We rode from Burlington to Montpelier, Vermont, a 57 mile ride with 4,163 feet of elevation gain! There are now only 4 ride days left to complete this adventure. Today’s ride while not that long was challenging to say the least.
Accomplishing the goal of riding across the country
July 21, 2022
By Daryl Olson
Today we rode from Newton Falls, New York to Lake Placid, a 65.2 mile ride with 3,455 feet of elevation gain. I believe almost everyone has probably heard of Lake Placid because of the 1980 winter Olympics, which were centered at this location.
At the time I am writing this blog, I am thinking about the powerful devotion we heard today. A word that was used was coincidence. The point was that there is no such thing. I agree with the conclusion.
After our soggy Monday, Tuesday was a perfect riding day. The route from Weedsport to Watertown was my favorite kind: country roads and two lane highways over hill and dale, past farms, and through little towns. Short sleeve weather with cloud cover and favorable winds most ways we turned.
Today, started in the rain with a forecast for rain all day and storms in the afternoon. It was especially fun; I enjoyed riding in the rain. It was even an adventure exploring unplanned routes because of two bridge closings.
We are in Rochester, New York with those of us riding or supporting the full cross country trek having completed 44 days of riding. As we embark on the remaining 10 riding days, I’m spending more time reflecting on what we learned.
Today just happens to correspond with my departure from the Fuller Center Bike Adventure. By the time this blog is posted, I will be making my way to Ithaca, New York to visit friends and begin a new bike adventure around New York’s Finger Lakes.
To be completely honest, I had no idea what to expect coming into this trip. I knew that my fellow riders would be friendly, the bike rides would be challenging, and the builds would be fulfilling.