I left NYC just a couple days ago. I'm spending the night just north of Baltimore, MD tonight. Last night I stayed with L and M and their daughter A outside of Philadelphia. They are a wonderful family and were very gracious to put me up for the night. I slept so well, it was difficult getting out of bed this morning. Today I made the ride from their home to where I am now (N of Baltimore). It was mostly cloudy today but so humid! I was just soaked most of the day with sweat. I've got 3 water bottles and I filled them up at just about every gas station I passed (at least it felt like it). I would fill them with ice and in less than 20 minutes they were already all water and getting warm. I stopped on the side of the road to check my map and see where my next turn would be (which is a frequent occurance). While I stood there, a young man from a stand selling corn ran over with an ice cold bottle of water. "Here I thought you might like to have this" he said. I went over to the stand and chatted with him and the two other girls with him. They were all very friendly and I enjoyed the short conversation and company. Further down the road I went into a Safeway to buy dinner. Here I met R in one of the food isles. After a short chit chat, he offered his backyard for me to tent in. He gave me directions to his home and left. On my way out of the store, I met J in the checkout line. We met up again outside the store and talked for a while about cycle touring. He had done a trans-America trip with a couple friends before so we had a few pieces of advice and stories to share with each other. J was very kind and with more time, I think we would become good friends. Once I got to R's house, I was kindly greeted at the door by his partner M and their two dogs. Once again I am amazed by the generousity of random strangers placed in my life on a daily basis. R and M graciously opened their home to me and their dogs even, have just loved me since I arrived, as only dogs can do :)
For everyone reading, thank you for your encouragement and support. As I continue biking and traveling down the coast I am repeatedly blessed by the hospitality and generousity of people I come in contact with. Some I have known and others I have just met. There are a lot of good people who are willing to help others. I do not have a lot to offer right now except my energy to continue biking and kind words to people I meet along the way. I hope that as you read about my experiences, you will be encouraged as well. I've mentioned it in earlier posts and I still believe that this trip is very much a team effort. My health and safety so far has been a result of your prayers and God's grace through the people He has put me in contact with.
The Big Apple
July 25
I'm in NYC right now! I had a blast in Boston and I had a blast in Hartford, CT with Josh. The last week has been quite different from the majority of my trip thus far. In a fairly short distance and time I have been able to visit and stay with some really close friends. It's been a change from the solo bike feel I've experienced for most of the trip. Visiting with my friends has been fun and encouraging when I think about the amount of road that still separates me from Orlando, FL. Everyone has been extremely hospitable and supportive about the Justice Ride. In Hartford, Josh took me shopping to just about every shoe store in the area! I had been using just one pair of shoes for cycling and for walking around on my days off. They were a sort of sandal made for cycling. Needless to say, they weren't the greatest for biking long distances and they weren't real comfortable to walk in either so I got rid of them. Now I have actual cycling shoes and a pair of comfy running shoes, thanks to Josh and his patience combined with persistence. After Hartford, I arrived in NYC. I was expecting a big city but this place is huge! It's really impressive to me how so many huge buildings are all built right next to each other. I have some various construction experience but I can't really imagine what it would be like to build one of those skyscrapers. I've never been in a city like NYC before and there is a very claustrophobic feel walking around the streets of NY. Not only does it feel claustrophobic spatially, but the air feels heavy and stuffy as well. I've heard that people living in the plains all their lives feel closed in when they've only experienced wide open plains. I've also thought that I have a pretty good sense of direction, but since I've been in NY, I'm constantly getting turned around. It's a weird feeling to not have any natural landmarks for guides.
I'm in NYC right now! I had a blast in Boston and I had a blast in Hartford, CT with Josh. The last week has been quite different from the majority of my trip thus far. In a fairly short distance and time I have been able to visit and stay with some really close friends. It's been a change from the solo bike feel I've experienced for most of the trip. Visiting with my friends has been fun and encouraging when I think about the amount of road that still separates me from Orlando, FL. Everyone has been extremely hospitable and supportive about the Justice Ride. In Hartford, Josh took me shopping to just about every shoe store in the area! I had been using just one pair of shoes for cycling and for walking around on my days off. They were a sort of sandal made for cycling. Needless to say, they weren't the greatest for biking long distances and they weren't real comfortable to walk in either so I got rid of them. Now I have actual cycling shoes and a pair of comfy running shoes, thanks to Josh and his patience combined with persistence. After Hartford, I arrived in NYC. I was expecting a big city but this place is huge! It's really impressive to me how so many huge buildings are all built right next to each other. I have some various construction experience but I can't really imagine what it would be like to build one of those skyscrapers. I've never been in a city like NYC before and there is a very claustrophobic feel walking around the streets of NY. Not only does it feel claustrophobic spatially, but the air feels heavy and stuffy as well. I've heard that people living in the plains all their lives feel closed in when they've only experienced wide open plains. I've also thought that I have a pretty good sense of direction, but since I've been in NY, I'm constantly getting turned around. It's a weird feeling to not have any natural landmarks for guides.
