Back in Bloomers ended much as it began: full of fanfare in a fantastic city, with high spirits and energy, and with celebrations with friends and family.

Team Londonderry checked out of our complimentary rooms at the Marriott at Courtyard- Rye (thank you!!!) and rode about 5 miles to Mary and Paul Goldiner’s house in Larchmont, where a delicious breakfast spread awaited us!

Mary and Paul Goldiner, their relatives, and Team Londonderry

As some of you may know, Mary is Annie’s granddaughter, and is also the only living human being to know Annie. [If there are any of you out there, now would be a great time to step forward.] Annie died when Mary was 16 years old and, as such, Mary has been a wealth of intimate details about Annie’s character. In fact, her charisma and story-telling talents make us feel as though we’ve found a little piece of Annie.

In Larchmont we picked up some additional riders including Jody Kauffman, Vinny Reina, Virginia, Newt, and Heath. Danny Zheutlin had also rejoined us in Rye, so Team Londonderry grew to be 10 members strong for our final day of riding. The ride ahead posed two distinct challenges: we would not be accompanied by our support entourage, because they had to forge ahead to check into the hotel and set up in Washington Square Park. And we would be riding through NYC, by far our most challenging urban terrain.

Indeed, i think most of the riders would agree that the Bronx portion of the ride proved to be slightly anxiety-producing, to say the least. We thought cycling into downtown New Haven was hairy, but it was a picnic compared to our entry into NYC! Saturday shopping traffic was in full force, cabs were winding in and out of the right/bike lane, and the accordian, mac-truck size metro buses paid little attention to us lowly cyclists. Those of us who are unaccustomed to this type of urban warfare (most of us actually), quickly learned that we would have to ride defensively in order to survive. And survive we did! Gary, on the other hand, was grinning from ear to ear, and was completely in his high-wheeling element. He said it’s his favorite kind of riding, just “him vs. the city.” Watch out New York!

Once we hit the West Side Highway Bike path, it was basically 18 miles of coasting until we turned into the downtown maze and prepared to ride to the arch in Washington Square Park. It was our Champs L’Ellysees Moment, when “We are the Champions” and “Chariots of Fire” were looped on our mental soundtrack, as we triumphantly pedaled our last half mile down fifth avenue. Free of performance enhancing drugs (do Luna bars count?), and with little training, we were about to complete a historic Boston to New York cycling adventure. As we prepared to enter the park, the last light turned red, affording us a few final moments to savor the glory of Back in Bloomers. I turned around to look at Team Londonderry, and the glow of everyone’s faces signalled ” a job well done!.” Green lightp- we sailed in to Washington Square Park, 30 minutes ahead of schedule!

  
The Spokeswomen posing as Luna Bar silhouettes (l); Gary demonstrates in WSP (m); Gary speaks to a Village Voice Reporter (r)

After “setting up shop” near the fountain, we did one last Back in Bloomers “Dog and Pony Show”. Meghan and I introduced our film and sold t-shirts, Ben sang, Mike quizzed, and Gary introduced the freaks and passersby in WSP to “the fun machine.” As we looped our “show,” dozens gathered to learn about Back in Bloomers, and about the intricacies of riding a high wheel bike.After Washington Square Park, Team Londonderry divided to shower and prepare for the party, and reconvened at Mundial Bar & Loungue in the East Village. The party was an overwhelming success, and the proceeds totalled about $2,800. My mom, Sharon Klempner, did a masterful job of decking the bar out in Spokeswoman’s colors, not to mention a fanastic spread of finger foods. Thanks also to Karen and Bill Klempner, and Alexis Mate for providing additional fruit and baked goods!

So many of our friends and family showed up that it seemd more like a “Shea Klempner” wedding, than a Back in Bloomers Party. Both of us had high school friends, college friends, and tons of relatives! Not to mention the friends of Ben, Mike, Peter, and Gary! We feel so lucky to know so many supportive and fantastic people, so thank you all for coming to celebrate with us!In addition to gourmet fare, guests were treated to some tunes by Ben Willman, who played two sets off his upcoming EP in the back room. There was a brief video demonstration, but technical difficulties caused us to cut it a bit short. The back room housed the Silent Auction, and here are the winners in case you’re curious:

-VIP Tickets to the Daily Show: Lee and Tiffany Lewis, and Bill and Karen Klempner
-One Hour Massage: Jason Schmidt
-House Portrait by Meghan: Joe Zammit
-Book Club Cook Books: Kathy Shea and Gillian Klempner

In the words of Jessica Gould, we partied “like it was 1895,” and we toasted the finale of Back in Bloomers with a swank party that I’m quite sure would have made Annie proud.

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