I intended to post more often, but the internet service has not been the best where we have been these past 5 days. However, the people, scenery, weather and the ride have been.

Wow! Six days in and still rarin’ to go in the morning. Although today, Saturday, is a much needed rest day in Syracuse, NY, our home away from home. We’ve covered 380 miles, over 10% of the journey, as of Friday night. But before that, here’s a run down day by day.

Day 2-Launch from New Boston, NH-There were several important things we have learned about New Hampshire over two days of biking. Jess at the New Harvest Market in Greenfield, NH makes the best “wicked” hot pastrami sandwich around.

The mosquitos are incredibly thick! It doesn’t take much warm weather to bring them out in swarms. Craig and I decided there are more dirt and gravel state roads in New Hampshire than Kentucky and WV combined (our home states). That’s because we seemed to find them all on our road bikes! We look incredibly chipper for being lost in the woods. And finally, the people were so friendly. One of our getting close to nature highlights was having a big black bear come tearing down a logging trail and dart across the road in front of us. Quite a sight! 🙂
Day 3-Basecamp at Hinsdale, Mass- Alan and Sheryl arrived last night! Alan was able to join us as all three of us took off from Winchester, New Hampshire on Tuesday morning with time for a selfie at the state line.

We had a serious series of hill climbs and a screaming downhill that topped out at about 40 mph. Check out the Go Pro that Craig took with Alan passing him up.(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyj7hL9jU90&feature=youtube.) While waiting for me to climb a hill into town (I am the tortoise up the hills), Alan and Craig entertained some older ladies having lunch outside a quaint little eatery, Elmer’s, in the heart of this small town. Craig coerced them into clapping for me as I finally arrived. What are friends for?

My favorite was the ham and cheese Panini for lunch. Everything tastes better riding bikes!

Day 4-Just Craig and I today as Alan injured his knee on one of the hill climbs and is recuperating. We rode from West Cummington, Massachusetts through the charming town of Pittsfield to Albany, NY across the beautiful Berkshires. More serious hills, but an incredible 2 mile downhill into the State of New York and the town of Lebanon. Along the way met some neat people. Kevin provided real encouragement as a young veteran who rides bikes with wounded warriors. Had a chance to pray with him in his recovery from a bicycle accident. Another gentleman named Paul saw us with mechanical difficulties on the side of the road in Rensselaer, NY. He turned around and come back to offer help. I love NY for lots of reasons.

Day 5-Base camp in Mechanicsville RV Park-Alan sat out again today to rest his knee, but not before he and Sheryl transported us in a rain storm to downtown Rensselaer for the launch of Day 5. Thankfully, the rain let up and we were blessed to dodge it the rest of the day as we rode from Albany, through Schenectady to near Herkimer, NY along the Mohawk River. We rode side by side for about 2 miles in West Albany with Barry, a History professor at SUNY Albany and had a great conversation along the way. He was kind enough to answer some local history questions and encourage us along our way. The day ended with a steep climb from Fort Plain, NY to a ridge with a panoramic view of upstate NY that was the best vista we have seen. The smell of dairy farms coupled with the view was really a sweet gift after the steep climb. This was followed by another exhilarating downhill where we hit 45mph. A favorite moment for the day was stopping in TJ’s Pizza to get a drink of water, being offered pizza and garlic knots, and conversing with the former teacher who was helping run the place. She introduced us to Jason, who was her 4th grade student, now a strapping and smiling 27 year young man of 6’3 and 280 plus pounds. He asked me what caused me to ride to Seattle. I told him I was riding for him, the Next Generation. A big grin spread across his face and he gave me the fist pump sign.

Day 6-Basecamp in Verona, NY -Started out about 11 miles west of Herkimer, NY with a morning hill climb. Craig and I have managed, unintentionally, to start every morning climbing a hill so far except the first day leaving the beach in Hampton Beach, NH. Alan joined us, however his knee was not quite ready for the hill so he started out about 3.5 miles ahead of us on top of the hill. That was the last we saw of him. He was playing “fox and hounds” and says the fox was slyer than the hounds. He thought that was really funny. 🙂 He motored 82 miles for the day on what had been a gimpy knee. Not bad when Craig and I finished at 72 miles. Craig and I stopped at Oriskany Falls Battlefield, a deciding battle on August 6, 1777 where the American Militia turned back the British in one of the bloodiest battles of the War. We stopped and asked for water along RT 31 in upstate NY near State Bridge and met a Hay distributor named Paul. He was so gracious, as everyone is along this route. At first he thought we were crazy, but then seemed to get caught up in the adventure. His eyes sparkled when he shared that his 51 year old wife and he have 8 month old twins. He said for them it is like being grandparents and parents and the same time and feels incredibly blessed. With rain on and off most of the day and the winds steadily in our face as we headed west to Bridgeport, NY for a final stop for the day.

Our good friends Jim and Maureen Awad, from Liverpool, invited us all over for dinner in the evening and what a feast it was! Jim and Maureen’s hospitality and friendship across the miles was the highlight of our day. As our rest day begins here on Saturday, we are happy with where we are after 6 days of biking both physically and mentally.

Getting through the hills of the east and still being upright and able to pedal is a gracious gift from the Lord! Sheryl, Dori and Lisa have been incredible troopers in doing the hard work of setting up and tearing down basecamp from day to day. We are three blessed men. Lisa says she feels like the Israelites and Levites setting up the tent and taking down the tent. 🙂 She shared that analogy today at breakfast with her friend and former wonderful neighbor on Rugby Road here in Syracuse, Lisa Denard who is Jewish. Lisa D quipped: Welcome to the family! I love the energy and enthusiasm of our friends in Syracuse!