Saturday, July 30, 2016

NY-Montreal Trekkers Bike and Swim Along the Mighty Hudson River



After a good night's rest at Mills Norris State Park, we were excited for a long day of biking -- our longest yet clocking in at 44 miles!  Along the way we stopped for pizza!  The worker was so nice, he delivered the pizza to a nearby park where we ate at a gazebo!   We went through the perfect amount of rain, a drizzle on a warm day and finally made it to our campsite near a historic 'ice house' on the shores of the Hudson. One trekkers, Hazel described our site as beautiful.  We jumped in the water at the beach and proceeded to make tacos for dinner (even though it wasn't Tuesday).

Maine Coast Trekkers Biked 400+ Miles Finishing in Bangor


On Thursday we headed back to Echo Lake for a third day of chicken fights after a short hike on Otter Cliff and a lovely lunch at Gringos. We inhaled a gourmet dinner at Adlemans with Adleman himself and rode back to the campsite on a vehicle which was powered by things other than our own two feet.

Life is hard. k
So is biking.
We did it.

-Cassidy, The Wizard.

As for our concluding day, we awoke to Max's final morning salutation of "Goooood morning Teen Trekkers!" at the ungodly hour of 5 am. Despite failed previous attempts to speed up our process of getting ready, we rolled out of the campground at 6:30. We made a spur of the moment decision two nights ago to stay an extra night in Acadia, but the price to pay was one 57 mile day. With the motto of "efficiency and positivity," we energetically completed more than 1/3 of the ride by the time we usually leave the campsite. We made several stops throughout the day, including a 1.5 hour bike repair stop and a celebratory doughnut break in the homestretch. Nonetheless, we made it to the Bangor Days Inn before 3:30. Long, much deserved showers followed our arrival. After sloughing 3 days of National Park grime off ourselves, we assembled into one hotel room to feast on Chinese food while watching Harry Potter.
-Kiera, The Chameleon

NY -Montreal Trekkers Cycling Along the Hudson River to FDR's


We started today by waking up at the Ramada Inn Hotel at 8:00am. This night was luxurious to us, considering we biked 30 miles along constant steep hills in 100 degree weather, and because went to a diner that night that gave us energy for the next few days. Today we were lucky though. We cruised along flat, straight bike paths and before we knew it, we travelled 20 miles (we did a total of 36 miles today).

Our main attraction today was one of the highlights of our trip which was the FDR library and museum. This was actually FDR's property where he and his family lived when he was president for four terms. Not only that, but we actually went inside his house and had a tour from an old park ranger.  Once we left, we biked the last stretch of the journey to a state park where we would sleep for a night to replenish for the ride tomorrow.

Quote of the day: "you cant hang with me unless you drink pig's blood."

By Trekker Max

Friday, July 29, 2016

NY-Montreal Trekkers Happy to Have a Hotel Night


Today was another fantastic day on the road! We biked up and down many hills with beautiful views of the Hudson and the surrounding mountains. While the hills were challenging, we kept up positive morale with lots of jokes and riddles along the road. Everybody's spirits were high when we reached the hotel in Fishkill where we swam and then went out to a big diner dinner together. After dinner we crowed into one room for a yoga session which turned into watching Disney movies until we all were too tired to stay up! We cant wait to see what tomorrow will bring!

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Maine Coast Hikers Trek Up Cadillac Mountain at Sunrise