I'm in Boston now! It ended up taking me 3 days from Franklin, Maine to get here. Along the way I met some more great people and shared with them why an Alaskan boy is cycling from Montreal to Orlando at such a hot time of the year. For the first time this trip, I knocked on someone's door to ask about putting a tent in their backyard. I had arrived in Bath, Maine around 9:00pm. I had thought I could tent behind a church there but downtown Bath was much more of a city than I thought and the church had no grass anywhere since it was butted up right against the surrounding buildings. Tired and not in the mood to wander around the city in the dark looking for a place to sleep, I went to the first house I saw with lights still on and knocked on the door. Fortunately the couple who answered was very kind. They talked to me for a while in the doorway asking me about my trip. Finally I put up my tent in their backyard and went to sleep.
The next day I planned to bike to Hampton Beach but came up short about 20 miles. I was tired and felt like stopping for the day so I pulled into a nearby church planning to tent again behind the building. To my surprise there were actually people in the church this time. I went in to find an AA meeting about to begin. After talking with some of the people there, I was invited in to eat some snacks and sit in on the meeting as a guest if I wanted. I did. The way my night played out was not at all how I had imagined when I first biked into that parking lot. Instead of setting up my tent and going to sleep alone, I spent the night listening to people talk about their lives, their struggles, their successes. I met some wonderful people there and made new friends. Afterwards I had multiple invitations to leave my tent packed and sleep in their homes. I say yes to M's invite. He was very interested in my trip and my cause. I was encouraged by his interest and support. After staying up a while chatting I took a shower and went to bed once again amazed by how my day ended in such an unexpected way. The following day I headed out for Boston bright and early.
I was awake at 4:15 and decided to just hit the road nice and early. The morning was nice, but the day turned out to be one of the hottest yet. At 3pm as I was rolling into Boston it was 95F and humid. Slightly lost in Boston, I tried to cross a bridge that apparently is not open to bikes. Just about every car honked at me and an ambulance told me over the loudspeaker to get off the bridge. Well it was really busy traffic and only one way so I wasn't about to turn around and go back. I continued on desperately looking for the other side. Halfway across the bridge (which seemed ridiculously long at the time) there was a toll booth and an ambulance waiting for me. They frantically waved me down (which I thought was a bit unnecessary because it was obvious that they were waiting for me). The guy looked at me and said "What are you doing? Are you crazy?" I smiled and said, "I guess". He helped me off the bridge and listened as I told him what I was doing and where I was going. "You really are crazy" he said when he heard I was trying to get to Florida at such a hot time of year. We both laughed about the whole bridge event and he pointed me in the direction I was trying to go. Hot, tired, and thirsty I got to my friends A's house. I've been here a day now and plan to head out in the morning. It has been so nice here visiting A and getting to know her roommates. They have all been very kind to let me stay here and sleep on their couch. My next stop is Connecticut and then hopefully New York City by Monday afternoon.
The next day I planned to bike to Hampton Beach but came up short about 20 miles. I was tired and felt like stopping for the day so I pulled into a nearby church planning to tent again behind the building. To my surprise there were actually people in the church this time. I went in to find an AA meeting about to begin. After talking with some of the people there, I was invited in to eat some snacks and sit in on the meeting as a guest if I wanted. I did. The way my night played out was not at all how I had imagined when I first biked into that parking lot. Instead of setting up my tent and going to sleep alone, I spent the night listening to people talk about their lives, their struggles, their successes. I met some wonderful people there and made new friends. Afterwards I had multiple invitations to leave my tent packed and sleep in their homes. I say yes to M's invite. He was very interested in my trip and my cause. I was encouraged by his interest and support. After staying up a while chatting I took a shower and went to bed once again amazed by how my day ended in such an unexpected way. The following day I headed out for Boston bright and early.
