This will have to be a two-parter.

I am sorry, but it's true. This is going to have to be a two-part post. The last four days, and especially the last two days have been so incredible, that I literally cannot emotionally handle covering it all in one entry.

I also have to apologize to everyone for not posting yesterday. I was so physically and mentally drained that I had to wait. So, following is my update on yesterday.

Day three of the Tour de Pink was absolutely phenomenal. We woke up to a day that was in the low sixties ranging to the seventies, sunny, and gorgeous. We left Trenton by police escort (so cool!) and went for about 25 miles rolling up and down hills through farmlands, valleys, and horse country. Anyone who thinks that New Jersey is not a beautiful state needs to truly visit. There's a lot more to be seen than big cities. It was an absolutely glorious ride. Brad and I were feeling pretty good despite his sore knees, my cold that had migrated to my chest, and well, more than a little "saddle soreness" for lack of a better term.

One of the brightest spots in an unimaginably beautiful day was when a motorcycle came zooming up alongside us on the route. We weren't concerned since many people each day had been pulling up alongside us and asking us how far we were riding, what we were riding for, etc. But this time I was completely blown away when I took a closer look and realized it was my sister, Laura, and her husband. They had spent all day driving up and down our route, stopping at the rest stops and asking people where we were. It was such an incredibly awesome treat!!! We were so surprised and overwhelmed that they would take the time to show us their support in that way.

We were only riding 55 miles yesterday, so we went at a little bit faster pace and enjoyed the sites as we went along. We wanted to finish, but we didn't really want it to end. Finally we reached our destination, Duke Island Park, New Jersey, the former home of Doris Duke and the Duke Family. We had reached the finish of a long, hard ride!!! (Of course we had a few miles to ride the next day in New York, but the major part was done.) It was very emotional and we celebrated with all of the riders and support people who had become our family over the previous few days at a wonderful barbecue. I have literally never eaten as much in my life as I have eaten on this ride. Normally I would be worried about my weight, but we sure did burn it all off!

After the barbecue, we all piled onto buses and loaded our bicycles onto trucks that drove us all into New York City. It was a great time to talk with the other riders, share stories of what we had experienced along the route, and make plans for staying in touch, and coming back to do it again next year. Yes, that's right, I said next year!

We arrived at the Hilton in NYC and spent a bit of time unloading our bikes and getting settled in our rooms. Eventually we were let loose on the city in search of food. It was hard to believe, but we were starving!!! Brad and I had dinner with a couple we absolutely fell in love with: the Cobbs from Tulsa, OK. Actually, Heather and I have been friends through the Young Survival Coalition, but we knew our husbands would hit it off and they didn't disappoint us. (Matt Cobb is just as awesome and fun as his wife and Brad now has a man-crush on him.) I was absolutely giddy from exhaustion and couldn't stop laughing as we stumbled around the blocks surrounding our hotel looking for a great place to eat. Thankfully we found it; It was a wonderful Italian restaurant with delicious wine, wonderful service, and a great atmosphere for talking, reflecting, and making great memories.

After dinner we weakly walked back to our hotel to make sure we got to bed at a good hour since we had to get up bright and early in the morning. (More to come on that in the next post!) I must close by saying that if you ever ride over 220 miles on a bicycle in three days and are looking for the most comfortable place to lay your weary body, look no further than the Hilton Hotel on 54th and 6th. Honest to Pete, I laid down on the oh-so-perfect mattress with the oh-my-sweet-heaven-so-perfect pillows and literally felt the need to call someone, anyone to tell them how dang comfortable I was. Yes, it was that good!!!