Twas a brisk Wednesday morning, 2:40 a.m. to be exact, as Ryan awoke to the alarming noise of Max's iPhone. It was 3:00 a.m., however, when Max came to awaken the rest of the campers. It only took 7 snoozes, I guess. This was finally the day during which the Teen Trek Titans would conquer the imposing heights of Cadillac Mountain. No one was even close to enthusiastic about waking up at three in the morning to traverse the Cadillac Trail, but the group knew the result when we emerged at the top would be incredibly fulfilling. Normally the group would not be characterized as early-birds, but this morning they were especially groggy. After nourishing themselves with a small meal of apples, bananas and granola bars, the Titans journeyed to the restroom and water spigot to prepare for the impending excursion. With filled water bottles and relieved restroom needs, the group set forth into the darkness to initiate the journey of a lifetime. The first third or so of the hike was rather daunting due to the dim atmosphere, unsure footing and fatigue of the group, but as they approached the first clearing of the hike and saw the first hint of light prior to the sunrise a feeling of rejuvenation cascaded over the group as they felt their second wind pushing them forward. The distant light on the horizon was quickly getting brighter and brighter and the Titans knew they had to pick up the pace in order to make it to sunrise. They huffed and puffed their way up the mountain and, after a heroic hike, successfully made it to the peak of the intimidating Cadillac Mountain. The sunrise was breathtaking and the view from atop the mountain was stunning. Shortly after the group took in the view, however, many members laid down on the rocks for a heavenly 2-3 hour nap, well deserved I might add. All of this had been completed but the entire day still lay ahead of the group, so they made haste down the mountain leading the way to the best breakfast of the trip at 2 Cats Café. They ate like royalty there with luxuries such as a private room, balcony, and bathroom with a complimentary shower and unlimited coffee with delicious pancakes. After concluding breakfast the Titans ventured towards the Bah Hahbah square to catch the bus to the famed Echo Lake. The bus ride was perfect for some essential rest that the group had been dying for, a thirty minute nap that felt like 30 hours. After chicken fights, chilling with CJ and resting in an anonymous man's hammock, the group concluded their day with shopping, ice cream, and the first clear night of their stay at Acadia.
Written by Trekker
Ryan, an author and a poet


NY-Montreal Trekkers Have a Fun-filled First Day



Our first day was a blast! After meeting each other in Bryant Park, we hopped on the train to Dobb's Ferry and began our adventure. We played some name games on the train and shared lots if laughter and stories. By the time we arrived, we felt a little more like a family! We biked along a beautiful bike path for most of the day and arrived at camp in time to swim in the Hudson and bond over stories and games. We are excited for tomorrow and what the rest of the trip has to bring!

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

FIRST DAY: New York-Montreal Trek


A large group of anxious bikers assembled this morning in Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan at 8 a.m. for the beginning of their 16 day, 400+ mile adventure up the Hudson Valley, through the Adirondacks, cornering Vermont, and into Quebec, Canada to Montreal.  The adventure started with a short train ride out of NYC with all their bikes and equipment to Dobbs Ferry.  There the group played some ice-breaker games, talked about bike safety and rules of the road and then headed north along the Saw Mill River Bike Trail.  Today they have an easy 20 mile ride to Croton Point Park Campground on the Hudson River.

A Great Day in Acadia National Park for the Maine Coast Trekkkers


Yesterday was quite the day to remember as it was our first full day in Acadia and our first of two long-awaited rest days. We woke up approximately one hour later than usual to the sound of sizzling Teen Trek scrambled pancakes. The sizzling didn't last so long, however, as we ran out of propane rather quickly, but Max and Jenna were on the case as they jolted out of the campsite to scour the land for some much-needed propane. When we obtained the propane from the store, a massive boys versus girls pancake cook-off ensued as all hell broke loose throughout the campground. Shortly after the boys effortlessly won the cook-off, we embarked on our journey to the great Bah Hahbah  (Bar Harbor). For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, the Teen Trek group rode in an automobile, a bus to be specific, to the town of Bah Hahbah. We traveled to Bar Island and skipped rocks for a while as the great grocery girl Sarah retrieved fresh meat, bread, and vegetables for a scrumptious lunch in the square concluded by the ravenous consumption of garbage cotton candy bestowed upon us by a random stranger. Afterwards,  we made haste towards Echo Lake and swam/bathed in the relieving texture and temperature of the freshwater lake. We had many experiences in Echo Lake such as vicious chicken fights, meeting our boy CJ, and even spawning the menacing triple chicken; short-lived but left a lasting impression. Following our two or so hours in the lake, we hiked up the side of the mountain surrounding the lake, conquering treacherous slopes and death-defying ladders. It was worth the risk, though, as we arrived upon the blueberry bushes located at the peak of the mountain. Unfortunately, our time at Echo Lake had come to an end and we boarded the bus and headed back to the town of Bah Hahbah. We stumbled upon a wonderful deli and had delicious burgers, fries, chicken, and onion rings for dinner accompanied, of course, by unlimited refills on Mountain Dew. The rain got the best of us, however, so we departed the town in earnest to return to Blackwoods Campground to protect our belongings from the impending rain. The rain luckily only lasted for about half an hour, so the group was able to sleep soundly for the short time they had before they got to wake up and before sunrise to begin their journey up Cadillac Mountain.
Written by trekker Ryan, the voice of our generation 

