So, after 57 days on the road, 645 hours on the bike at an average 13 mph and burning through six tires and over 500,000 calories – Phil returned to his home town of Tipp City and to the loving arms of nearly 200 fans, friends, supporters and family.
Phil returned home to a crowd that swelled to nearly two hundred well wishers and visitors, some of whom were just interested in getting their picture taken with their new hometown hero and world record holder.
He was glad to be home, no doubt. After cycling in to all the whistling and cheering, he hopped off his bike and lifted it over his head in triumph.
With tons of adrenaline going through his body as reporters, photographers, and admirers surrounded him, he was feeling great, but admitted that it wouldn’t last long. On the last leg of the trip, Phil only slept about four hours a night. As he inched closer and closer to home, his motivation to push to the finish line, and the memory of his Uncle Alvin whom he dedicated his trip to, kept him going strong.
Phil is confident he gathered all the documentation along the way to put himself in the Guinness Book of World Records for biking through the lower 48 states. He was hoping to do the trip in 48 days, but detours around gravel roads, headwinds coming east and fatigue added nine days of riding. Still, Phil says the Guinness people have assured him no one else has done it, so he’s set a record.
After watching him struggle over mountains, through cold rain and against the wind for so many days, his father Ralph (who was with him in the Team Trailer for most of the trip) said he was bursting with pride for his son. His mother Regina, who held down the fort in Tipp City while Phil was cycling, was THE first one to meet him at the finish line on Monday! ...Mom’s first!
As for Phil, as soon as the Welcome Home Reception was over, he knew exactly what he wanted after 8,200 miles – home, food, and SLEEP.
Another goal of Phil’s on his cross-country trek was to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory of his late Uncle Alvin and grandmother. Phil is still shy of his fundraising goal. Visit http://www.go48in48.com to learn more and help him achieve his fundraising goal.
Check out and see pictures from Phil’s amazing journey at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=120934&id=89952651259&l=91f755c229. Also, check out Phil’s story at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11SjvA_z_8E.
So…tell us what you think about his endeavor; could you do it!?
