Coincidences

Two things happened today that seem to say we are doing exactly what
we are supposed to be doing. First, we came across two bikers who are
also going from coast to coast be way of Niagara Falls. Met them
coming out of the Womens Rights Museum as we were going in. Second, we
biked through Waterloo NY which turns out is the birthplace of
Memorial Day. Note that we did this on Memorial Day itself!

Equal rights

As if bicycling across the country were not empowering enough...Jess and I stopped in Seneca Falls to tour the Women's Rights National Historical Park! I find it appropriate to think of these brave women before us - that risked ridicule and condemnation - as soldiers and honor them for Memorial Day. I am thankful for the many generations that paved the way and allowed me to live the life I have!
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Mountain Dew and Chocolate Ice Cream

Ten days on the road and we have been so lucky in so many ways.
Wonderful weather, helpful locals, good food whenever we wanted it,
and lots of back roads with beautiful views and a nice shoulder for
biking. Hopefully if I continue to appreciate it then the good fortune
with continue.............. We made it to the Finger Lakes region of
NY today. It was up - down - up - down to get here. A really nice long
downhill section led us directly to the general store in one of the
many little towns we pass each day. Sitting outside in the shade with
my bottle of Mountain Dew and cup of chocolate ice cream, my only
thought was "Strong and content, I travel the open road."

Quiet neighbors

We awoke to a drizzling rain this AM but our energy and excitement were not thwarted. We donned our rain jackets, turned on our blinky taillights and started peddling over the next hill...and the next hill...and the next hill! 25 miles later we stopped for lunch, ice cream, groceries, and the crowning moment - our first laundry stop of the trip in a little town called Sherburne. So now at least there is the subtlest suggestion of smelling human. Although the 18 miles we rode after the laundry stop negated a fair amount of the freshness. The cows in the pasture below us contribute their own sense of freshness!
Our neighbors however have nothing much to say about our smell, or us in general. We have found yet another cemetery to camp in; this one with a beautiful view. Very pastoral. Hint: when tenting in a cemetery look for the oldest section...let's say 1800's...they get fewer visitors!
We are still loving the trip!!! Love the fox in the field. Love the deer by the stream. Love the raccoon by the road. Love the rabbits, squirrels, and even the little unidentified critter that kept us wondering all last night. We love it all!

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Murphy Hill

This morning we found the the hardest route into Cooperstown NY. A 2
mile climb up a steep hill called Murphy Hill. The locals were talking
about the 2 poor bikers they saw on the hill which we heard about at
lunch in town. We are headed over to the Baseball Hall of Fame after
dessert. Neither of us are baseball fans but it seems like the thing
you have to do when you are here............ In the last couple days
we have seen a stone fort from the Revolutionary War and toured
underground caverns. We also split the Catskill and Adirondack Mtns so
we didnt have to go over either. We had out first flat tire today. It
was my tire of course. We have been camping near municipal parks and
services since farmers have posted no tresspassing signs every few
feet. They really mean it! Finally we have been biking through
record-breaking heat here and it reached 95 degree 2 days ago. Close
to 90 degrees since then. Wowzer!

It's not a race

But I think I'm ahead!
Well, neither of us are racing anywhere. We spent the greater part of yesterday meandering and touring the Shaker Village Museum. Amazing place. We appreciated many of their lifestyle choices including simplicity, living in harmony with the natural world, homeopathics and self sufficiency. What a great way to live. But we took exception to the celibacy requirement!

Oddly we CROSSED paths with a biker also on his way to Oregon. Further confirmation the we are not the only crazy ones out here.

We are about to cross over the Hudson River via the Rip Van Winkle Bridge in NY then head toward Niagra Falls. Does anyone know of any must see attractions or events along the way?

A lazy creek presented us with a great camp site last night. We even saw two deer first thing this morning. It's not all roads and buildings!

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Camping in style!

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Crossed the Appalachian Trail!!

We took the high mountain road today that had lots of ups and downs. If you want to go 47 mph on your bike in a 25 mph zone then you have to earn it by riding up to the top of the mountain. Totally worth it!

Had lunch at a wonderful country store sitting out on their front porch. This is exactly the kind of biking experience I was hoping for.

All those mtns we climbed? That would be the Appalachian Mtns! We crossed the AT today in Dalton, MA! Nice to have our two long treks meet.

Then we dropped in on a power yoga class at the local rec center in town. Let me tell you, a power yoga class is especially hard after biking 38 miles in the same day! I am exhausted!

So we didn t make it far out of Dalton to camp. In fact, we are still there but up on a hill behind a house that is for sale close to the center of town. Pic is coming. So the question is, do you know who is camping in your backyard?

