Greetings friends and family from the warm and muggy environs of upper New York. Today we started by dodging traffic to get to breakfast, dodging traffic to get to the SAG and dodging traffic but not each other successfully for the rest of the day. Yes, another crash. Karen, one of the staff whose average speed is around 23 rode by BS, Penny and me today around mile 25. I wanted to be near greatness, and felt pretty good, so got on her wheel to the tune of 19 miles an hour. She was just toying with us, and I told her so. She picked up the pace and I couldn't quite hold on after a few miles, but wanted BS to go with, so I pulled out of the line. They were about 30 feet in front of me, and I could see this van on the wrong side of the road, stopping at each driveway. I thought it was one of those rural mail delivery persons and thought it odd that he was on the wrong side of the road, then he cut right over in front of Karen. She swerved, BS swerved and Penny hit BS's wheel. Down she went. Luckily other than a few scrapes and a sprained thumb and bruised thigh, she is ok. They were probably going over 20 mph. The van guy backed up and said "did I do something wrong?" and I said, "well, you should probably look around next time you do that". His response was "I'm delivering newspapers". I felt bad for the guy because he was not the sharpest tool in the shed, and by the way, who delivers papers at 10:00am? Ultimately all was good to go. We got back on the road and Penny had some shifting issues so we called Mike who got there and was blown away by yet another crash today. I told him we were just trying to fulfill his expectations. Derek, the youngest Miller, was pushed about three feet on his bike by a woman creeping her car forward at a turn, but luckily didn't go down.
Today we are in Little Falls and the Best Western is hosting a wine and cheese reception for our group. Did one of you tip them off about me? This is quite a treat. Thanks for your concerns about Bill, he is up and well, and back to being one of my favorite smart asses. Still won't be able to finish the ride, but seeing him at each SAG makes me glad he's ok. He's thinking of dipping his mangled rear wheel into the Atlantic, and I'll celebrate that he is here.
Only four days left. Really hard to believe. Tomorrow should be a light day, then 2 days of 5000 feet climbing and 80 plus miles. Then, the Atlantic!
Hope you all are well, looking forward to seeing, hugging and appreciating you in person soon. MA
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6 comments:
Is it appropriate that now you are in Little Falls after seeing America's Niagara Falls? Or maybe its just that you are near all of these falls that all of the falls have happened? Let's hope the old addage of "things come in threes" holds true and that the last few days are without incident (except beauty and serenity and a hell of a climb). McKade wants you to know that had you been in Venezuela, you would have REALLY seen some Falls - Angel Falls (app. 3000ft) is about 10X as high as Niagara (app. 300ft). Maybe when you do Bike Across the Continents.... Thank goodness for our resident Mr. Geography for filling us all in on pertinent locales.
Spend your time enjoying everyone's company and maybe even doing a really funny skit. I know you'll laugh and cry - appropriately so. As my first week draws to a close, so does your last. With great encouragement and love, Tenley
I'm so glad all is "well"
Dear MA (Magnum Adventurer)
Hell0 BS (Biking Seriously)
Thanks for the update and good news on Bill. Glad to hear he’s hanging in for the trip, despite the mangled wheel. That’s probably b/c serious bikers have wheel power. He deserves to see the Atlantic. Bad news that he’s unable to make it as planned. Good news also about Penny. Glad she came up heads after being flipped on her tail. Bad news about the newspaper guy. You were too kind about him. Most delivery men try to courier favour. What happened to him? All this good news/bad news confirms Bike riding goes in cycles.
Glad someone ordered the wine and cheese dinner, must have heard about you on the grapevine. I know BS must have loved it, being a member of the bar.
Enough of that! Just a weird way of saying I’m happy you seem to have regained your perspective. You guys are awesome. I’m impressed BS was able to keep up with the staff. That’s biking seriously.
Stay away from the traffic, have fun, complete your trip safely and welcome home.
MA:
Greetings from only one time zone behind you... I've made it Chicago already (but courtesy of Southwest Airlines... LOL) We're here with the boys and Vince for a weekend of baseball been berry, berry good to me - Friday up in Milwaukee and then back here Saturday for a game at Wrigley Field, Sunday with Ashley (the boys' lady friend from our cruise), and then Matthew flies back Sunday for a week in Catalina (and he's not swimming over there either...)
But enough about us....
The tension is rising as you near the end of the ride... as HK said, kick back, relax, and shoot all newspaper delivery personnel on sight. (site?) Although the experiences sound harrowing, it seems everyone is OK with but a few scrapes. I'm more worried about ANYBODY who can maintain an average pace of 23 mph.... I'd be happy to keep up at 15, and that's on a downhill with a tailwind.....
It's hard to believe that you're so close to the end... I think we'll still be here when you're finished, but you can call us from the Atlantic on my cell, 310-720-8411..... (or Patrick's cell, or Matt's cell, or Vincent's cell, but I don't know those numbers - got 'em all on speed dial, ya know what I mean?)
Take care, ride SAFELY, and good luck on those last two days of 5 freakin' thousand foot climbs..
Love,
Gyurka
Day Forty-seven - - - well, from your fellow bloggers, it sounds like it came in with a whimper and went out with a B A N G! I'm assuming its unsafe to use electronic devices with thunder and lightning ripping through the skies. For Day 48, here's to an awesome climb in dry (sans rain, but maybe not humidity) weather with the leg strength of a kangaroo...and if you've ever seen a kangaroo ride a bike it would give you a chuckle.
...and dammit, keep enjoying the moment! We need another g o o d story before you sign-off...
Peace, soul, love sister...Tenley
MA:
What, no blog? AARRGHHH! And Tenley says all the "r" word you've missed so far seems to have caught up with you? Hope you're all dried out and ready for the pre-penultimate day (or whatever it's called... LOL)
Take care, and ride SAFE (and DRY) out there...
Love,
George
I see there is no day 47!...no day 48!....I had read day 46 and started a comment but had to run...things have been a little crazy around here...had THREE trips to LAX this week (by car, NOT bike)- all with a wait cuz they had to go through customs, trip to Palm Springs...and, of course, baby time...I feel like I did not have a full week (we all know I don't have a full deck at times...but whose talking about gambling!?!) (sounds like my usual type of joke...Huh???)
Keep on Bikin'! Due to the time difference, you might be posting the next blog right this minute! Of course, with 70 miles in that NY humidity, no wonder you did not feel like doing anything Thursday, let alone write a blog!
Now today, day 48, you have to climb the 4th highest...topped only by day 5 in John Day, OR; day 15 in Jackson, WY; and day 22 in Rapid City (must have been a fast climb), SD. But the worst part is Sunday (a day of rest for most of us...of course, compared to this trip, EVERY day is a day of rest for most of us!), you'll be hitting the max climb of the trip....go out with a bang...and I DON"T mean any more falls!
As T referenced, you have already done the NE ABB ride in the fall and seen the trees....should be interesting to see the area in a different season.
Best to BS and to you as well! Stay safe, avoid those newspaper delivery guys in vans and all the other traffic hazards!
Keep on pumpin'
Keep on bikin'
Keep on enjoyin'
keep on viewin'
Be a sponge and absorb each moment....the sights, the sounds, the people, the smells....(okay, 70 bikers doing over 80 miles...not the smells!)
God bless you both, take care!
love,
betty
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