6/7/18
Last night was cold! I woke freezing at midnight, 2AM, 4AM, and finally got up at 5AM to start my day.
The temperature never dropped below 45 degrees F but sleeping next to the Lake added a bone chilling humidity to the cold. I walked quickly to the very good facilities at the Selkirk State Park and took a hot shower, dressed in warm riding clothes, and fixed myself coffee before breaking down my tent and storing my gear. Dressed in oranges sweats and a black fleece coat I looked like a Halloween Clown…but at least I was a little warmer.
The route leaders decided to fix pancakes for breakfast, I’m not sure why although we do have a new rider who will continue with us all the way to Seattle…we hope she has riding legs already well formed. To be polite I ate one ( a pancake, not her leg) and then hopped on my bike to get warm.
Thankfully there were steep hills to start the day along the eastern shore of the Lake so my body quickly warmed.
South I peddled by myself along deserted country roads towards the first rest stop 30 miles away…a town with a Walmart where I could restock my food (running low), and my cooking fuel (almost gone).
In fact all the riders were stretched thin and very appreciative at this planned rest stop.
After restocking my food bin
two of us decided to move on, south and east along the shores of Lake Ontario.
Before us the landscaped changed rapidly and dramatically to reveal extensive orchards of cherries, peaches, apples, fields of strawberries, fresh planted corn, and even vineyards.
Large farms dotted the landscape with crews out working the fields. Cows, horses, goats, geese, ducks, chickens, pigs, and ever present watch dogs greeted us at every curve of the road.
A few short miles from the foothills of the Adirondacks where nothing will grow, the land has become so unbelievably fertile.
In addition spring has obviously been here for a while…30 miles to the East daffodils are just now brave enough to break the surface of the earth.
We head to the Lighthouse of Sodus Point where sunshine, blue skies, a warm breeze, and soft waves crashing on shore greet us for our night’s stay.
I celebrate by having a meal of fresh fried fish caught just that day.
There is no doubt I have left the mountains behind. I will miss them but not the rain and cold…
As I stand on a cliff above the shore of the Lake the sun is to my back warming me to the core.
A soft breeze dries my wet hair from an ice cold hose shower as I listen to the gentle waves below, lapping the glistening rocks.
Around me flowers blossom and fill the air with sweet scents of spring.
I have been away from civilization for almost two weeks now and my soul finally feels cleansed. No news of the outside world has invaded my privacy and I relish the fact that I have 3800 miles to go.
I am at peace with the world.
Hey Nick,
You are riding through my old stomping grounds. The hills you will cross will be drumlins. My dissertation topic. They laugh as you sweat. Enjoy the Erie Canal. I’ve got a mule her name is Sal, 15 miles on the Erie Canal…
Be safe,
Mark
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Your photos are gorgeous! GLB💜💜💜
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