Today was one of the most anticipated days of the summer. The team woke up at 6:00 AM to prepare for their ride into Denver where family and friends awaited. In celebration of Independence Day, some cyclists attached American Flags to their bikes for the ride.
We left Boulder at 7:30, making our way south via a bike path. After some adventure and one wrong turn, we arrived to “stage up” at 11:30 along with the North route. Many team members have Chapter brothers on North and enjoyed seeing their friends for the first time this summer. At noon it was time to arrive at the state Capitol building. We rode in double pace lines for a few blocks to see a couple hundred family and friends lining the street for pictures.
After speeches by CEO, Basil Lyberg, and the Project Managers of bother routes, the teams enjoyed some Chipotle lunch on the lawn and then left for the hotel. The afternoon presented the team with some free time which was used to explore and rest before attending the Colorado Rockies baseball game.
At 6:00 PM the team was seated watching the Rockies take on the Cincinnati Reds. Although the Rockies did not play well, the fireworks at the conclusion of the game made it worth the wait! The team thoroughly enjoyed spending time with friends and family and celebrating the ability to live in a country that presents the freedom to do things like taking a summer to cycle across the nation.
Author: David Hicks, Cyclist (Alpha Epsilon Chapter, University of Florida)