So here we are on the eve of this “thing” with no school, work, or the like to occupy our brains. Much time, effort, and sheer determination has led up to this point but it really is only the tip of the iceberg. I keep thinking to myself; get a haircut, check; pack your life (at least for the summer) into a backpack, check; drive to New York City, check; bike across the country… I can only begin to imagine what this summer will be like for I know that we will not be able to realize the immensity, both physically and otherwise, of what we are setting out to do. So as I sit here poised on my sleeping pad and highly compressible sleeping bag, I want to take a few moments looking back because it is solely by the support of the people around us, (family, friends, and strangers alike) that we are able to do, what we do.To the people who provided us much room and even more hospitality at our stay-over in New York, the Alumni of U of I who provided us dinner on a fabulous rooftop in Manhattan, to the man who inquisitively called to us on the street and eagerly wanted to donate, to the people of New York who have taught me a whole new set of traffic rules, and to my teammates whom I have had the pleasure of exploring New York with and had the pleasure of beginning to getting to know; thanks.Also, a separate thank you to the people who personally supported me financially and in all other ways, I thank you immensely; it’s going to an absolutely unprecedented summer, and I truly cannot wait.