Goodbye RAAM, hello normality

With a shorter trip back than our initial journey to the start line, the team tried to re-adjust their body clocks to UK time, however the lure of free wine and movies kept some of us from any sensible plans. With a sudden goodbye at the luggage collection spot to the team that have been like family for the last three weeks, we were soon on our own journeys.

Trying to summarise the trip to friends and family in addition to the photography evidence is not as easy as I was hoping. The madness of the race can only be fully realised first hand, and I find it hard to recall the sleep deprived moments that formed the majority of the trip. It would be easier to explain by waking the person up after 30 mins sleep and taking them on a three hour road trip in their pyjamas (again and again).

Will I do it again? Yes. Will I do it the same way? No Way!

My itinerary advice for any future RAAM crew members would be this:

5 Pairs of pants (washing opportunities will be available)
1 pair of jeans
5-8 t-shirts
Old trainers
Flip flops
Roll on deodorant
Pillow
Light waterproof top
Duvet sheet as a thin sleeping bag
Hand fan for when in bed and sweating your "ass" off (luxury item)
iPod with binaural beats app for deep sleeping
Mouthwash
3 light pairs of shorts
2 Jumpers
Sunglasses
Pro plus
Sun cream
Head torch
Insect repellant
A good camera
Hand wash powder
Washing line with pegs (essential)
3 pairs of socks
Digital watch with light
Bic biro and highlighter pen
Notepad
Towel
Hand wash gel
Eye drops
Sun hat
Toaster
As many good quality washing up towels as possible
A good quality thermos flask
Nice shirts for the end of the race
Paper plates, bowls, plastic cutlery and disposable cups
Joke book or something that the navigator can read out to avoid fatigue
Masking tape and black pen
Chewing gum
Duct tape
Swimming shorts
Toilet paper
Wet wipes (not too many)
Glow sticks
Electric razor
Dental stuff
Super glue
Nail polish in national colours
Fly swat
Rubber and disposable latex gloves
Heavy duty kitchen roll
Advice for crew chief - Don't plan anything till you get there, and be warned that insurance for the cars will have a maximum of 5 people!!

Call me Mr Green, but I was appalled by the amount of recycling waste that was sent to land fill in America. It would be impossible for the RAAM team to recycle everything, however I throw down the gauntlet to any team in the future that can come away with a clear conscious that they did their best for the environment while out there.

I'm signing off now, and bringing this blog to a satisfactory end, deep in the knowledge that as a civilian working with the RAF I have been blessed with the kind natured and professional attitudes widespread within our armed forces. There is a line from my favourite film "Dune" that explains where I am now, thanks to this amazing and shared adventure:

"Without change, something sleeps inside us."

Massage home - Louise Parr

After an extremely eventful trip across America where the sole aim was to get four cyclists to Annapolis within 7 days (a personal goal!), we succeeded but with only three cyclists :(

The rest in Annapolis was well deserved by all, I had a solid 10 hrs sleep which I think was more than the whole week put together! A beautiful city, a good family holiday destination, I would love to return. I am now looking forward to getting home to see my two cheeky monkeys Dylan and Caedan, and Jason who probably has experienced similar sleep deprivation.

The most memorable part of the trip has to be the sunrises and stunning views of Illinois. Also the fireflies during the night, relieving the cyclist's glutes and seeing Paul with rubber gloves on, cleaning out the toilet in the RV!!! No way was I going to do that!

Would I do it again? Yes, definitely, but I would get someone else to do all the cooking. Flying home today, and am looking forward to catching up with my family when I get over the jet lag! x

Navy acamedy

One of the perks of the job was the the chance to stay at the Navy academy base after the race. After two weeks of slum accommodation we were spoilt, American style, with an all you can sleep luxury stay at the Annapolis's Navy base.

The site is basically an exclusive university twinned with the Navy training facilities, and by also remembering hundreds of years of nautical pursuits you can imagine how magnificent and almost over patriotic the site has become. Again it puts us to shame on how we evolve our historical shrines, and how working monuments should be managed.

Tomorrow we depart back to the UK and back to our every day lives.