Teen Treks

Today we woke up early and went down a really cool 5 mile hill through some fog. After that we went to Safeway and got bagels and cream cheese for breakfast. We also got lunch to eat later. After Safeway we biked along the bike path back to Sequim and on the way to Sequim we found a bunch of different cherry trees. We stopped a bunch of times and ate the cherries off of the trees. Next we went to a bike shop to fix a few people’s minor bike issues and stopped at a Starbucks for coffee and to make lunch. Then we arrived at the campsite and everybody was glad to shower. We cooked chicken and tofu wraps with peanut and hoisin sauce for dinner and they were bomb. After we went to the beach to do a picture and closing circle. 

-Written by Justin

The day started out nice and easy with a chance to sleep in and have a relaxing morning. Because we weren’t planning on changing camps, there was no rush to pack up tents. With the extra time, the cook crew, Josh, Patrick, and Mac decided to chef up some French toast. Some put whip cream atop others peanut butter. But everyone used the syrup! After breakfast, we hopped on our pannier-free bikes for a venture around town. First we hit the beach where we walked to the jetty, tossed the frisbee, and took a stroll down the shore. It was a bit too chilly for us to swim but not too cold for the seals! A couple were spotted swimming just offshore. Next we walked the boardwalk through some marshland and saw some crabs. After all the walking, we went to get burgers for lunch. While eating, our plans changed entirely. After eating, we raced back to the campsite to break down camp. Our new plan was to make it to Martha’s Vineyard by tonight! Once the gear was packed and the site was swept, we hit the road headed west towards the bus station. Luckily there was a bike path along the canal that made cruising nice and easy. Once at the bus stop, we split into two groups, the bussers and the bikers. The bussers made it out to the ferry station in 30 minutes and the bikers made it in 90. Luckily there were multiple ferries running so timing was not much of an issue. As the bikers arrived at the ferry it was five minutes to departure. They grabbed their tickets, hopped aboard and set sail for Martha’s Vineyard. Once on the island, the groups made their way to the cabins to settle in. After a light dinner everyone went to bed full and tired. The mattresses in the cabin offered a sweet reward for a day well spent. We made it to Martha’s Vineyard!

Second day of the 1,000 Mile Trek but the first day with our bikes fully loaded while accomplishing 55 miles to our planned destination at Indiana Dunes State Park. We followed the Lakeshore Trail out of Chicago, riding along Lake Michigan to our left hand side. There was talk of rain, but luckily none came and instead we enjoyed a cloudy and cooler day of biking. We were excited to cross the state line into Indiana knowing we had one state behind us. The ride was an adjustment for the group, getting used to riding with a loaded bicycle and completing so many miles at the same time. On the other hand, it was really motivating to hear the group’s reflection at the end of the day and how the shared struggle caused them to bond with one another. Over a campsite dinner of caprese pasta with parmesan and chicken, we huddled over a fire with lots of wood provided by a kind park ranger, and we discussed our first day on the 1,000 mile journey and our goals moving ahead. Tomorrow looks like a morning swim at Porter Beach and more camping in Lakeville, Indiana! We’ll tell you what happens along the way tomorrow!

Day 3 – We woke up in Milles Standish Park and started our day by eating cereal for breakfast. We started biking on the bike path surrounded by the forest, then we biked out of the pass and filled our water bottles. Josh was leader of the day today, and he followed the map until we hit a gate labeled private property and we got a little worried. But then, a park ranger drove up to us and said that we could pass through, so we did. On the other side of the gate, we met some sandy terrain. It was nearly impossible to bike in the sand so we had to walk our bikes some of the time. The sun was blazing so we took a lot of breaks and water stops and reapplied sunscreen. At one point, Tessa had to back-track a bit to find a lost item, so we got a break in the shade. When we finally emerged from the sandy terrain, we were glad to see solid pavement. To celebrate, we biked to 7-Eleven and got Gatorade, pizza, and milkshakes for lunch. We finished up all right and set up camp at Shawne Crowell State Forest. Elliot and the cook crew biked to get the supplies for dinner. We made awesome sausage and veggie Alfredo pasta that everyone loved and it was the best meal yet. Then we did nightly meeting and we went to bed. We’re looking forward to a rest day by tomorrow. 
– Mac 

Today for our track, it was a hiking day instead! We got to sleep in and then take our time making chocolate chip pancakes (I had mine with peanut peanut butter too!) After chilling with the group and waiting to go on our hike, we started up the Lake Angeles Trail! It was beautiful and ran by a stream where we stopped to eat our cheese, meat, and hummus wraps for lunch. We continued up the winding, steep mountain having every step count! The lake was the most beautiful thing to view, Zori and Sam missed the trail turn but also got an awesome view before meeting back at the lake. We had a few kids swim in the crystal clear water before our group photo! Once back at camp we had ramen packets fo dinner and dirt balls for dessert. We are heading to bed, sleeping up for the arduous ride up Hurricane Ridge tomorrow, loving the nature all along the way! 

-Written by Zori!