Friday, July 31, 2015

New England Shore Trekkers Make the Bend


We woke up ready for another exiting day. We ate Matza Bry that Yotam made for us. We packed up and headed out. Exactly 20 seconds into the trip Andrea skidded off the road. As Sarah and Elazar checked on her the rest of the group sang Hebrew songs. After understanding that it would be better to be safe than sorry, Andrea was taken to the hospital. We later found out that everything was fine. The rest of the group continued without Sarah or Andrea, and decided to make the trip longer by making a wrong turn. After we got back on track we headed for lunch. We ate chicken nuggets, fries, and some donuts before heading to our final destination. We biked on another bike path right before we got to the beach. The views of the Cape Cod Bay from the path were incredible. We had aimed to get to the beach at low tide, so we could walk out for a long time without reaching the deep water. It was great to play in the sand and look for crabs. After about an hour at the beach we went to the camp site, where cook crew made us pizzas. After eating, talking, and walking around, we cleaned up and went to sleep as the rain started coming down.
--Written by Trekker Yotam


Quotes of the Day:
"Fly little monkeys coming to me though."
"What have I done?"
"I have straight teeth too.


D&R Canal Trekkers Make it to Bethlehem!


Woke up to a breakfast of cereal and orange juice today.  Almost ready to take off at 9am when we realized we had a missing key to a u-lock!  After contacting the local NJ police, the rescue crew arrived to cut the lock.  An exciting way to start the morning indeed!

On the trail, we stopped at a farm market where we bought a fresh peach blueberry pie which was delicious! Continuing on, the heat forced us to stop many times for water breaks.  A few of us also enjoyed the refreshing Delaware waters once again by either dunking our heads in or going for a swim!

The path changed from the D&R canal path to the Delaware trail and then the D&L path. Attempting to stop in a town for lunch, we were greeted by a torrential downpour.  We quickly found cover under the awning of a furniture store where we sat and played riddle games until the rain stopped.

Back to the path we made our final push to the next hotel in Bethlehem, PA. We got to see a canal boat being pulled my mules which was very interesting.

This last part our ride proved to be most difficult because of the many many MANY hills we encountered!  With some pep talk between us all, we were able to make it!  I am so proud of all the riders for making it.

We stopped for a very early dinner in town for Italian food and subs, and enjoyed one big long hill down to the hotel.

We took time to rest and clean up before heading into the college town (Leigh High University) for some fresh ice cream! Definitely a well deserved treat!  Final day of biking complete!
-- Trip Leader Jamie



Lake Ontario Trekkers Cross Back into New York State

Today we crossed into New York! After a long day of riding to Kingston, Ontario the group shared Poutine before heading out on the Ferry to Wolfe Island. We had very strong headwinds crossing the 14 km to the other side of the island where we boarded the ferry to Cape Vincent, NY. Once we arrived in town the group descended upon the supermarket to buy food for the cookoff between team Claire/Kyle and team Jake/Mary. The judges (Stephanie and Jack) declared a winner the former, with their chicken corn chowder, beef Wellington, and Apple Pie desert! The group enjoyed an evening at the scenic Tibbets Point lighthouse hostel at the point where Lake Ontario meets the St Lawrence River.

Across America Trekkers Get a Welcome Push



July 29- We woke up to wind and bright sunshine at the fairgrounds this morning. We had a huge breakfast, much of which was eaten by Tyler and nibbled at by Branton (he's not a breakfast person). We rode out of the city with a huge tailwind which carried us on our way, despite the handful of wrong turns and construction obstacles we faced.. As they say, there are only two seasons in the Midwest: winter and construction! We stopped for lunch about 45 miles into our day; Katie treated us by preparing an incredible salad: watermelons, raspberries, croutons, rotisserie chicken, feta, and sunflower seeds (YUM!). We downed some orange juice and continued on, making great time on the second half of our day with Branton leading the way. We pulled into town 88 miles from the start of our day and made rootbeer floats before heading to a pizza place. We stuffed ourselves enough to get the energy to ride to our camp spot, where we quickly set up tents and fell asleep. U

