2014: Another Great Summer of Biking!

We're closing out another fantastic season!  This summer, our Treks brought together kids from all over the US, plus Europe and Asia, for biking adventures they'll never forget.  They visited lively cities and small towns --

 -- and got out in lots of wide-open spaces:

They camped out together,

cooked out together,

learned how to fix their own bikes out on the road,

devoured gallon after gallon of ice cream,

and made lots of close friendships:

They hiked and biked through stunning wilderness spots --

 -- and breezy beaches,

stopping along the way to learn about local history,

pick up lunch goodies at farms,

get off their bikes and out on the water,

and check out museums, art, comedy shows, music festivals, thrift shops, and pretty much everything else they could pack into each day.  They biked hundreds of miles together, up hills and down them, on bright, sunny days and through the rain.  Not a lot of kids can say they've accomplished these kinds of things, but every one of our Trekkers can!

We'll post our 2015 trip schedule later this year, so you can start planning your Trek for next summer.  See you then!

Leaving Block Island for Providence: New England Shore Trek Bikes On

Mechanical problems with the Newport Ferry gave this group an extra day on Block Island, and they used it well!  In the morning, they rented kayaks and paddled around the marina and the island's shoreline.

They enjoyed picnicking in town, then hopped on their bikes and headed to Sachem Pond, a beautiful freshwater pond on the north end of the island.  They relaxed around it, went for a swim, and then came back to town to get dinner from a local take-out restaurant before heading back to their campsite.

This morning, they too the Point Judith ferry and biked into Provincetown, where they're going to get to live it up with two nights in the Omni hotel.  In the morning, they took a tour of the statehouse, learning some interesting things about the building's history and about Rhode Island.

They ate lunch at Roger Williams National monument park and then explored Main Street a bit. In the afternoon, the Trekkers went back to the hotel to get some swimming in before going out for dinner later.

Pacific Northwest Trek Sets Up "Tent City" at Port Townsend

Russell, one of the Pacific Northwest Trekkers, has a thoughtful (and pun-full) post for us:

I am writing this blog from tent city, reflecting upon our day of intensity.

After starting the day with a "late" wake-up time of 7:30, everyone was energized and ready to roll. We breezed through most of the 32 miles of the day, with the last mile providing a smallish hill. We had plenty of time to think during the ride.

We cruised into Fort Warden state park around 3:30. Monique managed to get a seaside campsite. After tossing our stuff, we went to the bay to go kayaking and SUPing (stand up paddle boarding).

Dan, Monique, and I took the paddle boards out first, while David and Teddy opted for kayaks. Our first expedition resulted in Dan falling into the frigid northern waters five times. We lost track of time in the wide ocean, staying out for fifty minutes.

When we returned, the second group of Anna, Sunny, and Serafina stayed out for about the same amount of time. Getting back to camp, we set up a glorious tent city (where all tents are connected by a tarp-covered "courtyard.") We prepared and ate our delicious dinner of summer curry, then went outside to watch the sunset and practice our Scottish caber tosses. Two days until we return to Seattle!

 Could you ask for a more perfect evening on the ocean?

The Pacific Northwest group will have one more night camping out, in Kitsap State Park, before returning to Seattle for a couple days in one of America's most bike-friendly cities.

Adventure awaits you!

May is National Bike Month, and to celebrate it, we thought we'd show off some of the adventures Teen Trekkers get into while traveling by bicycle.

Hiking through the lush woods in the Pacific Northwest:

Climbing the rugged landscapes and rocky beaches along the Maine Coast:

Kayaking on a sunny afternoon, which we do on the New York-Montreal trek, as well as on the Pacific Northwest:

 

Stopping for an afternoon swim on our way Across America and on the 1000 Mile Challenge:

Grilling over a campfire on our way around Lake Ontario:

And of course, biking. . .

Biking. . .

Biking!

There's nothing like the thrill of discovering the world under your own power:

Celebrate National Bike Month by getting out on your bike and seeing where it takes you!

Many of our trips are filling up, but we do have spots available. Don't miss out -- apply now to make your summer unforgettable!

New York-Montreal's Adventures in Vermont and New York by Michael

Our New York-Montreal Trek is keeping busy on the road.  Here's what they've been up to:

Written by Michael
Tuesday began with an early ferry ride up Lake George to just south of Ticonderoga where we had an uneventful bike ride to our camp ground. There we hung out swimming in Lake Champlain and playing volleyball until dinner time,when we made a fire and had shish kabobs for dinner. Wednesday was a very slow day with many breakdowns and popped tires. One gravel road we went down caused two different tires to pop an uncountable number of times. Later, after the tubes had been patched and replaced and after we had lunch, we were desperate for water, so we pulled into The Old Lantern Inn and Barn where we met the owner, Lisa. She allowed us to fill our water bottles and then graciously offered us use of their pool. This, in combination with earlier delays put us way behind schedule to reach the minor league baseball game we had planed on attending. Realizing this, Lisa called a contact at the local transportation company who sent a school bus to pick us up at the inn and drop us off at the Lake Monsters game, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Vermont has treated us very nicely! It is full of great views and people!

Go Vermont Lake Monsters!

And from Kristen: 

The group woke up in Burlington and had breakfast on the beach. Then the group split up for the morning to swim and take care of bike mechanics. Later we boarded a ferry and crossed Lake Champlain. We are not sure if the routes are now less hilly or we have become experienced enough not to be phased by hills. We arrived in Platsburg and went to the city's beach to rent stand up paddle boards and kayaks. The group had a blast! Afterwards, we had dinner on the beach and played sand volleyball. Tomorrow we finally head into Canada! It's just two more long biking days until we arrive in Montreal!

Today the Trekkers will be crossing into Quebec.  Au revoir America!