This note serves as a heartfelt thanks to my wonderful crew and friends who supported me at RAAM 2014. RAAM would not have been worth riding had I not been able to share this experience with you! So, thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
I am now sitting at the Washington Dulles Airport, and on my way to Ethiopia. I will be there for a few days before returning to Thailand. My hands and feet are still quite numb from RAAM, and there are many skin abrasions and saddle sores that are now beginning to heal. I have been super tired during the past week … sleeping anywhere from 12 to 15 hours per day. RAAM definitely drained the tank.
I am so glad that we are able to make it to the finish line under the deadline. The storm with flash floods in Ohio, the bad thunderstorms that pinned us down in West Virginia, and the strong rains in northern Maryland all made the charge to the finish that much more challenging. Despite two flat tires on the last day, we persisted though and made it in … The amount of climbing on the last two days bordered on ridiculous … and, I can only say that I am so glad that I trained on, you guessed it, the Mae Hong Son Loop.
I am not returning to Thailand with any bicycles, but over the next month I will ride my mountain bike there. I have a number of rides that I want to do, and I may even do the Mae Hong Son Loop again. That loop borders on impossible, and in the rain becomes even harder.
I would not rule out a future RAAM or participating as part of a team, but for now let us all enjoy the smell of the roses for a while. Thanks, Team Greenlaw, crew, friends, and family, for you carried me on your shoulders to the finish line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Signing out for RAAM 2014 Ray “Wall” Greenlaw
raysraam2014 