BURLINGTON, MS TO BOSTON, MS

Burlington, MS to Revere Beach (Boston), MS
19.7 Miles
25 June 2010

Today is a ceremonial ride to the beach. We ride 13.5 miles from the hotel on our own and the in a two by two parade accompanied front and rear by the vans to the beach. There meant by family and friends for the group pic, wheel dipping in the Atlantic etc. One little glitch. The whole group got lost except for Jim, Rick and I who were riding sweep and got behind due to stop lights. We arrive at the rendezvous sight and now one is there but the one van. The rest arrived about 20 minutes later.

It was really nice to see this group finish. They were great. Excellent determination, camaraderie, and spirit. It will take a few days to weeks for them to realize what has happened to them, I know it did me.

I personally made at least a couple of new friends that I think will stick. That is a great feeling, and PRICELESS.

A Great Group of Cross Country Riders

Wheel dipping

Zak carrying Jan's bike to the beach and walking with
her and her grandson. She was our oldest women rider
and a real trouper She made it the whole way

Are we having fun.? You bet

Me and my pojo, Jim Hall. We have now ridden

about 8,500 miles together,

AND more to come

BRATTLEBORO, VT TO BURLINGTON, MS

Brattleboro, Vt to Burlington, MS

93.96 miles in 5 hrs 30 min

24 June 2010

Today is the last real riding day. he final day is a ceremonial ride to the Revere beach from Burlington. Today's ride starts out nice crosses over into New Hampshire after about 4 miles , then stair steps ups to the Mass border at around 45 miles. I do mean stair steps up. One hill had some 14% grade in it. I had to stand in my lowest gear part of the time. Nevertheless the country side was beautiful and the traffic light.

There was a great covered bridge we got to go over and we saw some nice lakes. Then all hell breaks loose as we zoomed down towards the coast. At first it was fun because of the long downhills. But about 25-30 miles from Burlington, the traffic gets terrible and the roads narrow and bad. Really dangerous in my opinion. This why Rick (who has been on the tour 13 times) says this is one of his least favorite ride., BUT, it is what it is, and you have to get there. Makes for a tough day though

Hey! This looks fun.

It is fun

Oh, not quite as fun as I thought! I don,t
like the parallel cracks with a truck coming

Finally, a place to get my bicycle AND my

carriage worked on.

Nice lake, but either it is tilted or I am. Oh, this

was shot from the bike of course

ALBANY, NY TO BRATTLEBORO, VT

Albany, N to Brattleboro, VT

70.68 miles in 5 hrs 1 min

23 Jun 2010

First you have to get out of Albany and cross the Hudson. That is a major challenge with the traffic, construction, and otherwise poor roads. I rode across the site of my only crash since starting to ride 6 years ago. I was mighty nervous as I approached the railroad underpass just east of the Hudson river. All went well but I didn't move a muscle as I coasted through it. The staff said there were more potholes than ever, but I was just glad it was over.

Then the climbing really begins. Up first out of the Hudson Valley and over to Bennington, VT, and then from there up the 7.2 mile climb from Bennington over the Hog Back mountain divide. A fairly steady 4-6% grade until the last mile and a half where it kicks up to 8-9%. (they wouldn't allow that steep a grade in the west) All in all a tough ride, but really beautiful country side.

By the way, remember the discussion Rick (the mechanic) and I had in Ohio about me kicking his behind in Vermont. Well, forget it. He had me wimpering for my mother on the Hog Back climb. I'm just going to have to get in shape.

Mountain Stream on the Hog Back climb

Nope, a different stream on the other side of the
Mountain. I didn't see any fisherman.
Maybe they don't do that in the east.

Beautiful view east from Hog Back Mountain
(Obviously shot by lousy photographer zinging by
on a bicycle)

LITTLE FALLS, NY TO ALBANY NY

Little Falls, NY to Albany, NY

72.45 Miles in 4 hrs 10 min

22 June 2010

The start of this day way great riding down the Mohawk valley towards Albany. Like all the eastern rivers this one was a gate way to the interior. In the early 1700's settlement started and in the early 1800s the Erie Canal was started. (mostly finished by 1860.) The scenery was great but of course does not photograph well.

Then we hit the Schenectady area. Heavy traffic, poor roads etc. There was one short stretch where we went through a neighborhood where the high level retailer was Dollar General, the Dunkin Donuts was nice because there were always three cop cars there and there were armed guards at the McD's Only a few blocks fortunately.

I was at the back of a pace line and shot this pic of Greg

following us over my shoulder. Am I getting careless?

You bet. Don't try this at home.

Historical Sign with some nonsense about the Mohawk Valley.

Why were some priests said to be martyred?

Because we were the winners and got to

write the history

Lock number 9 on the Erie Canal. Now almost only used
for pleasure craft.

SYRACUSE, NY TO LITTLE FALLS, NY

Syracuse, NY to Little Falls, NY
80.25 miles in 4 hrs 10 min
21 June 2010

Boy! Another great day to ride with a mild tailwind. Not much climbing and the roads in NY are certainly better than the ones we had in Ohio. I was riding in Ohio with Rick the mechanic (he actually owns his own pharmacy store in Texas) and he was killing me on the rollers. I said to him "wait till Vermont and I'm going to get you on the long mountain climbs." He said, " "bring it on." How lucky can you be to argue about who is the better climber over a 1,500 mile bicycle ride. I am so blessed.

We went by the smallest chapel (so they say) in the US. 28.25 sq ft in size. You can rent it by the hour.

Finally, in Little Falls got to see my neice and her husband who live there. He is a dentist and she teaches math in the high school. They are great people. Their son Aron wants to be a military Doctor and is at a camp at the Naval Academy. (camp for high school students) I love the generation of my children and their peers.

The smallest Chapel in the US

We saw Jan at a stop sign. One strong lady

Colin from the UK. He is 72 and you can see is "packin" in his

shoulder holster

Would you believe it, A bird actually had the gaul

to hit Rick.

My neice's house in Little Falls. Really pretty

Got to have a nice dinner with Gretchen (my neice)

and her husband Alan

CANANDIAGUA, NY TO SYRACUSE, NY

Canandiagua, NY to Syracuse, NY

70.55 miles in 3 hr and 48 min

20 Jun 2010

Fathers' Day. Good morning, good morning, it's such a lovely day....... Ok, What musical is that from? I didn't know either, but it was a great day today.

Traveling east along the Erie Canal route (also the NY Thruway route) has been delightful. Beautiful scenery, big barns, big gardens ,etc, none of which photograph well.

Went through more of the fingerlakes area again and came to the resort area of Geneva, NY. Lots of tourists, but also lots of closed businesses.

Now here is a family garden!

We come over the rise and see the fingerlake with
Geneva at its edge.

Nice Hotel on the water's edge, but most of the town was
old and delapidated

Some of the towns along the Erie Canal had some

beautiful old homes in them.