Final Thoughts.... Maybe

These are my mom's thoughts from the trip:
I always knew I wanted to take my children to college so when Cosme told me that wherever he went to college he would be getting there on his bicycle and he ended up telling me I could go along if I wanted I said yes I would - and would be honored - to accompany him on my bicycle (thankfully, between you and me, he didn't end up going to school on the opposite coast!).

Siempre sabia que queria llevar a mis hijos a la unversidad entonces cuando Cosme me dijo que donde sea que fuera, iba a llegar en bicicleta y luego me dijo que yo podia ir tambien si quisiera dije que si lo haria - seria mi honor - acompanarlo en mi bicicleta (por suerte, entre tu y yo, al final no iba a la universidad en la costa opuesta del pais!)

As I write this - finally with some presence of mind to do so having definatively reached our destination - Waterville, Maine - my heart feels a little heavy because I won't be able to be present (today) when Tefe (Cosme's twin brother) moves into his dorm room in New Paltz, New York.

Al escribir esto - finalmente com alguna tranquilidad mental para hacerlo habiendo llegado definitivamente a donde ibamos - Waterville, Maine - mi corazon se siente algo pesado porque no voy poder estar presente (hoy) cuando Tefe (el hermano mellizo de Cosme) se muda a su cuarto de residencia en New Paltz, New York.

There was never a moment as the day of departure drew near (12 days ago) when I even considered calling off my participation in this adventure (even though there were those who scolded me about needing to get physically fit and seeing that I really wasn't dealing with this aspect of things). I would simply just allow myself to momentarily ponder isolated aspects of what needed to be done - obtaining the proper clothing, getting my bike fixed, leaving daily logistics in place at home in my absence, deciding on details of what to actually bring and what not to...

Nunca hubo un momento - al acercarse el dia de partida (hace 12 dias) que ni consideraba cancelar mi participacion en esta aventura (aunque habia los que me reganaban sobre la necesidad de ponerme en forma y viendo que simplemente no estaba enfrentandome a este aspect de las cosas). Me permitia simplemente pensar por momentos aspectos aislados de lo que se necesitaba hacer - obtener la ropa apropiada, mandar a arreglar mi bicicleta, dejar toda la logistica cotidiana arreglada en mi ausencia, decidir detalles de lo que realmente llevaria y de lo que no deberia llevar...

So the day came and although maybe nobody noticed I felt an internal mental struggle begin - kind of a passive mental "feet dragging" if you will...but we set out. Day one was getting out of the city, across the river (Hudson), through New Jersey and back into New York State again - then moving uphill in the direction of Bear Mountain and beyond...I don't remember if I walked any hills that first day but I was using some stretchy knee braces, special lotion for knee pain, riding in my lowest gear, and constantly shaking out especially my left hand to ward off complete loss of circulation. It was very hard, sometimes painful and nervewracking but I didn't complain. I didn't want to psych myself out nor be a burden to my hero son.

Entonces llego el dia y aunque tal vez nadie se dio cuenta sentia los comienzos de una lucha interior / mental - una especie de "arrastre mental de pies".....sin embargo nos partimos. El primer dia se tomo para alejarnos de la ciudad, cruzar el rio Hudson, atravesar New Jersey y volver a cruzar la frontera al norte con Nueva York - y despues nos movimos hacia arriba en rumbo a la montana "Oso" y mas alla...no recuerdo si camine algun cerro ese primer dia o no pero tenia puesto unas rodilleras elasticas, una locion especial para dolor de conyunturas, andando en el 'cambio' (de la bicicleta) mas bajo, y constantemente sacudiendome especialmente la mano izquierda para evitar que se parara por completo la circulacion. Fue muy dificil, a veces doloroso y desesperante pero no me quejaba. No queria desanimarme ni ser una carga para mi hijo heroe.

So, proceeding like this - far from in command of my mental uncertainties - we made it to New Winsor and stayed the night. Cosme has already told you but the very next day, going up the very first hill (my body complaining in pain) my derailleur snapped in two - I thought (felt) I had done something wrong - maybe tried to change gears at the wrong moment, pushed too hard - we had barely started and I had already caused us to be stuck. He also told us that an "angel" by the name of Carlos got us to a bike shop, another "angel" - the bike shop guy fixed my and Cosme's bike - then the sky opened up with pouring rain, thunder and lightening. So we stayed still for awhile while the bike guy gave us a pep talk - not to be too rigid with our plans, to go with the flow, concentrate on the enjoyment of the trip itself and not worry so much about each next destination, and so on (it was reassuring for me). When the sky calmed down we proceeded on to Kingston.

