I went back to Mount Union

Day 34
Distance travelled: 30.6 miles
Time in saddle: 2 hrs 44 mins
Overall distance travelled: 3061 miles

I had a restless night. I was trying to come to terms with the fact that I had missed eighty miles of the ride. I received some fantastic messages of support from many people and I appreciate everyone of those messages, thank you. I knew deep down what I was going to do and I was a little bit angry with myself. I'm a bit of a stubborn bugger and I knew that I was going to go back to Mount Union, the place where I got the lift from Paul. I finally got to the bike shop in Harrisburgh. What a great bunch of lads they were. Jeff Guistwhite sorted out my bike and he did a really thorough job, thanks Jeff. I needed a new tyre, two inner tubes and the centre bolt on my back wheel was wobbly. It just needed tightening. He put some new tape on the inside of my wheel. I suspect that was the reason I kept on getting punctures. He even put some new handle bar tape on for me and gave me two new water bottles. I left my old ones at the hotel. Ted a guy in the bike shop read the leaflet about my bike ride. He lives in a township called Warrington. It was founded by some puritans who came from my home town of Warrington in England and moved to America to escape persecution in the 1700s...how weird is that?
Jeff said that the chances of getting to Mount Union on public transport was difficult. It was what I wanted to hear...It was an excuse to continue East. I thanked the guys in Peddle Pushers and continued on my way. After about eight miles I couldn't do it. It was always something I was going to regret if I didn't go back. I found a truck rental shop and hired a truck to drive back to Mount Union. It was really funny I had to ask the guy at the rental shop how to drive a automatic...I hadn't done so since the last time I was in America ten years ago. I set off rather shakily but I was on my way. To be honest the drive back was the hardest thing I have done on this trip. I had made my decision and I was happy with it. As I have already said on the film the hardship is going to be for a couple of days...the memories are going to be for a lifetime. I don't want to taint those memories by not completing the whole journey.
After dropping off the truck I began to cycle once more. As I was riding along I received a phone call from Daniel, my son. He is in another country training at the moment. It was absolutely fantastic to hear from him. I knew I had done the right thing. I don't want anyone back home to think that I took the easy way out and I want my boys to be proud of me, that's why I returned to Mount Union....I feel a million times better than I did last night.
I've got a few 'hills' to get over the next few day so the chances are I will get to New York around the 26th, as I originally thought. That will give me an opportunity to meet Adam, my work colleague, which will be great. I am looking forward to it.