Today I dedicate my last ride to all post 911 wounded Veterans that HFOT are helping to build a new home! You’re and inspiration to me and many others. It’s been my pleasure to ride for you and spread awareness of HFOT’s effort to help you regain your independence in your own home. Reading your stories of how you have overcome so many obstacles in your healing process has touched my heart in so many ways. It’s been rather emotional for me when I read all what you have endured. Your determination to quickly get back to a new normal shows me what kind of a man/woman you are, a true warrior. You have signed up to fight for our country and freedoms and now you have been faced to fight for your own life and regain your own personal freedoms many of us take for granted. I can’t thank you enough for your service and I only pray that through some of the donations that we have raised will help in a small way help you and show you that there are kind people out here that appreciate you!! Thank you!! It been an honor to ride for you and to build awareness for your cause HFOT!
I also like to add that I dedicated this last ride to my dear friend and riding partner Donita Walters. I am thankful to God that you are alive! I pray for a quick road to recovery. Like many of the wounded Veterans I road for this summer, your determination shows what type of person you are. Your strength in the Lord is inspiration to so many of us. Thanks for cheering me on from your hospital be. You are such a strong woman! I count it a joy knowing you. love you, girlie!
I DID IT! I made it to the Atlantic. It was a fun riding day today! Wilmington is a very friendly bike city, so I never had any issues with traffic or the feeling of being pushed off the road. It was very nice. So thankful I chose to end the ride here. We started our day loading up and having a blah hotel breakfast at the grimy Baymount Inn. Kelly didn’t want to stay there with all the creepers that were there last night so we went out together. It just didn’t feel like a place to be alone. She went ahead and waited for me at the bridge that crossed over the Intercostal. A little before I got there I was enjoying the beautiful marsh area where there were several fishermen. One of them turn toward me and said, “Hey are you Kristy Massey?” I’m thinking who in Wilmington knows me? I stopped my bike and laughed and said, “yes!, How do you know me.” He chuckled and said, “Just a wild guess, and congratulations on riding across the country!” What the hell!?! Then I saw the Powerade he was drinking. “Oh, I see you met my sister!” We both laughed and he told me Kelly had stopped there earlier to take a photo and she handed him a Powerade and asked he would do a favor for her. She told him I would be by shortly and to freak me out by asking me if I was Kristy Massey. That girl! She got me. We chatted a bit more and then I headed to the bridge that lead me to Fort Fisher. It all was looking more familiar to me. I had ridden through here two years ago (2014) on my Nags Head to Hilton Head cycling trip. I really like this area.
I pulled into Fort Fishers and Kelly was waiting for me! I have been so thankful for her this whole trip. Can’t believe she has put up with me and all my shhhhtuff for 6 weeks. Thank you Kelly for every single day and giving me that kick in the ass to keep on keeping on when I was ready to call it. I needed this trip for so many different reasons, and I am so glad we shared it together. Love you to the moon and back! We were able to dip my tire into the ocean and find a little sea restaurant to have some lunch and a beer to celebrate with. We headed out of Wilmington and the rains began to dump on us. Glad I finished in nice weather. We made it back to my house in time to unload and do a few loads of laundry before repacking for our week stay in Atlanta to watch my son play some baseball. The hardest thing for me when I left in May for my bike trip was knowing I would be miss Aidan’s last summer of playing travel ball. I have only missed 4 tournaments, and will be about to catch the last 4 tournaments this summer. That makes this momma happier than a hot hog in a cool puddle of mud!
Thanks to all of you who have followed, supported, encouraged, and prayed for us along our journey this last month. It’s been a great adventure. Thanks to you we have raised $6511 for HFOT, nearly doubling our original goal. We raised enough to build someone a room in their new home. Yay!! I am beyond grateful and I appreciate all your support. Thanks for believing in me and following my journey now matter how much it changed along the way. It truly became the Wandering Project. God Bless you all.
