2:00PM ish. I'm not sure of the exact time, but they are finished! I'll let Ryan and Chris tell you all about it later. They are on their way home already and should get here

Chris and Crew should arrive at the Vietnam Memorial Wall at 1:00 PM today!
If you are in DC come out to cheer them on.

So this morning started off much the same way every part of this trip has gone...Dad accidentally took a right turn out of the hotel parking lot and made his way 1.5 miles down route 202 before we realized he had gone the wrong way.  Instead of letting us pick him up he just peddled back.  Our lead for the day squandered with this small mistake Dad continued on Route 1.  At one point for about .3 miles there was zero shoulder not even a white line to toe so  I made Dad get in the van and we skirted this highly dangerous spot.  The next few hours were completely disturbance free.  We were pushing far on ahead when Dad called and said that his pedals were coming loose.  He was able to tighten it down with his fingers but this was a band aid only and would not fix the situation permanently.  The team sprang into action. The GPS told us of a hardware store only a few more miles up the road, but upon arriving there it was closed.  And not, we aren't open on Tuesdays closed, this place no longer exists closed.  Fortunately there was a deli next door and the nice woman in there gave us directions.  Fortunately these directions took us towards Dad.  We purchased a ratchet set and were on our way to meet him.

When we arrived I stopped on the opposite side of the highway, Ronnie jumped out and galloped across 4 lanes of traffic to get over to Dad.  I rushed up the road to find an exit to turn around at and by the time I got back not only had they realized that we purchased the wrong sized ratchets, but a State Trooper had stopped to try and figure out why two guys were fixing a bike on the side of a highway.

He was very pleasant but asked us to please go up just 1.5 miles to where the road returned to single lane either way, for our safety of course.  He showed us a few alternate routes that we might want to use on his MDT(Mobile Data Terminal) and we gave him card.  I returned to the hardware store and purchased the correct socket (and FYI, 9/16 is the size you need for like every bike ever...I just forgot).

Bike repaired and just out side of Maryland Dad got back on his wat and continued his seemingly endless struggle against calamity and injury.  For now he just keeps plugging away.

~Ryan

Where the Sidewalk Ends…
By the title of this update you must know that we are fans of Shel Silverstein. And yes, we know where the sidewalk ends. Throughout the day, today and yesterday, mostly there were beautiful wide sidewalks or wonderfully clean shoulders for Chris to run, walk or cycle on. But as soon as the sun set they all disappeared! Like someone rolled them up and tucked them away! What’s that about? So, now you also know Where the Sidewalk Ends. SUNSET!!!
Not to worry though, the crew is tucked safely in their hotel room in Concordville, PA for the night. Chris is soaking in an ice bath; don’t know how he can do that! Ryan and Aaron are organizing for tomorrow. Ronnie’s waiting to rub some sore muscles. And I’m trying not to worry. Ryan told me I didn’t have to because, “We’re not experts, but don’t worry; we’re stayed at a Holiday Inn Express!”

Please donate now to Wounded Warrior Project and sign the petition for a Veterans Bill of Rights. That’s why Chris and the Crew are out there!

Ok, we are right now attempting Philadelphia, however we are on a bike now.  Dad was down to walking less then 2 miles per hour and on the verge of man tears when he made us stop about 2 hours ago.  Ronnie, The Kid and I were ready to turn this thing into a relay when Dad refused; he said, "You will have to scrape me off the pavement before I let anyone else do this."  So instead we purchased him a super awesome bike from Walmart.  We have started the first leg of our new journey and are awaiting him at any moment from around the corner.  Pictures and hopefully videos to follow.

So...you are here on the site and you have probably already seen the pictures.  If you haven't I'll give you a minute to check em out.......are you back? No?  Need a few more minutes?? Ok..........anyways, I obviously know how to upload pictures and all that but, videos...that's causing me a little problem.  Unfortunately there is a small learning curve and I just haven't had the time.  Today, I am going to ignore pictures and try and get this video situation taken care of.  Dad is on the move and Mom has an update on the way.  As always, please sign the petition.

Some time around 6:00 PM
Just crossed over the Delaware River into Pennsylvania! Yeah another state!

1:47 PM
Beautiful town. Chris is really hurting but he's still going.

Mom has already told you about one of our adventures in Newark, however, the more heartwarming story came only an hour before that.  We had stopped to feed Dad a bit and let him catch his breath.  We were about half a block from a BK, a godsend for all involved.  When Dad entered a gentleman in his 40's yelled out "Semper Fi brother".  After talking to him for a few minutes Dad found out that he was a down on his luck ex Marine.  He had served our country proud for over ten years and when he came home our government had not given him all he needed or deserved (our words not his).  Actually we didn't hear him complain once in our entire conversation.  When Dad told him why we were out here tears came to his eyes and he couldn't help but give Dad a hug.  The Kid ran back to the van and we gave him a NYDCRUN.COM t-shirt.

As we were finishing up and getting ready to go, he came back, gave us all hugs and wished us but the best of luck.  He even said, "If I didn't have my two kids at home, I'd be asking to come with y'all right now." 

This is the reason Dad is running, why he is toiling and not letting the pervasive knee problem get him down or stop him.

Semper Fi indeed.

~Ryan