Finis Coronat Opus

Posted on by

The End Crowns the Work

Jeffrey here.

I gagged Joey.

Not really. It’s just pixels. For emphasis.

Today, I get the last word.

I reckon that in a cumulative 9 months on the road, I talked about immigration, refugees and asylum with over two thousand people; reached tens of thousands on TV, in print and online; and showed the flag for human rights from coast to coast to many thousands more.

Through 13 years and 14 installments of the Ride for Human Rights, generous people donated over a half million dollars to Human Rights First. Click here to join them; it’s not too late!

Donors will receive a Capstone Ride souvenir postcard signed by Joey and me.

We couldn’t have done it without YOU.

Who are “YOU”?

YOU are my Nancy, first & forever. My children, Deena, Rebecca, Benjamin, & their spouses—all six work to repair the broken world. My five little grandchildren. Family and friends around the planet. New friends I made on the road. Donors to HRF through the Ride. Ride blog readers, “likers” and commenters. Human Rights First supporters and staff.

I owe special thanks to Kathy Jones, formerly of HRF, who took my call in 2010 when I proposed the Ride to Iowa. She backed me with kind enthusiasm on Ride after Ride, seeing me off at the crack of dawn and welcoming me home.

L to R: Joey, Kathy, after the 1000-mile 2015 Ride to New England, which I pedaled while recovering from a broken leg.

After I accepted my first asylum case in 1983, people from around the world (yellow countries on the map) showed up at my door.

As the Beatles sang in The Inner Light (1968), I arrived without traveling.

“Without going out of my door / I can know all things of earth”

My eyes were opened by the people who came to me.

Beginning in 2011, I turned the tables, bicycling to the people of North America in all of the Lower 48 United States, Washington DC, and Ontario, Canada (purple on the map).

My eyes were opened by the people I traveled to see.

It’s unreal to me that I conceived this project—and notwithstanding injury and illness, weather and pandemic, and the dangers for cyclists in a country built for motorists, that I completed it.

Every day, I think of the journey. The wonders of our country. The intelligence and industry of our neighbors, whether born here or abroad. Their openmindedness and kindness to a stranger.

That journey, now ended, is like a dream. Dreams of …

… deserts …
… oceans …
… cities …
… mountains …
… snows …
… winds …
… dust storms …
… rains …
… farms …
… the wide open land …
… PEOPLE: First Nations citizens (seen here in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Michigan, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Maine), and thousands of foreign visitors, immigrants, American descendants of immigrants …

(Sigh.)

Kenny Rogers sang in The Gambler (1978),

“know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, know when to run”

It’s time to walk away and start a fresh adventure.

Biking onto Ellis Island opened a door.
I’ll keep my helmet. But cycling won’t define the next chapter.
I’ll support human rights even as I put aside this badge.
I’ll be a different ambassador in my next role.

Here’s my new headgear.

And my new badge.

I will be a National Park Service V.I.P.

Volunteer In Park.

Where?

At the Statue of Liberty National Monument, which includes Ellis Island’s National Museum of Immigration.

Liberty Island and Ellis Island are essential foundations of our country’s character. They helped create modern America.

My task: to help Park Rangers interpret the sites for visitors.

I’ll be an advocate for the NPS and for America. I’ll help visitors with practical problems, like where to find the ferries and toilets. And when asked, I’ll be a guide to history.

I will miss cycling through OUR country among OUR people. (Everyone who lives here is one of OURS.)

Yet being a V.I.P. is a fine sequel to the Ride for Human Rights.

At the National Monument I will be among people from across the United States and around the world.

Stop by and say hi!

As the Moody Blues sang in 1969, it will be

“lovely to see you again, my friend / Walk along with me to the next bend / Tell us what you’ve seen / In far away forgotten lands / Where empires have turned back to sand”

The Kangaroo Court Puppet—after 33 years of training videos, dozens of speeches and lectures, a TV appearance, 394 blog posts, over 13,000 photos and 16,000 miles (26,000 km) on the Rides—will move on alone.

Joey coasting into the dreamscape of Grand View Canyon, Idaho, where we biked in 2022.

I look forward to my new—puppet-less—journey.

This time, with Nancy.

Nancy, my friend for 50 years, my very best friend for the most recent 45 of them, my love, my star athlete, the brains and beauty of our duo, hasn’t long-distance cycled since the 1970s. She worried, alone, while I criss-crossed the country by bike. Out on the road, in the moment, I could tune out danger, tamp down fear. Nancy, imagining the worst, could not.

The Ride was harder for her than for me.

We’ll travel the next roads together.

That’s the best ending of all.

