There were mixed emotions on the morning of our last day Riding to End Polio 2011

• elation : we had almost made it !
• apprehension : we still had 92 km to go though
• sadness : we would soon have to say goodbye to each other
• excitement : about the multiple photo shoots planned for today,  the end-of-ride celebrations, with DG Alan Anderson attending, press conferences and even a fly-over !
• pride : in raising over $19,000 for a great cause - eradication of polio is within reach
• hunger : is breakfast ready, John Gatt ?

Highlights of the day
It was a superb day for riding along the rail trail out of Wangaratta - green pastures glowing, blue hills beckoning, magpies warbling, kangaroo grass shimmering, cleats clicking,  riders puffing.
We thought of Our Little Mermaid completing her 900 th 50 m lap !
We were joined today by David Wohlers, who rode until he punctured and then wasn't seen again.
Glenda graduated from a tractor to a light plane and buzzed us over our morning tea stop.
Katrina and Bruce somehow missed the Beechworth turn off - 25 kilometres later, and several hills later,  it dawned on them that they had gone to Myrtleford instead,  and so they had to cycle back all those extra kms again ...they had wasted all that uphill effort, and  missed out on a chicken and avocado focaccia and a vanilla slice, and they had only one tiny muesli bar between them and this was the one day Katrina did not put jelly beans in her pocket .... but she  did not make any of these comments of course, but rode on bravely, trying not to think of Woori Yallock ...
However the two haplesss riders rendezvoused with the Angels, who even  brought the aforementioned  focaccias and vanilla slices, and smiles were restored all around.
Luckily there was still time for the now-traditional visit to the Sam Miranda winery and obligatory photo of The Boys in their Sam Miranda caps ( Secret Men's Business).
Then followed the final leg, a triumphant coast into Wangaratta - to be greeted by the DG, the press, tearful families and a stray dog.
Congratulations Graham "Ernest Shackleton" Brown on getting your Team safely to its destination after 600 km of sweat, blood, tears, grease,  Gatorade, a lot of fun .... and a great cause.