Day 40 Highland, NY to Lakeville, CT

Tree being cut down at the Hotel in Highland, NY

Diana at Hudson River crossing

Fun luncheon in Middleton, NY

May the Force Be with you -- the weather won't be!

Ooooo!  The weather says heavy rain and thunderstorms today.  Be safe!!

Day 39 Matamoras to Highland N.Y.

Today was a 59 mile ride through little towns like Port Jervis, Huguenot, Cuddebackville, Otisville, Brunswick, and New Paltz.that is where the Starbucks was and that was a nice stop. I was riding with Dori and Diana for the first 18 miles and we had some hills to climb and they were very strong. Then Sherry started her ride with Dori and Diana drove, but we lost touch during the rest of the day as the riders were separated by distances. The weather has been cooler with low humidity and we had dinner at the hotel with the girls and made plans for today's ride. Tonight we won't have dinner with them as our group is in 2 hotels and we have to be at the map meeting at the other hotel and find out what time is breakfast,w hich is cooked by our chef, at the other motel. They will run a shuttle to take us back and forth. There are no pictures today as there was nothing to report on. The trip is beginning to wind down and everyone is taking less pictures, even Marilyn.

Day 38 Easton to Matamoras, PA 74 miles, 5046 ft climb

Our CA friends Diana, Dori and Sherry had their first ride day and what a doozy it was! If we weren't doing major climbs we were doing incredible descents! But they really looked happy! Wendy and I are so happy they are here, what fun! It was a very difficult ride day for me so am sorry to say there is approx 1 pic! I'm sure Wendy will have more tomorrow.

5 of us crossing a bridge. Wendy, Gail, Jane, Lalanie and Marilyn

Day 37 New Hope to Easton PA

Today was a 40 mile ride,which actually was 38 miles,along the Delaware River. We crossed into New Jersey for much of the ride. The cities we passed through were New Hope,Lambertville NJ,Frenchtown,Milford,Rieglesville,Carpentersville,Philipsburg,and then over the bridge to Easton PA.

The ride was beautiful and got to our hotel by noon. That is unheard of for Gail and I and we were with Marilyn,the Kiwi,and 2 new riders that rode with us on the Southern Tier ride in 2013. They pass me on the hills while carrying panniers and they are riding 3 days with us. Tomorrow is there last day. We all drop our bikes off at the hotel and went to lunch at a Spanish restaurant and I told Sherry,Diana,and Dori to meet us there. They came and we had mini reunion with them,but they couldn't stay as they were taking Sherry to a dentist for a chipped tooth. We will have dinner tonight together. We went to the Crayola store in Easton,as the factory is here and took pictures inside,and then ice cream. It was a good day. If you don't see any pictures,it is because they won't come over from the IPhone,but they will be put on the blog at some point. It is really nice to see someone from home and I will get all the updates on the bicycle club tonight at dinner. Miss you all. 

Day 36 Phoenixville to New Hope, PA 46 miles

Today was a very nice and rather short ride day. We started off with a 13 mile paved path, a wonderful way to start our ride. The path ended at a coffee/bike shop! Wendy had her bike seat tightened to keep it from slipping. This couldn't be done until about 30 women at their coffees served. And luckily the mechanic had the correct tool. Then a nice ride to the hotel and lunch. After our lunch at a local diner my bike fell over and the rear wheel locked up. With help from Lelanie we got it going but it needed to be looked at by a mechanic. So off we went and found a local bike shop. I was told the wheel was out of balance and not true. Turns out to have been a lucky fall as the tire was wearing improperly and needed to be taken care of. All is well now. We rode into the darling town of New Hope located in NJ by crossing the Delaware River. Really a fun afternoon. The ride had a total ascent of 1781 ft. tomorrow will be less of a climb.

Snapping turtle crossing the road. He really snapped at the man who picked him up to take him to the other side as we all decided not to.

Jan, Lelanie and Marilyn crossing the Delaware

Here's the State line

Goofing around

The Delaware River

Day 35 rest day in Phoenixville PA

Today was another glorious rest day and Gail and I each spent the time differently. After completing her lost and found ride, Gail was picked up by friends who live 25 minutes away from our hotel and had a sleep over and I had the hotel to myself for one night. The next day I was met by 2 friends from Calif, but one lives 25 minutes away now, and they took me to Valley Forge for a driving tour. Then we had lunch at the "Black Powder Tavern", which is supposed to be haunted and the Tavern has history with Goerge Washington. After lunch we toured Valley Forge some more as it is a large area to cover and then drove downtown Phoenixville for ice cream. Their ice cream is Bassett's,which is one of the oldest ice cream companies in the United States.

Tomorrow's ride is only 42 miles, but our guide told us it is 4 pages long as we are skirting around Philadelphia. Yikes another day of getting lost and using google maps!

Dinner last night was chicken curry,salad,cookies,and nectarines. 

Day 34, Denver to Phoenixville, PA 52 miles

Well, we found our way to the Hotel and did a high 5 celebration for finding our way in. The first wrong turn of the day took place at mile 3!! And then it really began. We talked to a delightful Amish couple saying that we were lost. He responded we were not, that we were in Lancaster County PA! He did have a big grin. So off we went. Now we are 4, Wendy, the 2 Marilyns and me. There were many hills, lots of sunshine, poor roads but absolutely beautiful vistas! Somehow we made it to the first sag stop. Now we are 2 riders and Marilyn and I missed the next turn at .9 miles! We really must stop talking. Now we're in a park asking a ranger for directions who says he's not so good with maps, join the crowd! This is about where my phone stopped, mile 47 on a 52 mile finish. Then we met 2 cyclists who gave us the shortcut directions to St Petersville for an ice cream stop. We saw them again and she told  us we had missed the turn, this is getting tiring. All the time there are some good climbing hills. We found the ice cream stop. When leaving we we really did stay on cue and with great joy found the hotel.

