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P2P day 46—-The Wrap

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It’s official, my “vacation “ is over.   I decided to go to the beach yesterday to relax after my ride and ran into a group of creatures wearing ridiculous clothes.  Some reasearch told me that it’s a species in which the males of the species are known as MAMIL’s.  When I see something that weird I’ve got to get pictures so here’s a few: A group of MAMIL’s* with some of the females.  Not sure if they are mating pairs or not. The only 4 of the MAMIL’s to ride across the country without ever getting a “boost”* and two of the females who did the same.  Within the species you are referred to as an EFI’r* if you do this.  Some MAMILs do crazy things in an attempt to attract females Within any community there are members similar to worker bees.  In the MAMIL community these workers can be males or females.  These worker bees were named Blake, Tara and Michael Definitions: MAMIL:  Middle Aged Man In Lycra EFI’r:  A MAMIL or female of the s
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P2P day 45

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Day 45....the penultimate day of the trip.  Just wanted to write the word penultimate, sounds smart.  Today’s weather made this day a final test of everyone’s dedication to the trip.  Once again, a lot of riders hopped in the van.   Not only was it a day with a lot of hills but it rained the last 50 of the 83 miles.  High temp was 52 and low was 37.  Even with the right winter weather gear I arrived at the hotel with numb fingers and toes.  I did mention the other day that taking pictures in the rain when riding is tough but I managed to get a few. State #14.  Is that a threat on the sign?  Doesn’t seem very Bievenue-ing to me.   The roads are steep in the Adirondacks and the White Mountains.  Locals call it “The Kanc”.  Coming from the West I’m not too impressed with the elevation but I usually take pictures of summit signs.  You can’t see the rain in this picture but flying down these hills dodging these “fissures” can be nerve wracking.  In general the road surfac
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P2P day 44

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Day 44.  If you are familiar with the term “sag wagon” then you know this already but for those who don’t know, it’s the vehicle you get in during a ride or race when your life sucks at that moment for one reason or another.  You can also get into the sag wagon on an almost daily basis because you are just flat out unprepared to ride your bike across the fat part of North America......I won’t name any names just in case this person finds my blog.  Today 5 of 14 riders lives sucked bad enough to hop in the sag wagon.  103 miles, 50 miles of rain, 50 degrees, 3 very steep climbs including an 8-miler with plenty of 10% gradient. Rode my bike to Vermont....just sayin’.  This was taken just across a bridge over Lake Champlain.  No sighting of Champy so I guess the myth continues.  Today’s numbers.  If your a cyclist you know this means “ a monster day”.  Not a lake monster but a pretty wet one regardless.  Another picture of “the monster” Earned it.   I know I’ve give
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P2P days 42 and 43

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Day 42 took us to Piseco, NY and I stayed in a cabin on Piseco Lake.  Not a bad place but the only internet access was in the lodge lobby and I didn’t feel like hanging out with 13 others in a small room geeking out.  Saturday, Day 42 was the first day of the trip that I felt completely weak on the bike.  Not sure why but I just didn’t have it. (The good news is. . . . . .I bounced back, felt super strong, and flattened out the hills today)  We did enter the Adirondack Park yesterday and continued through it today.  Most of the roads there had very few homes and businesses and had great landscapes of multi-colored trees in fall colors.  A few pics: Entering the park Starting a climb along West Canada Creek Columbia ✔️, Snake ✔️, Missouri✔️, Mississipi✔️, Hudson✔️ Looking South down the Hudson River nearing Vermont. The Liberty Monument entering tonight’s visit to Ticonderoga, NY.  You history buffs know the importance of Fort Ticonderoga in the 7 Years
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P2P days 40 and 41

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Day 40 (Thursday) was our final off day and was spent in Corning. NY.  What off day is complete without a trip to the laundromat?  After my chores were done it was time for a massage......I’m not talking about one of those massages you get in the “massage parlor” in the strip mall that gets raided every couple months.  I’m talking tear inducing deep tissue massage of the legs and other cycling muscles.  I’ve been getting them every few days from Tara, the Trek massage therapist who seems to know how to get some bursitis in my knee to shut up for a couple days after each massage.  After the massage I visited the Corning Glass Museum which is huge and very interesting.  It has everything from contemporary glass art to stained glass, glassware, ancient glass and even displays about auto and architectural glass.  Photos were forbidden in most areas but I thought the piece pictured below was interesting. The description of this is a shattered  chandelier that it is a metaphor f
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P2P day 39

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State #12.  I don’t want to brag but I did ride my bike from Oregon to New York.........Fugget about it.  If you don’t know Strava this means nothing to you but if you do know Strava this shows that I pedaled really hard for 5 miles.  Still couldn’t take 1st overall despite leaving a trail of sweat, tears and puke up the hill.  Fugget about it. I figure that a picture of the New York sign should be enough for today but then I recalled what Benjamin Franklin once said to me...he said “ Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy”.  Don’t know about the God thing but I think he’s on to something with the beer part.  The picture is for Allison and Mike, the real beer geeks in the family....2 beers, both unfiltered and both great.   Fugget about it Out. 
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P2P day 38

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“Welcome to Seattle”......said the weather.  101 miles in mid 50’s and low 60’s in a steady drizzle.  A lot of steep climbs and steep descents today but with the wet roads we could not enjoy the descents.  Tough to get good pictures in that kind of weather but I couldn’t ignore the sign below.  Several of you who’ve read the blog have asked me, “ Hey Paul, do you think you’ll be riding past Timberdoodle Flats on your trip”?  Well here’s your answer.  Bucket list is filling up.   My wife kicks ass!!!!   She sent with me a box of 46 envelopes to be opened one per day.  Each one has a motivational quote and I open one each morning before the ride.  These few words each day help me get motivated which can be challenging on mornings like today when I know I’ve got a long day in bad weather ahead of me. Thanks Baby ❤️ One of my fellow riders and beer geeks bought a few of these at last nights brewery to be enjoyed after today’s ride.  If you don’t know where the name com
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