Post 8: Tour Divide Finisher: Finally Reuniting with Keith

I hadn't seen Keith (in person) since Friday, June 13, 2025, as he embarked on his Tour Divide journey. I spoke to him over the phone and/or Facetimed a handful of times. He sent some pictures from the ride, but he didn't really have the time or energy for much more communication while he was gone. To say I was excited to see him was an understatement.

Post Tour Divide Plans

As Keith continued to ride and it became more clear that he was going to complete the race, I began planning our post-divide travel and meet-up. This part was really hard to think about a year ago, months ago, weeks ago, and even just days before. Not really knowing if he'd finish or when, it was hard to plan when I needed to be at the border to pick him up and what we should do after.

Ultimately, I decided on Oro Valley, AZ, as a good location to spend some time after the race. I found the perfect condo on Airbnb. It seemed like a pretty quiet neighborhood, but close to restaurants and with easy access to some tourist attractions. It was hard to know if Keith would want to keep active during this time or if he would want to relax. We would both be working for part of this trip, so that was also a consideration.

Another Road Trip for Me!

I wanted to arrive at the condo a couple of days before Keith would finish the Tour Divide, so I could unpack our things, grocery shop, etc. I was also a little worried he would decide to ride through the last night. That could mean I wouldn't be able to get to the border in time to see him finish the race, or at the very least, I'd be making the drive without much sleep.

Everything ended up going really smoothly and just as I planned. The first day, I worked at home and then drove to Page, AZ, for the night. The second day, I split my driving time and stopped at Single Speed Coffee Roasters in Flagstaff, AZ, to work. I arrived at the Airbnb early evening and had time to get the house in order. I then had one whole day to work and rest before getting up the next day super early to make the drive from Arizona to Antelope Wells, NM!

Keith's an Official 2025 Tour Divide "racer" finisher!!

On Thursday, July 10th, 2025, Keith became an official Tour Divide "racer" finisher!! He finished with an elapsed time of 27 days, 6 hours, and 49 minutes! The journey took him across more than 2700 miles of remote, rough, and beautiful roads and trails along the Continental Divide from Banff, AB, in Canada, to the USA/Mexico border in Antelope Wells, NM.

Watching Keith arrive at the finish line was such an emotional moment for both of us. It felt amazing to be reunited 💗 I was just so happy and proud that he was able to complete the race. I was thankful for the experiences he was able to have, the goals he was able to achieve, and for his health and safety during the race.

The Lone Wolves Wolfpack

Keith completed the ride with a fantastic group of guys he met along the way: "The Lone Wolves Wolfpack" Steve, John, and Dan. Also pictured above is Alan, another rider the group saw often and didn't know would be at the end to cheer them on as they finished. He finished earlier in the day and was waiting for his ride at the border.

I had actually met Dan and his wife in Canada when the race started. We seemed to have a lot in common, so I was excited to see Andrea again and get to know her better. I'd heard about Steve and John, so it was nice to meet them in person. John's wife was also able to be at the end of the race, so I got to meet her, too. Steve's wife wasn't able to make the trip to the border, but I've heard about her from Keith since. Andrea, Jess, and I had a group chat called "Tour Divide Wives" where we coordinated food and celebrations for reuniting at the border. The three of us met at the last town before the border and talked for a couple of hours before the final stretch to the border.

Afterward, everyone went out for pizza! This gave the guys one last chance to share a meal. It was fun to have everyone together and to start hearing about the best memories the guys had and how they felt achieving their goal. It was such a memorable part of the experience for me. Unfortunately, no one got a picture!

Upcoming Post

Next week, I'll share about our time in Oro Valley. Three highlights for me were Saguaro National Park, driving Mount Lemmon, and relaxing by the pool at the condo!

Have you ever been away from your spouse/partner for an extended period of time? Did you experience any unexpected emotions? Let us know in the comments section below.👇 💬