June 5

I dont really know what's goin on today, this detour has been amazing, but I gotta get back on route and it's set me a few days back even though I have still been putting in miles.

At the party last night I met this girl, Iris, who just moved to Jersey city from Philly and put me in touch with one of her friends there. He has an extra room and there is a bike race goin on there today, I just gotta get there. I think I have to take the light train to the World Trade Centers across the river and get on the china bus for ten dollars to get. It's not so tricky when your not hauling a phattie patty around.

Well I'm making it so far, sitting in China town waiting for the China bus. Mike, Kelley and Scott helped me get to the first subway that would take me from Hoboken to the world trade center station and swiped me in. I almost wiped out on the subway, but the guy next to me saved the bike and he and him girlfriend helped me off. From there I found the escalators, they were beautiful. Only got stuck once.

I must be tired because thinking about he wtc sent tears streaming down my face.

I would never survive in this city, it's to big an no one looks you in the eyes and smiles. I made it to Allen Street to get the bus and the lady goes, where you go, philidelphia, you ten dolla, then looks at by bike, you twenny dolla.





Im at a block party in Philly, I didn't know things like this really existed! I missed the bike races but some people just flagged me down as i was riding to lemon hill and gave me money, then as I was going up lemon hill lookin for frank so many people just surrounded me and tried to give me beer, it was beautiful.


Then this guy just gave me a huge pbr and took my bike so I could drink it. I met frank and his friends. Then this couple just a little older than me who toured the country a few years ago.'we just sat on the hill talking and drinking beer.




A huge group of us ride our bikes to a block party where I'm
Currently sittin on a stoop, drinking beer and eating hotdogs.

At dark the party ended so we went around the corner to a diner. Everyone was pretty drunk, it was quite the show and this bill bikes was tryin to put the moves on the waitress. I ordered chocolate chip pancakes and got a free chocolate milk. There were about 12 of us there, the situation really is unexplainable.
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June 4

It's official. I LOVE Polish people, and the Bruins.












So today might be one of the most random days of my life. First of all, i can't believe Scott survived the night. It got pretty cold and he was using one of my tarps for a blanket, either he is tough as nails, or he drank more at the bar than I thought.

When we were packing up i noticed an empty zip lock bag near my bike. My nuts! They were ALL gone, the ones Brenda got me in Otisville. Some little jerk critter got into my handlebar bag, dug em out, and ate the WHOLE bag. Not gonna lie, I'm kind of impressed.

It's great to wake up and know you have a nice breakfast waiting for you, especially when you wake up in the woods. We made it to Dempsey's, Gail and Tom's resteraunt a little outside of town. Gail took our orders and her daughter Jess started cookin em up. The guy next to us wanted to buy us breakfast, but Gail told him she beat him to it.

















Breakfast was UNBELIEVABLE! The blueberry pancake was as big as my plate, then sausage, toast, eggs and potatoes with coffee, I was in heaven.

Scott and my plan was to get to Jersey, ride to Summit and hop a train. However everyone at the cafe wanted to help us out and after forty minutes of debating it was decided we would ride back up into Raritan and catch the train to Newark.
















Phatty almost didn't make it on the train. The door was real narrow and the stairs were steep. If Scott wouldn't have hauled her up, it could have been disastrous. On the train we had to tie the bikes to the wall. I think we may have gone a little overboard with the para cord.














We got talking with one of the train workers. He used to be pretty big into biking himself riding from Boston to Amhurst and doing centuries. He was so amazingly friendly and has a daughter who is over in Ecuador for the Peace Corps. When we get to get off the train he slipped me something and smiled, it was the money back for our tickets..














































I don't know how we did it but we got Phatty up the escalator and onto the subway, it ended up being the wrong subway, but not important, after a few more escalators and elevators and another train, we made it to Hoboken. Almost didn't make it though, the train stopped and everyone got off, besides me, Patty didn't fit down the isle.














We did eventually make it off the train and we rode along the river overlooking both NYC and Jersey City, it was beautiful!

We get to mikes apartment, liberty towers and it's Amazing! We meet his sister and her boyfriend then mike and Kelly ask if we want to go on a bike ride around the city. As much as I wanted to check out the city, I vegging on the couch sounded pretty appealing. But I dropped the bags and we headed out. It was pretty cool at first, real pretty and hardly any traffic. But then to roads got gross and so did the traffic. For the most part drivers, even here are more considerate than the ones back in Michigan, but it was still pretty nerve-racking.

I also got into my second accident, we were on the sidewalk and mike stopped so fast I ran right into his butt and broke my mirror.

We rode to the George Washington bridge then turned around and headed home. I was so exhausted. 25 miles of awesome city riding.

After we all bathed mike took us out to this little authentic Mexican place where they let you bring in your own drinks. I got lamb, fish, and cactus tacos, they were incredible!

