Day 75 – From Coast to Capitol I left Brunswick fully rested. The heavy rain overnight had finally broken the heat wave, and the cool morning air was a relief. After a quiet cup of coffee, I rolled out of town and onto the trail for the last time. Just 60 miles stood between me and the National Mall in Washington DC. Sixty miles from the end of a journey that’s taken me across the entire country. The trail was damp and muddy, the sky low and gray with a light drizzle falling. It felt almost exactly like the weather on day one. An appropriate sendoff. As I pedaled, the cool air carried a flood of memories, mountains crossed, deserts endured, people met, and all the quiet moments that will stay with me for a long time. After a few miles I came across whites ferry. Although the ferry hasn’t been running for years the small attached cafe was bustling woth cyclist. Most seemed to be cycling from Pittsburgh to D.C. It was fun to see so many touring bikes lined up outside the cafe. I popped in to grab a small snack, said hello and then continued down the trail. Just before reaching Georgetown, I hit one last obstacle. Flooding from the night before had brought down massive trees across the trail. The path was completely blocked. I had to scramble over, under, and around the debris, lifting my bike and picking my way through the tangle. After that, it was clear all the way to the finish. When I finally reached the National Mall, I slowed down to take it all in. I passed the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and finally the Capitol. A quiet sense of satisfaction settled in. Not the loud kind, but the deep kind that comes when something truly meaningful reaches its end. And waiting at the finish line was my amazing girlfriend, who flew out to meet me in DC. It was an emotional end to this ride, and I feel incredibly lucky to have shared that moment with her. Seeing her there made the finish even more meaningful. In 75 days, I pedaled over 4,500 miles, climbed more than 215,000 feet, and touched 15 states. With the help of so many generous people, we raised over $25,000 for Veterans Expeditions, a group helping veterans heal through the outdoors. I’m incredibly grateful for every mile, every challenge, and every person who believed in the mission. I also hope this ride encourages others to give cycle touring a shot. There’s something special about traveling by bike. You don’t just see the beauty of the places around you visit, you experience it. The pace lets you connect with the land, the exposure connects you to environment, and the disarming and honest look of a person on a bicycle offers the opportunity to connect with the people. To everyone who donated, shared the fundraiser, followed along, or sent words of encouragement, thank you. You helped carry this ride forward. I couldn’t have done it without you. If you’d like to support Veterans Expeditions and their work helping veterans heal through the outdoors, visit www.OneMileFundraiser.com. Thanks again for following along. The journey may be over, but the mission continues. And as always, keep on pedaling