The final day started with a bus ride to Modi'in, where the 450 riders were joined by over 200 Israelis who would ride with us on this final day, called Galgalyn. All told, there were over 700 participants in this year's Wheels of Love. Amazing!!
I am feeling much much better and thrilled to have made it to the final day. Having said that, the last climb to Jersualem was tough. It just went on forever - switchback after switchback. But the scenery just kept getting better and better, and the tall cedar trees marked the beginning of the end. At our last pit stop high on a cliff, only 7 km from the finish, the entire contingent of on-road, off-road, touring, and day-riders all basked in the sun and took lots of pictures. We looked across a magnificent, deep valley and knew that we had to go down and back up to get to ALYN. I bought my last Americano from a Coffee Shop at the top of the mountain - and got a 10-punch coffee club card to boot. (Only eight more cups, and my ninth one is free! :)
The final few km's are absolutely gut wrenchingly brutal (see photos), but once you're done, you get to coast past the cheering crowds and into the hospital where we are greeted warmly by the children. No matter how much I'm prepared for this moment, I always break down here. The children are clapping and singing and reaching out to thank us form their wheelchairs, or standing on crutches. They hand us medals. They know full well how connected they are to this annual event and drawings with bicycle themes are hung all over the hospital walls.
I see my friends from last year, accept their medals, and take what is now the traditional picture where they wear my sunglasses. Just when I'm tearing up to the max, someone shoves a video camera in my face and asks me if I have anything to say. Well, ...uh, ... maybe not right now. = = = It's now a few days later. I have licked my wounds, have relaxed on the Tel Aviv beach and can say this: - To all of you who have supported this effort, know that your donations have gone directly to the hospital to support amazing care for these amazing children. They love you for it. I love you for it and am eternally grateful.
I will have more to say to you by way of gratitude, upon my return to the USA.
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