A University of South Florida professor fulfilled a lifelong dream while raising money for a good cause.
Dr. Nick Hall came home to cheers Friday in Tampa after completing his bicycle ride from San Diego to St. Augustine earlier this month.
The professor of nursing was making the effort to raise money to help eliminate polio from the planet. But for Nick, it was also the 50th anniversary of when he made a similar bike ride in 1965, when he was just 17 years old.
Hall said one thing was surprisingly similar this time.
“Back then, people would come up to me and say, ‘How old are you?' 17. 'Does your mother know what you're doing?’ Well, yes. Now, they would say, ‘How old are you?' 67. 'Does your wife know what you're doing?’”
Hall started the more than 3,000 mile trek on July 16 and made it to St. Augustine 27 days later.
His wife of 45 years, Hazel says she knew he was going to do it, she just didn’t believe it.
“I know he’s always been adventurous," Hazel said. "But I didn’t expect it to extend this far.”
Nick believes in putting few limitations on himself. That’s why in his spare time, he kayaks, milks snakes and wrestles alligators.
“I'll probably never be able to retire,” Nick said. “But whenever I have the inclination, I'm just gonna go ahead and do it now.”