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Maine Coast Trek Makes it to Acadia National Park


The Maine Coasters have arrived in Acadia! The day began with some efficient biking and after we refueled with lunch, ice cream, and milkshakes we pedaled through the beautiful woods of Mt Desert Island. The spaghetti and meatball dinner was exactly what we needed before we got inside our tents and fell asleep to the pattering sound of rain drops.

Monday, July 25, 2016

Maine Coast Trekkers are Feeling the Heat


The Maine Coasters pulled through a very hot, very sunny, and very rewarding day! We sweated up many hills and coasted down on the other side, congratulating each other after each climb. The afternoon brought beautiful views of the Penobscot River and Verona Island. After we rolled into our campsite and chowed down on some tasty grilled cheese, we had a cup cake celebration for Lillie for her last night on the trip. We are glad we got the opportunity to share this much of the trip with her and we wish her the best! On to Acadia National Park!

Hot Connecticut-Rhode Island Bikers Reward Themselves with a Hotel Pool.


We woke up at 5:45. After a short bike ride to the bathrooms, then packing the tents, and a yummy breakfast we were ready to head out. Later we found a bartender who offered us an oasis of iced water, which was perfect for our parched mouths. We came across a nice bike path that looked over the beautiful ocean. Due to some flat tires along the way the leaders taught us how to change the tubes and patch tires! We made it to the hotel and then headed off to Friendly's for food and ice cream. We biked around the town of Mystic and then returned for a refreshing splash in the hotel pool! As the sun set we ordered Chinese food to be delivered to the hotel. Tomorrow morning we look forward to going to the Mystic Seaport museum.
Group effort blog post

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Maine Coast Trekkers Bike Northeast to Camden State Park


Today we had a regular biking day. We rode up many hills, trekked on one main street, and struggled through another flat tire. Then we rode while it rained, which was refreshing  for us sweaty bikers. We arrived to our campsite which had a beautiful scenic view and  then met another Teen Trek Trip Leader, Jenna (that lives in Camden, ME) who cooked us a complete dinner... FOR FREEEEE.
We watched the sun set over the ocean while we swung on swings and swam in the ocean.
Written by Trekker Alexei 

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Connecticut-Rhode Island Trekkers Enjoy First Day of Biking and the Beach




Day one began as everyone gathered by various modes of transportation, planes, trains and automobiles to finally meet in the smoldering sun at the Guilford train station. The group headed off to Hammonasett State Park beach and campground where we were so delighted to have the ocean right at our fingertips. Dinner was great, Evan's special 'robot chicken' pleased all! Tuckered out tired, the night ended very quickly. Day 2 brings us excitement about getting to know everyone more!

Maine Coast Trekkers Triumphant over the Hills and Heat


Day eight was an entirely different story from the one before! After filling up on a great big breakfast of cereal, fruit, granola, and bagels and dealing with a few too many bike issues, we finally set out on the road. Today was one of our longest riding days and it also proved to be the most challenging so far because of the (seemingly) never ending hills and scorching sun. Needless to say, we compensated for the heat with lots of water breaks, a swim break, and an ice cream stop. When we finally made it to the beautiful lakeside campground, we were met with a wonderful surprise from Kevin's parents... a box full of chocolate chip cookies (thank you!)!!! Most of us then headed straight for the water and enjoyed soaking our tired bodies, had dinner, and played a game of volleyball before Ryan started the nightly bonfire. Another fun and rewarding day down!
Written by Trekker Sarah

Friday, July 22, 2016

FIRST DAY: Connecticut-Rhode Island Trek


Trekkers met this morning in New York City/Guilford, CT for their 10 day, 150+ mile adventure along the beautiful shore of Connecticut and Rhode Island.  After a relaxing train ride on the Metro North out of Grand Central Terminal the group doubled in size with more bikers joining the group at the Guilford Shore Line East Station.  Over the next week and a half the group will bike to many state park beaches, Mystic Seaport, Block Island, Newport, and the city of Providence.  The group had a picnic lunch in Guilford and got to know one another playing some ice-breaking games.  After a talk about bike safety and rules of the road the group headed east for their 8 mile ride to Hammonassett State Park Campground.