New England Shore Trekkers Bike onto Cape Cod

7/29 - Today we woke up with donuts and oatmeal on our minds. As we ate breakfast and packed up camp we enjoyed the forest scenery of our campsite.  Soon after we headed off on our longest day yet- our 40 mile day to Cape Cod. The day's ride included warm sunshine, getting reprimanded at the supermarket by the staff (three times), doing yoga on top of bridges and Drinking iced mochas. After arriving to our new campsite just in time to see the sunset, the cook crew whipped up a big pot of stir fry which we ate by the campfire light. Late night activities included showers (!!!!!), moonlit hikes and sitting by the fire as our day came to an end.


Quotes of the day:
Yotaaaa(incoherent gargling sounds)
One girl. Ten toes. 1000 victims. Zero ragrets.
Instant karma!!!
Have you ever heard of yahweh?
I love Shakira.
Bread flag!

Thursday, July 30, 2015

D&R Canal Trekkers Get a History Lesson

Today we had a long thirty mile day along the D&R canal. We started in Yardly, PA, and rode alongside the cornfields till we arrived at George Washington's Crossing. We took a tour which included a short film and a history lesson on the crossings.
         We then crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey where we followed the D&R path for twenty two miles. In the afternoon we took a break from the path and swam in the Delaware for a quick cool off.
    For lunch we conveniently stopped by a small grocery store where we were able to get a few items to eat.  On the way we saw a young buck run across the path and many more large herons.  After we ate we had one last ten mile push toward Frenchtown but before we got to the town we took one more swim. We had fun skipping rocks and drifting with the current. When we got to French town we checked into the National Hotel and the went out for pizza. We got quite a lot of food and got very full. Once we were done eating we took a walk around the quaint town and then hit the hay.  -- Trekker Jamie

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Across America Trekkers Found the Best Bike Shop Yet

July 28- We started our day by sleeping in juuust a bit longer than usual to avoid the torrential downpour that graced our campsite this morning. Once it stopped, we crawled out of our tents and made the best breakfast of the trip- bacon and eggs on English muffins. We set out shortly after, armed with cold water bottles that had been gifted to us by an old PE teacher, to crush some miles before lunch at a bike shop in Mankato. Branton led the way and we arrived in great time. Lydia headed toward the bike shop, where she was greeted with a caramel roll and free bike maintenance, while the crew grabbed lunch makings. We lounged at the bike shop for lunch; Katie took home some goofy socks and Branton revamped his tire, and both proclaimed it the best bike shop we had visited thus far. The head mechanic gave us a great bike map that we used to get out of town, so we set out biking along nice country roads. As the golden light of the day began to appear, we stopped in at a tiny gas station just about 10 miles out of camp to grab water. We met an awesome older gentleman who tipped us off onto the newly paved, not yet vehicle accessible, old highway that would take us into town. He also suggested we check out the town's fairgrounds for a great camp spot (with warm showers!) We headed off into the sunset and spent the last few miles of our day riding blissfully alone along the aforementioned highway, listening to John's music and watching the sky churn through hundreds of shades of purple. We headed straight to the grocery store to grab dinner and treated ourselves to birthday cake ice cream and fudge sauce. The fairgrounds were amazing, as promised, and we went to bed squeaky clean.

Lake Ontario Trekkers Enjoyed Lake on the Mountain




Today we had a short day of biking allowing us to take a long lunch break by Lake on the Mountain. The waters of the deep lake were much warmer than Lake Ontario. The group enjoyed some games including a couple rounds of Mafia, miniature tanks, and freebie. We then headed down the hill and crossed the ferry leaving Prince Edward County. Tonight we're camping in Adolphastown.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

D&R Canal Trekkers Biking With A Good Groove



This morning we had breakfast at the Homewood Suites hotel that included waffles, oatmeal and fresh fruit. After our safety check, we hopped back on the path for a hot, sweaty ride toward Pennsylvania.

