This was the longest day so far. Alex falsely told us it was gonna be 32 miles which turned into 50 grueling, windy and ultimately beautiful hills with the strawberry red sun peaking through the New York mountains. Starting with 2 flat tires and the dewey smell of the woods. Riding up to Bard College in the morning sun we found ourselves at a fruit stand. Conversation and free ice pops followed the purchase of fresh fruit and vegetables. Long hills and broken water bottle cages on the Bard College Bike Trail were followed by good (but expensive) pizza and ice cream in the town of Tivoli. Might we mention again the sun and it’s heat, in the early afternoon before it was tinted red over the clouds, a short stop and a vineyards quick refusal to hose down 11 sweaty bikers. We rode forward and found a rocky river, flowing under the highways of Dutches county. Algae covered rocks stuck in the mud and trees smoothed by the water cooled us down under the midday sun. Destroying a bag of Lays in the parking lot of a nameless gas station along the road. We kept trekking forward and found ourselves in the middle of a calm road with a huge orange ball of sun aligning itself perfectly between the trees on the sides. We are now at our campsite for the night with an amazing porta potty and Jaron’s stellar hamburgers.