i heart ny

..but first, Vermont...beautiful state...a b*tch to ride. You see, unlike some places where grade is more gradual, people in the east like to blaze trails directly over the top of mountains. Today's climb was more gradual than yesterday's, however we still managed to climb 1300 vertical feet in the first 10 miles of the trip...then back down probably about the same in the following 4 miles. I think my legs and brakes are just about ruined, among other things. Today was long, only 55 miles, but most of us made a point to take it slow and stop frequently. With yesterday still burning us, and tomorrow just as difficult, no sense in wasting what little energy we still have left.

So there was the top of Brandon Gap (mile 10), then the farmer's market in Brandon (where I bought some pretty amazing soaps, mile 17), then a lunch stop (mile 25), then some cows (mile 37), then a beautiful woodcarving gallery overlooking Lake Champlain (mile 39), then waiting for riders and a ferry to cross the lake into New York (mile 40), then a photo-op at the New York sign (mile 40.2), then ice cream (mile 45), before arriving in Silver Bay (mile 55). All incredibly worthwhile stops, and it only took us 7 hours to get from point to point. I say we all made the most of the day.

So why I heart New York. First of all, it is absolutely gorgeous. Big, sweeping hills, which descend into pristine bodies of water. Vermont is very green, but the terrain is not so dynamic as that of NY. It was really amazing crossing Lake Champlain, but after riding through the town of Ticonderoga (where, at the Fort tomorrow, they will be reenacting the first Battle of Ticonderoga, which took place during the French and Indian War 250 years ago...guess who wins), the hills got bigger, and I almost thought I had returned to New Zealand (except those were bigger and had snow). Then, riding alongside Lake George was probably the most beautiful thing we've seen all trip. Second, big shoulders on main roads and even pavement (!). Enough said. Riding around Lake George, the roads had no shoulders, but that is typical for roads with more local traffic.

And now we're at the Silver Bay YMCA...which is more like a resort....so sad, I forgot my riding chaps. We have, for the first time on the trip, our own beds (!) and private showers (!!). Its really beautiful, a lot of free activities to do, but of course we don't have enough time to do it all. Tomorrow comes more hills, more sweat, and (i think) more rain. Tomorrow is longer (60+ miles), and we have two pretty big climbs, and a lot of beautiful scenery. Hopefully the weather will hold out. We're staying at an RV park in Indian Lake owned by a cousin I've never actually met. My father's first cousin, which I don't know what that makes her to me. In any case, I anticipate catching up with family tomorrow...after 24 years, I'm sure we'll have a bit to talk about. My paternal grandparents are also buried up there, so perhaps I'll pay a visit.

So sorry to keep these posts so short and without all the introspective detail I'd like, but there is never enough time. I'm also having a bit of bike maintenance trouble, which kept me from getting a lot of what I wanted to get done this afternoon. Perhaps another day.