Minnesota Mike's Ride Across America

Day 25, Monday, Sept 29th, Pulaski, NY to Old Forge, NY 78 miles, Total miles 1,514

Lots of rolling hills. Nice calm, sunny day and it is going to get close to 80 degrees. I was worried that I was getting too late of a start when I left Minnesota and temps in the 30’s. Plus, no rain in the local forecast for the next week. That should get me close to my finish in Maine.

Had lunch at the Boonville Motel. That should hold me off for the next 30 miles until I arrive in Old Forge. I am just starting to see the jagged Adirondacks in the horizon. I hope the ascents are not too steep and long.

Today had some long winding ascents. I had to hop off my bike for the first time to push my bike up a steep section. I am sure I will have a few more as I cross the Adirondacks in the next couple days. Colors are getting good and the leaves are falling. Traffic is light, but for some reason lots of dump trucks whizzing by.

This is the second time I got stung by some big flying bug. It went down my shirt and stung me on my chest before I could lift my shirt and flap it out of there. Left a good welt. The first time was a few days ago when one flew into my helmet vent and stung me on top of my head before I could get my helmet off. Luckily, I did not crash.

Day 26, Tuesday, Sept. 30th, Old Forge to Newcomb, NY, 67 miles, Total miles 1,581

Fog this morning, but what a beautiful cool start to the morning ride.

Old Forge is a cute little town right at the start of the Fulton chain of seven lakes. Not too creative on naming the lakes one thru seven.

A pretty windy road with nice golden colors. I bet my ride continues to be spectacular through the Adirondacks.

I feel so fortunate that the weather has been so nice. Suppose to be frost warnings the next two mornings, but highs in the 60’s perfect for climbing these hills.

For some reason I feel like I am floating along as I peddle easily. Is it the fresh cool air, colored leaves, lakes, smooth shoulder? Even the 7% grade on the ascents do not bother me. Must be my Guardian Angels looking out for me and giving me this extra strength and stamina. I stopped in a gas store for lunch and found out that they have fresh food and it is Taco Tuesday!

I found a nice camping spot in Newcomb about two miles off my route, but right next to a lake. No restaurants, gas station or convenience store in town, so my three day old leftover pizza will have to do for dinner tonight.

Day 27, Wednesday, Oct. 1st, Newcomb to Ticonderoga 47 miles, Total miles 1,628

The coyotes and/or wolves kept me up last night with their howling. It got really chilly too, down to 34 degrees. I put my Patagonia jacket in my sleeping bag and had my warm base clothes on. The pesky chipmunk that was watching me set up my tent earlier in the evening also kept me awake. I could hear him rustling through the down leaves and sounding like he was munching on my pannier bags that I had left attached to my bike. I peeked out of my tent twice during the early evening, with my headlamp on, to see if he was eating at my bags. I did a camping no-no by bringing most my food in my tent with me to keep him from stealing any.

Really some long steep climbs as I get close to the Vermont border. I am glad I talked to a Vermont local couple yesterday at lunch as they told me the ferry to cross over Lake Champlain is not working due to shallow drought conditions. I am going off route and heading north to cross the Lake Champlain bridge about 50 miles from my campsite.

Oh boy! Going off route is not cool especially when you have no cell phone coverage and are not able to check your location. I got lost in the woods. I wrote down directions from google maps, but what I thought would be backroads turned into a one lane dirt jeep trail with bigs ruts and boulders in the middle of the woods. I did not see another person or vehicle for almost two hours. I was hoping I would see a bear or moose to make this aggravation worthwhile. I must have missed a turn and went in the wrong direction, because when I came back to civility on Hwy 74, I was 6 miles south of Ticonderoga when I wanted to be a few miles north. What the heck! Oh well, it was quiet and peaceful riding through the woods. Even though on one of the long climbs my Garmin had registered a 13% grade!

By mid afternoon, I was feeling sorry for myself as I limped, well flew, into Ticonderoga. I came down a steep mile descent into town at over 30mph. That was cool, but I had still had it. I came right upon a McDonalds and stopped for a quarter pounder meal and next door was a Super 8. I am calling it quits for the day and will look for this bridge tomorrow to cross over into Vermont.