Amazing Day in Montreal for the NY-Montreal Trekkers

Posted Teen TreksPosted in 2018

Today was one of the best yet for the NYM trekkers! After a quick breakfast at the hostel (and a shower as well) we set off to the Old City to see the port and some of the stores that lined the
cobbled streets, with a stop at Notre Dame Basilica. We then marched over to Chinatown for a delicious lunch of a variety of dumplings. After that we went thrift shopping! Nielsen and Dylan got some dope sunglasses, and if I had a way to transport it I would have bought a leather jacket that looked super fly. We then took the Metro to the Olympic Village to see the stadium and Tour de Montreal. For dinner we had some homemade kale chips for an appetizer thanks to Dylan, while Spencer and I made some delicious fried rice. For dessert we had waffles and ice cream. After dinner we hung around the hostel, slightly exhausted, and discussing some of our favorite memories of the trip.
-Trek Leader Kyle

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European Grand Tour Trekkers Do Paris by Foot (and Metro)

Posted Teen TreksPosted in 2018

Today we woke up in the 3 Ducks Hostel and helped ourselves to the complimentary breakfast they provided of croissants, bread rolls, and juice. After we finished we took the metro to a square where our walking tour of Paris started. It was called the Sandeman Tour, and it was amazing. Our tour guide Oliver, an entertaining and enthusiastic British man, told us a lot about Paris. Watching out for pickpocketers to explaining the history of Napoleon Bonaparte, he was telling us about it through his belt-mounted speaker. After the tour finished, we bought lunch at a grocery store and ate it outside the Louvre. Feeling full, we decided to go explore a train station that had been converted into a museum: the Musee d’Orsay. A few hours later we emerged footsore and sleepy, so we went to a park right near the Notre Dame and took a quick snooze. That lifted everyone’s spirits and we made our way back to the hostel and had a filling dinner of ramen with chicken, carrots, and onions while watching the Iowa 300 Indy Car race on TV.

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Versailles and Paris Made For a Good Day for the European Grand Tour Trekkers

Posted Teen TreksPosted in 2018

Today, I woke up in a good mood, as we only had 10 miles to bike, and we were going to Paris today. We got a baguette at the store and some jam and fresh fruit at a farmers market. We entered the back of the Palace of Versailles and biked around the enormous gardens and forests. After I finished my book next to the Grand Canal, we left the free parts of the property to get lunch. We left David to stay in line, which was wrapping around the entrance at this point. We quickly ate some sandwiches and returned to the palace, where we waited in the long line before touring the magnificent palace. Afterwards we began our short ride to Paris. When we got on a bike line next the the Seine, the Eiffel Tower suddenly appeared in the distance. As we rode closer to it, the feeling of being in Paris finally set in. For dinner, we ate baguettes again, topped with various things like cheese, cucumbers, jam, butter, hummus and pesto. The French people in the bar stared at us like we were animals in a zoo exhibit as we each tore into our own baguettes. Finally, Henry, David and I watched the Russia vs. Croatia game down in the bar to end our first day in Paris.

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A Great Day in Toronto for the Niagara-Toronto Trekkers!

Posted Teen TreksPosted in 2018

Today the Teen Trekkers had an excellent day exploring the city of Toronto! We started the day at the Hockey Hall of Fame before some of us split off to wander around the annual Toronto Outdoor Art Fair. Then, in the afternoon, in perfect 70 degree weather with not a cloud in the sky, we took a ferry to the Toronto Islands! We biked around the three islands and got our feet sandy in the beautiful beaches of Lake Ontario for a few hours before heading back to the mainland for a delicious Thai dinner. Now back at the hostel, we are eagerly preparing for an early rise tomorrow to make our way back across the border to Buffalo, New York!

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Pacific Northwest Trekkers Winding Down Along the Olympic Peninsula

Posted Teen TreksPosted in 2018

This morning we feasted upon bean, salsa and mac n cheese quesadillas and promptly departed from Fort Townsend State Park. We made a stop for organic vegetables, along with ripe fruits and lemonade.

