🚴‍♀️ Project 2950 Blog Post: Day #44 - Mission Accomplished! 🥳

What an incredible feeling! Today marks Day #44 and the triumphant conclusion of Project 2950—a true testament to pushing limits and embracing the journey. Mission Accomplished!

Completing this challenge has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, but the real victory wasn't reaching the finish line; it was the support of those around me and the journey itself.

A Huge Thank You to the Community

• Fellow Riders: To my comrades on the road, your camaraderie, motivation, and shared pain—and occasional laughter—kept my wheels turning. The spirit of the peloton is truly something special.

• The Cycle of Life Team: Dennis and Darryl - you all made it safe, fun and showed the patience needed as each team member found their way!

• The Followers & Cheerleaders: Thank you to everyone who followed my journey, including those at home, at LeafSpring School, my church family and those here on the blog. Knowing you were following along was a massive boost on the tough days.

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❤️ To My Core Support Team: Susan and the Family

There are simply no words adequate to express my gratitude for my rock: Susan, and the rest of my family.

• You provided the fuel, the motivation, the support, and, most importantly, the unconditional love and belief that made this massive goal achievable.

• This accomplishment belongs to all of us. Thank you for sacrificing so that I could pursue this dream. I love you!

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The Journey Was the Reward

It's a great thrill to have achieved the physical goal, but looking back, the true gift of Project 2950 wasn't the number of miles logged; it was the journey itself.

• The People: Meeting incredible individuals in our group and along the routes—sharing stories, struggling together, and celebrating small victories.

• The Experiences: The breathtaking vistas, the unexpected kindness from strangers, the moments of solitude on quiet country roads that offered profound personal clarity and candidly re-centered me about how lucky I am. 

• Personal Improvements: The mental and physical resilience I had to cultivate—the discipline, the patience, and the commitment to personal improvement that made this goal a reality. I'm a better, stronger person because of this challenge and my next goal is not to forget the Project 2950 lessons learned!

Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for following along on this incredible ride. I can't wait to see what adventure is next!

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🚴 Project 2950: Day 43 – Prepping for the Florida Farewell

📍 Route: Alachua, FL to Palatka, FL 📏 Distance: 65 miles | ⛰️ Climbing: 1,300 feet

The countdown has officially hit T-1! Today marked the final full day of riding before tomorrow’s glorious, 34-mile ride and tire-dipping conclusion in St. Augustine. This leg from Alachua to Palatka felt less like a transit and more like a victory lap through classic North Florida landscape.

🐊 Checking Off the Florida Boxes

If this ride had a checklist, we officially checked off one of the biggest "SE USA" items this morning: a true, wild Florida gator sighting! Right near the water, stretched out like a 12-foot-plus prehistoric sunbather, was one massive alligator. You can read about it in books, but seeing one that size in person is a moment you don’t forget.

🌳 The Green Tunnel to Palatka

After the gator excitement, the route treated us to the day’s pure bliss: a solid 20 miles of canopy-covered riding on the Palatka-to-Lake Butler Trail. This is what rail-trails are made for. The live oaks and pines formed a dense, natural cathedral overhead, turning the asphalt into a cool, shaded green tunnel. It was flat, fast, and exactly the kind of peaceful stretch you crave on Day 43.

🌊 Palatka and the Mighty St. Johns

Rolling into Palatka was instantly rewarding, thanks to the stunning views of the St. Johns River. This river flows north, a quirk of nature that matches the unique charm of this town. The wide expanse of water, reflecting the afternoon sky, was a perfect, peaceful backdrop to the end of a long day in the saddle.

❤️ The Best Kind of Finish Line

But the true highlight, the moment that made the 65 miles and the 1,300 feet of climbing melt away, was pulling into Palatka and seeing Susan waiting for me. After all these days and all these miles, seeing your partner is the best kind of emotional recharge. It’s the reminder that every pedal stroke is part of a shared journey.

Tomorrow, we trade the Florida forest canopy for the open coastline. St. Augustine, the Atlantic, and the ceremonial front-tire dip await!

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