I was awake at 4:15 and decided to just hit the road nice and early. The morning was nice, but the day turned out to be one of the hottest yet. At 3pm as I was rolling into Boston it was 95F and humid. Slightly lost in Boston, I tried to cross a bridge that apparently is not open to bikes. Just about every car honked at me and an ambulance told me over the loudspeaker to get off the bridge. Well it was really busy traffic and only one way so I wasn't about to turn around and go back. I continued on desperately looking for the other side. Halfway across the bridge (which seemed ridiculously long at the time) there was a toll booth and an ambulance waiting for me. They frantically waved me down (which I thought was a bit unnecessary because it was obvious that they were waiting for me). The guy looked at me and said "What are you doing? Are you crazy?" I smiled and said, "I guess". He helped me off the bridge and listened as I told him what I was doing and where I was going. "You really are crazy" he said when he heard I was trying to get to Florida at such a hot time of year. We both laughed about the whole bridge event and he pointed me in the direction I was trying to go. Hot, tired, and thirsty I got to my friends A's house. I've been here a day now and plan to head out in the morning. It has been so nice here visiting A and getting to know her roommates. They have all been very kind to let me stay here and sleep on their couch. My next stop is Connecticut and then hopefully New York City by Monday afternoon.
 |
| Biking across Deer Island, New Brunswick |
 |
| Visiting President Roosevelts cottage on Campobello (legacy of friendship) |
 |
| Riding the Sunrise trail to Franklin, Maine. Super hot day and 77 miles of dirt road :/ |
 |
| Sunrise Trail |
 |
| Looking out over Bar Harbor, Maine |
 |
| Following the coastal route towards Hampton Beach, New Hampshire |
I made it back to the US! I'm in Maine now. At my last camp spot I changed my route once again and entered Maine in Lubec. There I met another great couple D and J who let me tent in their back yard. We had a nice time chatting over dinner. In the morning I took off for Franklin where I am taking my rest day at M's house. M has been very hospitable. Last night we had a great sushi dinner which was perfect after a good days ride. It's nice to have a rest from biking and enjoy some good company. My next big stop will be in Boston. I could possibly make it there in 2 days if I put in 2 long days. We'll see what the weather is like and how the day goes tomorrow. Yesterday was the hottest day I've had so far! I think it was in the low 90s. The heat wasn't too bad actually, but my biggest concern is getting sunburned. I'm getting some pretty extreme tan lines already :)
My bike is working really well so far. My chain broke just a couple days into my ride but I fixed it up and haven't had any problems since. I can definitely tell that my rear tire is wearing quickly. The tread wears fast with so many hours on the road and so much weight.
I watched some of the Tour de France today. It's really impressive to see those guys ride! The leader in todays race was averaging 30-35 mph! That is super fast. I average about 12 mph right now with my 100lbs bike :)
My bike is working really well so far. My chain broke just a couple days into my ride but I fixed it up and haven't had any problems since. I can definitely tell that my rear tire is wearing quickly. The tread wears fast with so many hours on the road and so much weight.
I watched some of the Tour de France today. It's really impressive to see those guys ride! The leader in todays race was averaging 30-35 mph! That is super fast. I average about 12 mph right now with my 100lbs bike :)
 |
| Sand sculptures on the beach. Anne-Marie and Dennis made me into a bike. |
 |
| Picking strawberries on PEI. This cute dog kept trying to eat out of my basket. |
July 7, 2012
Time seems to fly by when you spend all day pedaling. I had no idea it's been about a week since my last blog.
First of all, I want to thank all of you who have been praying about my knee. The pain has gone away and it is feeling much better! Also, I think my bike seat has finally been broken in! It's been feeling much more comfortable these last few days. Note to self...when using a leather seat make sure to break it in before you head out on a long ride :)
I am currently still in New Brunswick, but just outside of Maine. I should be there easily by tomorrow. I have really enjoyed my time in New Brunswick and have found the people here to be really friendly and hospitable. Passing through Bathurst, I met a wonderful couple who took me into their home and gave me a bed and food. Thank you R and R!
I spent a couple days on Prince Edward Island visiting some good friends. It is a beautiful island and the people are very friendly there. From PEI, I made a route change and decided to bike down to Halifax and catch a ferry from Digby back to Saint John, New Brunswick. The trip would take me about twice as long as my original route. It took me 2 days to bike from PEI to Halifax and on the way I put in my longest day of this trip...120 miles. It was a great day for biking but I was definitely pretty tired when I rolled into town. Lukily I had made a last minute attempt at finding a place to sleep by way of couchsurfing.com and could not have asked for a better place to stay. L got my last minute plea and responded right away. He made me a wonderful dinner and breakfast. Although my visit with L and his partner C was short, I feel like we became fast friends and I look forward to seeing them again somewhere down the road.