• סוף •

24 thoughts on “Finis Coronat Opus”

  4. Jeffrey—just beautiful…your singular accomplishments, your extraordinary dedication, your unparalleled blog, your precious family. Thank you. Jane Freeman

    >

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Fantastic Jeffrey and Joey. Many of us rode/road along with you – hearts full and discovered that freedom and justice IS for ALL- as our Pledge of Allegiance says – and proud of you for taking that message across the US for all of US.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Thanks for all of your incredible work and supporting so many! And thanks for taking me along keeping me up to date in your rides. Love my post card!!! Thank you❣️

    Beth

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Hi Jeffery,

    What a great epilogue to 13 years of dedication for freedom. You are a model and inspiration to me, and I share your journey with my kids and family.

    Thank you so much for your service to humanity and enabling me to be part of it, in the last 4-5 years.

    Ephy Torenberg

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Dear Jeff,

    Amazing perseverance on your remarkable mission. Finns would call that quality of yours “sisu.” Congratulations on your achievement and all good wishes in your new VIP role. Can’t conceive of anyone better suited to being guide on Ellis Island.

    Love to you, your special life partner Nancy, and to all the members of your extended family who supported you (and may now be very happy that you will be staying closer to home),

    Ruth

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Dear Jeffrey,

    Thanks so much for sharing your and Joey’s amazing journeys over the years. I always read your posts with great interest, and with admiration for your unwavering dedication to sharing your passion for Human Rights, literally EVERYWHERE!!!

    Wonderful news that you’ll be a VIP for the National Park Service – they’re lucky to have you.

    So, though I’m sure this moment is bittersweet for you, I am delighted for Nancy 😉, and I wish you all the very, very best in this new chapter.

    Warmly, Deborah

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Wow. The end of an era and the start of a new one! I’m glad. No more worries about cycling in the middle of nowhere with trucks. And wow. The post brought tears to my eyes. The next adventure will be safer!!!

    Like

  12. Dear Jeffrey, what an incredible act of kindness, goodness, tenacity, and dedication for all those years. I was recently giving a speech and in it I said that we should all strive to make the world a better place because we were here. You have already done that and then some. And now, you’ll be doing it again. Every time I see the Statue of Liberty I get kind of choked up because of what it stands for and that America has never completely fulfilled that promise (and some other “promises”…).

    Thank you for all that you’ve done. Boris and I are so glad we were a miniscule part of the journey.

    Jim

    Like

  13. For fourteen years, your rides inspired and informed me (and yes…worried me until you returned home safely!) I am so proud of your quiet bravery, internal strength and unwavering determination. Certainly, you’re an incredible ambassador for human rights but as importantly, you showcased the humanity of the people you met along the way.

    Thank you! Thanks Nancy and the fam! On to the next amazing journey!

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Dear Jeffrey,

    As Maya Angelou once said, “Your legacy is in every soul you touched.” Thank you for everything you do for this world. It is truly a better place because of you. Your actions remind us all of the true value of life. 

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Jeff, what a wonderful summation and leave taking of a project I’ve long admired. I wish you much success with your new hat!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Jeffrey, that was beautiful. Congratulations on your new adventure. It won’t be the “sof” for you.

    Love,

    Susan

    Liked by 1 person

  20. What a zany and spectacular campaign you undertook! You have raised a load of funds for a most worthy cause and spoke to so many about basic human rights and worth. Nothing could be more important. So glad that you now have such a fitting next venture! (I anticipate Joey’s jealous.) Kol ha’kavod, Shoshana

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Congratulations on the successful ending of your grand Bicycle tour in which you brought immigration information from Coast to Coast. And in the process you raised an impressive amount of money. Now it’s on to becoming a volunteer in one of our most important immigration sites – – Ellis Island. All good wishes.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. You are amazing in so many ways. You give and give and give and give – – selflessly. No matter what, you rode on for the good of those you helped. Truly a gitte neshuma.

    As Brian Wilson wrote:

    I’m going home, I’m going home
    Back to the place where I belong
    Found peace of mind
    Yeah, yeah, one piece at a time

    I’m going home
    I heard my sound and found my smile

    It’s good to travel but not for too long
    So now I’m home where I belong

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Congratulations, Jeff! You have performed a great service and looks like you will continue to do so. Best to you and Nancy.

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Jeffrey, I’m delighted with your new gig! You are the perfect ambassador for NPS! You have truly reached out and spoken to people across our great country. There is no one who could give a better view of what a democracy is, built by First Nation people, and immigrants (however they arrived), and those who have given their all to make our country worthy. I hope to come to NYC sometime soon and see you in that special uniform (minus the recumbent, and Joey).

    And we all know that Nancy is breathing a sigh of relief. You’ll be close by, and she can be part of this next journey, at your side, rather than by phone. She’s a mensch! (and so are you)

    Thanks for letting me help you in a small way on that journey around the country. It significantly changed my life, as I know it has changed many others. Kol hakavod!

    Susan

    Like

Comments are closed.