Day 9 - 6/16/16 Bridgewater to Cazenovia, NY

It's funny how a lake can be the reason for flourishing community.  Much like Amherst, Cazenovia New York is quite rural and spread out while also having a lovely center filled with mom and pop shops and cafes slinging local coffee and dishes made with local ingredients and live music that becomes part of the song of everyday life in this town.  I'm staying with John, his girlfriend, Mimi, and their one-eyed golden retriever, Teddy.  They've been living in this house for less than 3 years and John couldn't tell me one thing he doesn't like about this place.  Their home isn't right on the water but, they have their own walkway that goes down to their dock where the 4 of us watched the sunset tonight.  

That big orange ball dipped behind the hills across the lake, the hills John and Mimi said I would be riding over tomorrow.  Neither of them keeping a straight face, I couldn't tell if they were implying the hills are massive and I'm in for a hell of a ride or if they want want me to think I'm screwed when it's actually going to be a flat ride.  I'll just have to wait and see.  John has been retired for 10 years now and I asked him if he ever feels like he has too much time on his hands to which he replied: "I have more toys than I know what to do with."  He's 75 years old and just bought a motorcycle before he had ever ridden one.  

He also has 4 boats and a new, ultra-sleek RV and, of course, a fancy touring bicycle that he still rides everyday.  It was nice, one retired guy talking to another but, I wonder if John would be as happy without all his toys.  I guess that's just one way to retire: work 50 years and then spend al your money on toys and trips.  But then there's my way: work 10 years and then quit and pretend you're retired and see how long you can hang out before you need to work again.

Day 8 - 6/15/16 Sharon Springs to Bridgewater, NY

Today was spent mostly on Rt. 20, a scenic byway was how the sign described it.  I can't disagree with that.  There wasn't too much of a variety of scenery but, rolling over hill after hill, passing farm after farm was a beautiful thing in the early light of the morning.  I woke up at 5:00 this morning to a bunch of crows squawking like maniacs.  So after breaking down camp and another quick stop at the local Stewart's Shop, I was on the road by 8:00.  

I made it to my deatination by 1:00 in the afternoon, Lake Chalet Motel and Campground.  This place is great.  Mike and his wife, Chrissy, own and operate the property which includes a hefty amount of space for maybe 20 RV's, about half a dozen little cabins and 45 tent sites all surrounding this small lake with a dock and a roped off section for swimming.  

Again, I'm the only one camping in a tent and I didn't see anyone go in or come out of any of the RV's.  There's a big roofed porch area they refer to as the pavilion near the main building.  There are many picnic tables inside and all the vertical and horizontal beams are strung with lights.  It would be a great place to party if there was anyone else here.  I swear, one of these nights I stay at a campground, there will be other people to share the experience with. 

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.