4 years ago after 761 miles and 90:00

rode west to the atlantic, turned around and then returned to the outskirts of paris. a little forrest gumpish, sure, but w much less facial hair.

in le photo commémoratif above -- balling my eyes out? yes. in awe of the crowd gathered to cheer on and welcome finishers? certainly. happy for the friends i have over there this moment in their last few grueling kilometers and hours of this nutzo event? absolument. allez, mes amis! bonne chance,bon courage et bonne route! nearly there.

the top velcro strap on my left shoe is completely opened up to accommodate my ankle so swollen from a late night roadside nap spider bite. any contact w ankle was beyond unpleasant. finishing pbp, however, was unimaginably pleasant.

so pbp 2015, an ever so tweaked star alignment may allow me to make your acquaintance. i would like that. until then, au revoir, france. "to the seeing again".