Changing Gears: Rey's Ride Across America

Final Thoughts and Thank You's — As I sit here at home thinking about the trip and all the memories that go along with it, I have to to thank and acknowledge all the people that made this trip possible.

To the kids at the local Boys and Girls Club in Virginia Beach, they all turned out on the last day to cheer me on. I really appreciate them for making the welcome signs and waiting so long for me to show up.

Ric Edelman was a major reason that this trip was planned at all. Yes, it is all his fault as we routinely like to say at the firm. If it wasn't for his efforts to get a lifetime goal out of me and many others for his book Discover the Wealth Within You, I probably would not have followed through with this long-term goal. I believe it is true that when you put a goal in writing and time stamp that goal, then odds are you have a much better chance of achieving it.

My training partner for years, Edelman Financial Services Director, Financial Planning Pat Day has seen me through on a daily basis the 6:30 a.m. workouts and spinning requirements that I had to accomplish. Pat has quietly worked very hard with me for the last 9 months to make sure I stayed on track for the physical requirements that I would need for the miles I would have to reach each day.

My bike coach from Carmichael Training Systems, Fiona Lockhart, has been prescribing for the last 9 months a step-by-step weekly training schedule. Fiona made sure that I was following a training program geared not only to ride the required daily miles, but to do it at a fast pace so I could spend more time with my family. She was also there to keep my head straight as I was working my way through the schedule over the winter.

The Communications Department at Edelman Financial Services: Will Casserly, Mark Bagley, Kelly Pike, Rick Fowler, Jessica Stasiw and Suzie Fenton. You are the reason the blog looked so good and updated on a regular basis with the pictures, etc. Thanks to Mark and his family who worked extra hard with coordinating the last day's events. They planned it all to perfection. Also to Rick Fowler for getting with me weekly for radio updates in mostly difficult cell phone conditions.

Drivers Joe Roy, Mark Wilson, John Davis and his helper Katherine Davis. You all were there to keep the RV moving forward over roads that were narrow and windy and in some cases very rough. You allowed Joan to handle all the other items that had to be done every day while rolling down the road.

My riding partner, Edelman Financial Services Senior Financial Planning Advisor Anderson Wozny, who came down to southern Virginia for 2 days and escorted me into Virginia Beach while at the same time setting his own personal one-day mileage record.

Director, Financial Planning James Baker who took 2 days off to drive Anderson and Pat to southern Virginia to meet me on the route. Also for providing support the next morning to all of us on the raod

To my iPod guru, Edelman Financial Services Director, Financial Planning Jan Kowal, who kept me entertained with his choice of artists and songs. Thanks to him, thousands of songs were delivered to this small gadget, although I couldn't listen to them all.

To my daughter Megan for sticking it out with us these past weeks. At age 14 she is glued to her friends and this separation was a strain on her, but she was gracious throughout and put her needs aside for a while to help us make this happen.

To all those who have contributed to our charities, I am humbled by your response and generosity. Your comments and emails have given me the strength to get up every morning and pound out the required 100 miles plus per day. Without your contributions this would have been just another cross country ride, but now we can say together that we have accomplished something pretty cool.

Finally, I dedicate this entire ride to my wife Joan. Joan has worked so hard to get things done on a daily basis so all those involved on the road had what they needed when they needed it: reservations at hotels, RV parks, food, drinks, gas, laundry, cooking, cleaning, directions for the RV etc., etc., etc. Whatever I have asked of Joan in the past and present she has never hesitated to jump in and be my partner, so it is with great love and admiration that I dedicate this ride to her. It is with her spirit and energy that we were able to accomplish so much in such little time. Joan has never asked of anything for herself on this trip and has done so much for others time and time again. I love you very much, and I could not have accomplished a thread of what was needed without you by my side.