October 19: Home at last!
We made it! We’re at home finally.
Friends of ours came out to ride with me on this last day of The Dream Tour. Paul, Mike, and Marty joined me in Lehi. Paul (my neighbor) joined us in Draper. We made such good time headed for Draper City Park that we had time to stop at a coffee shop in Draper. From there, we headed north to Wheeler Historic Farm where my friends Jeff and Marsha joined us for the rest of the ride. We headed north from there to Sugarhouse Park where our friend Denise walked over from her nearby house to say hi. Our friend Chris joined the peleton there, making a total of seven riders helping me get to the final finish line.
The final finsih line was at the Utah Diabetes Center which is exactly where I started from seven months and one day ago. People from University Health Care orgnaized a perfect homecoming event. I would estimate about a hundred people — friends, co-workers, media — came out for my arrival there. It was a great ending to a fantastic adventure.
I’ll probably post some final thoughts about The Dream Tour in the coming days, but for now let me just share some photos and say thank you to everybody. To the entire team at Bayer Health Care’s Diabetes Care Division for their Bayer Dream Fund and for making my dream come true. To my wife Pat who graciously suffered through the past seven months while her husband achieved this life-long dream. To all of the visitors to my web site who sent emails, made comments, or simply enjoyed my web site. All of these people are part of a dream come true!
Here’s a collection (fairly unorganized) of photos from the ride today and the homecoming event at the Utah Diabetes Center:
| Total distance: | 41.96 miles |
|---|---|
| Time: | 5:12:28 |
| Average speed: | 8.1 mph |
| Maximum speed: | 29.5 mph |
| Total calories: | 2901 |
| Average heart rate: | 96 bpm |
| Maximum heart rate: | 148 bpm |
| Total ascent: | 1821 feet |
| Total descent: | 1561 feet |
| Ride profile: |  (click on image to view a larger version) |
| Ride comments: A delightful day. Cold in Lehi when I started, but there was a tailwind and the excitement of the final day and returning home to keep me warm. Friends came out to ride with me and we finished at the Utah Diabetes Center which is exactly where I started from. People from University Health Care orgnaized a very nice homecoming event and I would estimate about a hundred people came out for my arrival there. It was a great ending to a fantastic adventure. |
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October 20th, 2006 at 12:17 am
congrats, well done.
sorry work prevented me from coming at the last minute. i was frustrated to miss your homecoming.
you’ve been an immense inspiration to me and i’m sure to many others as well
are you considering speaking engagements, schools, etc?
john
October 20th, 2006 at 5:28 am
Amazing!
October 20th, 2006 at 7:51 am
I posted once when you started the tour, followed your website throughout, and today, I have chills reading about your arrival home.
Congratulations and thanks for setting such a shining example of all of us!
October 20th, 2006 at 8:21 am
Congrats again Pete & Pat! It’s been such an honor to be in any way connected to you guys, and following your journey has been inspiration, motivational, entertaining, and heartwarming. You guys are amazing! Enjoy the comforts of home. (and is it too early to put my bid in to drive the support vehicle in Alaska?)
October 20th, 2006 at 8:57 am
Pete and Pat- Welcome home. You are amazing! A true source of inspiration to anyone facing challenges that might sideline them, and a nice love story of dedication that can survive 7 months on the road!
ITA missed you. Hope all of the animals are well. Sorry I can’t be there on Monday…
October 20th, 2006 at 8:58 am
Peter,
Congratulations on your awesome tour of the USA!
I’m writing a book about great places to go bicycling in the USA. If you have any input about great places that you discovered, I’d be happy to quote & credit you, offering links to your story so my visitors can learn more about you.
If you’re looking for a distance riding partner in the future, let me know.
Regards,
Larry Lagarde
Bicycle.ning.com
RideTHISbike.com
World-Class-Bike-Trails.blogspot.com
October 20th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
Peter and Pat,
Congratulations! I know your parents are very proud as are all their St. Peter friends.
Enjoy the glow and the memories and the knowledge that you are an inspiration.
Linda Elvee