Dear Reader...

One of my biggest takeaways from this journey has been to recognize and appreciate the generosity of others. Any trip like this comes with extensive preparation and support both during the months leading up to the trip and the trip itself. I am incredibly lucky to have so many people who care so deeply about me, and I would like to use this space to extend my gratitude.

So, thank you!

To Rich and Kathy, Bill, Erik, and scores of others who donated to my trip fundraiser, the very first step to making this all possible.

To Michelle, Mieke, Meredith, and Audrey, for checking in on me, reminding me that I’m crazy, and always validating my choices to rest or to ride. You are the bestest.

To Madison and Kate, for being the friends I look up to the most.

To Neha, who has been my best friend for 11 years for cheering me on (and reminding me that I got myself into this so I can get myself out).

To Bill and Arden, who provided the most awesome ice cream sundaes for my team, which made the tough ride day 100% worth it.

To Juliet and Doug, for meeting us at Subway half-way through our route and buying us the best on-the-road lunch of the summer. We were all thrilled to spend time with y’all, and your candy, protein bar, and Gatorade goodie bags remain a highlight of our time on the road.

To Bike and Build alums from Ashley’s trip, who donated to me more than 10 years after they finished their trip. It really goes to show what a lasting impact the Bike and Build program has on its participants.

To the Groton, MA Facebook page, for boosting me right over my fundraising goal in a matter of hours and for being proud of what the young adults in your community are up to.

To my cousins Mia, Jenna, and Derian, for cheering me on from afar, and making me realize how blessed I am to have a family as big and wonderful as ours.

To the Antonelli and Hall families, for taking such good care of me and my family, for following this journey whether it is through my mom or my blogs, and for being so excited for me to come home.

To my Auntie Debbie and Uncle Jimmy,for checking on me almost every day, reading and loving my blogs, buying so many desserts for my end-of-trip beach party, and for believing in me and making sure I knew it.

To Jomma, for flying out to see my wheel-dip, keeping tabs on my journey, and making sure I was doing alright when I hadn’t posted in a few days.

To Nani and Buckie, for sending me four-leaf clovers and cards, the hour-long phone calls, reading every single blog, and rooting me on.

To Jack and Ryan, for sending me memes and talking to me all the time when I was stuck in quarantine.

To CUS’22, but especially Eliza and Caroline, for being my best friends and for being a part of the best team I could’ve asked for. Y’all made every hill worth it!

To Jonathan, for the daily phone calls, watching Tintin on Zoom, being so sure I could do this and so supportive when I felt like I couldn’t, and loving me so very much.

To Ashley, for being the best big sister in the entire world, for going on training rides with me and answering all my questions, for being my last and most important donor, for sending the most delicious cookies to my team, and for knowing I could do this from the second I applied.

To Mom, for sending me ridiculously elaborate care packages, planning the vacation of a lifetime for when the trip ended, being my strongest, fiercest supporter, and for writing me little notes in my lunch box since first grade.

To Dad, for riding hundreds of miles with me, visiting me in Colorado, giving the best (and worst, it’s a toss-up) advice, and making sure I know that the choices I make for myself will be the right choices.

And to YOU, for reading these blogs. I really poured my heart and soul (and the very, very last drops of my energy every night) into these posts, and it means so much to me to have had people following along. I hope you felt like you were right there with me!

This isn’t my last post ever––I still intend on posting two reflections on my time with Bike and Build––but it’ll be the last one for a while. Keep your eyes peeled for those, and in the meantime, wear your helmet and don’t drive distracted!