Entonces, procediendo asi - lejos de estar en control de mis incertidumbres mentales - alcanzamos New Winsor y nos quedamos la noche. Ya Cosme les ha explicado pero justo el dia siguiente, subiendo la primera colina (mi cuerpo protestando del dolor del dia anterior) se partio en dos la parte mas importante del sistema de cambios en mi bicicleta (derailleur) - pense (senti) que habia sido algo que yo habia hecho mal - tal vez trataba de cambiar en un momento inapropiado, habia empujado muy duro - apenas habiamos comenzado y ya yo habia sido la causa de nuestro tranque. Tambien Cosme les conto que un "angel" conocido por el nombre de Carlos nos hizo llegar a un taller de bicicletas, y otro "angel" - el hombre reparador de bicicletas arreglo tanto mi bicicleta como la de Cosme - luego se abrio el cielo con un chubasco torrential, truenos y relampagos. Entonces nos quedamos quietos por un rato mientras que el tipo del taller nos daba una charla para animarnos diciendonos que no fueramos muy rigidos con nuestros planes, que siguieramos el ritmo natural de las cosas, que concentraramos en el placer del viaje mismo y que no nos preocuparamos tanto de cada proxima destinacion, y asi (a mi me ayudo a no sentir tan mal). Cuando se calmo el cielo procedimos a Kingston.

Going up the last hill of the day in Kingston Cosme got a call with people laughing on the other end, asking to talk to me and wondering whether I had arranged for a substitute on my job! I still wasn't entirely convinced myself (at least in the doubting part of my brain that I was still struggling with) that I was going to "make it" but my determination was beginning to take over and I just said "it won't be necessary". After Kingston we made it to just outside of Albany, New York - Colonie - our last stop before crossing over into Vermont on the following day.

Subiendo el ultimo cerro del dia en Kingston Cosme recibio una llamada con personas riendose al otro lado de la linea, pidiendo hablar conmigo y preguntandose si me habia arreglado tener un sustituto para mi trabajo! Todavia yo no estaba totalmente convencida (al menos en la parte dudosa de mi cerebro con la cual todavia luchaba) de que si iba a poder lograr llegar. Sin embargo mi determinacion habia empezado a empoderarse de mi y simplemente dije "no sera necesario". Despues de Kingston alcanzamos llegar a las afueras de Albany - a Colonie - nuestra ultima parada antes de cruzar la frontera con Vermont el dia siguiente.

A psychological "trick" that helped me in my mental struggles to keep going was to think in terms of small increments - the next 15 miles, the next town, the top of the hill, looking down and getting past each successive crack in the pavement, watching the mileage markers - .2 miles, .4 miles, .6 miles, doing the math - subtracting the number of miles on each last sign I saw from the total miles planned for the day, not complaining, focusing on the positive, noticing that around 2 o'clock each day the crickets starting humming on the side of the road and that by 4:00 they were in full chorus, noticing that the vegetation gradually changed, the colors of the earth on the shoulders evolved from reddish, to brown, to gravel, to sand, and at the end back to brown, noticing the different architecture from town to town, how many homes were for sale, what the gas prices were in town to town (the lowest were in Maine - away from the coast) the different flavors of energy bars and vitamin water we were trying - and in the hardest moments - visualizing the hot bath I would be soaking my legs in at the end of each day.