Even with the hot weather, we're beginning to bike with a good groove. Not even the few LARGE hills we encountered, could keep us from biking to the top. Still worth it for the ride down :) just ask Eian and teen Trekker Jamie who rode down twice just to ride back up!

We've noticed some changes on the trail from dirt paths to gravel to pavement. Today the path passed by a cute little town as well.

When we reached Yardley, PA, we shopped at a local store for lunch taking our time and enjoying the air conditioning.

Moving onto a nearby park, we ate lunch and jumped through the sprinkler. Reaching the Hampton Inn Hotel, we rested for a bit before jumping in the pool.

After deciding on Indian food at a nearby restaurant for dinner, we parked our bikes and walked to the restaurant. The food was delicious and Isaac used his charm to get an extra basket of naan...

Back at the hotel, we appreciated the countryside and lack of lights to see the stars. After reviewing the day, we decided to go to bed early in order to wake up earlier for our big 29 mile ride tomorrow.

New England Shore Trek Crosses the Rhode Island / Massachusetts Border


Today, we woke up relishing our last moments in the hotel beds of the Providence Marriott. Soon, after packing up our bikes and heading downstairs, the Trekkers set off in search of breakfast! A quick trip for bagels, peanut butter and yogurt led to us enjoying a nice meal on the grass. We then headed off to our 23 mile ride over the Rhode Island/Massachusetts border into Assonet! The ride was eventful, with refreshing rainstorms, an extended break at Cumberland Farms, and BRIDGES!!!!! For lunch, we had chill zones, chicken tenders and hot dogs, and a lot of iced coffee. We picked up sammiches and salads for dinner and continued our ride into the cool, crisp, mystical water pouring from the sky. After arriving at our campsite we took in the view of deep forests and ponds as we sent up tents and enjoyed our meals. After dinner we put on our pjs and set out to explore the campsite where we watched the sun go down and
shared funny stories and hopes for the trip to come. Yotam still isn't in his pjs. Quotes of the day: "I have a more European palette" "I'm like hey what's up hello" "hand signals" -- Trekkers Lauren, Hazel, Willem and Yotam

Across America Trekkers are Minnesota Celebrities



July 27- Upon waking up in the Chandler Community Center, we were graced with the presence of the town's fire chief. He asked us about our trip and excitedly let us know we should be expecting another guest shortly. About ten minutes later, a reporter from the town over rolled up on her ATV and started interviewing us about our trip. We felt like celebrities! While we ate our oatmeal and started preparing for our day, she slipped away and came back minutes later with hot sausage egg and cheese sandwiches, a gift from the local cafe! We happily abandoned our oatmeal and scarfed down our breakfast sandwiches. Once we were all packed and ready to go, we took one final snapshot with the reporter and headed out to experience more of the Minnesota countryside. We spent the day riding along mostly flat and traffic free county roads, a welcome respite from the hills of Wyoming and the mountain passes of weeks past. We had a late lunch of chicken ceasar salad, and pedaled on through the humidity to our campground for the night. We stopped alongside a cornfield, where Branton and Tyler scored some sweet corn from a local farmer.
Instead of eating the corn, they proceeded to have an epic sword fight whilst riding down the road-- a truly hilarious spectacle for the rest of the crew. We pulled into our campsite and cracked out maple and brown sugar bratwurst and paired it with angel hair pasta, adding some fresh tomato to spruce it up. Fortunately, we finally had the opportunity to make s'mores, much to Katie's delight!!

