Day 15: Back to Eastlake...and the long THANK YOU LIST

**This series of posts recap my two-week trip to Billings, MT and back from July 1-16, 2013. For the entire list of my featured rides, click here.**

I took my time and left Moline around 9AM and stayed in Peoria (less than 120 miles away) for the night, the same place where I started this whirlwind 15-day tour of the United States and the Women On Wheels® International Ride-In™.

US-150 through Northern Illinois does provide quite a bit of serenity in a straight line.

There are too many people to thank and I want them to know that they're appreciated. Here are some that I could come up with witty remarks on...believe me, if you're not listed I didn't forget you! :)

Thank you to...
Pam who did everything in her power and then some to make sure my tuchus made it to Billings, MT and stayed there. Thank you for paying, at times, a disturbing amount of attention to details that were both important and necessary to the success of this event. You're the only person I know who I can send out to find a needle in haystack and return with a dozen additional needles that were also missing.

My roommate Deana for splitting the room with me and not sending me to the looney bin after catching me having a conversation/staring contest with Annagator the Alligator, one of TWO Ride-In™ Animal Ambassadors one morning. I appreciate the tube of toothpaste and two-step with Roberta during Cris' American Idol audition during the opening ceremonies. JAZZ HANDS...!!!!


Speaking of which...Bert with the DIY Wisconsin maps of Oconomowoc for Closing Ceremonies and running that registration table LIKE A BOSS. Geography rocks, and that's the best use of a bingo dauber I've seen in a long time...at least when one is not dealing with intoxicated college students.

Cris, I still wonder how you pull this stuff off. Then again, fourth time is a charm? Are you going for 5th or 6th time, because I still need some practice. :)

Patti for the donation of cherries, an apple, crackers, peanut butter, and Greek yogurt on Tuesday evening so I didn't have to order takeout at 11PM. after cleaning up the Opening Ceremonies. Those were tasty. The extra toothpaste? I didn't eat that, but it was great for cleaning my teeth.

All of the ladies that hung out with me at the merchandise table and let me play with their smartphones (and teach them a think or two) in between transactions. Hope your stuff works now. If not, you know where to find me. :)

Whoever had the integrity to return my wallet completely intact on Tuesday night, you're awesome. Besides, you couldn't do much with a single dollar, a credit card with a pretty low limit, and an ID that doesn't look at all like you anyway. Still though, that probably wasn't the motivation for your honesty, or so I'd like to think.

The California gals for bringing a little of that sunshine with them to Billings. You could've left some of that heat at home though. And all the ladies who I've had the chance to have meals with. I could go for another one of those breakfast burritos.

Carolee for reminding us that "woo-hoos" will suffice when announcing that one has won the carnival games raffle, not the recitation of the Preamble of the US Constitution. Thanks for taking away whatever composure I had left during the Closing Ceremonies. Can you do it again another year?

And Rebecca for putting up with me for 1200 miles and six states. It was an honor and a privilege to be your sweep rider. Thanks for letting me have at it on the Beartooth Pass and Chief Joseph Highway; I do apologize for the carbon cloud when I really opened the bike up on a straightaway. Eleanor says "excuse me." She needed to let it all out.

My friends are so freakin' awesome. :)