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DAY 5

Now we're cooking...not literally, it's really nice weather

DAY'S OVERVIEW: WOW!  What a day to ride a bike.  The weather was perfect and we rode some super roads most of the day.  Even with one detour, we pedaled into PJ with smiles on our faces today.

Our day started off with a hearty breakfast at the Grand Hotel in downtown Poughkeepsie...we even had our own omelet chef standing by to prepare exotic fuel for the riders.  It was a marvelous spread to say the least and I think several riders asked if we really had to leave or not...sorry folks, it's on to the next stop and we weren't getting any closer sitting in the motel dining room.

Our first challenge today was riding across the bridge out of town...WOW again!  What a view as we walked or pedaled across the Hudson on a large bridge with a pedestrian sidewalk.  Some thought it was a bit freaky to be so high up, but every one got over without too much distress...anyone who didn't want to cross simply took the van to the other side.  On the other side we went through a small park to short cut to the back roads across the river.  It was only a mile or two before we started to get into country roads that would carry us most of the day.  Again we cruised through a couple small towns that dotted the landscape, but once on CR 7, it was smooth sailing to the SAG...or so we thought. 

I was taking photos of a group of geese in a picked corn field, when I got a call from Barb that Bob in the Box had found a bridge out just before the first SAG...OK, it's time to earn those big Tour Leader Bucks.  I checked the map and called Bob to try to help him get around the problem.  Seems a couple riders even went through the poison ivy and wadded across the water to keep from adding the 3 miles on the detour, but everyone else wisely decided to follow our suggestions to stay on paved roads.  It only took a couple minutes to get the white van that Jim the mechanic was driving and Bob on their way to get everyone around.  Bob called back and reported that the detour dumped him right out at the SAG...To take a line from the old TV show, The A Team, "I love it when a plan comes together."  Good job gang.  There even was a couple kids, Jessica and Leah, and their grandmother selling lemonade along the detour route.  Mick, David, and Travis stopped by for some liquid refreshment (right)...wonder if they closed the bridge just to get us to ride by their house?  That would be going a little far to sell a few glasses of lemonade, but pretty clever I guess if they did. 

Our first SAG was located on CR 7 at the Bruynswyck Inn in Wallkill NY about 24 miles into our day.  The proprietor there, Jean Boulidor (left), graciously allowed us to use his parking lot and his bathrooms while we were there.  He was French...lived somewhere in Brittany and now runs the Inn here...Thanks Jean!  We'll see you next year.  If you the reader ever get in these parts, he has a great place and the hospitality is super too.  We highly recommend you stop and have a great meal from Jean B.

From there, the day was pretty calm.  I rode through the riders several times (at least the ones at the back end) while taking photos and enjoying the beautiful weather.  The riders took their sweet time to pedal into town and even Bill B made it today without his computer.  Seems he cut the wire to his computer this morning so he was pedaling in the blind...good job Bill.  It was another successful day...everyone in safely and resting for another day tomorrow.  It should be a good one...80 miles into Phillipsburg NJ...lots of great riding along the Delaware River...can't wait.  Hope you'll join us then...see ya.     

HEARD ON THE ROAD:  In Windsor Locks, the motel took a bunch in the motel shuttle to a remote place for dinner.  After a lot of laughs and a great meal, the van came back to pick them up.  As they were on their way back to the motel, someone mentioned if they should go out for ice cream or drinks before returning for the evening.  Sandy mentioned that they shouldn't stay out any longer since they should get back to work on her Feng Shui.  Not sure it that's spelled right and I know you're think that's a strange word from a south Alabama boy to be using...I don't use it, I just report it OK?  Evidently, it's a term that refers to one's energy field...like how you arrange the things around you to maximize your energy field...laying out one's cycling clothes in just a perfect way along with where you park your bike in the room, etc.  Everyone agreed they probably should get back.  As everyone was piling out of the van, the driver, a man from Pakistan, said, "I hope you enjoy your 'French Way'."  I think Dave is still rolling in the hallway upon hearing that comment! 

After dinner tonight a group...probably the same group mentioned above...dropped by Baskin Robins (31 flavors) for some ice cream.  Jerri stood by while everyone else was waited on and finally couldn't hold it any longer...there isn't 31 flavors here...I only see 16!  Oh, we have more over here...yeah, 4 more flavors...Jerri commented, "You're still about 11 short."  Although everyone got what they wanted, seems like they were a bit miffed they didn't have more to choose from.  Seems to me that being short by so many flavors only made life a bit easier...as long as one of the missing flavors wasn't chocolate!  If they had chocolate, they didn't need the other 30 anyway.  Jerri, seems a call to the great Baskin Robins Corporate HQ would be in order...you go girl. 

And finally, at a small convenient store along the way yesterday, a man saw Sara, Kathi, and Jerri standing by their bikes as they were downing a refreshing beverage.  Through his one tooth smile he asked, "Any of you girls smoke?"  "Well NO!" They replied.  "Didn't think so," was the come back. 

SHORT LEARNING CURVE OF THE DAY:  Goes to Kathi O'Leary...seems she somehow kept her self upright when she tried to downshift as she was climbing this steep hill.  Only problem was, she didn't downshift...she upshifted and quickly found her pedaling suddenly come to an abrupt halt!  Somehow she muscled the pedals around enough to keep from falling.  Kathi, make a mental note.  The little lever...upshift.  The big lever...downshift. 

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