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My journey is over

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 After riding 3650 miles, climbed 116,886 vertical  feet, and went from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. It is with heavy heart that this is my last post for my bicycle  ride across America. I had the pleasure of meeting some wonderful interesting people along the way. Big and little acts of kindness that lifted my spirits. Kim and his wife that offered  me shelter and food on a rainy  day in Port Angeles. The closed bicycle  shop in Okanagan, Wa that opened  on a Saturday  morning  to replace my seat post. The Lutheran church in Havillah, Wa that provided  me shelter and food. The people at the top of Boulder Pass  that give me water when I needed it. Rodney in Lolo, Mt that shared his apple crisp. The family  that gave me and my  bicycle  a ride to Gillette, wy when my rear wheel failed. Doug Hirsch that kept my ride alive when he arranged  a new wheel to be delivered  to Gillette, Wy in a timely manner. Allison and Alvin Bell that gave me a ride from Gillette  to Mitchell, S
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Train ride home

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 So far I have survived going from Washington DC  to Chicago  on the Amtrak Cardinal  line. Now I'm  on the Empire  Builder from Chicago  to Spokane. Both trains I  have traveled  coach which has it's  own challenges. The seats are comfortable with lots of leg room and they recline alot. I have had someone sitting next to me some of the time. The Cardinal  train my car was 2 back from the engine and they blew the damn horn  all night. It sounded like it was right out my window. The Empire Builder I'm  in one of the last cars and I  can't  even hear the horn. Now the problem  is crying children. It's  like they feed off each other one finally stops and another starts. Allen Hubbell  supplied me with a Panera breakfast  sandwich  in Lafayette, IN  on Saturday  morning. Dennis Pedrick  and Jamie supplied me with beer, burrito, candy bars, chips, chocolate  chip banana bread, beer nuts, and breakfast  cereal in LaCrosse,  Wisconsin on Saturday  night. I'm set with f
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Day 3 post bicycle ride across America

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 Day three post bicycle  ride across America.  Today I was on my own to learn the  mass transit  of Vienna as David  had to work. I managed  my way by bus and train to the National Zoo. I am not much of a zoo person because I  hate to see animals in  captivity  but this zoo was well done. I did witness  Otter Love. I could not believe  how far down i was on the Metro. After the zoo I  moved  back on to the Mall. I went back to the National  Museum of Natural History  to the Butterfly  exhibit,Amazing.  Then I  went to the National  Museum  of US History. OMG,  I could have spent three days here. I stayed until  they were  closing and made my way back to Dave's. In Vienna. 
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Day 2 post ride across America

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 On my second post ride day I got myself into Washington DC a little earlier  then yesterday. I tried to get a pass to go up into the Washington Monument  but failed.  One more chance tomorrow. I started off in the National Museum  of Natural  History. It was fascinating! I told Betty the hope diamond  would look beautiful  around  her neck. So much to see, so little time. I may go back tomorrow.  I had a pass to get into the air space museum  at noon. About  half of it was closed for renovation so it was just OK. I had some time so I walked the 1.2 miles to the National Postal Museum. It's  not for everyone,  but I  thought it was cool. They had a block of four Stamps my father  had dreamed of owning his whole life. It was a 1918 misprint of a airmail stamp of a Jenny airplane. The plane was printed upside down. Only 1 sheet of 100 stamps got in to circulation. After  that I went to the National  African American  Museum. I thought it was set up well and was very interesting. Time
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Post ride across the country

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 My journey  continues as I  now explore Washington DC. The train comes out to Vienna, so I  bought a three day pass to ride the Metro train. It takes about a hour and drops you off in the National Mall. My plan was to see most of the monuments today and go to museums on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is spread out over a large area, so I got plenty of exercise. I had to really look to find the White House. You can't get very close. The sculpture  picture was titled "Aurora" and for some reason it made sense. I  did make it to the Holocaust and the American  Indian museums today. More exploring  the next couple of days, then I have to pack. 
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