Back in the apartment one of Magdas friends had bought a few bottles of champagne so we broke out some glasses and dropped in some strawberries and made the first toast of the night.




The people here are so cool, but I'm just so exhausted. We sat on the balcony talking and watching the city as the sun went down. We broke out the growlers and people started showing up. It was all couples though and they were all older than me, but I met this really cool girl, iris, an we just chatted it up.

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Location:Morris St,Jersey City,United States

June 3

So Scotts tire just exploded. We happen to be in the middle of nowhere on our way to jersey city for a party tomorrow night. We don't know where we are stayin and I just found out Scott didn't bring his hammock. We will most likely be sleeping in a field. I'm not worried, I think it kind I'd hilarious because i was in the same situation in October. If worst comes to worst I'll throw up some tarps. This party so better be worth it.

However, the ride so far has been pretty awesome. Scott made porkroll and eggs with blueberry oatmeal pancakes for breakfast, after I ate a fajita and cookies. I was so dang full and he lives on the yellow elevation part of the maps so warm up was pretty rough getting to the top of the mountain. But then it was pretty


Well we found a place to stay. In the woods around the corner from a bar in the middle of no where. Scott really has no gear so I set him up with a tarp shelter and a bottle of bug spray.

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Location:Mountain Rd,Ringoes,United States

June 2

This morning was beautiful. I slept like a rock then Tiffany made coffee and pancakes for breakfast. She works for the post office and had the stuff I needed to send home all boxed up and ready to go. (p.s. Mailmen are people too, leave them snacks or water, it'll make their day)





The ride was so gorgeous, but windy and everything was getting in my eyes and all itchy. I rode through a nature preserve and pushed Phattie over a few ridges then ate fajitas while riding along the Delaware River.


The heat broke and the weather is perfect. At the water gap I hopped on the A.T. To get across the bridge to Pennsylvania where I met a lady, Croft, who was on here last mile and a half to finish the whole trail!




I just met some more angles at an ice cream place off 611 in pa. I stopped in because I saw a loaded tandem and met Mike and Bernice. They came all the way from Florida and have done other cross country rides with their kids. I hope to be able to do stuff like that with my kids. They also have the same feet tan lines as me and they bought me icecream and refused to take the change. Then in line, two other ladies started talking with me, one was from Detroit. We were talking and the one almost started crying like I do and she just gave me a big hug and $20. I didn't even know what to say, I'm set for the next month.








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June 2

This morning was beautiful. I slept like a rock then Tiffany made coffee and pancakes for breakfast. She works for the post office and had the stuff I needed to send home all boxed up and ready to go. (p.s. Mailmen are people too, leave them snacks or water, it'll make their day)





The ride was so gorgeous, but windy and everything was getting in my eyes and all itchy. I rode through a nature preserve and pushed Phattie over a few ridges then ate fajitas while riding along the Delaware River.


The heat broke and the weather is perfect. At the water gap I hopped on the A.T. To get across the bridge to Pennsylvania where I met a lady, Croft, who was on here last mile and a half to finish the whole trail!




I just met some more angles at an ice cream place off 611 in pa. I stopped in because I saw a loaded tandem and met Mike and Bernice. They came all the way from Florida and have done other cross country rides with their kids. I hope to be able to do stuff like that with my kids. They also have the same feet tan lines as me and they bought me icecream and refused to take the change. Then in line, two other ladies started talking with me, one was from Detroit. We were talking and the one almost started crying like I do and she just gave me a big hug and $20. I didn't even know what to say, I'm set for the next month.








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June 1

So I made it through my first solo camping in field\yard. I didn't sleep so well though, and when I did it was on my phone. I woke up and it was dead, no gps or camera, dead.

I packed up and battled the fifty slugs on my tarps and made my best guess in the direction I should be going.

It was beautiful riding through the country side along the Shawangunk mountains, next time I dont sleep on my phone I'll show you pictures.

Well I rode and rode, but didn't see any cities. All I wanted was to wash my face, eat, and brush my teeth. After 17 miles I found a little deli and the ladies there let me use their bathroom. Now I'm chillen at a bank in Bloomingburg charging the phone and making oatmeal in the parking lot.

It's so hot and I have been going up the side of this ridge for a few hours now. I know I'm exhausted because I am on the edge of tears. I just want to go swimming and take a nap in the shade :)

What I just got in, NY, was way better than a nap or swimming. I was near the breaking point when I walked in the tiny gulf gas station to get a Gatorade. The lady at the counter let me use the bathroom in back and let me chill for a bit to cool down. Then as fate would have it, as I was walking out, this guy, Ty, was walking in. He asked about the trip and Brenda, the lady who helped me out in the beginning, got into the conversation too. Ty bought me an ice tea and we sat and exchanged stories. He did a similar adventure in England and Scotland when we was my age for eight months! He did this awesome Scottish impersonation of an inntaker who took him in and the lads at the bar who bought him a whiskey telling home not to say they never did nothing for him. When we were chatting Brenda came over and dropped three packages of mixed nuts in front of me, exactly what I needed! There were even chocolate covered raisins. Ty left then came back to give me a Mother of guatulepe sticker he brought back with him, so I put in on my bike :) then I met Gilbert, because he took a picture of me and Ty. He gave me a WHOLE package of cheese, another favorite. Then I got a phone call from warm showers, so after this storm passes I'll have a safe place to stay. This is why I travel, for moments like this when I meet these amazing people, thank you all so much.















