ahhhh-pdate?

The day after Thanksgiving and the question is: Where are we? Months ago when planning this trip, we were all absolutely sure we would have reached the coast by Thanksgiving- the latest. Now, I realize how foolish it was to predict anything when it comes to a cross-county/ cross-continent bicycle tour.

Beginning two weeks ago, since crossing into Wisconsin, a new page was turned: Chapter 3. Carolyn and I put our legs and spirits to the test to make it as far east as possible in two weeks. For in two weeks exactly was November 24th: grand ol' turkey day! We tried to tell our families that Thanksgiving was on Saturday this year, but they wouldn't budge, so we did our best to forgot the impending deadline, meanwhile adding more mileage to our days, pushing bikeable day light hours to its limit, and truly cherishing each "warm," dry day. However, soon it was hard to ignore the well wishes for a happy Thanksgiving from each person we met and the infiltrating Christmas decorations in every passing window and store.

One night camping in the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania, Carolyn and her father concocted a brilliant plan. Turns out! (oh! the magical synchronicities in life make me want to dance!) Turns out, a life long friend of Carolyn, Eva, is working on her masters in Ithaca, NY at Cornell University. It turns out that Eva is leaving Tuesday morning to drive up to Maine for Thanksgiving, which turns out, is the same Thanksgiving dinner that Carolyn and her family will be attending, no doubt. It turns out, that there is room in her carpool for two, and it turns out that if we push two 80 + mile days and all goes well, we could make it to Ithaca Monday night. Finally, it turned out, that we made it! Hooray!

Tuesday morning, we smashed into a yellow Volkswagen beetle and embarked on our 6-8 hour car drive to our respective homes: Emily is in Portsmouth, NH with her grandmother, cousins, aunts, and uncles, while Carolyn is at her home in Minot, Maine with sisters, parents, and of course, Eva and family.

However, the tour is not over. I can't deny that biking to Ithaca, NY is definitely cross country, and we are proud. You also can't deny that we are SOOOO close to dipping our front tire in the Atlantic. After some much needed rest days and feasting, Carolyn and I plan to return to our bikes in Ithaca and keep pedaling on towards the coast. Keep your fingers crossed that we will have one more week of at least decent winter weather ahead, so that we can truly bike from coast to coast.

-your happy and well stuffed Emily

p.s. As for Flynn and Nathaniel, we talked with them on Monday night, and they were right on track for their Thanksgiving destination in Oil City, PA with Nathaniel's family. Yay!

Enjoying a day off by the warm fire in my aunt's and uncle's cabin in Cambridge, WI. We are so thankful for that cozy spot, stocked (even though you say it wasn't) with delicious food and adult beverages!

A delicious pancake breakfast...

while it snows outside...yuck!

Boo-yah, we crossed another state line.

Carolyn epitomizes our mixed feelings: yes! we crossed another state line, but oh, I am freezing on this wet snowy day...

Thanks to Bob and Linda who shared their beautiful new home with us in Crystal Lake, IL. We loved the hot tub!

No, that's not a car, No, we didn't accept any rides. Okay...maybe just one from my aunt Jan to escape the traffic and sketchiness of Chicago. (THANKS!)

Nice Ohio.

Evil Ohio