Camped by the lake

I am surely dreaming...we have started off with 3 days of perfect biking weather! The people we encounter (fellow bikers, cars salesmen in their lots, lawn care workers, shoppers, store clerks, etc.) have been very polite and overly eager to offer directions. Though we found that just telling them we want to go West only gets us quizzical looks. One fellow biker thought it slightly rummy that we had no definite plans. To each her own! Now we have learned that it helps to know the name of at least the next town when asking for back road directions. Though back roads have led us to discover that our bikes have a first gear. Coming up on the Appalachian Mountains, our old friends.
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Taking a break

In Orange, MA this AM!
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Day 2 - Bike adjustments

Beautiful weather for our first 2 days on the road. So a lot of luck.
We also seem to be ending up on roads that go where we want them to.
Although we often navigate using the sun - that must be west - and our
instincts. Probably just really lucky. We swung by the famous Walden
Pond yesterday and camped near a utility tower in Boxborough. Today we
got our bikes adjusted the way we want and things are staying
attached! Everyone is so helpful and offering directions. I think they
are incredulous of us and just generous folks overall. Tonight we are
camped by a cemetary so lets hope it is quiet! No idea what tomorrow
holds since we dont know where we are going......

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Away we go

11:11 AM Friday May 21, 2010. Our trip begins at the Atlantic Ocean, Northend Boston. The USS Constitution is in the background. Woooohoooo!!!!
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Quick visit

On our way to pick up our bikes and were fortunate enough to have a quick picnic in the park with my aunt Jane, and her daughters (my cousins); Heather, Becky and Heidi. Thanks guys. What a beautiful family!
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Pros and Cons

I look forward to giving up the daily routines (you know, showers and such) for a long camping trip like this one. It helps me identify my priorities and see what I really need in my life. It is also an opportunity to live a different lifestyle for a while. However, there are pros and cons.....

Things I am looking forward to on the trip:
Sleeping on the ground. Hanging out with Pat. Rice Krispy treats for dessert. Sunrises. Sunsets. Taking 2,000 pictures. Sleeping on the ground. Watching flowers bloom. Simplicity. Broadened awareness. Being self-contained and self-sufficient. Sleeping on the ground.

Things I will miss about home:
Jill. Mike. Dixie. Marbles. Butter. Snooze on the alarm clock. Ivy. Fractal. Animated movies. Driving a car. Popcorn. Dixie. Flip flops. Hearings on the Supreme Court Justice nominee. Erica's birthday. Hulu. Baking. Dixie.

Passport and plane ticket

Shaved my head, check. Shipped my bicycle and gear via USPS, check. My dog Mahoney and two cats staying in loving homes, check. Plants in a good friends care, check. Courage, health, and a good sense of humor tucked in my pocket, check. Airplane ticket to Boston, check. Wearing a ridiculously colored shirt to make everyone smile, check. Passport in hand, check - just in case the winds of destiny shift Northward. Maps of our route, che... uh, well, who needs maps!! I'm off to the airport.
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Welcome to the blog about our bike trip!

Pat and I are going to spend another summer on a grand adventure together!! This time on wheels instead of on foot. We are going to ride bicycles from Boston, MA to Portland, OR, Atlantic to Pacific. I have heard that biking in this direction is "uphill and against the wind", but that kinda describes us well, doesn't it? We are giving ourselves three months to do it and hope to be done sometime in mid-August. From what I have read, this should be a pretty slow pace and we will have plenty of time for sight-seeing. Along the way we plan to visit family, friends, local fairs and festivals, the world's largest whatever, national landmarks, and a few yoga classes. There will probably be a lot of illegal camping too. And I'd like to see a buffalo.

The route is only generally planned out. We plan to ask folks for directions, recommendations, and tips as we travel. Make it up as we go. Wing it! The basic approach is . . . . maps are for wimps!!

(If you want to check out our blog from last summer's thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail then click here: http://www.outontheat.blogspot.com/)

There is a lot more gear required for this trip! It feels as though the list of things I need is really long. Last summer I just stuffed a few things in a backpack, got a lift to the trailhead, and started walking. This year I had to buy a bike, bike bags, racks to attach those bags to the bikes, spare parts, ship everything to Boston, and plan some of those fun things we want to do along the ride. At this point, that thru-hike of the AT seems simple. Here's hoping for sunny days and light traffic!

I think one thing that will be easier is resupplying food. Since we will be biking on roads, we should pass grocery stores and restaurants frequently and be able to get to them quickly. And fewer pairs of socks that dry more quickly. Very important.

Last summer I looked forward to that moment about 30 minutes into the day's hike when my feet went numb and I couldn't feel the pain anymore. This time I know I will be waiting for my bum to be numb. I am also going to need a lot of sunscreen.

I know there is a steep learning curve for an adventure like this one. Neither of us has ever taken an overnight trip with a bicycle, let alone a three-month one. But I also know that once we start pedaling everything will work itself out. I might be a little nuts since I know I am supposed to be anxious, but, right now, thinking about the many unknowns for this bike trip is just really exciting!!