Nov. 7 – I reach the beach and the journey comes to an end.

While I was “chomping at the bit” to get to Tybee Island – first I had to make sure I had a bike box set up for me tomorrow. The bikes shops all opened at 10am, so I slept in a little and enjoyed the decent breakfast at the hotel before heading over to the closest shop – the Trek Store. The owner was friendly and assured me that he would have a box waiting for me tomorrow. With that task accomplished, I headed towards the coast, about 20 miles away. It was a nice, flat ride through the marshes and coastal communities – there were four bridges to cross that had narrow shoulders, but traffic was light and it was stress-free.

As I got closer to Tybee and was stopped at a red light, a driver hailed to me and asked where I had been and where I was going. When I told him, he exclaimed that he had always wanted to do a long tour too. (This will have significance in a minute). Soon I crossed the last bridge and suddenly it became real!

I wasn’t at the beach yet, but I had hit the island! A few minutes later I saw a cyclist on the side of the road who was waving to me and called out “I am here to escort you into Tybee Island!”. At first I was confused, and then realized that it was the driver I had spoken to earlier. He had gone home, gotten on his bike and ridden to the highway to meet me and ride through Tybee Island with me! Is that southern hospitality or what?! Mike was retired and had lived on Tybee Island for well over a decade – we chatted as we rode along and he suggested that we go to the beach down by the pier. I said, “heck yeah – let’s go” – so we rode through the touristy part of Tybee and then over the wooden boardwalk where the the Atlantic Ocean view appeared in front of me:

I had made it!!! I am having a hard time describing the emotions I felt as I walked my bike through the sand towards the water – I will have to say I felt relief, happiness, a sense of peace…….and then anger at all the beach-walkers and sun-bathers who didn’t stand up and cheer and shower me with accolades (just kidding). Mike took over as chief photographer and captured the moments perfectly as I rolled my bike into the surf.

Mike and I shook hands and he headed home, leaving me to stare into the ocean and revel in the moment. Then I walked by bike onto the pier for more photos, where the fishermen and tourists gave me congratulations and took their own photos of the moment. It was a lot of fun.

Then, as there was a bar on the pier, I ordered a local IPA and enjoyed the view as I texted away to announce that the journey was complete. The day was so beautiful and the setting so perfect that I could have sat there all day.

I almost forgot that I had to ride 20 miles back to Savannah! I got a quick fish po-boy sandwich and bought a Tybee Island sweatshirt and then headed back. I had waited a little too late as the sun had set by the time I got back, but it wasn’t dark yet…..so the day ended well. I took a shower and then went out for a celebratory dinner. My friend Mike in Tennessee has a friend in Savannah, Brian Husky, who owns several restaurant and bars….and had volunteered to take me to the airport tomorrow. I wanted to check out some of his places. In another weird coincidence, if you walked out of my hotel and turned left, his bar, Abe’s on Lincoln was right across the street – and if you turned right, his restaurant, B. Matthews, was right next to the hotel. I went to Abe’s first, which is a dive bar with the odd tradition that people draw their own interpretation of Abraham Lincoln and post them on the walls and ceilings – there are hundreds if not thousands of them. Some are incredibly good – and some….well, not so.

Anyway, a fun place. Then I went to B. Matthews for dinner, where the shrimp and grits and peach cobbler were excellent as was the service. After all that food and a few beers I walked around the historic district of Savannah for a bit before heading back to the hotel. Tomorrow will bring it’s own challenges as travel awaits, but for now all is well.