After Halifax it took 2 days to get to Digby where again I was blessed by a generous stranger. I was in town looking for a public shower when I bumped into sweet A. She almost immediatley asked where I was staying that night and when I told her I didn't know she invited me to stay at her home. Once again, I was grateful for her hospitality and home cooked food. Even her dog was friendly and slept next to me all night :)
Tonight I'm tenting again. It's a nice spot on the beach. Just before coming out here to set up camp I had 2 tasty cheeseburgers and met a couple of very friendly people at a little burger/fish joint by the beach. Stopping here for the night was not really in my plans but I've been learning God often has a different plan than my own. He has put me in contact with some wonderful people so far. I trust He will continue to do so as I head back into the United States and make my way down to Florida. Thanks again everyone for your prayers, support and encouragement!
Time seems to fly by when you spend all day pedaling. I had no idea it's been about a week since my last blog.
First of all, I want to thank all of you who have been praying about my knee. The pain has gone away and it is feeling much better! Also, I think my bike seat has finally been broken in! It's been feeling much more comfortable these last few days. Note to self...when using a leather seat make sure to break it in before you head out on a long ride :)
I am currently still in New Brunswick, but just outside of Maine. I should be there easily by tomorrow. I have really enjoyed my time in New Brunswick and have found the people here to be really friendly and hospitable. Passing through Bathurst, I met a wonderful couple who took me into their home and gave me a bed and food. Thank you R and R!
I spent a couple days on Prince Edward Island visiting some good friends. It is a beautiful island and the people are very friendly there. From PEI, I made a route change and decided to bike down to Halifax and catch a ferry from Digby back to Saint John, New Brunswick. The trip would take me about twice as long as my original route. It took me 2 days to bike from PEI to Halifax and on the way I put in my longest day of this trip...120 miles. It was a great day for biking but I was definitely pretty tired when I rolled into town. Lukily I had made a last minute attempt at finding a place to sleep by way of couchsurfing.com and could not have asked for a better place to stay. L got my last minute plea and responded right away. He made me a wonderful dinner and breakfast. Although my visit with L and his partner C was short, I feel like we became fast friends and I look forward to seeing them again somewhere down the road.
After Halifax it took 2 days to get to Digby where again I was blessed by a generous stranger. I was in town looking for a public shower when I bumped into sweet A. She almost immediatley asked where I was staying that night and when I told her I didn't know she invited me to stay at her home. Once again, I was grateful for her hospitality and home cooked food. Even her dog was friendly and slept next to me all night :)
Tonight I'm tenting again. It's a nice spot on the beach. Just before coming out here to set up camp I had 2 tasty cheeseburgers and met a couple of very friendly people at a little burger/fish joint by the beach. Stopping here for the night was not really in my plans but I've been learning God often has a different plan than my own. He has put me in contact with some wonderful people so far. I trust He will continue to do so as I head back into the United States and make my way down to Florida. Thanks again everyone for your prayers, support and encouragement!
Independence Day
For all my fellow Americans reading my blog... Happy Fourth of July!! I`m writing this a day late, but as you know, life on the road makes computer access a little intermittent. I hope everyone had a nice time celebrating America`s independence yesterday. I enjoyed another day on the road. It was a beautiful day cycling from Richibucto, New Brunswick to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. I had a good nights sleep and a light breeze to my back.
In light of this special day, I spent a good portion of the day thinking about what it means to live a life of freedom. There are people all over the world and right here in the United States who are not living lives of independence. A large contributor to this is the human trafficking industry happening at large worldwide. It`s extremely sad to think about people, often kids, being exploited and put in unimaginable circumstances so someone else can make a profit. The first couple days of my bike trip were tough and I'm sure they will not be the last. One particular day cycling in the wet and cold and enduring pain in my knees, I had doubts of whether this whole trip was such a great idea. I had to keep reminding myself of the real reason behind the Justice Ride. While Americans celebrate our Independence Day and I see new places and experience new things from the seat of my bicycle, we need to remember those in our not-so-large-world who are not as fortunate. Personally, my heart goes out to the women and children who are being sexually exploited and trafficked. I believe this is one of the greatest injustices against humankind. Whatever difficulties I face during this cycling trip, I still have so much to be thankful for. I have friends and family who are fully supporting me and encouraging me along the way. I also experience the kindness of strangers who have opened their homes to me and offered words of encouragement and wishes for my safety and health as I continue on. I`m asking now that as you read this blog and continue to support and encourage me, please do not forget about the people I am cycling for. This trip is a team effort. I am merely supplying some leg power. There is so much yet to be done to show those around the world that we are aware of their sufferings and we are willing to help.
