NY-Montreal Trek Final Day in New York City

Posted Teen TreksLeave a commentPosted in 2023

Today was the final day of the New York to Montreal trek! We woke up bright and early from the overnight bus and spent three hours rebuilding our bikes in the bus station. We went to a diner for lunch (our final meal together sadly), and then biked around New York City. We checked out a cool thrift store and then hung out in Bryant Park. We said our sad goodbyes to our fellow trekkers and parted ways. 

From Aaron and Shannon: Thank you so much to all the families and trekkers for contributing to such a successful adventure! We had so much fun getting to know you and leading you over the past two weeks, and it was amazing to watch you all become more confident cyclists. Enjoy the rest of your summers!! 

Another 102 miles today for Across America Trekkers Who’s Joints are Creaking Like Carnival Ride Steel

Posted Teen TreksLeave a commentPosted in 2023

Who’s got the Bengay and Tiger Balm and Blue Emu and Lidocaine? Another 102 today for a total of 547 this week, and our joints are creaking like carnival ride steel.

Roadside sunflowers swayed in the breeze, all pointed east like golden pennants waving us home. Horn honks helped us battle the unceasing headwind all the way to Bismarck. Low on time and options, we binged beef at Mickey D’s, which was produced and consumed in record time. 

Legs groaning like ship hulls in a squall, we reached a KOA Campground on the far side of Bis to collapse into our canvas dinghies as the tides of dreams pulled us out from shore. Tomorrow we rest in Comfort. Comfort Inn. We hear they have a water slide. Does it take bikes? Do tire tubes double as inner tubes? Do 10 rabid cyclists eat 4000 calories or more in increasingly primal fashion? The answers lie beyond the curtain of dawn.

Last Day in Montreal for the NY-Montreal Trekkers

Posted Teen TreksLeave a commentPosted in 2023

We woke up on our last day in Montreal excited for a VERY hyped up breakfast. Shannon said they were her favorite bagels in the world. We found out that she has terrible taste. After the breakfast we biked uphill in order to climb Mount Royal. It didn’t make much sense. After seeing the foggy skyline we hiked back down to visit a world renowned deli. I have been told a pastrami sandwich was one of the best many trekkers have ever had. While there the first of our group of seven departed. Trekker Jack is now no longer with us. Meaning he was picked up by his grandparents. After the deli we ventured to the underground city. Not quite as exciting as it sounds but a pretty good mall nonetheless. We then bought more souvenirs and Ben and Jerry’s again (not a sponsor). We then got all our stuff from the hostel, biked to a park across the street from the bus station, and disassembled our bikes. Trekker Caleb had an issue with his bike, quite severe. We didn’t have the tools to get his wheels off. After breaking a bolt or two we succeed. Now, we are waiting for the bus to take us to New York City.

-Trekker Josh

With New Tires and Rosy Kindness the Across America Trekkers Plow Across North Dakota

Posted Teen TreksLeave a commentPosted in 2023

Our planned 60 mileage today was a needed inhalation in preparation for another 100 push to Bismarck on the morrow.

It began with delectable gluten free pancakes, blueberries and coffee courtesy of Emily, Lela’s mom, and we bid her farewell before pushing into oil country.

Low on tubes and thin on tread, we pushed our tires to the brink, requiring one state trooper bailout ride, many foot pump pitstops and a couple-hours roadside scramble to patch tubes as automobile gusts tousled our greasy heads.

Despite it all, we limped into Dakota Cyclery in charming Medora, a cotton candy Conestoga tourist trap of a town, where we upgraded our tires to top tier Schwalbe Marathon Plus sets — puncture resistant like rhino hides. The upfront cost will be offset by less time and less tubes. 

Medora took hours, so our 60 took all day, but we capped it with a Dominoes feast immediately followed by a Dominoes feast, and were then ushered into a lovely campground by our new friend Jim, who radiated all the rosy kindness of a certain yuletide kahuna. He paid for our campsite and ensured us our mileage wishes would come true if we got a good night’s sleep and took care. So we will.

Despite the fact that ND contains almost 20 percent of the world’s lignite coal reserves, we look forward not to anthracite lumps in our stockings, but clean sheets and fresh soaps, with a continental breakfast under our Bismarck tree. 

Old Montreal and Food Festivals Highlighted NY-Montreal Trekkers’ Day

Posted Teen TreksLeave a commentPosted in 2020

We explored Montreal today! We slept in and had a nice pancake breakfast that we cooked at the hostel. Then we walked around Old Montreal and explored the many gift shops, art museums, and narrow cobblestone streets. We saw the big ferris wheel by the water and walked past the Notre Dame Basilica. Next we went to a street food festival for lunch and got some tasty tacos. We visited the Museum of Archeology and History and went up to the top floor to get a panoramic view of the St. Lawrence River below us. We had Italian food for dinner and then took a dip in the jacuzzi at our hostel. We had a good relaxing day and started saying goodbye to our new friends. 