Un "truco" sicologico que me ayudo en mis luchas mentales para seguir adelante fue pensar en pequenos incrementos - las proximas 15 millas, el proximo pueblo, la cumbre del cerro, mirando hacia abajo y sobrepasando cada rotura sucesiva en el asfalto, observando los marcadores de millaje - .2 millas, .4 millas, .6 millas, haciendo la matematica - restando el numero de millas en cada ultimo letrero del millaje total planificado para el dia, no quejarme, enfocarme en lo positivo, dandome cuenta que alrededor de las dos de cada tarde los grillos comenzaban a cantar al lado del camino y que ya para las cuatro estaban en pleno coro, dandome cuenta que la vegetacion cambiaba gradualmente, los colores de la tierra al lado de la carretera evolucionaban de rojizo, a moreno, a pedregoso, a arenoso, y al final otra vez a moreno, dandome cuenta de las diferencias entre la architectura de cada pueblo, fijandome en cuantas casa estaban en venta, cuales eran los precios de la gasolina de pueblo en pueblo (los mas bajos fueron en Maine - lejos de la costa) de los diferentes sabores de 'barras de energia' y 'agua de vitamina' que probabamos - y, en los momentos mas dificiles - visualizando el bano caliente en el cual estaria metiendo las piernas al final de cada dia.

At the beginning of the trip Cosme wanted me to go ahead and he follow behind. This only lasted about two or three days and proved very stressful for me. I suggested that Cosme be the leader instead. That turned out to be much better. Not only are the two of us physically very different (he is 17, fearless, and fit - I am almost 50, not as brave as I used to be, and needing to seriously get my body moving again) but our bikes act very differently. Cosme would "eat" hills as he put it - picking up speed on his fixed gear bike going up the hill. Going down his speed would depend on how fast he could pedal. I, on the other hand, had to 'negotiate' each and every hill. If I didn't end up walking I would nevertheless get to the top of the hill by pedaling non-stop in a very low gear and moving forward only very slowly. Going downhill would also depend on a few different things - the grade of the hill (remember the grade percent signs Cosme kept posting?), the condition of the pavement, how far ahead I could see (how many curves), what the weather was like (wet or dry), and how much adrenaline I was prepared to deal with. On my bike I could coast as fast as I wanted that I didn't want to do in front of Cosme because I felt bad about all of his pedaling. Also, with all of his city-street and racing cycling experience it was better for me to follow him than to lead.

Al comienzo del viaje Cosme queria que yo fuera adelante y que el me seguiria. Este plan solamente duro dos o tres dias y resulto muy estresante para mi Sugeri que Cosme fuera el lider en vez de mi. Eso funciono mucho mejor. Nosotros dos somos muy diferentes fisicamente (el tiene 17 anos, no tiene miedo de casi nada, esta en buenas condiciones fisicas - yo casi tengo 50 anos, no soy tan valiente como alguna vez era, y necesito - seriamente - poner a mi cuerpo en movimiento nuevamente). Tambien nuestras bicicletas funcionan de maneras bien distintas. Como dijo el "comia" los cerros - ganaba velocidad en su bicicleta sin cambios en las subidas. Bajando, su velocidad dependia de cuan rapidamente era capaz de pedalear. Yo, en cambio, tenia que 'negociar' cada uno de los cerros. Si no terminaba caminandolos sin embargo llegaba arriba pedaleando sin cesar en un cambio muy bajo y avanzandome muy lentamente. Bajando tambien dependia de diferentes cosas - del porciento de inclinacion del cerro (se acuerdan de los letreros indicando el porciento de inclinacion que Cosme ponia en el 'blog' a cada rato?), de la condicion del asfalto, de cuan adelante podia ver (cuantas curvas), de como estaba el tiempo (mojado o seco), y de cuanta adrenalina estaba preparada lidiar. En mi bicicleta podia dejar a la bicicleta irse solo cuan rapidamente queria aunque no queria hacerlo frente a Cosme porque me sentia mal de que el tuviera que pedalear tanto. Tambien, con toda su experiencia de andar en bicicleta en la ciudad (en el trafico) y de correr carreras de bicicleta era mejor que yo siguiera y que el fuera el lider.

The end of this story is that I made it! My legs still ache and are a little stiff when I walk but all in all I have been very honored to have accompanied my son to college on a bike. And who knows? Maybe I'll even keep it up back in the city or "get to the gym" as many suggested I should have been doing in the first place!

El final de esta historia es que llegue! Todavia me duelen y estan algo tiesas cuado camino pero en general he tenido el gran honor de haber acompanado a mi hijo a la universidad en una bicicleta. Y, quien sabe? Tal vez aun continuare andando en bicicleta en la ciudad o 'llegare al gimnasio' tal y como muchos sugerian que debia de haber estado haciendo al comienzo!

