Today we rode nearly 80 miles with 5,000+ feet of climbing through the Appalachian mountains, in nearly constant fog and rain. I was riding with Sarah (Frostie) and Brandon (Brycks). Sarah took a tumble in the first mile and Brandon's rear dérailleur hanger broke during a big ascent. Given all the obstacles we faced today,there was definitely potential for frustration, but we were all smiles the entire time!
No matter how hard a ride is there are always incredible moments that make it alll worth while. We rode 16 miles on a secluded trail and the fog gave it the appearance of an enchanted forest. We crossed our first state line. We biked over the Hudson River. We took some shopping carts out for a joy ride. We ate more mulberries straight from the tree. We sang, we cheered, we hugged, we got through everything together. Having such an incredible support system has made this experience all the better and I still can't believe how quickly we've all come together.
Tomorrow we cross two state lines (New Jersey and Pennsylvania) and I can't wait to see what the road has to offer. The most incredible thing about biking across the country is that every single day is different. We'll never be taking the same road twice (except when we get lost...whoops!) and mystery awaits around every turn.