Forty-four days, 3,438 miles, plus a route through 11 states and a piece of Canada. And when the bicycle trek ended at York Harbor Beach, a lot of hooting and hollering.
Seven students from the St. Paul’s School cycling team, including York native Anna Hymanson — plus the mother of one of Anna’s classmates — completed their cross-country journey around noon Friday.
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They rode to support Ride 2 Recovery, an organization that helps wounded military veterans recover through cycling-related activities.
The group from the Concord, N.H.-based boarding school began the trek June 15, dipping their rear tires in the Pacific Ocean just north of Seattle. They biked 80 to 100 miles a day, averaging about 17 mph.
When the cyclists reached the coast Friday, they took their front tires off and ran noisily into the Atlantic, said Patty Hymanson, Anna’s mother. “I feel a little overwhelmed. We’ve been visualizing this moment for 44 days,” Anna said.
The cyclists had set a fundraising goal of $100,000. They’re at roughly $80,000 now, and money is still coming in, she said.
The students’ parents had set up a rotating schedule to track the group along the way in vehicles. The cyclists stayed at hotels, campgrounds and churches as they rode.
Patty Hymanson and her husband were with the team through North Dakota and Minnesota. She said it was great to visit a different part of the country and see the students having so much fun.
Parents also helped supply the cyclists with food. Patty Hymanson said the girls were burning about 4,000 calories a day and the boys were burning 6,000. Along the way, the cyclists stopped for ice cream wherever they could find it, she said.
The cyclists kept a detailed blog throughout their journey, writing vivid descriptions of the places they visited, descriptions of their days, the people they met, and how much food — especially ice cream and burgers — they consumed each day.
According to the blog, they encountered all kinds of weather, from snow in the mountains to intense heat. They saw many animals, including moose, snakes and dogs, and met many friendly, helpful people along the way.
They also visited with veterans, who shared their war stories. The ride helped raise not only money, but also awareness, they wrote.
The cyclists wrote about how they entertained themselves, ranging from singing “Hannah Montana” songs to playing “Harry Potter” 20 questions.
“It was really long, and some days were better than others,” Anna said. “But it was incredible.”
She began cycling a year ago, but is also a cross country runner and downhill skier.
“I’m going to wake up tomorrow and not know what to do,” she said.
Staff Writer Ellie Cole can be contacted at 791-6359 or at:
ecole@pressherald.com
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