Teresa

I may have some more updates later but we will see.

Why is it so dead in here.

Sorry folks. Ive gotten real lazy at the whole updating thing. I am here at Colby. Everybody is safe and sound. I will update with the last leg of the trip plus my mom's take on the whole thing really soon. Sorry about lapse.

Day 8 8/17

So after last nights stressful adventure my mom made sure to get on the phone and reserve a room ahead of time. So we were off to Biddeford.


Well I should sure hope so.

This stretch of the route would take us up route one, the highway that runs along the Maine coast.


*cough Cheater *cough cough


Mooooose! Just in case you were unsure of what they looked like.


A whole colony of cheaters..... I mean motorcyclists.


We got to Biddeford fine. It was kinda a nothing town... no offense. More to come soon!

33 Miles along route 1 north

Day 7 8/16 MAAAAINNNE!!!

It was real hard to wake up this morning. REAL HARD. But today, as compared to yesterday was going to be easy.

As we left our hotel, still in a daze this older guy rolls up to me on a Segway. We exchanged good mornings. It was until he started to zip away that I was like wait I should get a picture. This was the best I got. Oh and no mater how cool you are you can't look cool on a Segway. Sorry.


Sending some post cards. Look out world they may be coming to YOU *points finger at world*


Some more scenery for you.


MINI GOLF! Ive never gone but I am sure I would kill.


Damn the only things you can get in a pawn shop in New York is gaudy jewelry and stolen stereo equipment not a boat... damn.


I think it was Jodie who was telling me about the Kancamangus Highway and how I should check it out. I had no idea what he was talking about but we were at a rest stop and I found this map. IT EXISTS. Well I don't think Ill be checking it out this ride but some time in the future for sure.


Picnic time!


There is more and more water the further we go. Getting closer to the coast.


You mean i can have pancakes for dinner?!?!


Mile 80 yeah no big deal.


Ive been seeing the strangers specialty stores. I saw this one before specifically for medieval weaponry and this one only for Puzzles. I don't get the weaponry but I love puzzles.


Uh oh! Doesn't look good.


95 no not tired not tired at all.


It started drizzling so on goes the neon yellow rain coat.


Not a break in the clouds in sight.


More rivers. If you look at a map Portsmouth (our destination for today) its all rivers and lakes leading into the city wich itself is right on a bunch of bays and ports.



Here is an over the shoulder shot.


Woops wrong way.

We stopped to figure out how to get to Portsmouth. At the point we were at the highway we were on turns into a freeway. We saw this bridge that had a bike path sign but also a concrete barrier that said "road closed" Plus it looked kinda sketchy.

That's when this guy comes shooting over that very same bridge on his motorcycle. After a couple of questions he told us how to get into Portsmouth right over the bridge. Excellent.

Here are a couple of shots over the bridge kinda stunning the scenery actually.






So we got to Portsmouth and several sets of bad directions towards the motels in the area we found ourselves in front of a BJ's, kinda like a Cosco, calling different motels. There were absolutely NO rooms anywhere. My mom called every hotel/motel in Portsmouth and everything was booked. Here she is on the verge of breaking down in front of the BJs.


We decided to go someplace where I could get internet and do a more thorough search of the area. I remembered seeing a starbucks along the main street but of course I couldn't find it and we settled for a Shaws, which is just the big supermarket chain in the area. Well a couple more calls to no avail and no outlet for my laptop. I go into the store looking for a payphone with a phone book to look in but insted I find a map of the city with restarunts and hotels in the area. An already long story short a motel in Kittery has ONE room availible that they were holding for people that didn't show up and off we were to Kittery in the dark.

Here is the view of the bridge from Portsmouth into Kittery.


While crossing the bridge we see two young guys with bright white shirts, ties, black pants and black jackets. Yeah thats right mormans. As we near they see and and freindly say "good evening, have you ever spoken to Morman missionaries before?" AAAAHAAAAAA you can't escape!! Not even on a bridge at 9 oclock, in . A couple of quick excuses and some fast walking and we were through.

As we were crossing I happened to look up and see a sign that said Kittery Maine. Wait a minute we are in MAINE!!!! MAAAAAAINNEE!!! I guess I didn't realize that Kittery was actually in Maine.