 After devouring the latter, we trekked the rest of our course and enjoyed the hilly farmland until we reached Route 104. We stopped for a PB&J lunch at the Olympic Peninsula visitors center and learned about indigenous cultures. After departing, we finished our ride to the campsite over the hood canal floating bridge. Upon reaching the site, we happened upon a stray dog who almost ran into the highway, yet we did our best to aide this fellow in his safe passage home. After a long and relaxing crab catching at the beach, we cooked a vegetarian stir fry and gazed into the last campfire of the trip. Before bed, our minds gently drifted to our last voyage that would take us back to the beginning: Seattle.
Teen Trek’s Loyal Stooge, “Private Petey” Peter Arrivello. ARRRRG!

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Site Seeing in Albany for the NY-Montreal Trekkers

Posted Teen TreksPosted in 2018

Today was a very chill day. We got up at 8:00 am and left the campground at 8:30 because it started raining. It was pretty nice because the other 3 days were very hot. Finally, we arrived at Albany and it stopped raining. We visited the Corning Observation Tower and toured the State Capitol Building. Finally we arrived at the Holiday Inn Express Downtown with a pool and everyone was happy!
– written by Trekker Felix

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Pacific Northwest Trekkers Biking the Olympic Discovery Trail

Posted Teen TreksPosted in 2018

We started off the day with a power pocket full of porridge. We then took a scenic ride down the old highway from our campground in Olympic National Park. We stocked up on mountains of bread and veggies, and then we embarked on our journey on the ODT (Old Dining Trail, aka the Olympic Discovery Trail). We powered through some hills and enjoyed lunch under a bridge as horseback riders and bicyclists passed by. We stopped for ice cream in Sequim and began a 3-day long pirate battle (aka we now have water guns). We enjoyed a delicious Menudo dinner and are excited to continue our trek on the ODT tomorrow!
Signing off, Mmmm Vegetable Boy (aka Jesus) 

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Beautiful Lake Champlain is the Scenery for the NY-Montreal Trekkers

Posted Teen TreksPosted in 2018

After yesterdays Vermonster, we all slept like logs. Our leaders gave us an extra half hour of sleep, and after a quick breakfast, and a slight mishap with a missing frying pan, we were on the road! We stopped at a Hannafords to pick up food for the day. I love Hannafords because they put out free cookies. I guess I look like I’m 11 because the sign says they are for kids under 12, and they havent stopped me yet. The best part of our ride was along a 3 mile causeway over Lake Champlaign. It was originally built for trains, but converted for bikes. Trek leader Russel had a nasty zoinker into some bushes on the causeway and narrowly avoided some very wet panniers (and himself) but he was fortunately ok. We stopped at a farm with a picnic area. We petted goats, horses, chickens, and a sheep named Romeo. We also got maple creemees, a soft serve ice cream. we also took our second ferry of the day back into New York State. After a dinner of franks and beans we were caught in an unexpected storm. For 10 minutes we felt like the tents were going to blow away, with us in them! As much as the wind tried to yeet us, we yoinked back as the winds zoinked us. (we stayed firmly planted.) After the wind died Kyle took some rope and lashed his tent to a fence, ready for round 2 should the storm return and then we hung around the campfire which somehow survived the wind and rain.
-Trekker Dylan

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Niagara-Toronto Trekkers Enjoying This Great City on the Lake

Posted Teen TreksPosted in 2018

The day started with a delicious breakfast at the hostel. After some down time to get our things together, we set out on foot, not bikes, to explore Toronto. We checked out the city hall, but shortly after decided to change locations and go to the Art Gallery of Ontario. Lunch took place at a food court at Chinatown. The group then split up into smaller groups to have a look at the rest of Chinatown, and, later, Kensington Market. Dinner was an amazing serving of fish tacos prepared at the hostel. Short after, we had a snack at a poutinerie. On our way back to the hostel, we were caught in a thunderstorm, but everyone felt better after a shower and a desert that brought an end to the day.
-written by Luke

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Monet’s House and a Long Ride to Versailles for the European Grand Tour Trek

Posted Teen TreksPosted in 2018

Waking up to the sounds of the Seine River and the gentle flute music, we started out biking to Monet’s house, just 4km away. After seeing the gardens and all the paintings we headed off on our 40 mile day.
The blazing sun  did hinder our spirits a bit, however getting on the bike paths made it a lot easier. Biking into Versailles we were able to see the old and beautiful buildings. With the palace of Versailles, calls home, less mileage, and Paris in the plans for tomorrow, everyone is looking forward for the new day.

Learn more about the Teen Treks European Grand Tour.