Jeremiah Watt

I just couldn’t sleep with all the thoughts of having reached the coast but not put my foot into the ocean yet, and so I was up by 5 this morning of October 27th a Friday. The camp was packed up and rolled into the water proof bag so that I could leave it for the day.

It was dark enough that I felt best walking on the shoulder of the road rather than ride my bike and chance getting hit. I walked for the first 3-4 miles, taking in the varied sounds of the urban and city area that I was now in. At all times I am within probably a half mile of the coast yet I still had not seen it. And then finally there it was, as I climbed on my bike and rode over the last high bridge down onto Atlantic Avenue along the Virginia coast line I caught my first look at the Atlantic and my destination.

I had been wondering just what my emotions would be in having ridden this trip, I had heard from others that emotions run the gamut from extreme sadness to complete tearful breakdowns, to that of swearing to never do anything as foolish ever again. I rode in amongst the high rise Hotels that dwarf the beach front, and make my way out onto the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, and the sandy beaches that make up this portion of Coast.

I had promised to stick my foot into the Atlantic as a final culmination of this now 72 day trip, but I couldn’t because the ocean was frozen solid………..I am just kidding. I asked two elderly gals to handle the photo details for me, and with delight they did so. From the sand I headed back to the boardwalk, and then on up the coast to the end of this portion of the ride at First Landing State Park and the Lighthouses that at one time protected ships coming into to these harbors. There is the Fort Storey Army Base around the Lighthouses, and plenty of coast line to ride along and see things. It was a 19 mile plus jaunt up to that end of the park, and then I rode back down so that I could call home and let them know that I had made it. I stopped and had a huge pancake breakfast when I got back down to Virginia Beach boardwalk area, and called home to let everyone at my house know that I had made it. Then I headed off to the Library at Virginia Beach to work on my blog.

Once my two hours of Computer time for the day were done and I could stay no longer. But I did meet a very neat elderly man just as I was preparing to leave the confines of the Library. His name was Lyman Hall, and he was a WW2 vet whom had served on Wake Island and on the Yorktown just before she was sunk. Lyman is working on a book that takes in the accomplishments of the men who had served in the Pacific Theater.

What a great guy to talk too, he was so proud of the men, not of himself but of all the other men whom had served and many whom had died in that service. But more than any thing he was excited about someone taking time to visit with him about what had happened over in that area of the war. I can’t help but feel honored when I get a chance too visit with fella’s like Lyman, and I am thankful that when things got real bad back then, that we did have a generation of men like Lyman.

I rode on to the south and picked up a rental car and then decided to work on getting my bike ready to ship home. I bought some cleaners and a bag of rags and rubber gloves. I spent from about 4:30 till 9pm that evening getting my bike cleaned and dismantled, and my Bob trailer ready to carry home as a part of my luggage with me.
As for this ride well I am done. I have no regrets, nor tears, just elation at having made it the entire distance with no serious problems.

Do I have any relevant words of wisdom for the many whom will read this and then want to follow in my footsteps.........well yes I do as a matter of fact. Dreams can only be lived when we are out there engaged in the life that God has set before us. To sit on the sidelines of life will leave you feeling vacant and unfulfilled, in the end you will have nobody but yourself too blame if that is what life looks like. I didn't leave home to find myself, shoot I know darn well who I am thanks, but I did leave home to find out more about my relationship with Jesus Christ.

My own walk was a matter of making foot prints and thats all, I had not found a reason to get engaged in the matters of what Jesus wants for ME. Do I have a crystal clear picture today becasue of the ride.......shoot no. But I also do not believe that GOD wants to show me the whole view iether..............just draw close Jeremiah and we will walk a wonderful walk you and I. Ever find yourself wondering,,,,,,,,,,,I wonder what this or that piece of country looks like,,,,,,,,,,,,,,or maybe what this or that region of the country may live like? I cannot think of a better way for any of us to get too know the beautiful country that we live in better than getting out in it. I will get off my soap box now, as I do understand that God knocks at the door of every man's heart at different times and not at my time schedule.

I owe all of you a round of thanks for the constant comments to the blog site, within the comments there has been much encouragement and Prayer offered up by many. I humbly say thanks to you all, anyone of us would appear to have made it by our own strength when in truth we make by the strength on loan from others who encourage us. So I say THANKS to you all from this last day of the blog as it pertains to my actual trip across what I firmly believe is the greatest country on this the earth that God has made.