But that wasn't the end of the encounters on the bridge. Coming down the other side into Kittery we were aproached by this older lady in a lavender hooded sweatshirt and lavender crocs. She was very nice and asked us where we were from and where we were going saying "wow that's great, that's really great" When told what motel we were headed towards she replied something like "oh well that was the first Motel I ever went to. Hopefully you will have a better time than I did"... I wonder what she could have meant.

A few more turns and down some dark roads and we were there. A disaster averted!

46 Miles Route 4 to 1 North

Day 6 8/15

Finally finally I am completely up to date. Ive been a day behind since I started this blog.
I was getting worried about our schedule. I was worried that we weren't covering enough distance so today I set our goals high. Today we were getting to Concord, which was around 70 miles away.

Here we are crossing the Connecticut river. Good bye Vermont.


Hello New Hampshire! "Live Free Or Die!"



Fortunately we were going down this hill. Still scary.


For a good part of the road we had this really nice stream/river, i dunno, following along the side.



HORSIES!!


It was about this point when the sky started to get darker. It was sprinkling and looking like it was about to rain for a good 45 minutes. Good thing it never did.


It kinda looked like the clouds were right over the trees here.


WHAAATTT!!! Oh man if I saw a moose I can just imagine how excited/terrified I would be.


We passed this river along the way but it didn't really look like a river becasue the water was soooooo still. I mean look at the trees reflecting of the water. I love that kinda stuff.


Strong like ox!


Lies!!! we are in New Hampshire duhhhh.


After a long hard day of riding. We finally get to Concord. it was about 6:30 when we rolled into town. This really nice guy on a beautiful titanium Seven bike asked me where we were coming from and where we were going and wished us a good ride. Good vibes as we roll into the city.



Yeah thats right its 7 oclock and shes wearing sunglasses. So BAMF!


Not to much for today guys lots of riding not to much else. 70 Miles wahoo. Next stop Maine!!


70 Miles on 9/202 East

Day 5 8/14

After breakfast at the same coffee shop we stopped at the day before we left Bennington, statues and all, behind. my original plan at this stage would be to head north to visit a friend in Middlebury Vermont but we weren't quick enough so instead ill see her in Maine. TO THE EAST!

And good morning to you too hill. We found out the hard way that the towns along this road lie between the big hills.



To make you understand how serious this hill was there was a runaway truck ramp.


At the top.... more or less.


So at the top of this hill there is a snack and drink shop. We decide to stop and get some engergy bars and drinks to reward ourselves. We go in and leave our bikes laying on the ground. After buying our beverages from our 8 yearold cashire we leave to head down the mountain.
I go to lift my bike of the floor when SNAP my entire rack falls backward. MY FREEKING RACK BROKE AHAGGAAAAAGAGAH



It broke right at the section where it holds it upright to the frame. The metal pice sheared in two pieces. While I am standing there curssing at my stupid rack my mom goes to get a closer look at my rack when POW! My back tire blows out. A lady who was just entering the store turns around and says something real obvious like "boy that was really loud". My sense of humor at this point is non existent.

Woe is me. I HATE HATE HATE bike issues. The tube had a hole split down the side almost 3 inches long. Lesson "DONT USE LIGHTWEIGHT RACE TUBES FOR YOUR REAR TOURING WHEEL"


While I was learning lessons and replacing tubes my mom goes back into the store to find stuff to fix my rack with. She comes out with yellow rope stuff. And 10 minutes later tada fixed.


And we are off.
So this is why they call this road scenic




She eats hills TOO!


This was the second big hill of the day. Only this one had something worthwhile at the top. 100 Mile view as it was called.


At the bottom nd a little ways was our destination, Brattleboro Vermont. My mom was looking for a college friend who had lived there.

This was a cool little bridge near the entrance of the town.


After some asking around we found the street that my mom had as an dress. In the end after looking around the neighborhood we discovered that my mom's friends had moved a month ago to India.


It was getting kind of late so we decided to have dinner and stay in town. We ate at this nice Italian place. I saw a record store across the street so I went to take a look.

I didn't buy this but I thought the cover was appropriate as well as awesome.


I did end up getting these.



All in all a pretty good day I would say.

40 Miles Route 9 Vermont