A Wet but Eventful Last Day for the New England Shore Trekkers

Posted Teen TreksLeave a commentPosted in 2020

It was our last day of biking together, which we were hoping to fill with sunshine and beach time. Unfortunately it was a rainy day from start to finish, so our plans adjusted. We got most of our mileage done in the morning, then we sat out during heavy rainfall by going to a delicious diner and then going to the cinema for a movie. It was a nice relaxing afternoon. A few more miles in the rain, we distracted ourselves with word games while pedaling through charming coastal neighborhoods. We arrived at our motel for the evening, which was next to a grocery store. We got snacks and dinner items, then came back to play games and reflect on our trip together. Tomorrow we will take the train to NYC where the trip will end. It was a wonderful adventure together that I’m sure we will never forget!

Across America Trekkers Reach the Left Elbow of North Dakota

Posted Teen TreksLeave a commentPosted in 2023

An easy, breezy, beautiful 87 miles spit us out of Montana and into the left elbow of North Dakota today. The ride was mercifully flat and the sun was gentle and marigold, courtesy of a layer of wildfire haze. Old Smoky the Bear must have been out all night line dancing, so we took the opportunity to climb up on some out of commission railcars to survey the horizon in his stead.

Nevertheless, the ride was smoother than a mannequin’s cheeks and we made good time, allowing for a going away dinner for Lela courtesy of her mom, Emily. We enjoyed delicious burgers, Pepsis and jalapeno poppers at Beach, ND’s finest gastropub, and enjoyed the contrast of our sweaty jerseys next to a large family wearing cowboy hats, to which Arthur queried — “Are they wearing them unironically?”

Although we didn’t find the ocean in Beach, waves of mirth and jollity intermingled with the nearby fair’s musical revue, making for a nice environment to catch some 💤‘s under the stars. Watermelon, cookies, and sunlight to set up our tents all contributed to the ease with which we nestled into our nylon nooks, ready for an early CST wake up to bang out 60 miles after a pancake breakfast. What will tomorrow hold? Another concentric ring of quadricep muscle added as we plod away under the big egg yolk in the sky. Two more days till we break in Bismarck. It’s been awesome so far.

A Beautiful Ride into Montreal for the NY-Montreal Trekkers

Posted Teen TreksLeave a commentPosted in 2023

Today was our last day of riding towards Montreal! We woke up very excited to hit the road and reach our final destination. But before that, we started off our day with a friendly game of soccer to warm us up. The ride today was very easy… mostly flat, plus some fun downhills. For lunch we stopped at Tim Hortons, an item that we had to check off on our Canadian to-do list. We tried many different flavors of Timbits and donuts…mmmm. Next we rode along a beautiful cycling path that ran straight through to the St. Lawrence River. We took the scenic route around Île Notre-Dame and Parc Jean Drapeau, stopping to admire the unique architecture of the Biosphere. We also had a fantastic view of the Montreal skyline from the islands. We then rode over the Jacques Cartier Bridge and toward our hostel, called M Montreal. It is a spectacular hostel, and we are all pleasantly surprised by how fancy it is! We are all sharing a 10-bed dorm room to ourselves, with a nice kitchen and bathroom included. For dinner we ate Chinese food, and then we went to see Mission-Impossible in the theatre, a movie we have all been wanting to see together. It feels so good to finally be in Montreal and have accomplished such an amazing journey!

New England Shore Trekkers Bike Scenic Connecticut Coastline

Posted Teen TreksLeave a commentPosted in 2023

We woke up in Mystic and had eggs and bacon for breakfast. Then we went to the Mystic Seaport Museum and learned about the old whaling days. It was hot so we biked into town and got ice cream at this super popular place. Then we biked to Groton, where the first Submarine was built, and per Max’s family recommendation we ate homemade pasta at Paul’s Pasta. We had to take a shuttle over a closed bridge and when we got off the shuttle we found out Katie had a broken derailleur hanger. We went to a bike shop to try to fix it, and there was a massive chess game outside that everyone played while Katie got her bike fixed. Later we biked through Niantic and there was a massive festival going on that we walked through. We finally got to our campsite at Rocky Neck State Park and made a fire and made tuna olive Mac and cheese for dinner and S’mores for dessert. Tomorrow is our last full day of biking together and it looks like a rainy day.  I’m sure we’ll find a way to make the best of it though!

100 Miles for Across America Trekkers Third Century in a Row

Posted Teen TreksLeave a commentPosted in 2023

Today was a tough day of riding, but despite the hurdles we managed to log an even 100 miles for our third century in a row. Three centuries are usually reserved for old growth forest and elite cricket batsmen, so we’re in good company as we pitch our tents in the public park of Circle, MT, right by the baseball diamond, because the sheriff said it was okay. 

23 miles of unpaved roads and hills lumpier than a pocket watch salesperson’s trenchcoat set our bellies rumbling like packed stadium bleachers, but the embers of gastrointestinal discontent were quenched with an impromptu ice cream party to commemorate Lela’s last night with us. We will miss her, but marshmallows and caramel toppings made for a sweet final memory of one of our strongest riders.

Tomorrow we shoot for 87 miles as we prepare to bid adieu to the dino bones and raw landscape of the Big Sky State. But now, we circle downward into the depths of well-earned slumber.