Maine Coast Trekkers Are on the Road Again


Today was day 7 and it was a fairly easy day. We woke up at around 8:15 this morning so we could have breakfast in the hotel (the rest day and the two nights were super nice). We biked for 2 and a half hours. We had lunch at a super nice cove on the beach, and then we got back on our bikes for awhile. Today was only a 25 mile day so it wasn't too challenging, but there were some pretty tough hills that we all powered through. Once we got to the campsite with minimal backtracking thanks to our amazing point Ryan, we found a really nice site to set up camp. It was supposed to be on the water, but in reality there is just a massive pool of mud. Some people decided to walk around in it but it looked very disgusting.. most decided not to. We then all relaxed while the dinner crew made a very delicious fried rice meal, and we finished this day off with a very nice dessert. A good end to a good day.
-Written by Trekker Tristan

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Maine Coast Trekkers Enjoy Their Day-off in Portland


We woke up and ate breakfast at the hotel. We then walked into Portland and found ourselves at a local farmer's market. Lillie, Cassidy, and Kiera got some beautiful henna on their hands. Max and Sarah got us potato donuts, and then we all sat in a park and ate them. We each tried a piece of them all. There were many flavors, including maple bacon and pomegranate. We walked along old train tracks and around the city. We ate lunch at a Salvadorian restaurant, then we got to split up and walk around by ourselves. We looked around shops and sat near the ocean. We regrouped and headed to bowling, where we ate dinner and bowled. Then we walked back to the hotel and went to sleep in real beds.
Written by Trekker Molly

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Maine Coast Trekkers Arrive in Portland for 2 Luxurious Hotel Nights


As the Teen Trek team awoke to the damp atmosphere and soggy ground of the campsite resulting from the rainstorm the previous day, the angelic sound of Max's guitar prepared each and every teen for a fantastic ride up to Portland, ME. Unlike most of the previous rides this one was particularly flat and easy-going which proved beneficial as the group had to make up some mileage due to the delays from the prior storm. They kept up a fantastic pace through the morning leaving approximately 25 miles behind them before even stopping for lunch. In the afternoon, however, the ride switched to a more scenic, mellow paced ride through a shady bike path decorated with a group selfie in the middle of the road. As the group approached the end of the ride they conquered their difficulties riding into a strong headwind as they finally arrived to the final destination of Portland. The sound of the rapping frog mascot as they arrived at the hotel signified the victorious and relieved feeling of the group as they finally had access to showers and yes...even laundry.
Written by Trekker Ryan

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

A Perfect Biking Day on the Maine Coast


Day 4: We started out early this morning and got all of our grocery shopping for the day done before we even got on the road. Being that a huge reason why everybody signed up for this trip was the hope of seeing beautiful coastal views, today was exactly the ride we wanted with the water to our right, mansions to our left, the hot sun shining down on us, and that cool ocean breeze keeping a smile on our faces. I don't think it would be a stretch to say the beginning of our day was pure bliss. If wasn't long before we came across a short bridge that a bunch of local kids were hanging out at and our point, Kevin, decided to stop. We had so much fun jumping in the water, swimming, and talking to the locals. Our next highlight came further down the road in Portsmouth, NH. We took about an hour to wander around and explore this historic coastal town before getting caught in a rainstorm that forced us to seek cover at a local boat yard in York, ME. Not even a torrential downpour could put a damper on our fun though and we spent a couple of hours playing card games until the rain passed and the sunshine resumed. Then, to change up our routine a bit, we stopped at a pavilion at York Beach and cooked dinner here to share. An overall incredible day full of both biking and laughter before we head to Portland!

