600-mile bikers finish trip, raise $4,048

Late last month, we told you about two men, Michael Crowell, 50, senior economist for the state labor department in Hicksville, and John Morris, 54, who works in the accelerator department at Brookhaven National Lab, who planned a 600-mile bike ride from Montauk to Niagara Falls.

We are happy to report they made it, arriving back on Long Island on Sunday, after an 11-day ride and a few scratches and scrapes. They report they consumed 215 bottles of water, 77 bars (granola and others), and 27 root beers. They saw 61 American goldfinches, got two "wicked" tans and jumped into one swimming pool.

They also raised $4,048 for three charities -- the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, Smith Haven Ministries, and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee -- through pledges.

"It was challenging," said Crowell. "But it was fun."

Would he do it again? "Oh definitely," Crowell said. "The day before we got to Niagara, it hit me that this was about to be over."