We slept with the sounds of the surf right outside the tent walls, with an occasional rude interruption of a passing train. After packing up camp, we pedaled north about 2 miles to the Potato Shack and were treated to breakfast by friends, Jim and Penny Crooks. Penny worked at Yucaipa Christian Preschool some years back and it was great to catch up. Ethan had a 16″ diameter pancake with cinnamon apples in it; I had French Toast, eggs and bacon.
We pedaled down the PCH and had fun riding up the Torrey Pines Hill, which at this point of the tour, was merely another bump in the road. La Jolla was as beautiful as ever, then we entered the congestion of Pacific Beach. A quick wave as we passed Sea World was followed by passing the airport and arriving at the San Diego Harbor.
We spent a couple hours touring the aircraft carrier, USS Midway. The Midway was an aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, the lead ship of her class. Commissioned a week after the end of World War II, the Midway was the largest ship in the world until 1955. A revolutionary hull design, based on the planned Montana-class battleship, gave her better maneuverability than previous carriers. She served for an unprecedented 47 years, saw action in the Vietnam War, and was the Persian Gulf flagship in 1991’s Operation Desert Storm. Decommissioned in 1992, she is now a museum ship.
We met Mo, a former student of mine, and she treated us to lunch at Harbor Station. We then scurried toward the border, riding through National City, Chula Vista, and San Ysidro. The border area was really crowded, so we rendezvoused about a half-mile north with our families and some friends. I decided to ride down to the border to finish the ride. My youngest brother David met me at the fence and we took the “official finish photo.” It was going to be a three hour wait to get processed and get my passport stamped and return to the U.S., so I pedaled back to everyone else.
We went to Old Town San Diego and had a celebratory dinner, then hit the road for home. It was great to sit back and ride at 65 mph in the truck!
I will continue to post some thank you’s and reflections…stay tuned!!!
It has been an awesome experience and a huge thank you to all who have been a part of the Foundation to the Future Tour cause.