A Side Trip to PA

Cathy with our niece Joann.

After pedaling to the Finger Lakes region of NY, we decided to take a side trip from our journey to visit family and friends in Pennsylvania. A big thanks to Jane and Chris for retrieving us and our equipment in Skaneateles and taking us back to WP for some R & R.

It's back in the saddles for us on Sunday. If all goes as planned, we'll be celebrating the 4th of July at Niagara Falls. Its then some pedaling in Canada around the northern shore of Lake Erie with a return to the US somewhere in Michigan.

Finger Lakes

A view of the lake in Skaneateles NY. We'll be taking a few days off to take care of a business matter.

Lake Ontario

Made it to Lake Ontario. 360 miles done.

Adirondacks

Almost thru the Adirondacks. Mountains were very hard and the bugs were tenacious. The lakes were gorgeous and the camp sites were exceptional. Taking a rest day in Old Forge NY. Next stop is Lake Ontario. Almost 275 miles under our wheels.

Day Four

We started our adventure on 6/11/07 somewhere west of Lincoln, New Hampshire. Thanks to Gil and Nancy for taking us in their RV from Cape Cod to the Granite State and to Paul for our comfortable first night's stay in Dalton, NH. Also, a special thanks to Ron and Lori for the hospitality they displayed by sharing their new home with us in Bradford, Vermont, home of the world's first globe and the answer to our trivia question. Chris G., you were the first one with the correct response. Go out and buy yourself a snow globe.

We have almost completed Vermont and will be in New York tomorrow. Looking forward to the ferry ride across Lake Champlain.

Fully Loaded

The start of our trip. Somewhere W. of N. Woodstock, NH. 6-11-07.

Ole Cape Cod

Old Silver Beach, Falmouth, MA. Back on Cape Cod for final prep before our departure on June 10th.

When we recently had dinner with our good friends Gil, Nancy and Jodie, the topic arose regarding which creature comfort we will miss the most on our bicycle trip. The obvious things like a comfortable bed, warm showers and chocolates on the pillow came to mind.

Later that week Gary and I made our shake-down camping trip to Nickerson State Park, a lovely camp ground here on the Cape. We rode the 25 miles or so to get there with all of our gear in tow including two new panniers. The equipment all worked very well. We’ll have some fine-tuning to do in the packing of the gear so our overnight trip proved helpful practice. After we set up the tent we went for a walk to the pond just down the path from our site. While we were gone a furtive squirrel chewed a hole in our pannier trying to get at a small baggy of trail mix we had forgotten was in the pack. It was a good reminder to us to never leave the food unattended and that critters are tenacious about getting at it.

When I got to the end of the path leading to the pond, I was delighted to find what appeared to be a new park bench with an engraved plaque honoring a couple who frequented and loved Nickerson State Park. I went back to our site, grabbed my book and captured the remaining sunlight from my perch on the bench. And then I realized that the creature comfort I miss the most while camping is a chair. Anyone who has tented for any length of time understands that after awhile rocks, stumps and picnic tables don’t cut it for comfortable seating. My bench had a back to it (no flat slab that you can’t lean back on here!) and I even stretched out for a nap. Heaven.
Now I wish for fair skies, a tail wind and an occasional chair along the way.