D&R Canal Trekkers Attend Princeton for the Day



When we woke up, we had yummy bagels for a good morning start. Then we got on our bicycles and started bicycling down the D&R Canal (Delaware and Raritan Canal). We biked through the trails for about two hours, not really stopping at all. Then we came across a fallen tree. We made our way through and started back up again. All of us started to get tired so we decided to take a pit stop at a canoe rental and ate more bagels some apples and left over turkey. After resting a few more minutes we started riding through bumpy trails. Around 12ish all of us decided that it was time to have lunch. Our leaders found the nearest supermarket called Shop Right (get it drop right hehe) Anyways when we were on our way we had to go up a hill. It was definitely a struggle, well at least for me but in the end it was worth it when we got to go down. We went through a couple more trails and then biked up to Princeton. It was so beautiful, we even got to have a picnic there. We tried to get to the last campus tour on time but we just missed it. It didn't matter though we created our own tour and it was probably way better then the regular ones, even if we got lost. This nice college student took us to an area called the slums, they were the older dorms that looked like castles from long ago. She said that that was where the juniors stayed and it was called the slums because there was no air conditioning and a lot of cockroaches. All of the other dorms were re done on the inside. We got to look around at the beautiful architecture. It was very pretty but we got very tired after a while. So when we came across an art museum we went right inside. It had the three things we felt we needed; air conditioning, a water fountain, and a place to sit. After that we rode about two miles to get to the hotel. We had a pretty nice time in the pool; playing games and stuff. Then we played a bunch of games and went to bed. We are all really excited for all the days to come. -- written by Trekkers Sheyla & Zosia

Lake Ontario Trekkers Have an Easy Day on the North Side of the Lake



We had a short riding day today, biking to Presqu'isle Provincial Park. This morning we passed the AIDS ride again. We stopped for lunch in a town square and then continued on to camp arriving around 3. This gave us plenty of time to enjoy swimming and relaxing by the lakeside. For desert Claire made fried dough! Yum yum!

Lake Ontario Trekkers Discover Canadian Poutine

It was an epic day of biking, the group rode a hefty 40 miles in the sweltering heat and humidity. We met up with a fellow group of bikers who were riding for HIV Community Services in Toronto.  They were riding to Montreal. We broke bread at their finish line, but we quickly dispersed from that area because we had nine miles left. Then half of our group rode right by the "X-treme French Fry stand," but the rest of us stopped for our first Poutine (french fries with gravy and cheese curds) First of all the Poutine was on point. I "John Lunch" can solemnly swear that that was one of the best Teen Treks snacks I have ever had. And that is my lunch promise! Once we got to the campsite we went to the beach and played competitive volleyball against older people. We were able to win one of three games because of Lunch's performance up front [and everywhere else]. We ended the day with pita pizzas which went well and we didn't spill any ;)
Remember a vote for me is a vote for Lunch! John Lunch!    --   written by Trekker Jack




Monday, July 27, 2015

Minnesota - The Land of 10,000 Lakes for the Across America Trekkers



July 26- We started our day with biscuits and a delicious egg, cheese, and meat casserole made by the lovely Mrs Gier. Today's goal: reaching Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes! Trip leader Lydia rode over to the only bike shop in town that was open on a Sunday to get some problems sorted out while the rest of the crew made their way out of the city. We met up about 15 miles down the road, where we stopped to do some grocery shopping and rerouting. We met a lot of lovely people as we ate our lunch in town, one of whom gave Tyler, Katie, and Branton hand carved Bambi trinkets! We left the town with encouraging words and boosted confidence and made our way through the beautiful countryside to the border. A short 20 miles later we arrived at the coveted Minnesota state line, where we stopped for a photo. We rode into the town just over the border, where Tyler and Katie managed to find a great little camp spot that was not on the maps where we had our 2nd lunch of the day. We left soon after to squeeze the last of our day's miles in before dark, and ended up enjoying a gorgeous sunset while riding through the postcard-worthy farmland of Minnesota. Upon arriving to our destination, we struck up a conversation with a kind Minnesotan who pointed us to Chandler city park, where he opened the door to the community center for us. No tents!! We made a meat, rice, onion and broccoli dish for dinner and fell asleep soundly, looking forward to another day of beautiful Minnesota biking. 