"If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large."
-William Wilberforce
In light of this special day, I spent a good portion of the day thinking about what it means to live a life of freedom. There are people all over the world and right here in the United States who are not living lives of independence. A large contributor to this is the human trafficking industry happening at large worldwide. It`s extremely sad to think about people, often kids, being exploited and put in unimaginable circumstances so someone else can make a profit. The first couple days of my bike trip were tough and I'm sure they will not be the last. One particular day cycling in the wet and cold and enduring pain in my knees, I had doubts of whether this whole trip was such a great idea. I had to keep reminding myself of the real reason behind the Justice Ride. While Americans celebrate our Independence Day and I see new places and experience new things from the seat of my bicycle, we need to remember those in our not-so-large-world who are not as fortunate. Personally, my heart goes out to the women and children who are being sexually exploited and trafficked. I believe this is one of the greatest injustices against humankind. Whatever difficulties I face during this cycling trip, I still have so much to be thankful for. I have friends and family who are fully supporting me and encouraging me along the way. I also experience the kindness of strangers who have opened their homes to me and offered words of encouragement and wishes for my safety and health as I continue on. I`m asking now that as you read this blog and continue to support and encourage me, please do not forget about the people I am cycling for. This trip is a team effort. I am merely supplying some leg power. There is so much yet to be done to show those around the world that we are aware of their sufferings and we are willing to help.
"If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large."
-William Wilberforce
Some kids playing on the dock on my way to Bathurst.
View of Bathurst, New Brunswick.
Crossing Centennial bridge in Miramichi, New Brunswick.
Camp spot in Richibucto, New Brunswick.
Fighting off giant lobsters in Shediac, New Brunswick.
Opened in 1997, the Confederation bridge spans the 8 miles from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island.
Happy Canada Day!
July 1, 2012It has been almost a week since I finally set out on my bike. Biking has been exciting, tiring, humbling, and a little discouraging at times. The first couple of days were really rainy and pretty chilly. I knew it would be cooler up near the Gaspe peninsula but I was surprised at how cold the temperatures get, especially in the rain. So far my muscles feel really good and prepared but I have been having some pain in my left knee. I ended up spending a couple days in a hostel for fear of injuring myself right at the start of my trip. I decided to continue on and be sensitive to how my body is feeling. My knee is still sore but has not gotten any worse over the last couple days so I'm going to keep riding. Quebec is a beautiful place. Even though I've been biking in the rain, I have enjoyed the scenery and the people here. It is different to be in a French speaking place. I would have benefited from learning a bit more French before coming here :).
I've seen a lot of whales along the coast including belugas, finwhales, and some dolphin-looking things. My favorite so far has been the big birds that all dive into the water at the same time to catch fish. I've seen birds do this before but not on such a large scale. It's like hundreds of stars falling out of the sky all at once. I can only imagine how amazing it must look in the water! Whales are cool but I was much more entertained by the birds.
Today I arrived in Campbellton and watched fireworks in honor of Canada Day. The lights are cool but I really enjoyed the thundering booms that echoed across the water. There has been thunder the last few days. I've heard thunder a couple times in Anchorage, but nothing this loud. It is a very powerful thing to be in the presence of a thunderstorm on a bicycle. God must love making thunder...I know I would :)
On my rides I have been listening to The Hobbit on tape. I've read the book before but it is fun to listen to it. The narrator does a great job with the voices of the dwarves. I can relate to the character of Bilbo Baggins as he is also setting out on a great adventure and journey. Plus, listening to the audiobook helps drown out the noise of passing cars which can become irritating rather quickly. When I'm biking in Anchorage and people honk it's usually because they are upset or they wave at me with their finger. Here however, I probably get 8-10 people a day who wave to be friendly. I probably look like I need the encouragement with my loaded bike. Whatever the reason it is a good boost. I've even had some honk "tunes" like the "secret door knock". You know the one?
Well I'm heading to bed now. Hopefully I will be on Prince Edward Island in 3 or 4 days. Probably 4 :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Video of me at the same track.
Heading east up the coast from Matane.
The bridge from Quebec to New Brunswick. One province down, 2more to go before I get back to the states.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)