It was over 30 miles to the Delaware River and our crossing into New Jersey. Those 30 miles were still in Pennsylvania, which meant they weren't much fun. I had enough energy to get through them pretty smoothly and before I knew it, we were heading for the bridge.
There is a strange thing about New Jersey, they will let you in for free but you have to pay to get out. I'm not sure what that is all about, but almost every bridge has a toll and you have to pay as you leave.

I'm not sure if they charge for bicycles, but as we approached the bridge, a toll-taker came charging at us screaming we couldn't ride over the bridge. As he ran back to his toll-taking booth, Dan and I just looked at each other not knowing what to do. Dan had ridden over the bridge before without any problems from Billy Goat Gruff, but this guy was fanatical. He came out again yelling that we had to go over to a little sidewalk on the side of the bridge. Welcome to New Jersey.

Dan's friend Rich Reitman planned a welcome back event but we didn't really know what was going to happen. He told us there was going to be a police escort into town and then something at the courthouse steps and to meet the Bridgewater police around 4:00.

Either it was the momentum of the last day or New Jersey is a lot easier to ride in. We were making great time and not really pushing. As we were just north of Chester on Rt. 206, there was a small pickup truck along the road and a man standing by it. Dan was in front of me and stopped. I was thinking about getting home and as I pulled up, Dan was talking to the guy. It turns out he was a friend of Dan's who read about our return in the Courier News and just happened to see us on the road and stopped. That felt pretty good. He is heading out in a couple of weeks on his own cross-country bike ride.

We got to the Bridgewater area around 3 p.m. and it was about the fastest we had ridden 87 miles. I did most of my training heading out Country Club Drive, so we came down that direction, stopped to see another friend of Dan's and then on to the Bridgewater police station.

Soon we had three Bridgewater police cars leading us down Rt. 206 and through the Somerville circle. It was a bit strange having the traffic circle shut down for our bicycles. The police must have thought they were leading Lance, because they had us flying. “Hey guys, we just pedaled in from California, can we slow down a little?” We were pumping away at 25 MPH and both of us were puffing pretty good.

We made it through the circle and were handed off to Somerville police to head down Main Street. The street was lined with an adoring horde, OK, there were three people waving at me on Main Street, but as we got to the courthouse lawn there were 75 people cheering for us.

It was truly a great feeling to have the support of family and friends and for them to take the time to come out on a holiday weekend to greet us was amazing. It made a long journey become one my life's major events.

I'm sure I will forget many details of the ride but I know I won't forget all the support and encouragement for both my riding and my fund raising.

After all the toasts and thanks it was time to ride the half-mile home. But Dan had another flat tire, so he put his bike in a car and I ended up riding a half-mile more than him.

Dan rides down Main Street in Somerville.

Loren and Dan get a police escort through Somerville.

Loren thanks the crowd in front of the Somerset County Courthouse.

Dan gets a shower from his son, Andrew and Rick Fontana.

Loren gets a hug from his wife Robin.