New England Shore Trekkers Have an Relaxing Day in Providence


Today we went out to breakfast at a place with beautiful painted walls, very decorated and very unique. We ate pancakes (blueberry and chocolate chip) pesto egg sandwiches, omlettes and sausage. We got back on our bikes and went to the bike shop to get a couple things fixed and Yotam bought a cool water bottle. Andrea and Sarah went to Walgreens to buy Chapstick. Then we went to the Rhode Island State Capitol Building which had an amazing ceiling. We took a tour and the whole building was made of marble. The state library was BEAUTIFUL. Then we decided to go back to the hotel to relax and swim a bit. At 4:30 we went to Thayer Street near Brown University, where all the shops were. We visited the place and it was very nice. Some of us bought things such as earrings and T-shirts. We had dinner at a Kebab and falafel place. We had big plates full of food. Then we relaxed and shopped a bit more. We decided to come back to the hotel to relax, check out the gym, and eat twizzlers by the pool. It was a nice and comfy day. -written by Andrea

Quotes of the day: 
"Hello my name is Joe and I work in a button factory."
"Chipotle is my life."
"I'm so dizzy!"

"Heyo!"

New England Trekkers Enjoying the Comforts of the Providence Marriott Hotel

We started one of our longest day (40 miles) with an early breakfast. After a quick bike safety check we headed out. As we rode through some calm hills, with some drizzles in our faces, we looked around and saw some amazing farms. After a little more than 15 miles of biking we stopped at a college green to eat lunch. After a quick game of Ninja and some yoga we were ready to hit the road again. We headed onto the bike path which was one of our most enjoyable rides up to now. Along the way the boys stopped for some frozen lemonade while everyone else picked some berries. As we continued Yotam, Willem, and Adam raced ahead, while the girls took the ride slowly and calmly. As we got to the end of the 10 mile bike trail ride we turned on to the main road and got close to the Marriott Hotel. We rode for another half and hour and got to the hotel happy and ready to do laundry. We went to get the laundry done and as we were waiting for it to finish we went and got dinner, ice cream, and glue for Elazar's shoes. After a Chinese picnic outside of the laundromat, we got back to the hotel and went swimming. We then hung out for a few hours and went to bed after a long day. -written by Trekker Yotam

Across America Trekkers Flash Through South Dakota

July 25- We started our morning with chocolate and banana pancakes, expertly cooked with gobs of butter by John and Lydia in our host's kitchen. We ate them happily and scooted out the door to a local bike shop, where we picked up some bike boxes on the house. We then got a lesson in bike boxing as we packed up our trusty steads and waited at the bus station to catch a ride to Sioux Falls. Although we didn't plan on hopping on a bus, we did what we had to do to catch up on some miles we had lost due to our wonky start. After six hours of looking out at the unchanging South Dakota scenery, we arrived in Sioux Falls where we reassembled our bikes and rode into town. We arrived at the Gier's house, where we were warmly greeted with hot pizza and Jasmine tea, just as a massive downpour began. After eating our fill and playing with Ted and Bill, the two impossibly fluffy house cats, we got a hearty night's rest.

D&R Canal Trekkers First Day on the Trail


After meeting outside Penn Station, the D&R Canal Trekkers enjoyed some NYC bagels and orange juice. We scurried off at 8:30am to find an elevator to get down to NJ Transit. After rushing onto the train we enjoyed a relaxing hour ride to New Brunswick.  Sitting in the beautiful Rutgers University campus, we did some ice breakers to get to know each other better and talked about bicycle safety.  Practicing our new skills while riding around campus, we proceeded to find a supermarket to buy lunch supplies. We found a supermarket with the help of Trekker Sheyla communicating in Spanish!

We headed to the D&R Canal where we found a lovely spot with a waterfall to enjoy sandwiches near the tow path trail . Proceeding down the trail, we rode on a dirt path surrounded by trees and water on both sides.  After a very sweaty ride, we made it to the Doubletree Hotel where we played water polo in the pool and other games. A late arriving Trekker, Jamie showed up and we spent time getting to know him.

