Reflections from the kids (and maybe a few from Mom)

Yesterday we trekked home.  Albany to where we live is about a 6 hour drive depending on traffic and we definitely hit traffic in the last stretch of the drive due to arriving during rush hour.  We only really stopped for lunch in Bethlehem, PA.  We ate at the Sands Casino which was only cool because it’s built on the property next to (or maybe on part of the property that used to belong to) the Bethlehem Steel Mill which went out of business many years ago.  This thing defines steam punk.After lunch and when the kids were a bit more awake I asked them to write up a few thoughts about our ride.

From Bobby:

This trip was extremely tiring but really fun. I should have really packed more clothes especially socks because I ran out really fast. [Mom’s note – this was due in part to Bobby not always delivering all of his dirty clothes to us to be washed, just saying’.] In the bags I was carrying I mainly hauled glasses cases, misc stuff, toiletries, some clothes, and games. My usual conversations while biking were of video games and of how many miles were left in the ride. I fell down once (stopping on a hill) and got a pretty neat cut (might become a scar) from it that stung for a while. I also got bitten by a horse fly right next to my right eye on the last day which came with quite a bit of swelling.

The weirdest thing (and in my opinion the funniest thing too) are the tan lines that all of us (including Daxton) got. One thing that bugged me out though was all the bugs, waking up so early, and not being able to go to the various stores along the way. However, my favorite things were talking about video games, sleeping, and the bumps on the trail. I could use them as mini ramps to jump which was so much fun. At the end of each day I thought, “I’m done with this, bring me ho…(falls asleep).” But at the end of the week it was fulfilling to ride the Erie Canal all of the way (but just to end up at the wrong hotel which killed the excitement of ending it). I think I speak for my family to not trust my dad in navigation.

And from Terran:

Well, to start off, I did not realize the extent of how much the luggage would slow us down; when I first turned that pedal, I knew we were in for a world of hurt. It soon turned into a mind game of, “It’s only 40 more miles, it’s only 30 more miles…” etc. Of course the trail itself made that ordeal worse; mile markers, boring stretches of nothing, and endless bumps. Then we got to each hotel and we knew we would do the same thing again the next day. The worst for me was when we were biking on roads, as the only thing I could think of was, “Oh **** we’re gonna die.”

However, all of that hardly stands up against the amazing feelings and sights. The canal’s water was full of both wild life and the many others who were enjoying the canal, and the many locks and villages among the lock were pristine and, in a way, cute. Many of the towns and cities we visited had great eats and their own attractions such as old ships, museums about the canal, and even just a fun main street. The people there were also a breed of their own, from druggies to other eccentric cyclists. And of course the sense of accomplishment at the end of each day (especially the last until we realized we were at the wrong hotel, and all that flew out the window). It is one of those trips where I cannot believe I did it, but in the end I’m glad I did.

And from Mom:

I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am of all by boys. Short of a few mornings where it was hard to wake them up they tackled this adventure head on. Even Daxton, who we were sure would have the hardest time, got up each morning with a smile and ready to get back on the bike. They really impressed me and I couldn’t be more thankful for the memories of the last week and a half. This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done physically (because I had to get up and keep doing it again the next day and then again and again…for hours…) and the encouragement from Bruce and the boys was endless. Seriously though. I wasn’t going to let them show me up.  😉

Tomorrow, or maybe later today, I’ll get some videos posted and then I think that’s it until the DefCon ride. Haven’t decided if I’m doing that one yet, but I am going to be walking a half non-athon on Thursday morning in Vegas (13 miles) if anyone wants to join me and the crazy non-athon crew. Let me know.

One last shot. As we drove into our hometown we saw this rainbow which seemed to be pointed right at our house, leading the way home.