Day 7 - 6/14/16 Schenectady to Sharon Springs, NY

Today was the longest ride yet: just under 53 miles.  It was also the flattest day.  I also spent a good amount of time talking on the phone.  I talked to Nick who just got home from Bonnaroo.  He said it was amazing and I can totally imagine it was.  I talked to my mom and dad and sent a video to Meg for Ava.  I need to send her something.  I want to send her a rock from every state I ride through.  But I think I also want to draw on the rock or write something but I don't know what.  Plus I also haven't seen anything good in New York as far as rocks go...  

I got a sunburn today when I took my shirt off to dry it out while I took a break and ate some food and made those phone calls. My tent is set up behind a dugout of a baseball field, I don't think anyone will bother me here.  There wasn't much of a view on the ride today.  It was just like most bike paths that are totally surrounded by greenery.  But at points there were some quick views of the Mohawk River and I did get to cross a bridge and there were some nice mountain views.  But once I got within 10 miles of Sharon Springs– off the bike path, the landscape changed to rolling hills of green grass dotted with farms.  Dutch Country, the Amish.

Day 6 - 6/13/16 Petersburg to Schenectady, NY

A real beautiful day out on the road but, the best part was getting to Schenectady.  I was planning on stealth-camping somewhere in one of the parks but, Matt A. put me in touch with his wonderful friend from college, Meghan.  Her and her boyfriend, Radhe, and their dog, Bruiser, and their neighbors Brian and Russ, made me feel right at home.  Meghan's neighborhood reminded me of Somerville being so clustered together with older homes and small gardens.  I'm so thankful Radhe had an unusual hunch to make a vegan meal and feel so lucky for Brian letting me borrow his panniers for my bike.

  

In these areas where farms are such a close source of fruits and veggies and meat and dairy and eggs, I've had great conversations about eating vs. not eating animal products.  I didn't eat anything from these farms but, from what I've been told, the concern for the animal's well-being (while it's alive...) is what gives way to a higher quality product.  Unfortunately, not all areas are like this.  Instead of animal products being treated as a sort of delicacy, they have become commodities– mass produced in an unhealthy way to meet the demand for them.  So it's a tough truth that not all parts of the world can have these sorts of products readily available at such a high quality, there's just not enough room in the world.  Anyway, back on the road to continue across the beautiful state of New York.

Day 5 - 6/12/16 Cummington, MA to Petersburg, NY

Feelin' like I'm in the groove!  Crossing into New York felt great.  I wonder when I'll be in Massachusetts again.  Today was good but also mentally draining for some reason.  The wind was severe, a constant head-wind.  In those rare moments when it let up for a second I felt like I was being sucked into a vacuum on the downhills.  The sky turned grey and and the air got cold.  As I rode on, the sky even started spitting.  It never broke into a full rain while I was riding but it was nerve-wracking since I didn't know where exactly I'd set up camp.  I'm very grateful there turned out to be a campground in the state park I was riding through.  

Not to mention with showers!  3 days in a row with showers, that's impressive.  The campground is beautiful and I'm the only one here.  It sits next to a small pond that's completely surround by trees.  Once I got my tent set up, the sky finally decided to rain a bit harder.  The weather bummed me out a little bit but it's important to be mindful of these suckier situations.  Just because the rain isn't what I want doesn't mean someone or something or someplace else might actually need it.  It's like going up and down hills.  I've decided to subject myself to the elements, being wet and cold is basically in the description.

Day 4 - 6/11/16 Amherst to Cummington, MA

I am writing from an old barn.  Warmshowers.org brought me here to the top of an incredibly steep hill in Cummington where Fletcher and his wife and 2 kids and 2 dogs live.  

Their property was once used as a center for artists and musicians which is why there's a large house and 2 large barns, one of which was used for dorms for the residents.  Their children are going to have a wonderful time growing up here.  

Tomorrow, I will cross the border into New York.  It's hard to believe I've traveled 150 miles in 4 days and will be leaving Massachusetts for an indefinite amount of time.  This trip has been amazing thus far.  I don't know how reality compares with what my expectations were but I am loving every minute, even when I am going uphill and even in the rain.  

Obstacles like these are true tests I need to talk myself through.  I think that's part of growing up: being able to take the reins of our own mind when it desperately wants to be in a different situation.

Day 3 - 6/10/16 Templeton to Amherst, MA

A beautiful, flourishing oasis after having gone through small towns thay hardly have what you would call a 'center'.  It's good to be back here.  The last time that happened was with Vinny when he came back from Asia last July.  This town is just a special place, it only ever relaxes me.  The ride today was beautiful, so many big hills on the Daniel Shay Highway.  Winding up the hills, I couldn't wait to get to each turn to see if the top was in sight; most of the time it wasn't.  But once I got to the top, everything changed.  I knew the ride down would instantly cool me down.

It was like being on a ferris wheel that would bring me down underwater and then back up to the sun to simmer again.  As bad as it was going up those monsters, no feeling can compare with speeding down the other side.  I'm sure a lot of things in life are like that: a tough ride to the top but then it all pays off.  If only major accomplishments could be made in the short time it takes to go up a steep hill.

Day 2 - 6/9/16 Harvard to Templeton, MA

Feeling just as good tonight as I did last night, let's keep the streak going!  Lots of wind and lots of hills today.  I got a little discouraged at how tired I was after 15 miles– after a handful of big hills but, I took a break before going up another one, maybe even fell asleep for a bit, and when I got back to the hill, it didn't seem so big.  I just have to remember to take it slow.  If all my days start at 8:00am that means I have a solid 12 hours to tackle 3-5 hours of biking, it doesn't need to happen all at once.  

There are many nice places to stop and take breaks.  I'm really looking forward to a burrito and a couple donuts tomorrow.  Warm meals aren't easy when you have nothing to cook with.  That's fine though.  Peanut butter sandwiches and cold cans of beans is enough to keep me alive between real meals.  I stayed at home for too long, I only say this because I miss my family.  It's good to have some time apart though.  It will be amazing when I see them again, something to look forward to, right?

Day 1 - 6/8/16 Stoneham to Harvard, MA

It feels good to feel good at the end of the first day of travel.  Unlike when I tried to walk and my legs wanted to break off at the knees.  I rode my bike 38 miles to get where I am now: sitting next to some beautiful lake in Harvard.  I'm glad the rain only lasted a half hour or so.  Now it is an unbelievable evening– not too cool, a little windy, beautiful clouds turning purple as the sun has dipped below the treeline.

I've had a few visitors at my 'campsite': a mother and daughter scouting for the right town to live in; an Indian man and who I can guess were his parents; another man with a fishing rod; two women looking for a path that goes all the way around the lake (and did not find one); a small dog that came out of the woods who would not come any closer for me to read his tags; two teenage boys with their fishing rods and tackle box; and a teenage boy and girl who appear to be sitting and watching the sunset next to the boats at the dock. And here I am, waiting for night to come so I can set up my tent and go to sleep.  I hope no one comes by to bother me tonight. 

 

Why can't it be legal to sleep where you please as long as you leave no trace?  Maybe Massachusetts is the problem, maybe other places are laid back and care free and allow folks to spend the night outside next to a lake.  Maybe there isn't a problem and I just think this isn't ok.  I guess I'll have to see on this trip.  I'm already looking forward to day 2.