For dinner we walked for Thai food which was DELICIOUS (a little spicy). Back at the hotel, Zosia and Sheyla found us free cookies!!  We all ate them while reviewing the day together.  Looking forward to a good nights rest and a full day of biking tomorrow! -- Trip Leader Jamie

Sunday, July 26, 2015

The D&R Canal Trekkers Begin A Scenic and Historic Adventure

The Delaware & Raritan Canal Trek began in New York City this morning.  This wonderful, short bike tour passes through small and large towns in New Jersey and Pennsylvania including Princeton, Trenton, Easton, and Bethlehem.  They’ll ride across the Delaware River where George Washington made his historic crossing and see 18th century farmhouses, granaries and barns along this scenic route.  The group took a NJ Transit Train out of NYC and after getting to know one another and discussing bike safety the Trekkers started riding in New Brunswick, NJ.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Across America Trekkers Have a Busy Day of Site Seeing

July 24- We woke up excited this morning! We had a full day of site seeing ahead of us- first to see the Crazy Horse Memorial, then to see Mount Rushmore! We took a bike path that led us through untouched nature to the first memorial, and then hopped on a 9 mile uphill route to see the faces in stone. Climbing to Mount Rushmore was some of the toughest biking we had done, which made arriving at the top that much more incredible. We got honks of encouragement along the way and smiles of disbelief as we rode up to the summit and to the grand viewing platform. We enjoyed tortillas and fresh fruit for lunch at the summit, before beginning the 3,000 foot descent to Rapid City. Upon reaching the city, we did some much needed laundry and got some complimentary bike repairs from a friendly shop in town. We stayed the night with wonderful yoga instructors who graciously opened their home to us and where we met another cyclist who is touring the perimeter of the United States. We made grilled cheese with fresh rosemary and ripe tomatoes for dinner, and washed them down with a tall glass of mint tea made from our host's garden.

New England Shore Trekkers Trek Through the Newport Mansions



Today, as the sun filtered through the trees into our tent flaps, we awoke and ate oatmeal and grapes on the meadow grass. As Elazar's guitar music set the mood for the relaxed day, we packed up and set out for our tour around the Breakers, one of the most famous mansions in Newport. After taking a tour, making our bi-weekly human pyramid and lounging around in the large seaside yard, we started our hike along the Cliff Walk towards the beach. A casual lunch on the rocks and a long walk alongside the cliffs allowed for lots of words games and family bonding. After climbing over rocks and through tunnels, we reached the long awaited beach and jumped into the cold water and tanned in the sand. After a long walk back to the bikes and a trip to Stop and Shop, we returned to the meadow to make a dinner of burgers and salad. To finish off the relaxed day, we met up with our new Newport friends for smores and funny stories as the sun went down.--Written by Lauren 


Quotes of the day:
"My bike is as big as my daddy's"
"Pizza pie"
"Zing!"

Lake Ontario Trekkers By-pass Toronto Sprawl

We took the train out of Toronto instead of biking the 50 miles to Darlington Provincial park. We got to the campground very early because of the reduced mileage and luckily we were able to set up camp before the rain started. It rained on and off for the rest of the afternoon/evening but we were afforded a break to make quesadillas for dinner accompanied by Jake's wonderful Guacamole! Hopefully the rain will let up soon!

