Exit stage right.....

Game over: Brian is on his way home!! He's smiling now, but only after a shower, hot meal and a good night sleep in a room with air conditioning. The challenge, Key West to Alaska, came with few rules, and some were sketchy, but it was perfectly clear that a speeding ticket meant automatic disqualification.

Yep, he got a speeding ticket! Brian's luck apparently ran out in "Podunk", Alabama when "Barney Fife" pulled him out of a group of riders and, despite Brian's negotiating skills, gave him a speeding ticket!!! Now, before you say "Brian!!! Why weren't you being more careful!!!", you should know that for miles their course took them over back country roads where he was careful not to exceed 5 mph over the posted 55 mph. He knew the consequences. The riders were unaware of the reduction in speed limit (to 40 mph). No sign. :(

Brian decided to continue to tough it out, despite the ticket. He knew he was making good time and was in good position among the field. At the second checkpoint, he had been 21st (out of 700) to arrive. The leaders were only a couple hours ahead of him. And, he knew several of them had dropped out since the checkpoint. The challenge still had it's hold on him.

But then he encountered more bad luck when the group he was riding with missed one particular turn late in the second day. Missed turns had been a relatively common occurrence. Brian said that he often had to rely on instinct when approaching an intersection as many roads were simply unmarked. If he decided to turn, thinking it must be the course, it may be 30 miles before he found a route number and was able to verify the course or backtrack. This last missed turn was big! It resulted in an extra 350 miles of travel and a lost night sleep, just to get back on course. Very discouraging. Rumor has it that some road signs were deliberately being removed... by the the riders up front?? Don't know.

The leaders were now half way across the next state. Out of striking distance. Tough to catch.

His decision to fold 'em was not made lightly and came only after many miles of soul searching.

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes and prayers. Judging from this self portrait, Brian looks happy to be heading home (I wonder why?) and back to civilization! Boy, does he have some stories! Stay tuned...