New York - Montreal Trek Gets to Know the City of Montreal

The first New York - Montreal Trek had a great day exploring the beautiful Old City of Montreal. They discovered a huge screen set up down by the water, where they watched the World Cup final match.  Most the group shared Leader Cassie's enthusiasm for Argentina and reaction when Germany won:

   

Cassie, before and after Argentina's loss.

The group cheered up (somewhat) when they found a street festival along Rue Saint Catherine, though. They hiked up Mont Royal, the summit that gave Montreal its name, to get a view of the city, then shared a final dinner together before packing their bikes for the overnight bus back to NYC.

Swimming and Mini Golf: New York - Montreal Trek Checks Out Lake George

After their longest day of 48 miles, our second New York - Montreal Trek biked an easy 20 miles, much of it on a smooth, shady bike path, to reach Lake George. They got in plenty of swimming time and found a family of friendly ducks to feed:

After the group dried off, they biked up to a mini golf course.  They had a lot of fun with the course's creative, sometimes silly, sometimes surprisingly tricky, holes:

Next, they'll head into Vermont for a couple days, then come back to NY state before entering Quebec.

We hope their ride stays smooth all the way there!

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 Packs Fun Into its Last Days

Trekker Anna tells us about the Pacific Northwest Trek's jam-packed last couple days together --

On Friday, July 11, we woke up to the sad realization that we would only have three more days of biking together, and the even more devastating idea that the coming night would be our last one of camping (sob!). To take our minds away from these dreary thoughts, we decided to explore the old fort on the campground where we were staying in Port Townsend. So we broke down Tent City, packed up our gear, and headed off to the bunkers.

We first explored an area near the beach, wandering into dim rooms and imagining how the huge cannon-like weapons must have looked. We made our way over to the lighthouse, then to Artillery Hill. We soon discovered the pitch-black tunnels in the bunkers there, and, guided only by Monique's phone flashlight, crept through them into even darker rooms. After Russell and Dan decided to act like young boys (yelling and jumping out at every dark term), Sarafina and Sunny ventured back to comfortable daylight with screams and roars no longer echoing through the tunnels.

The biking was very nice, with hills that would previously have been frustrating now only slowing us down a little -- until we hit The Hill. Now, you must understand, The Hill was like no other hill we had encountered. Monique's guesstimation was that it was a 12% grade, meaning that it looked like a wall of tar. It was impossible to build up momentum, the day was hot, and we had already taken a 3-mile detour. Only Monique, David, and I made it up without stopping.

Shortly after The Hill, we discovered that the closest food store was an extra 6 miles from the campsite. So we had our second gas station meal of the trip, eaten in camp after setting up another Tent City in our final campsite. We ate a dessert of canned peaches and oreos on the beach, and Russell improved his shell-skipping skills. We found a playground and made each other dizzy on spinning rides, climbed on a pirate ship, and got stuck on slides before bedding down for our last night of camping.

Saturday, June 12: Our last day of biking! With the one and only Dan as the one and only point, we had what may have been our easiest day, with only 20 miles on the road. We finished our last ferry ride by dancing to Pharrell's "Happy" (playing in our heads) and being cheered on by strangers before returning to the Green Tortoise Hostel in Seattle.

We unloaded our gear, showered, and rode over to the Pinball Museum, happening on a Chinese Dragon Festival right outside. The boys and Monique stayed inside the dim, air-conditioned room to play, while the other girls ventured outside to get bubble tea and explore the festival. Then the effects of biking hit, and Sunny and Sarafina had their first bouts of dehydration. So instead of biking an extra 5 miles to dinner, we returned to the hostel for Pedialyte (termed "expedialyte" by Sunny), and then bussed over to West Seattle for a seafood dinner, encountering another festival right outside the restaurant. Back at the hostel, we threw in our laundry and went to bed, leaving it to our two wonderful leaders to separate the cold-water-wash-only and then to pick up the rest. We all fell asleep immediately.

Today, we woke up to our last full day together: Sunny's birthday! Once everyone was up, we broke down and boxed our bikes, then turned to the TV to watch the World Cup Final. Shortly thereafter, we had our tarot cards read and then went on a walking tour of Seattle's Underground City, built after a fire in order to help with the sewage system in the city. As it turns out, a whole 33-square-block area of Seattle is actually built over a pre-existing first level of the city, destroyed in the fire and rebuilt in time for the Gold Rush.

