as I thought it would be, full of yellow cabs, police directing the busy traffic at junctions, hot dogs sellers, people everywhere, neon lights and I have to say, one of my most favorite places ever. Brooklyn Bridge. I made it. Stood up on the foot pegs as I crossed the bridge and even opened up Des to drown out a load of noisy demonstrators that were crossing on foot which made me smile. But that was it really. No tears, no emotions. Maybe I am a bit cold (as I've been told) but all this stuff I've read/heared about how this was going to be 'a life changing experience' etc was rubbish. It was just me, doing what I love doing, riding my bike and discovering new places and experiences. Someday I'll do it again...

Catskills

So with the finishing post now in sight I left the Canadian side of Niagra falls later than everyone else and made the 300 mile + ride to a little place in a national park called Catskills. The first 220 miles were all motorway/freeway/interstate or whatever and were of course boring, every one of them. The last 70 miles however were very nice indeed. The roads and landscape were very much like a nice Sunday ride near my home. Twisty quite roads, through forests that were losing their leaves and all in all very pleasant. I even got to see an elusive Amish person, complete with black carriage and horse, hat and silly beard (not worn by the the horse!) So, I made Catskills which in truth was in the middle of absolutely nowhere but no matter as everyone was well and truly thinking about the following days final 140 mile ride to New York's Brooklyn Bridge for photos, then onto the shippers and finally the farewell party.