Oswego, NY - 245 Miles: Only 70 Miles to Go!!!!!

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  Oswego, New York, United States
Saturday, August 23, 2008

It was a long, hot day for our bikers.  I heard from them around 9 pm tonight.  Actually, I first heard from Dave who said he was fed and showered, Emily was in the shower and Alexis was kersplatt on the bed.  Here's what I heard.  /Madre

I really wanted to spend what I hope is our last night on the road, camping outside but we are tired, tired, tired and I feel sooooooo disgusting.  At one point I was so sweaty my hands were slipping off my handlebars.  We were about a mile into Oswego going up yet another hill and there it was............the Scottish Inn........showers......windows.......A/C.......beds......and I bet they have soap too! 

We had yummy sandwiches for dinner -- no cooking on the tiny stove -- no unrolling the tent -- no unloading the bicycles (although we brought them in our room)

Bike Checked in For the Night

.  While talking with Madre she mentioned a mosquito was bothering her and I said 'Don't talk to me about mosquitos...I have no sympathy for your one mosquito'.  When we left Watertown we biked through clouds of mini flies.  We look like pincushions from all the bites.  Speaking of what we look like, you know those cookies that have a chocolate biscuit on one side and vanilla on the other?  Well that's what I look like.  My back has baked in the sun and my front is pale. 

Madre called me with interesting news today.  Naz has put the link to my blog on their Facebook page and is interested in doing a story about our trip.  I guess some of the local media is interested too.  Very cool but I just want to get to my Naz home, see my friends and get some sleep before classes on Monday.  So my plan is to call the media contact about an hour before our arrival and talk with them a little bit before actually arriving on campus. 

Here's a good one.  When we were coming into Oswego I saw a car with what I thought was a bunch of my friends, I sped up and screamed at them 'What are you doing here?'  Well it turns out they weren't my friends and I practically scared the pants them.  Mwa ha ha

Today we got chased by a dog that we were positive was going to bite us but enter Dave with one of his many talents.....he can do such a loud, realistic bark that I think it scared the dog

1-Bike Checked in For the Night

.  Go Dave.

We have met so many nice, helpful people on this trip.  Folks have helped direct us on the best routes or routes to avoid.  We had two offers for free places to stay although we ended up only accepting one of them.  I guess it's like the trail angels that hikers talk about.  It's really different travelling by bicycle.

We started bantering a little today about the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of this trip, here are some of our thoughts-

The Ugly:  Bicycle chasing dogs, scarified pavement, headwinds, heat, and BIG hills
The Bad:  Over zealous lifeguards (Dave's been teaching me a little about not always following the rules), fresh oil sprayed on loose stone roads, mosquitos, thunderstorms and leaking tents
The Good:  Helpful people, dogs on chains, drivers who slow down for cyclists, downhills, tailwinds, cool weather, Gaterade, showers, soap, screened windows, peaceful woods and swimming holes

Hey, I never mentioned my bike.  I decided early over summer break I wanted to get a road bike.  So at the end of May, during Move-Out Week for the University of Vermont students, Madre and I started cruising where the Groovy UVs live.  We picked up all kinds of stuff the students were leaving behind and then there is was....an old, beater roadbike that someone had obviously put some time into -- and it was red!  This bike looks like its been run over a few times and maybe even squished between two cars, but someone had lovingly put on brand new brakes and lines and there was new tape on the handlebars.  Dave has been teaching me all about working on bikes this summer.  We gave it a tune-up, did all kinds of wheel and tire work and just before leaving on this trip we replaced the pedals because one of them was bent and causing my knee to hurt.  I've left my nice mountain bike home and I'll be 'beatering' around Naz this year. 

Dave and Emily have been riding a semi-recumbant tandem that's quite unique.  Here's a link to the company they bought it from:
http://www.bilenky.com/viewpnt.html

Well, Emily has finally finished her 'Hollywood shower' and it's my turn to commune with the shower and soap then off to bed.  We have 70 miles to go....... 

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