PAC TOUR SOUTHERN TRANSCON, METTER GA TO TYBEE ISLAND GA, DAY 27 (the finale!): I've had a saddle sore since the Texas Panhandle. Part of me thought of nothing else than this last day - an end to the agony. Fortunately there is so much more positive to completing a tour like this than what in the final analysis amounts to minor discomfort. This was a great trip! The people and crew on the trip make it great as does the organization and highlights of the passing scenery. It was challenging and yet satisfying! We left Metter long after the other riders had left. We thought, no problem, we always catch some of the riders. Today, with 24 miles to the first sag, I had a flat at mile 23, my 4th of the trip. By the time we got to the sag, she was closing shop. No one else was around. We needed to be at the next sag, 18 miles away, by 10:00. With our initial slow pace and late arrival, there was no way we'd make that time. Arrived at sag 2 at 10:30 expecting no one to be there. But there they were! Needed to be at lunch, 16 miles down the road by 11:30. I thought, no way, that's possible. We made it despite what felt like a massive headwind! It was 11:29:30. We had made up loads of time! But there was still work to do. We had to be at mile 82 by 1:15 PM and we had to get through Savannah with all those traffic lights. I thought, no chance. But we made many of the lights on green and skirted long lines of waiting cars by splitting the lane between them and the parked cars. After awhile we reached the causeway which starts with a 7.3% climb across a channel to a barrier island and a very strong headwind. Finally, we saw riders ahead and knew we would make it. About then, it started to rain. We got wet but it didn't matter. The coolness was refreshing. Finally we made the regroup point after a somewhat harrowing ride on the causeway with car after car whizzing by. We all rode as a group to the Tybee Island Beach where we trekked across the sand and dipped our wheels and enjoyed the warm water swirling around our ankles. Day was done and trip was done! Today, 86 miles and 900 ft of climbing! Total trip mileage was 2910; total trip climbing was 103006 ft. I rode every mile and climbed every climb!
BIKE: Neuvation road bike; start time: 7:30; end: 14:03; avg:15.9; max: 25.8; climb: 922; miles: 86.07
PARTLY CLOUDY with rain shower near end; wind: NE 8-12; start temp: 61; min: 61; avg: 74; max: 87; end: 86
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2053720038