This is not the Amish couple that helped us but looks similar.

Beautiful! But note no electric lines going to the home

Horses feeding while the folks were at a meeting

Carriages where the horses were.

Sometimes You have a Really Frustrating Day

Yesterday was their frustrating day.  Gail's phone and charger were done at 47 miles and they ended up lost.  They were grateful to find the hotel in Pheonixville, Pennsylvania.  Thank heavens they have a day of rest today.  We may or may not get the full story from yesterday, but know that they are safe and resting

Day 33 York to Denver PA.

Today was a 51 mile ride, that got shortened to 49 at the end. That is always a good thing. It was one of the prettiest rides, but it was hilly and the total amount of climbing was 2,828ft. We saw lots of grain silos and farms, with the strong smell of fertilizer from the cows. This is also Amish country and we were told to not photograph them out of respect for their culture and it just so happen we passed a large group of unoccupied carriages in a yard. Next to the yard were several horses,belonging to the carriages, with the harnesses on and eating hay on a long table. Then on a different street we saw a carriage coming toward us and we slowed down so as not to scare the horse. There is also a mennoinite community here that we rode through and we stopped for a rest and I took a picture of the farm. We did get a little lost, but Gail used her map my ride and she navigated us back on route. We rode through so many little towns that were very historical. At the end of the ride, we ate lunch at Baskin N Robbins with grill cheese sandwiches and shakes. Last night's dinner was salad, salmon chowder, bread, and blueberry cobbler.

Day 32 Owings Mills, MD to York, PA 59 miles

We're in PA and by now you all know what that means, Margarita Party! We crossed the boarder into PA around mile 35. Today we rode 41of our 59 miles on the Heritage Rail Trail. This was my first time riding on this type of surface, it's crushed limestone and crushed gravel. These rail to trail paths are very rideable and are also used by hikers, families and other outdoor activities. Since trains need low grading it's considered a mostly flat ride with grades of 1-3% only. The ascent seemed to be mostly the first half leaving the decent for the ride into York.

Our very special and outstanding cook, Emily.

The Heritage Rail Trail.

Repilca steam train in New F.....
where I had another wonderful grilled cheese.

Wendy having a refreshing drink

Huge Penny Farthing in a park along the trail

Just waiting and getting ready to leave.

Day 31 Alexandria to Owings Mill MD

Today was a 77 mile ride that included a 28 mile bike trail. The problem began very shortly into the ride as we crossed over the bridge to the Lincoln Memorial. Everyone, but 1 rider, got confused as to how to find the trail again. Eventually, ten of us, crossed heavy commute traffic, in a short cross walk to get on the right trail. We were suppose to stay on this one trail, but it was very twisty and shadowed, and you had to really watch where your wheel was riding on. At one point it was a dirt path. There was 5000 ft of climbing and everyone is tired. I took a few pictures of the Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial,but it was to hectic to take a lot of pictures. We are losing our one main ride leader, Patti Jackson, as she is going home before leading another ride. But we are getting Michelle Slusher and she is terrific. Emily, our chef, is staying and she is a great cook. Tonight, because everyone got in later than usual, we had pizza and salad. But for dessert, we had special cheesecake and carrot cake delivered from Ely's from Chicago. One of our riders use to work for them and arranged the delivery.

Day 30 Alexandria Day off 0 miles

We love our days off. Last night 5 of us went for that wonderful dinner at the steak restaurant where even vegetarians ordered Prime Rib. Well deserved after that long hilly ride. The ride took so long that both my phone with a battery pack and my Garmin mostly ran out. We woke up to a chilly and rainy day. Perfect for a rest day! We did pick up Wendy's fixed and cleaned bike, had coffee at Starbucks and then a rest before a Sushi dinner. One of the riders from the 2013 ride, Leilani, who was in town joined us for dinner. So fun to see her.

Sage in front of old barn, one of my favorite

Just pretty and restful

Small beautiful church

Selfie taken half way through the ride

Some kind of big tractor going past us

Day 30: A True Day of Rest!!!

They spent the day relaxing and enjoying their surroundings.

Day 29 Fredericksburg to Alexandria

I am sorry for the delay of the blog,as there technical difficulties when one wants to look for their pictures and the blog takes away your ability to write words. So I am trying again as I know my pictures have come from my phone onto my IPad and not lose my wonderful commentary. Yesterday was a 84 mile day,which Gail was able to complete and I bumped 40 miles and finished the second half. Nobody escaped doing hills,as we have left the flat country,and it is up and down and 4000 ft of climbing for the long riders. Gail got in around 5:30pm and that is the latest she has ever arrived at the hotel. Everyone is tired,but the ride went by many historical sites,including Mt. Vernon and Ft. Hunt. We rode into Ft. Belvoir and had to go to an office and give them our ID's and fill out a small piece of paper and wait for them to call your name. Then we off again and rode a 7 mile bike trail along the Potomac River into Alexandria. I took pictures of a cute river town called Occoquan,Mt. Vernon area,and Alexandria. Last night we had dinner at a steak place the "Flat Iron Restaurant" and had a great time and some alcohol was involved. The hotel has a shuttle to King st. where all the restaurants and bars are located,so we didn't have to walk or drive anywhere.