We returned to the hostel and explored more of Pike Place Market, then reassembled for Free Taco Night at the Green Tortoise, followed by a birthday celebration.

Although we are all looking forward to sleeping in beds and being clean (after our nightly highs, lows, and props of course), we are all upset to think that this will be our last night together, and that in the morning we'll each depart for different destinations and the rest of our summers.

New York - Montreal Trek Has a Great Time in Albany

Our second New York - Montreal Trek enjoyed smooth biking into Albany, where they stayed in the very classy Hilton Garden Inn, right downtown.  They had a particularly fun and energetic guide for their 2.5-hour tour through the New York State Museum, and thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing -- but especially the carousel:

The Trekkers had picked up a whiffle ball set, and they put it to good use in Washington Park:

They finished their day with ice cream, some much-needed laundry, games, and swimming in the hotel's pool and hot tub.  They should be well-rested, because they have their biggest biking day ahead of them: 48 miles to Moreau State Park.

New England Shore Trek Bikes into Provincetown

Over the past two weeks, our New England Shore Trekkers have biked 277 miles!  They've now reached Provincetown, on the eastern tip of Cape Cod, and the rest of their trip will have them exploring cities on foot or, if they want, by bicycle.

The Pilgrim Monument, built just over a century ago to commemorate the Pilgrims reaching the New World and signing the Mayflower Compact, towers over Provincetown.  The Trekkers spent the morning climbing the 252-foot-tall tower and taking in its stunning views of the town, harbor, and dunes.

In the afternoon, they biked the National Seashore's Sand Dunes Bike Trail, which took them up and around enormous dunes.  They're now camped at Dune's Edge Campground, where they'll stay until Sunday morning.  Then they'll catch the fast ferry to Boston for the last leg of their adventure!

New York - Montreal Trek Makes Montreal!

Our first New York - Montreal Trek has reached its destination!  They biked from Rouses Point, NY to Montreal in one day -- 50 miles.  They stopped for an ice cream break before getting on a bike trail that runs down the middle of the St. Lawrence River toward the city.

They happened upon a salsa dance party in the park before crossing the Jacques Cartier Bridge into the city of Montreal. They went out for Asian food for dinner near the hotel, and afterward, found an acrobatic dance performance going on in the park across the street from their hotel.

They'll spend a couple days exploring the city, then take an overnight bus back to NYC on Monday night, and have one more day together there before the Trek officially ends.

Pacific Northwest Trek Asks, What Do Trekkers Think About?

Leader David asked the Pacific Northwest Trekkers what they think about when they're biking.  As the video shows, there are as many answers to that question as there are Trekkers riding bikes!  Everyone's personalities really shine in this piece -- give it a watch!

New York - Montreal Trek Rides Upstate

Our second New York - Montreal Trek is making good time through NY state.  They discovered a wonderful swimming spot that we didn't even know about here at the office, which leaders Josh and Rachel have promised to mark on our maps for future Treks. 

They've also been touring the Franklin D. Roosevelt house and gardens -- getting filled in on some of the site's history by a friendly park ranger -- and conquering some long rides with a strong, cheerful team dynamic.  Last night, they rewarded themselves after dinner by making s'mores around a campfire.

They're headed to Albany next, and then on to Lake George!

New England Shore Trek Hits the Beach on Block Island

The New England Shore Trekkers have been having a great time on beautiful Block Island. They biked to one of the island's historic lighthouses (which you can see in the background), swam at the nearby beach, got some ice cream in the afternoon, and then biked out to Mohegan Bluff.  They made dinner together, then made a campfire.

Caleb, pictured above with Amy and Caroline, does not want to let go of his ukelele and get down to the business of planning a grocery list.  (He did, and dinner was very tasty.)

Block Island is full of great bike trails and awesome things to see, so we look forward to hearing more about the group's adventures there before they return to the mainland!

New York - Montreal Trek Visits Burlington, VT

In Burlington, the New York - Montreal group had a chance to do laundry and ride around the (very charming and very cool) city.  Then they biked the Island Line trail, which extends out from the mainland into the middle of Lake Champlain, bringing them to a series of islands in the middle of the lake.

They're camping next at Grand Island State Park, and then heading to Canada!

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.

New York - Montreal Trek Reaches Burlington

The New York - Montreal Trekkers biked along the peaceful shore of Lake Champlain, where they could see the high peaks of the Adirondacks across the lake and the Green Mountains reaching up above them on their side.  They made Burlington with time to take a long swim in the lake, and watched the World Cup semifinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands.

