Day Fifty - Completion of TRAAM 2006

DAY 50, SATURDAY, JULY 29, DEDICATED TO:
Jostens, Inc. and TwoBitGrafix
(Thank you for designing & producing the TRAAM brochure. It greatly helped to advertise the Jeff Barnes Brain Injury web site & solicit funds for the Foundation.)

Tomorrow is dedicated to: Gods Faithfulness

My brother JEFF. He, like me, is also stubborn enough to complete a tough task.

TRIATHLON ACROSS AMERICA
(TRAAM)
Lake City, FL, to Jacksonville, FL
Todays Facts:
Jacksonville, FL: Population ?; Elevation 25
Current support driver: Nadine Barnes, wife & best friend
Run 3 miles with Wes, bike: 67 miles, Swim in the Atlantic Ocean
Highlight of the day: Seeing the Atlantic Ocean & taking that last swim
Challenge of the day: Taking it a mile at a time to the finish
Bike temperatures today: Low 75, High, 109
Helmets given away so far: 281
Flat tires: CA-2, AZ-4, NM-1, TX-5, LA-1, MS-1 (Total so far: 14)
Bible verse for the day:
2 Timothy
4:12 I have the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Dear Family & Friends,

I have finished the race (TRAAM). I actually completed the TRAAMJ @ at 10 AM Pacific Time. I dont believe I can explain what this day meant to me. Im not sure I can explain it to myself. I will be learning lessons from this for years to come. I do know this, I accomplished my goals:
1) Dedicating the Triathlon Across America to my younger brother Jeff.
2) Publicizing the JBBIF web site.
3) Educating kids about bike safety & giving away helmets on behalf of the
JBBIF Board.
4) Take the TRAAM one day at a time and relish the experience.

Wes and I ran our three miles up a country road in the dark. As I biked the 67 hot muggy miles to the east coast my whole trip ran through my mind over and over again. I was thinking of Jeff & his family, my family, the JBBIF Board, all the people who are praying and helping our cause.

I became quite emotional when I came over the last rise and saw the Atlantic Ocean. Nadine, Wes, and two of the Lawles brothers (originally from Huntsville, Alabama) and their wives were there to greet me. Billys wife is Reanna & Bens wife is Michelle. I dropped the bike, stripped down to my bike shorts, put on my swim cap & goggles, and ran into the warm surf. It was a tremendous relief to have accomplished the TRAAM and not to have let anyone down. (Ill share more later).

After photos and Sparkling Ciders (thanks Lawles family) we went out to a pizza
feast. It was great! Nadine and I started driving back toward the west coast through the biggest thunderstorm Ive ever seen. We are in a motel attempting to process the TRAAM. I will need more time to do just that.

Tomorrow well continue to head west stopping for a church service somewhere. I plan to PS you again, so his is not the last youll hear from me. Hope thats OK!?.