Our last day wasn't really a day on the ride, but I'm including it anyway.

 We stayed the night after the ride ended in a hotel so that we would have a day to rest and recharge before flying home. We decided to book rooms at the really nice Marriott Le Mergiot in Santa Monica, which is right near the beach.

 Today, we slept in until 9:30, which was glorious compared to getting up at 4:45 every morning for the past week. The hotel was super luxurious too, and having a real bed with real sheets meant I had an amazingly restful sleep. Yay!

 First thing we did was walk down to the beachfront cafe at Shutters and had a delicious brunch. Then we said goodbye to Steve, who had to catch an earlier flight home.

 After that, we spent some time walking along the beach and the pier, walked to Bay Cities Italian Deli for lunch on a recommendation from Zach, then headed back to the hotel to grab our bags and catch a cab to LAX.

 Now we're back in SF and home. Next it's back to work, but I also need to wash up all my stuff, I'm moving to a new apartment this week, and I'm traveling to Seattle Wed-Fri for work. Unrelenting! I'll try to post GPS data from all the days + a final wrap up post of my impressions from the ride sometime this week amidst the madness.

The last day of the ride was pretty great. We all felt really good about being back on the bikes. It's amazing what a day of rest can do!

 The ride down Pacific Coast Highway was gorgeous, with waves, dolphins, and some ridiculous houses. Watching out for car doors and surfers was a bit stressful, especially since the view was so distracting.

 After PCH, we rolled inland to the VA center. The crowds cheering were surprisingly big. We had a closing ceremony that mirrored the opening ceremony, an then we checked our bikes for shipping back to SF, picked up our bags, and caught our shuttle to the hotel in Santa Monica.

 Dinner was at a cool Italian place called Louise's Trattoria that Zach recommended. It was amazing how excited an happy we all were to order and eat delicious food.

 After dinner, we stopped at a shopping area so I could get a nice shirt since I didn't pack one (whoops), and then it was off to West Hollywood (WeHo) to party and meet up with some other riders at O Bar and Abbey. We came back and went to bed (in real comfortable beds with cotton sheets!) at about 1:00, having been awake for almost 24 hours!

 Today we're hanging out in Santa Monica before we catch our flight back to SF.

All checked in at the Marriott Le Mergiot in Santa Monica. I think I have whiplash from the drastic change in luxery.

 Just took my first real shower in a week and am now enjoying a robe, slippers, and an imaginary snifter of brandy! So great!

 Day 7 recap and whole ride recap coming later!

Last lunch of the ride! Awwww. :( it's delicious roast beef sandwiches at a park right below Pepperdine on the coast.
 
The route has been so pretty today! We get to go down Pacific Coast Highway almost the whole way. Great views all the way.
 
Also, I failed the Olin Challenge! (Seeing someone from Olin unplanned away from the school.) I pulled up to an intersection and stopped, and David Boy and
Jules pulled up next to me! They're headed down from SB to Santa Monica for a music festival. They joined us impromptu for lunch. Crazy!
 
Only 17 miles left to the finish! Onward!

Wow, what a wacky day. The ride was called this morning because the CHP wouldn't let us on a critical pass on 101 because on an accident. As a result, the roadies and other staff had to organize an impromptu bussing of all 2200 riders and bikes to the next campsite.

 They did an admirable job. This has never happened before in the history of the ride, but they had most everyone to camp in Ventura by 5! The route was gorgeous from the bus, and I was very disappointed in not being able to complete the full ride, but there was nothing we could do.

 It strikes me now that it's slightly crazy to be sad that I can't bike on a sore butt for the sixth day in a row... But that's what this ride does.

 Everyone was awesome. Lots of riders helping out, making the most of things. I heard at the announcements tonight that the ride is "an environment that most people can't find anywhere else, where people care for each other and it's impossible to explain to outsiders". Sounds (and feels) a lot like Olin (my college of 300 students) to me...

 The day wrapped up with setting up camp in Ventura at a park right on the beach! We dried out all our stuff, got In'N'Out from next door to eat on the beach, and later on had a very cool candlelight vigil on the beach after sunset.

 I'm excited and sad for the last day tomorrow. It will be a shock going back to the real world where my job isn't just riding a bike, eating, drinking, and peeing every day. I've already registered for next year though, and I'm raising my fundraiaing goal. :)

 Only 60 more miles tomorrow. Onward!

Oh man, this totally sucks, but day 5 of the ride was just cancelled on account of heavy rain along the route. It travels along a very dangerous (even when dry) portion of 101, and CHP wouldn't let us ride today due to a big accident (unrelated to the ride) and the rain.

 Boooooo! Still, I guess it's better not to have a day full of wrecks and hypothermia.

 I'm pretty sad because I had a great trashbag rain gear setup for today. Actually, more than that, it's frustrating to not be able to do the entire ride in my first year. Guess I'll just have to ride again next year.

 Oh well, we'll get a rest today, get bussed with our bikes to the next camp, and still get to ride in to LA tomorrow. We'll still have gone 460 miles.

 Still, disappointing.

Red dress day was hilarious! So many amazing costumes, not just dresses, but all sorts of things in the color red.

 A good ride: a bit shorter at 67 miles, which is a good thing because of all the costumes. The day started out a bit cold but quickly got very warm and sunny.

 The picture is of me in Solvang, a small Danish town famous for cycling-related stuff. We rode through at lunch and I stopped for some ice cream. It's definitely going to be interesting going back to a normal diet after the ride is over...

 Body is still holding up ok, although my butt is pretty sore at this point.

 Only two days and one night left! Tomorrow is 85 miles to Ventura, and after that, just 60 more miles to LA!

 Onward!

Alright! The dress is on and we're ready to go! Lots of amazing costumes today, so it's good that the route is only 67 miles today.

 Onward!

Woo! Done with day 4, and I'm posting the wrap up early.

 Got in at around 6 feeling pretty good after 94 miles. My knee held up and I avoided the dreaded dehydration beast once again. We're now 61% complete!

 We went through San luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, and a bunch of other places. The ride had everything: mountainous climbs, ocean views, farmland, really annoying city sections, beautiful homes over the beach, an See's candies donated for the last rest stop!

 The photo is me at lunch, looking tired but grateful for the grass. Tomorrow is the famous red dress day! I'm excited to wear my totally awesome dress!

At mile 17 of day 4, we are officially halfway to LA! WOO! Here's me in the customary halfway pose.

 My knee is feeling good again and CA46 is a beautiful highway. It's a little crazy to think that we're only halfway though. It's been so far already!

 Onward!