They're going to come back through the corner of NY state before crossing into Canada, and then biking through Quebec to Montreal.

New England Shore Trek Visits Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport welcomed our New England Shore Trekkers on a bright, beautiful day.  They toured the living history museum and took a relaxing shuttle boat ride up the Mystic River and back.

In addition to learning about the region's history, they got some insight into its ecology -- here, they're watching jellyfish swim in the water below.

They had a blast swimming at their hotel's pool and then dug into some pizza.  Their next stop is Block Island, where they'll camp out for two nights, ride some beautiful bike paths, and check out the town of New Shoreham.

New York - Montreal Trek Enters Vermont

 

Closing out the main part of their time in NY state, the New York - Montreal Trekkers took the Lake George Discovery Cruise in the morning, touring the full length of Lake George on a century-old steamboat while learning about the region's geology, ecology, and Native American history.  They had lunch in Ticonderoga and biked up to Crown Point, where they dodged the day's heat by getting some soft-serve ice cream.

Back on their bikes, the Trekkers rode the Champlain Bridge across Lake Champlain, entering Vermont, and headed to their campsite at Button Bay, where they camped out under a lean-to so they could stay (mostly) dry during a thunderstorm.  Next, they'll visit friendly Burlington, VT!

Pacific Northwest Trek Summits Hurricane Ridge

The Pacific Northwest Trekkers biked up to the top of Hurricane Ridge -- a 12.5 route that climbed a full mile, vertically.  Along the way, they saw wildlife including deer and marmots, and lots of colorful alpine flowers.  From the summit, they had a stunning view out over the snow-capped Olympic Mountains.

After a hike, some snacks, and ice cream, they got to cruise back down the ridge, averaging 25 miles per hour.   Back at their campsite, they took a well-deserved siesta and closed out the night by cooking dinner together and playing games.

New York - Montreal Trek Rises to Challenges in the Hudson Valley

Traveling from Croton Point Park to Fishkill, NY, our New York - Montreal Trekkers hit more than a few bumps: it was a hot day, they went up and down a lot of hills, and they had a number of bike problems, from flat tires to a wrecked derailleur.  At the end of the ride, they even hit a brief but heavy downpour.  They stayed positive, though, and put in some fantastic team effort to keep everyone moving.

 

Plus, the whole group did a lot of hands-on learning, so every one of them is now more confident about making their own repairs.

After their tough day, the Trekkers swam in the hotel pool and ordered out for pizza to give themselves a night off from cooking.  They're now continuing up the Hudson, with Hyde Park and the Franklin D. Roosevelt House as their next stops.

New York - Montreal Trek Makes a Splash at Lake George

The New York - Montreal Trekkers were determined to prove that they could get ready quickly (so they can sleep in more in the future) so this group had a very early start. They had only 22 miles on their route, quite a relief after the previous day's 48-mile ride, so they took their time and explored downtown Glens Falls, NY.

The Trekkers thought they'd outsmart Mother Nature by eating lunch in a gazebo while it rained, but an hour later, when they were back on their bikes, the rain caught up with them.  By the time they reached Lake George, they were drenched -- but the sun came back out while they got to know the town on foot.

After a tasty dinner at their campsite, they walked back into town and discovered a pool dedicated to bumper boats, so, naturally, they had to give that a try.  As you can see from the photo, fun was had by all.

That wasn't even the end of the group's day, though!  They managed to find a magic show to watch before heading back to camp for showers and sleep. 

The group's next ride will take them into lovely, but hilly, Vermont.

New York - Montreal Trek Reaches Croton Point Park

Our second group of New York - Montreal Trekkers enjoyed their ride into Croton Point Park along a scenic bike trail.  It was a hot day, but everyone stayed in good spirits (and drank plenty of water).

The Trekkers set up camp together, explored the beach, and took some well-earned showers.  They'll continue up the Hudson Valley, heading to Fishkill, NY next.

New England Shore Trek Camps Out at Rocky Neck State Park

The New England Shore Trekkers biked a respectable 34 miles on their second day out to reach Rocky Neck State Park.  Each day, a group of Trekkers is responsible for planning the coming day's meals and buying groceries, and the group for this day was so efficient that everyone got to have an especially relaxed lunch. 

They made good time getting to the campsite, so everyone had plenty of time to get settled, take a dip in the ocean, and get to know each other a little better.

The group has an early start planned for the morning -- they're heading to Mystic, CT, and they want to have plenty of time to explore the living history museum there.