As they say it is, home is sweet. To be home and have the family kicking back around a fan cooled picnic table with a dog underneath is sweet. To once again have shallow arguments about sports with friends is sweet. It is the small things that are so important and that were missed so much.

Never in a million dreams could I have imagined how special Wednesday afternoon was. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you Debbie Ayers for being such a dedicated “comment leaver”. Thank you David Stith for pouring your time, energy and outstanding talent into this blog site. Thank you, everyone who endured the stinch of our hugs at the finish line and those who faithfully kept us in prayer but were unable to be there. Thank you to all of our friends along the road that kept our spirits lifted and even to the truckdrivers that nearly ran us off the road while cursing at us, you helped us keep reality in check.

There are so many “thank you’s” to be distributed. Neither Chris or I would be foolish enough to think for a minute we could have accomplished such a feat alone. And that is the beauty of it, the truth that radical journeys cannot succeed without a community sacrificing and encouraging together. That is why the last thank you goes to everyone who has supported The Amani Children’s Foundation. You have been played a crucial role in making celebrations like Wednesday’s possible in so many homes across the world-THANK YOU.

Bounty hunters came in their hostel last night tracking a criminal suspected to be in that part of the woods. Just like a movie! The guys started out by 8:30 this morning, anxious to get down the road trouble free. It was hotter again today for the twelve hours of straight riding with only an hour and 10 minutes of breaks to ride a mountainous 110 miles. (Talk about finishing strong!) The first thirty-seven miles were all up hill, then they crossed the New River, and were finally back in NORTH CAROLINA! After all the gas stations they have stopped in for breaks, this time the Fox 8 News was on! After lunch about 15 miles they recognized the nice town of Sparta. It was crazy to talk with people now for the usual questions:”where ya’ll from?”… “Winston-Salem” (no big deal ’till you get to the next question) “Where ya’ been?”…”OREGON!”

They enjoyed riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the familiar terrain of tree farms and smelling freshly picked tobacco. A typical day always includes risks like loggers screaming by nearly running you off the road, flying 60 miles an hour down 6% grades, and a lot of time for thinking. At the end of a long climb their cell phone rang, it was Thomas Wilson asking them where they were now. They looked up to see Pilot Mountain was bigger than life right there! Thomas was their math tutor that also biked across America a few years ago. He helped birth this trip by coming to dinner with the Edens and Wozniaks months before the guys departure to answer a long list of questions, calm raging concerns and verify the feasibility of their quest. They made arrangements for him to join them on their ride into town tomorrow. One of the Wozniak’s friends picked them up in their truck at the Wendy’s to let them stay at their house for the night. Sweet dreams of finishing tomorrow!

No hesitancy getting on the road this morning with a pretty blue sky, not real hot, beautiful mountains and Damascus, VA as their final destination (which is only fourteen miles from the NC border!) Chaz had a footlong sub at Subway for breakfast, and fifteen miles down the road he hit the wall. Nothing that a pack of Skittles, a 20 ounce Gatorade and a Mountain Dew couldn’t fix - “that gave me a lot of energy!” The guys have learned the power of food! There were hard climbs all day. Chaz was frustrated because he couldn’t get into the gears he would want with his chain problems, and was able to get his bike repaired at the end of the 80 mile day. Brady and Anthony had to hitch-hike the last few miles into town because of their bike problems.

The guys are enjoying the beauty of their mountains (the Blue Ridge) and hung out tonight by their river (the New River). With the VA Creeper Trail, the Appalachian Trail and the Transamerica Trail all passing through Damascus, there is a well known hostel there for $4 per person. They lingered over dinner with Brady and Anthony and are sad to be saying good-bye to their new best friends. They have been together for the past 22 days. The Texans plan to bike to the Outer Banks where relatives are driving to meet them.

For their final section of the Transamerica maps, Chaz’s Dad plotted a special route for them to head into NC, Winston-Salem and end at Leinbach Park. The guys received this set of maps today ‘General Delivery’ at the Damascus Post Office. Chris and Chaz are just a little over 100 miles away now! They are really looking forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday and beginning re-entry!

The guys were eager to get on the road and head towards the border. Their last stop in Kentucky was for lunch in Elkhorn City (pop. 1,060) with a lot of sweet tea and a swim in the river. It began to rain as they rode into Virginia. The integrity of Chris’ wheel is compromised, but he should be able to get into Winston. Chaz was infuriated that his chain kept popping off, which is a tricky roadside repair.

By 8:00 they arrived in Haysi,VA (pop. 186) and heard singing outdoors at the Church of Christ . As they got closer they could see 15 to 20 people gathered and recognized a childhood favorite, “It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing, that’s how it is with God’s love….” For the next thirty minutes, someone would call out a song and they all belted out old hymns. The last song, ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’ was sung by an old lady. It is one of the highlights of the whole trip for Chaz: “it was awesome, straight out of one of my favorite movies, ‘Oh Brother Where Art Thou.’” They were invited to stay for a snack, which sounded nice, but now it was getting late — they were soaking wet, getting cold, and still needed dinner and lodging! The locals took them in, gave them coffee and told them to bring their bikes in to keep them safe because they have been robbed while having services before. Imagine the guys thankfulness when they were trusted to stay there for the night. And their delight when the “snack” was a feast of hotdogs, chili, beans, slaw, chips, cakes, and more sweet tea! Truly the Gospel and hospitality of the deep South!

