The Final Weekend: Pedal to the Pitch
The finishing weekend turned out to be exactly what I didn’t even know I needed—mellow, meaningful, and full of surprise reconnections. I had known for months that I’d end in San Diego at the Racing Louisville FC vs. San Diego Wave match. What I didn’t know was how the city, where I hardly knew anyone, would give me such a warm and joyful finish.
Joe, me, and Nick (reuniting after 30 years!)
Before rolling into San Diego, I spent two nights in Encinitas with my old friend Joe and his wife, Sarah. Joe and I hadn’t seen each other since 1994, back when we were snowboard instructors at Greek Peak. Somehow, decades later, Instagram brought us back into each other’s lives. The serendipity didn’t end there—our mutual friend Nick also lives in Encinitas now with his wife, Shannon. Nick and I go back even further, to 1993, when I was a freshman at Ithaca College and he was still in high school. We bonded through the punk/hardcore scene, crashed at his parent’s house multiple times- for summer break, vacations and just to hang, and shared the kind of friendship that roots deeply even if it doesn’t stay in constant contact.
The last time I saw Nick was in 2013, during my Road to Rhode ride across the country. And wouldn’t you know it—here we were, thirty years after first meeting, reconnecting again. Even more wild? Nick and Joe are now in a band together. On my very last day of Pedal to the Pitch, I found myself at a house party, cheering them on as their 90s cover band played a mix of nostalgia and punk classics. When they broke into Face to Face’s Disconnected and Green Day’s Going to Pasalacqua, I got chills—memories of seeing those songs live with Nick in 1994 flooding back.
The meaning of it all hit me hard: old friends, reconnections, community, music, and the perfect accidental reunion at the end of a long, extraordinary ride.
That morning, before the party, I had cycled into San Diego. The final miles brought me over a last big climb and down into La Jolla, the Pacific opening up in front of me. I made my official finish at the San Diego Zoo (an iconic spot felt appropriate), snapped the obligatory photo, then headed to my Airbnb. After a quick shower, I dropped my bike, Loucy, at a shop to be shipped home. That moment was unexpectedly emotional. Loucy has been my companion through every mile, every climb, every bit of fatigue and joy. Saying goodbye, even temporarily, felt like leaving a piece of myself behind.
The day wasn’t done surprising me. While riding that morning, Gabrielle—one of two cyclists I’d met in southern Oregon—called to congratulate me. She and her sister Caitlin had been on a faster schedule, finishing their ride in San Francisco, but we’d bonded over soccer, education, and travel during our brief overlap on the road. Gabrielle happened to be in San Diego with her family for a funeral (she lives in Miami), and despite the circumstances, she wanted to meet for a quick hug and a celebratory snack. I had just enough time before the Encinitas party, so we met up. Sitting together with Gabrielle and her brother, raising a glass to our finished journeys, reminded me of what I love most about bike touring: the unexpected, serendipitous connections that feel both fleeting and deeply lasting.
The next morning, my closing chapter truly unfolded. I joined the Racing Louisville FC players at their hotel for their matchday walk. We played silly games, shared conversation about book clubs and the season, and connected athlete-to-athlete, woman-to-woman. It felt like the culmination of everything Pedal to the Pitch had been about—community, resilience, joy in movement, and the power of sport to connect us.
That afternoon, Joe and Sarah joined me for the match. What began as a solo finish turned into a shared celebration. I found myself sitting among fellow Racing Louisville supporters—meeting parents, siblings, and even college roommates of coaching staff. And then came the cherry on top: a Louisville win.
As I texted with Coach Bev the next morning, I realized it wasn’t just a victory for the team. For me, it was the perfect punctuation mark to this journey. Safe, uninjured, and full of gratitude, I had done something extraordinary… again.
And just like that, Pedal to the Pitch was complete.
