Camping can be...well, fun!

\


Since we may be doing some camping during our two and a half month ride, we decided to give it a test run by packing up some gear and cycling to Southwick Beach on the shores on Lake Ontario. To give ourselves a little break, we drove up to Joel's office in Camden and headed out from there at 6:30 am on Thursday. What a beautiful day and what a terrific ride! Google Maps now provides directions for bicycles so our 47 mile route took us through many back roads and neat little communities. Joel saved a baby turtle from certain death by moving him out of the road and Holly befriended a spider who rode on her handlebar for several miles! We arrived at the campsite by late morning and met up with our friends, Ron and Fran, who were already set up. As Joel put up our tent we got quite a chuckle because although it says it is for two people, next to Fron's, it looked puny! After a long walk on the nearly deserted beach, Fran provided us with a spectacular, gourmet picnic complete with spiedies, fresh fruit, and other cold salads...again the reward at the end of a long ride is a great meal! We had the traditional campfire then a somewhat fit full sleep...got to get this camping part down!

Anyway, morning always comes and with it a good cup of coffee. After breaking down what little we brought, it was back on the bikes and homeward bound. For variety, and as it turns out, a challenge, we decided on a different route home. Let's just say two words; ROLLING HILLS! After joyfully screaming down several then cursing and groaning up some more it became apparent that they just weren't going to go away. We stopped counting at twenty five or so...not kidding! As is always the case, however, there were high points to the day. We came across a slightly off tune guitar player who serenaded us with Jimmy Buffett and Tom Petty songs at the beach at Selkirk Shores. We ate amazingly delicious oatmeal raisin cookies at a General Store on Route 3 in Mexico, and we thought we caught a glimpse of Joel Rhein shadowing us as we saw two yellow Bajas,(with the rack lights!)one in Lacoma and one in Amboy. Speaking of shadowing, Holly's parents have jumped on board for the trip and will be our official SAG wagon providing us with support and good times along the way! Today's ride racked up another 58 or so miles and both of us felt it in our quads. It is all good, though, and we plan to ride again over the Memorial Day weekend.