Today was a mountainous day which the guys described as “tough passes that felt like good exercise, no technical problems, just riding a bike. The weather was good which helps a lot when you’re not drenched in sweat all day and not the stress of hydrating.”

Chaz scoped out a Christian church camp in Emmalena, KY with friendly folks, a swimming pool and free pizza for lunch. He left his water bottle by the side of the road with a note for Chris, Brady and Anthony to come down the lane and join them. But, they took an alternate route with a leisurely lunch and missed connecting.

Tonight they’re sleeping in beds with air conditioning in a hostel for $7.25 each in Pippa Passes, KY (pop. 297). Throughout the 70 miles today, “you keep thinking about how you don’t have much longer at all. Just appreciating everything these last couple of days. We’ll be in Virginia tomorrow!”

There’s so much dew in the Appalachian Mountains that everything got really wet from camping. Today was eighty miles of mountainous riding with little traffic and perfect weather where “it looks like home!” Their route quickly became a long shortcut due to missed turns, twice, which added at least 10 miles. Their friend, Brady, hit a pothole going 20 miles/hour and took a nasty spill. Now he’s riding on a cracked rim and they’ll need to seek out the next bike store again.

Only fifty people live in Buckhorn, KY where the guys were welcomed to stay in a cool log church built by its members in the 1920’s. As the Pastor gave them a tour of the beautiful sanctuary, he explained the history of this biggest church log structure in the world.

They’ll unroll their ridge rests tonight onto hardwood floors in the air conditioning. The guys are now in Section 11 of the 12 Transamerica maps with 4 more nights on the road, and 5 more days of riding…but who’s counting?!?!

Last night arrangements fell through at the church, and then it was dark with no place to stay. Back at the fire station, they talked with the policemen and firemen. The 911 lady, Lisa, arranged for a Motel 8 room, like she would for the homeless. After the continental breakfast the guys headed to the bike shop, but the wheel had not arrived by 10:00 as promised. The shop owner tracked down UPS, and they were on the road by noon.

On the shortcut to Berea, KY Chaz had a flat tire on the new wheel. After a thirty minute repair, they were back on the road with perfect weather and beautiful countryside with horse farms. Only to have another flat! The guys enjoyed hanging out on Berea College’s campus and are camping under the stars in a field at an RV Park. Reflecting on their days: “It’s stressful and exhausting, but it always turns out by the end of the day. It’s always in the back of your mind…what could happen next? We’ve seen the worst in people and the best in people each day.”

They are Southern boys happy to be back in sweet tea country again…and only six more days of riding!

Great beginnings: slept in and while enjoying the continental breakfast at the hotel spied their package on the counter! Yes! NO!! The wheel was packaged so poorly that there were irreparable dents in the rim. By 2:00 the guys came up with a plan off the trail. They booked it 44 miles to Danville, KY averaging 15 miles/hr. (without standing up for fear of more damage to Chaz’s wheel) to arrive at the closest bike shop before closing.

Fortunately, a front was moving in for one of the most pleasant days of riding in three weeks. Arrangements were made for Trek to overnight yet another tire. The youth minister at the Baptist Church is also a Transamerica cyclist and compassionately helped them stay for the night.

They are excited to ride their last Thursday tomorrow…only seven more days!

The day began with numerous phone calls. With Chaz’s wheel still under warranty, Trek agreed to ship a new one to Bardstown, KY where the guys are staying in a Ramada Inn (compliments of Brady’s friends from TX that he is honoring by riding for their child that died of leukemia.)

Earlier in the day, it was a worthwhile detour to Elizabethtown to all have their bikes serviced at a bike shop (i.e. new chains, spare tires, wheels trued.) They’ve mastered squirting their water bottles at the dogs.

The record breaking heat wave continues as the last time zone change today solidified the reality of only 8 more days!

Everyday is physically exhausting, today was also emotionally exhausting. The guys started the day feeling behind because the heat is so tiring that getting up in the morning is tough, and the temperature was already over 90 degrees by 10:00 a.m. A missed turn added 13 miles onto an already long day but took the guys to a lunch spot hanging out with the locals, with homegrown tomatoes and Coke in glass bottles. Chaz’s back wheel started wobbling. Hours of roadside bike repairs were brutal.

A spectacular sunset meant riding the last six miles in the dark to Madrid, KY. Staying in a church with air conditioning eased the tension of wondering how far Chaz can ride on a cracked rim in two places, and how to get a new one. Nine more days of riding is still their goal!