Today was a solid “pedal to the metal” day—well, as metal as you can get on a trike. I had a tentative stop zone, which is just code for “I’ll stop when my legs threaten to quit.” Note to self: maybe make those stop zones more, you know, real. The day kicked off like Day 5, and within 30 minutes, I was staring down the beast, almost looked like Mt. Everest from my vantage point—another Grand Puba bridge. I took a couple of deep breaths, said a quick prayer, and began my ascent. Halfway up, the wheezing set in, and right on cue, three people came strolling down the opposite on the catwalk. Naturally, I stopped to let them pass (not because my legs were screaming for a break, of course). It was purely chivalry. They passed, and I summoned what was left of my leg power to reach the summit. To avoid looking like I’d just wrestled a bear, I stopped at the top and pretended to take a picture—totally not because I was trying to catch my breath.

While I was up there, admiring the stunning water views, I met a couple walking their dog and a lady jogging by. Since I’d stopped to “appreciate the scenery,” I figured I might as well chat with them about brain injuries. Turns out the jogger was a social worker who knew a lot about the funding challenges in that area. It was like reaching the top of Mt. Everest—okay, fine, just a bridge, but still! After that, it was back to pedaling. Today’s route had me on A1A and US 1, but I barely saw the ocean—just sand dunes and houses mocking me from the sidelines. There was one thing that caught my attention, an octopus eating a mailbox, picture in post. The rest of the day turned into what bikers call a “rivet day,” meaning I kept my head down and pedaled like my legs weren’t plotting mutiny. At some point, I felt like a hamster on a wheel, just moving and hoping the finish line would show up eventually. Finally, after 58 miles of negotiating with my legs and pretending to enjoy every bump, I made it! And hey, now I can confidently say I survived the ride… and developed a newfound respect for flat terrain.