Across America Trekkers Doing the Hills of South Dakota


July 23- We started our day with a generous amount of oatmeal and sunshine. We zoomed through the last 10 miles of Wyoming and made it to South Dakota, our sixth state!! We entered the Black Hills National Forest, sweating out our weight in water climbing up the rolling hills. We couldn't find shade for miles as lunchtime quickly approached, but luckily a rancher let us hang out on the shade of his property just in time to avoid sunburn. We celebrated by cracking open a watermelon and enjoying it spoonful by spoonful, with John gulping down the last of the deliciously refreshing juice. We continued onward, following Route 16 towards Custer, and made stops at the Jewel Cave where we learned about the vast cave systems underneath the hills! Later that day we arrived in Custer, where we explored an old trading post that sold a variety of animal skulls and cowboy paraphernalia. We treated ourselves to sundaes and a full strawberry rhubarb pie at The Purple Cow before riding to camp and making a full spaghetti and meatball dinner, complete with garlic bread.

Across America Knocks Off Wyoming


July 22- We woke up early and enjoyed a hearty breakfast at John's aunt's house (cheesy eggs, caramelized cinnamon bagels, yogurt, strawberries and blueberries!) before heading out to conquer the remaining miles of Wyoming. We spent most of the day battling strong headwinds, forcing us to end our day a bit earlier than expected. During our last 20 mile stretch, we were met with a fierce thunderstorm that turned the sky black. To our backs was a beautiful clear sky, and ahead lay lighting and a slightly out of place double rainbow within the storm. A kind gentleman passing us on the road went out of his way to drive 10 miles up the road to ask a family of we could camp on their lawn, as we were looking a bit hopeless! Unfortunately that didn't pan out, but we did end up being helped by another kindhearted individual a couple of miles later who Gave us water and directed us to a prime camp site. We made sesame chicken and went to sleep satisfied under another sky full of stars.

Another Wonderful Day in Toronto for the Lake Ontario Trekkers



Today Teen Treks team Lake Ontario ventured out to the Toronto Islands. We took the ferry out to Ward's Island and had lunch out there. Afterward the group played ultimate freebie with team "Jack [John] Lunch" being narrowly defeated. Next we rode down the boardwalk stopping to enjoy a bicycle powered sound art sculpture and the hedge maze. After taking the ferry back to the city we headed up the Don Valley trail to the Danfourth for a Greek dinner. A wonderful final day in Toronto!

Friday, July 24, 2015

New England Shore Trekkers Enjoy Newport, RI

Natural Campsite in Newport, RI
Today we started the day off waking up to a beautiful day on Block Island. Breaking from the usual routine, we got straight on our bikes without breakfast and headed straight to the beach with our gear packed and ready for the day ahead. At the beach, some decided to take a frigid dip while others prepared bagels. After everybody was full and ready to go, most of the group headed to the center of town where we met up with Sarah and Yotam, as they had been getting Yotam's bike repaired. Then we all headed over to the ferry for a journey from the island to the mainland. Our destination was Newport, Rhode Island. Once the bikes were carted off of the boat we headed to our new campsite in a meadow of a generous friend's property. Everybody unpacked their gear and set up the tents and played some very thought provoking games. Afterwards, everyone hopped on their bikes to head into the center of town for a bit of shopping free time. On the way we encountered many Victorian era mansions. In town everybody enjoyed fudge and a good hour of window shopping. Then the days cooks, Lauren, Andrea, and Adam went food shopping as the days cleaning crew hung out. Then after an unfortunate loss of whipped cream, we biked back to the campsite and got ready for a tasty dinner of chili and delightful dessert of hot cookies with whipped cream. With the moon shining above us we told stories and enjoyed another evening together. 
-written by Willem 

Quotes of the day: 
"Are you burnt? Because you're the only burnt I see."

Lake Ontario Trekkers Are All Over Toronto

 
Today the Teen Trekkers spent the day exploring the wonders of Toronto! First we went to the Art Gallery of Ontario. Then we hopped on over to Chinatown for lunch. We then walked down to the waterfront and took in the sights of the newly reconstructed Queens Quay. Meandering through the caverns of skyscrapers downtown we found city hall and stopped in for a tour of the city council chambers. Making our way back to the hotel to do laundry we made a brief stop at the bookstore. We went out for Mexican food on Yonge Street. Tomorrow we're off to the Toronto islands!!