The Bitter Sweet End

Tuesday September 7th, 2010 is a day that Pat and I will never forget.

After 78 days of cycling 4,000 miles over mountains, through tropical storms, past mudslides, and occasionally through more than 100 degree heat, Pat and I arrived at ROMP's flagstaff prosthetic and orthotic clinic on Tuesday with a caravan of vehicles in tow. Around 2:00 pm we neared the clinic (25 Km), followed by our newfound (as of a week ago) and trustworthy SAG vehicle driver Dave Krupa. Knowing that my brother and the ROMP staff had something up their sleeves for our arrival celebration, I anxiously cycled alongside Pat, waiting for the inevitable surprise. After rounding a soft corner on the highway, the ROMP staff appeared in a microbus with signage and screaming and cheering heads. Not long after, a Guatemalan fire truck joined our caravan of three vehicles and two bikes (should go without saying). With a loud siren and PA system, we were escorted the last 25 Km with roadside fanfare of mainly unsuspecting spectators usually excited enough by the commotion to cheer us along.

We made it!

After what seemed like only minutes (thanks adrenaline rush), we found ourselves rolling through the Zacapa Regional Hospital gate, across a small parking lot, into the ROMP clinic. Pat and I relished the moment, sharing an embrace, kissing the clinic wall, and hugging everyone in sight. We were warmly welcomed by ROMP staff and supporters, including the fire department that came out in full force to show their support. The clinic was lined with baloons and concert size speakers loudly playing "We are the champions" as we dismounted our bikes. Dave doused us with a bottle of champagne, giving us the feeling of crossing the finish line at the Tour De France. After coming out of the hour long adrenaline high, we drank beer, shared stories, and of course had some cake, and ate it too.

Sweet Victory

The day proved to be the ultimate high, but has quickly resulted in a low. We are happy to have arrived, relieved even. But, now that our almost eighty day journey is over, we find ourselves strangely in limbo. Without the daily routine of biking into the unknown, we are saddened. We are looking forward, but find it hard not to look back. The ride proved to be what we all expected, a life-changer. And although we understand its completion and are excited to have successfully arrived, we will also miss the routine of meeting kind strangers, crossing long stretches of desert and fighting against the elements and whatever else Mother Nature decided to throw at us.

It is the bitter sweet end that we expected, but will not know how to accept for some time now.

"Riding for ROMP" has been a success; we have raised nearly $25,000, helped raise awareness to ROMP's incredible mission, met and shared time with incredibly warm and helpful people along the way, learned countless lessons on problem-solving, strengthened our will and of course our legs, and broke, at least in our minds, many misconceptions and false assumptions about the current state of Mexico. Which instead of being the dangerous and chaotic playground of narcotrafficantes and international crime syndicates that the twenty-four hour news would have us believe, was the safest stretch of our journey; where instead we encountered families, smiling children, and Good Samaritans at every turn of the Panamerican Highway.

Thanks to all of your support "Riding for ROMP" has exceeded even our highest expectations and given us the inspiration necessary to continue to work in a similiar capacity. If you ever doubt the good nature of humanity or have been reading the work of German or Russian existential nihilists, then I would suggest riding your bike to work, across town, across country, or even to Guatemala.

Ride on....

Greg