Silent Century

My odometer read 99.46 as I arrived in State College, PA today. I circled the block a few times to make it the first 100 mile day of my life.
Though frustrating at times and an uncomfortable 11 hours on a bike seat, today was one of the most beautiful rides I have been able to enjoy. The hills and farms seemed to roll on forever. It's as if you were to be at sea and time just seemed to stand still while a swift breeze carried you over waves of smooth pavement, dipping in and out of troughs and peaks.
My gears were humming as I pedaled so I pulled over atop a hill to listen for society...silence.

P.S. I took a shower in the famous Penn State locker room today!

Crossing The Threshold

I'm not sure where the country really began to change for us but somewhere along our way into Berwick, PA we rolled into a whole new world.
The roadside shrubs from the Northeast turned into rolling wheat and corn fields. Apartment complexes have become few and far between. Even the omnipresent Dunkin Donuts have begun to fade into wooden farm stands with crates of fresh vegetables and eggs.
I must admit that I was unaware of the topography in central Pennsylvania. The hills can defeat you with their magnitude before you even start to climb. Though as the physicists tend to say, "what goes up must come down." Today's top speed, 43.5 MPH

Self Portrait

Urine New York

Cyclists have no shame urinating wherever they see fit. Nick decided to add a little something to the Hudson River on our way to Port Jervis. Here's to you New York!

Feasting

Got to catch up with my best friend Mitri today in Poughkeepsie. We went halfzies on a delicious BBQ quesodingo and ppc (pulled pork sandwich). Sharing is caring Houly. (Photo credit to my lovely sister Auden). (Tab pickup credit to Matthew Francis). (Feast provided by Billy Bob).

Aperture

Town Hall Meeting

Sunday marks the end if a difficult but inspiring week. Riders converged, tires popped, hills were climbed and the ME2SB crew put down some serious mileage in the midst of a brutal heat wave. We happened to find a vacant city hall in Pittsfield, MA to host our first "town hall" meeting of the Summer. We may not be the fastest group of riders but we've all got a lot of heart and a fascinating story to tell. Until next time Massachusetts, aloha.