Day 17: Whiteville, North Carolina to North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 58 miles. Pretty darn flat.

A nice greeting from the management of our hotel today.  The term "resort" is used loosely.

No photos of goats, horses, turkeys, chickens running around front yards, cattle or small yappy dogs running after cyclists on back country roads.

Okay, I did have to take this one shot along the route as we crossed the state line.  Mandatory.

Today was a combination of racing to get into Myrtle Beach before the forecasted rains would arrive in the early afternoon (they didn't, by the way); trying to overcome a morning of low energy owing to another sleepless, cough-filled night; and just trying to get this trip over and done with.  Certainly not the positive attitude to take into a day of riding.

The storms out in the Atlantic were whipping around, sending clouds and potential rainstorms our way.  The sun barely shone throughout the morning.  That kept the morning cool and breezy, with temperatures only in the mid-70's.

My riding this morning was labored so it was a blessing to have basically flat roads all the way to the ocean.  I just kept pedaling and counted down the miles.  I wasn't about to stop to snap shots of roadside attractions.  Then again, you've all probably seen most of what I would have taken pictures of from past rides.

Arrived in North Myrtle Beach, right on the ocean.  Not a bad view from my room!

Somehow, it didn't dawn on me that I'd ridden all those miles over these past 17 days.  Not sure how they all added up but as I rode my bike into the hotel parking lot, it finally hit me that I'd again accomplished what I set out to do.  Maybe not quite the way I wanted to do it nor the full amount of miles I intended on riding.  But I still feel good about the trip.

Tonight, a bunch of us hopped from one beach bar to another, then went out to dinner together for one last time as some of us are departing in the morning.  The half-mile walk back to the hotel was filled with laughter that carried through the night beach air.  Listening to the talking and the laughing, rejoicing in the sense of camaraderie, made me appreciate this ride in a different way from past efforts.  I'll likely not see most of these people again.  But I will keep the memories of our shared good times together for years to come.

I made it!  Dragging my sorry, coughing ass through the Carolinas, but I made it.

Tomorrow, it's a flight back to New York and back to the real world.  So endeth the journey.  Epilogue and final thoughts to come shortly.