Monday, July 18, 2016

Maine Coast Trekkers Make it to New Hampshire


Day 3: today our trip really began living up to is name... We did some great riding along the Atlantic Coast.  We spent some time in the cute town of Newberryport, where we got gelato and milled about with other tourists. In the early evening we stopped at a beach, where most people either swam or did yoga. Several miles later, we crossed over into New Hampshire and arrived at Tidewater campsite. Looking forward to another great day tomorrow!
Written by Trekker Kiera

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Maine Coast Trekkers Bike Northeastern Massachusetts



Day two. Max woke us up in song. We got slurpies! A woman at Cumbies (Cumberland Farms) paid for our drinks, which was very kind of her. The trip was longer than expected, but it made the beach stop all the better. Cassidy was our point (person with map), Alexi was in charge of making everyone drink water, and the counselors stayed the same. We started from Harold Parker State Park, 43 miles later, we ended up in Gloucester. It's Ryan's birthday, we had a little celebration for him at dinner. Happy birthday was sung and chocolate marshmallow banana bread eaten. We also had smores and blue fire. -Written by Trekker Lillie 

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Maine Coast Trekkers Had a Great First Day


Great first day for the Maine Coasters as we traveled from Lowell to Harold Parker State Forest. It was a scorcher out there so after we sweated up the hills, we enjoyed a lunch with cold lemonade on the shores of Martins Pond. Once we arrived to the campsite and set up our tents it was time to enjoy the campsite's own beach! We cooled down in the water and came back to camp to prepare some delicious fajitas. It was a clear night in a beautiful state park.

Cape Cod Trekkers Complete Their 250+ Mile Loop in Boston




We have come full circle since two weeks ago—we returned to Boston today. We spent a leisurely hour and a half on the ferry from Provincetown, then had
Trip Leaders Aimee & Andy
a short bike ride to our hostel. All of our gear went into a storage room, then we set off! It was super hot—around 90 degrees. At the Boston Commons, we explored the Outside the Box Festival and had fun collecting free stuff from vendors. To cool off, we went to the hostel and played pool. We met up with Teen Treks Director Cliff for dinner at the Hot Pot Buffet, where we cooked Chinese vegetables, noodles, and meat in boiling broth. Our day ended with more festival and some sweets from a local cafe.

Friday, July 15, 2016

MAINE COAST TREK: First Day




Nine excited Trekkers and Trip Leaders Sarah & Max met at Boston's North Station early today to begin their 16 day, 400+ mile ride north through Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.  To bypass riding through Boston streets the group took an MTA train to Lowell, MA. There they will get to know one another, talk about bike safety before exploring this city's Industrial Revolution past.  Finally they will bike 15 miles to their campsite at Harold Parker State Forest.


Cape Cod Trekkers Do It All in Provincetown


Today we rode on the Dunes bike trail, stopping at Race Point Beach. We then went to the Pilgrim Monument, climbing the 116 steps, taking a selfie, and seeing the tip of the cape. Shopping was our next stop! Around 1:30 we boarded the Dolphin Fleet Whale Watching Company. Most of the whales were humpbacks, and a few were finbacks. We saw the most famous humpback whale named Salt. She was swimming with her calf Sriracha. Nearly all of us got soaked. We ended the night with dinner, Aimee's flute playing, and cards.
Written by Trekker Liz

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Next Stop Provincetown for Cape Cod Trekkers


Our team had another long trek today from Brewster to Provincetown. We woke up to find two or three turkey families cutting through our "backyard." The rest of the morning was also pleasant with a nice, smooth ride on the Cape Cod Rail Trail, then a stop at Coast Guard Beach. Only half of us went in the water because it was a measly 58 degrees! The afternoon was tougher with some long hills. We stopped for water at a tourist information hut and the man inside gave us all iced tea. We all felt accomplished when we finally reached Dunes Edge Campground.


Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Mini Golf and the Beach Make a Great Day for Cape Cod Trekkers


We spent a leisurely day in Brewster, Massachusetts. Our first stop was Harbor Lights Mini Golf, where we played 18 holes and then each savored an ice cream cone. Farther down the Cape Cod Rail Trail was JT's Seafood Diner, which offered a variety of wraps, sandwiches, and seafood. We all chose different lunch items and enjoyed the air conditioning. On the way back to Nickerson State Park, we stopped in the Teichman Art Gallery. After perusing the sculptures and paintings, we headed back to our campsite, changed into swimsuits, and hiked to the beach we found yesterday. The water was beautiful and clear and the sand was soft. Nic found dozens of clams, but when we called the park they said not to eat them. Instead of feasting on clams, we had fajitas and s'mores for dinner.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Pacific Northwest Trek Ends With Another Day in Seattle



The trip ended in Seattle and while everyone was ready to return home, the end was not complete without hugs  and a few tears as everyone said goodbye. The hostels motto was "enter as strangers leave as family" and I believe that we did just that.
-Trip Leader Mary

New England Shore Trek Ends in Boston


Hey everyone! Today the Teen Trekkers finally made it to Boston!! Everyone was overjoyed because we didn't have to bike up any more hills😜 However it was very hard because one of our members, Victor, sadly had to leave us after we docked in Boston. After our ferry ride into the city, we all stopped at a Mexican restaurant. "This is way better then Chipotle"-Teen Trekker Chris. Shortly after we had eaten, we made our way to our first hostel. Everyone was presently surprised because it felt like we were in a five star hotel. We all left our bikes and we walked to the Boston Aquarium and we saw the trendy Chinatown. When we were at the Aquarium everyone made a hard decision to choose between the IMAX theater or the Aquarium and we split it even. The Trekkers that went inside the Aquarium saw many different kinds of fish and were able to touch Sting Rays! The other group saw an IMAX movie about the Galápagos Islands. They thought that it was very interesting for except one of the Trekkers, who shall remain anonymous, who fell asleep during the movie because of how we had to get up early that day because of our early wake ups and nonstop biking! After the aquarium, we took the subway and a bus ride to go to Cambridge Boston. When we were in Cambridge, we made a pit stop at a thrift shop and a few Trekkers purchased some funky clothing items. For dinner, we walked to a Japanese BBQ where we cooked our own food at the table. Everyone thought that it was the best meal of the whole trip! After the amazing meal we walked into an ice cream store and we got whatever we wanted. We sat down on some benches in town, eating our ice cream and sharing stories and it was a great way to end the night! Finally we took a bus ride and walked a little back to the hostel and everyone went into their rooms and fell asleep. Today was an amazing day! WE MADE IT TO BOSTON!!
Written by Trekkers Emily & Maura

Cape Cod Trekkers Enjoy the Cape Cod Rail Trail



Today we slept in until 8:00 in a hotel. I [Cabell] was point. We biked 25 miles, most of it on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Once we got to the campsite, we set up our tents and went on a hike. We got to a pond and decided to swim for a while. After swimming we showered and started making dinner. We made an Asian dish that was delicious. We forgot to buy soy sauce so we walked around the campground and asked our neighbors. We did find some soy sauce! Tonight we are going to play some cards. Today was a great day.
-written by Trekker Cabell

Monday, July 11, 2016

Cape Cod Trekkers Ride Mid-Cape to Hyannis/Yarmouth


We finally left Martha's Vineyard today after exploring the island for three days. We enjoyed the ferry once again, then set off on our long ride to Yarmouth. The weather was perfect for biking—it rained in the morning, but cleared up and stayed cool in the afternoon. Once we arrived at the Yarmouth Resort, the gang enjoyed a dip in both the indoor and outdoor pools. After dinner, we played Heads Up and took turns acting out ridiculous activities.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

New England Shore Trekkers Leave the Cape for Final Day in Boston


We woke up in Provincetown to have a delicious breakfast of pancakes and eggs. Then we took a nature walk in the dunes which were located behind our campsite. We climbed and climbed hills of sand, determined to find the ocean at the end. The Teen Trekkers got tired but decided to roll down the sand dunes. We then trekked back to camp and walked into Provincetown for some dumplings, free time, and shopping. Then we all walked to the beach in town and we watched the perfect view. We hung out at the beach for a while before we decided it was time for dinner! Everyone got up and we made our way to the nearest Stop & Shop. The whole group decided that our last night on the Cape would be the perfect day to have a barbecue. We made hot dogs, hamburgers, and onion rings and shared funny stories of the trip. It was a great night and we could not wish for another way of finishing our last night of camping. 
Written collectively by all the Trekkers while riding the ferry to BOSTON!

