A year later - glad we went last summer

Pretty amazing a year has gone by since our great bike adventure to the East Coast. We sure picked the summer to go. Never a 90-degree day, and low humidity. I can hardly stand to be outside these past few weeks. You just pick your days for when you'd like to ride, and do other indoor activities when it's too unbearable.

I haven't had any real great rides to write about this summer, just trying to bike as often as I can, even if it's not very far. Just nice to be on the bike. I've got a favorite 23-mile ride from my house to the country that is heavenly. Hoping to do a bit more biking in the fall. Just love the sound of that, "the Fall." Cooler temps, less bugs, just downright better.

The End of August

Well, it's been a while since I last wrote, and even longer since I last rode my bike. It's amazing when you have an event to train for, you're all gung-ho.... I've been working out at the Princeton Club, enjoying that, and working on transcripts, and it's been hard to fit in riding, even the most beautiful weekend we had. Something always gets in the way. I need to make it on the top of my priority list, because I feel fall is in the air, and it's the most beautiful time for riding. I dream of doing bike rides starting in northern wisconsin, and working my way down as the fall color changes. This may have to wait 2 years, when soccer is over and we have our weekends to do with as we please.

I have thought a lot about our adventure this summer. we're asking Zoe to put together a power point with music and pics. from the trip. It will seem more real to me. Right now our pics. our still on the computer, and not seeing them makes the trip seem unreal.

Enjoy the last week of August!!!!!!!!!!

Why I love biking

Let me count the ways. The open road, and the great adventure. This trip provided that and much more. Memories to last a lifetime.....

One never plans on getting sick, and when I came down with chills Tues., June 30th, I thought it would pass. We all wanted to see Maine, and since the weather was stormy, we drove through Vermont, NH and got to the coast of Maine on Wed., July 1st. We spent the night in Freeport before heading to Bar Harbor and Acadia. I still was not feeling well, and the weather so foggy, you couldn't see the coast, it was time to head back to Madison. The doctor diagnosed me with pneumonia, and the first week of recovery was the hardest, but am now eager to get the rest of our trip posted and hope to be back pedaling the roads of Dane County real soon.

Thanks for following along on our journey. I am glad Steve and I could share such an experience for Zoe and Eric!!

Riding to Ticonderoga - Tues. June 30th

Steve, Eric and I had spread out on what was to be our final day of biking, and Zoe ended up rescuing all of us from a pretty bad thunderstorm. Eric had made it most of the way, 70 miles this day, and Steve and I met up in North Hudson, where we got the bikes loaded and then the rain came. We all agreed the mountains were our favorite part of the ride, the most scenic, and even though there were a few logging trucks, the traffic was pretty light.

mornin' chores

Eric is applying sunscreen, getting ready to ride, and Zoe is washing the morning dishes. We know it's going to be a tough ride today through the mountains, so we wanted to get an early start. Eric and I took off a little earlier than Steve, who helped Zoe break camp, and then got caught in a morning shower. The climb out of Blue Mountain Lake was a tough climb, a good way to wake your body up.

Sunset over Durant Lake - June 29th

Durant Lake Campsite

Durant Lake Campsite

Scenes from our campsite!!!

Blue Mountain Lake

A site to behold at the end of a 70-mile day. Steve and the kids got a great campsite on Durant Lake, just south of Blue Mountain Lake. It was to be our last campsite of the trip.

Adirondacks sprinkled with Lakes

Moose River

Just another lovely spot along the route.

Moose River - Adirondacks

Hard not to stop and take in the beauty of the land.

Mon. June 29th - Boonville to Blue Mountain Lake - 70 miles

I let Zoe and Eric ride the pace they wanted, which was faster than mine, and they had a challenging day of biking. I did, too. There was a significant climb out of Boonville to Old Forge, a real resort town in the Adirondacks. A beautiful day for riding along the Moose River. The mountain views were stunning!!

Day 20 - June 28th, Pulaski to Boonville, NY

I drove the car on this day, and was amazed at how the kids were climbing. The temps. have been great for biking, the humidity not too high. They were predicting storms for the evening, so we decided to play it safe and hotel it for the night.

Day 19 - June 27th - Fair Haven to Pulaski

Steve, Zoe and I rode this stretch of the route and wanted to get beyond Pulaski, but beyond Pulaski 30 miles there was no camping or lodging, so we camped at Selkirk Shore State Park, a nice state park on Lake Ontario.

Shelter from the storm

Waiting patiently for the rain to clear near Palmyra.

Friday, June 26th - Pittsford to Fair Haven State Park

Zoe's turn to drive today and find a site at Fair Haven State Park. Steve, Eric and I set out, but got caught in some rain in Palmyra, waited it out at a park shelter. The weather cleared and we were on our way, riding some rolling hills. Because of the layover, we didn't get to our site until 7 p.m., a 76-mile day. Sleeping never felt so good.

Blue Mountain Lake to Ticonderoga - Tuesday

Had a great campsite at Durant Lake just outside of Blue Mountain Lake. Steve, Eric and were planning on biking to Ticonderoga, but the weather turned rainy. Steve and I made if 52 miles, and eric 70. We're in a great little hotel in Ticonderoga, waiting out the rain, which looks like it will continue through tomorrow (wed.). We may have to drive east of it to find good biking in Vermont. The climbing was the toughest yet. Eric just can't get enough of them. I'll post some pics. later. Even though it's slow-going in the mountains, they are our favorite part of the ride so far.... bring on Vermont!!!

Pittsford to Fair Haven State Park, NY

Steve, Eric and I rode 76 miles, a long day of riding, probably 20 miles longer than I wanted to go, and wouldn't you know it, the hills were at the end. Zoe got us a campsite at Fair Haven State Park, and Steve and I didn't get in until 7 p.m., because of a 1 1/2 hour rain delay in the middle of the day... showered, ate something and in bed by 10:00. Pretty tuckered out..

This is a picture the next morning, Zoe, Steve and I biking from Fair Haven State Park to Selkirk State Park near Pulaski. Lucky for us it was only a 52 mile day... The hills they are a coming...

Sunday, June 28th, our 20th day on the road. I drove this day, hit the laundromat and grocery store. The weather channel at the laundromat was painting a pretty grim picture for the evening, so I checked out a hotel in Boonville, and this is where I am writing this. we're pretty much the only ones here. Pretty sweet. The route was gorgeous, it was 54 miles, and lots of climbing. I'm hoping to be on my bike earlier than we have been, because it's going to be a 65-mile day tomorrow.

Zoe and Eric on the Erie Canal

I just have to tell you how proud I am of Zoe and Eric for coming this far on the trip. It's not easy being in such close proximity to your family 24/7. Yes, we have separate tents and separate bikes, and we all try to keep our distance when one needs it. I'm just so glad we could all share this great experience. I don't think it will become clear until the days and weeks ahead when we look back on it and all that mattered was getting yourself up and on the bike for another day of the unknown. That's what I love about bike trips. And now that we're in the mountains, it will be a challenge for us all, physically and mentally. I was very happy to hear both of them mention to me their desire to lead their own bike trip. I'm sure they'll do it differently, but will take with them the knowledge of this trip as a send-off for future adventures of their own.