Atlantic City is not the kind of place I can be following a trek like this one. I'm at the airport in Philadelphia readying to jump home.

It'll all come out in bits over the next while, the flow will increase some when I can take a spin on a real keyboard. Would like to get a travel board for this Blackberry.

For now I'll say this - it's over - and I'll try to answer the questions I would have.

Yes I hurt but it's not like anything I've ever felt before. There's no acute pain, just an overall thrum to my body. The only thing more pointed is the ache in my calves brought on by walking for the first time in 8 and a half days. My hands are also stuck in a sort of crab-like position, over-stressed by changing gears, putting on the brakes, and general handlebar holding. They went numb many times during the race.

The more amazing condition is my mind-state which is greatly affected by the deep and craving fatigue I feel. I truly wish that I could crawl into a well-turned out cave, complete with all the amenities, to decompress. I want to access all the 'stuff' I bumped up against during the race.I'm afraid to get back home, back to the regular grind and forget or miss the gold that RAAM panned for.

I'll just keep my eyes open. I'll keep my eyes open and I'll relay to you what those open eyes see.

cb