Cape Cod Trekkers Continue to Enjoy Martha's Vineyard


For our second full day on Martha's Vineyard, we biked to the southeast corner of the island. We caught a little ferry over to Chappaquiddick, where we visited the Mytoi Japanese Gardens. Andy gave us an intro to meditation and we all tried it out. After catching the ferry back to the big island, we ate lunch at a '60s diner in Edgartown. On the way back to the cabin, we stopped at Island Alpacas to see the farm. The workers there were eager to teach us about alpacas. Unfortunately, alpacas cannot bear weight so we decided not to buy one to carry our panniers. We ended our day with shepherd's pie, frisbee, and M&Ms poker.

Saturday, July 9, 2016

A Fond Last Day for the Maine Coast Trekkers



Our last day biking was a bittersweet day! We woke up early to pack up camp, feeling sad yet relieved to stuff our tents and panniers and boxes for one last time. Once we were packed, we biked along quiet but hilly roads, stopping to look at gorgeous views peaking through the fog. We reached Bangor, our final destination in the afternoon. We checked into the hotel and then shared a wonderful evening together eating takeout and talking about all the fun memories we created together in the past couple weeks. Its hard to believe its already coming to a close. We are all so grateful for this amazing experience to learn and grow together and glad we get to share one last day together.

Cape Cod Trekkers Spend a Leisurely Day on Martha's Vineyard


Today we woke up at 7:15 after a great night in a cabin. We ate chocolate chip pancakes before biking to town. We looked around and bought souvenirs from some really cool shops. We traveled through East Chop, where we visited a lighthouse. In Oaks Bluff, we went on the Flying Horses carousel, which is the oldest carousel in America. Nic won the brass ring twice, so he got two free rides. After that we jumped off Jaws bridge. Some of us were hesitant, but eventually we all went in.
Written by Trekker Emma

Pacific Northwest Trekkers Enjoying the Washington State Shore


After waking up in the fairgrounds with the sounds of fiddles still in our heads, we realized that the fiddlers had actually woken up early to continue practicing. We started the day to view yet another majestic Safeway in Townsend, Washington. We then headed South on a beautiful scenic highway. However the headwind distracted us and made us pedal faster to stay balanced. After the hard work we ended up on a pristine beach with views of the mountains in Olympic National Park. Now we are settled up in Kitsap State Park with tubs of ice cream after a windy day.
Written by Trekker Spencer

New England Shore Trekkers Make it to the Cape's Tip - Provincetown


Today the Teen Trekkers made an eventful journey across the Cape. The day began with us practicing some bike mechanics skills while visiting a quaint Cape Cod town. The journey continued with a stop at a small general store in another town where we noshed for lunch. After a quick stop at a farmer's market and a longer attempt at spelling out "teen trex" with our bodies, the Trekkers traveled to our final Cape destination of P-town. After unpacking at the camp ground we entered the amazing nightlife of p-town. The shops brightly shined on us and the many friendly people greeted us. We felt so welcomed by the locals and enjoyed candy and fresh taffy. We ate at an outside eatery and enjoyed famous onion chunks. After walking back to the campground, everyone fell asleep as we were tired. We are excited to explore the town more tomorrow!
Written by Trekker Eva

Friday, July 8, 2016

Maine Coast Trekkers Head North Out of Acadia National Park


Thursday was a foggy morning when we sadly biked out of Acadia. We left early to grab hot drinks in Bar Harbor and decided to hop on the bus to avoid the rain and the hills. We took a leisurely bus ride all the way to Ellsworth where we stopped for groceries and continued into the fog to Balsam Cove Campground. We decided for our last night of camping to get extra fire wood and have a big celebratory dinner cooked  over the fire. Pasta alfredo with Italian sausage, spinach, broccoli, kale with tomatoes and mushrooms and roasted marshmallows.  "It was really delicious, Kyle is the greatest cook ever." - Trekker Kyle

Pacific Northwest Bikers Share Campground with Fiddle Festival



Today we bicycled to the historic town of Port Townsend. After a full morning of biking under cloudy and sometimes rainy skies we made it to town for lunch. Some of us stopped at the bike shop to fix problems with our bicycles. Afterwards we went up to Fort Warden State park which was awash with fiddle players, there for the fiddle festival.