From there to Port Jervis they said was all down hill. Man it felt good going down the other side of the ridge. A storm had blown over so the weather broke, so I sat back and coasted down the mountain side munching on my cheese and peanuts.

But all good things do come to an end. At the bottom of the valley the heat was back and when i crossed into Jersey, I lost my data for my phone so my gps was out and I had to guess the best way to get to Scott and tiffany's.

I went down Old Mine Road for about eight miles and only saw two people. I got the gps working for a minute, long enough to figure out a route, but when I got to the road I was supposed to turn on my stomach dropped. Something wasn't right here. The road was paved but crumbling, a one track, looked more like a path and trees were starting to fill it in. I knew I shouldn't go on it, but I didn't know how long it would take me to go around. It had been such a long miserably hot day I just needed to get done. I made the turn. It was up a ridge so I was movin slow. It was eighty degrees and I had goosebumps. I had this terrible image of a man with a knife stepping out of the woods and pacing towards me. I had my hand on my pepper spray and ran through the possible scenarios in my head. my best bet would to turn around and fly down the hill. I pedaled as fast and as quiet as I could. At the top the road came to a t. I guessed left, not wanting to stop and break concentration for a second to check the gps. I heard cars now, pedaled faster, then broke out into the main highway, just a mile from my destination. My heart was pounding, but a wave of relief washed away the goosebumps and I headed to my new home.

I met Tiffany first,'she was our working in the yard and we gave eachother a big sweaty hug.

Tbc...
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Location:County Road 62,YOUNGSVILLE,United States

May 31

I had the perfect opportunity to sleep in, super comfortable bed with the basement to myself, but I got up at 6:15 to go to school with Bryan... It was awesome! He dropped me off in White Plains NY to go shopping, not that anything is open at seven in the morning, but it was a nice gesture. I walked around down town a bit, I don't think some of the people I saw have ever had someone tell them goodmorning, I don't think I would fit into city life..







In Starbucks I was working on catching up on this blog when this gorgeous Latino with strong cheekbones and handsome eyes sat down next to me. Then he started talking to me about the paper and the government, using his hands a lot. I had no idea what he was talking about but man was he pretty. I caught the part where he was from Colombia, got kicked out of the marines because he had to get metal in his face, lives in Yonkers and does mma, and he showed me the shark tatoo on his neck. He basically told me his whole life story and my mind started to wander. He got all quiet like and looked at me square on and was like, you got any greens? I about fell off my chair. Here I am this naive girl from Michigan riding her bike from Maine to Florida, sitting in Starbucks and a Colombian comes to ME for weed.

The mall was just about to open when Bryan picked me up. Back in Carmel, his Spanish speaking full of love grandmother was making us lunch. She told me her heart was open to me and that I should stay, before wrapping me in her arms. I about cried again.







It was so hot out my clothes dried faster on the porch than the drier. We both got ready for our ride, Bryan would be escorting me to Poughkeepsie! We had so much fun, he has such a positive upbeat personality, I wish he could go all the way to Florida, he even cleaned my bike!







We went over a ridge, our side wasn't to bad, I still had to walk the bike up some of it, but the other side! I have never seen anything like it, almost two miles down hill, twisting and turning. It got as steep as a 25% grade. I had to go get new break pads after that one...







We rode past some gorgeous schools, then not so good part Poughkeepsie, then across the Hudson river, AMAZING! We ate subway then we checked the train schedule so he could get back home, he had seven minutes to catch it! I have never seen someone jump up say goodbye and run out the door so fast in my life. I slowly picked up our trash, got back on the bike, and headed to New Paltz.







I sort of found a place to stay, I got a hold of some awesome warm showers people but they were gonna be out of town. The brother having done two epic bike trips knew the pickle I was in and made some phone calls. He came up with his uncles place outside New Paltz, but he and his family wouldn't be there either but he said I was more than welcome to camp in his yard. They were all so nice on the phone, I'm bummed I don't get to meet them. It's pretty rural out here and there are animals everywhere, I'm such a chicken, but it's kinda scary out here alone..

It got dark and everything came out. I could hear who knows what animals all outside my tent. I was to scared to move, I didn't want to risk spooking anything and have it crash into the tent. When I couldn't hold my bladder anymore, I went outside and things screetched, breaking nearby tree branches as they scattered. I didn't leave the tent again.
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