Souderton, PA We’re up early for breakfast. Earl reads from a little booklet called “Daily Bread” in the morning. Today’s message is about appreciating God through nature. I mention that I like it. Then comes a very thorough prayer, which I am comfortable enough with. I can tell Earl is curious about my religious convictions,…

Souderton, PA I was conflicted about going to church. I wanted to learn about this part of Hadie and Earl’s life, but I had no idea how to dress or behave. I was afraid I’d reflect poorly on them. Mustering my courage, I decided to give it a try. Somehow Hadie washed and pressed my…

Maplewood, NJ to Souderton, PA $5 :: coffee, snacks 102.02 mi :: 8.16 hr :: 34.5 mph :: 12.3 mph :: 6921 mi After breakfast with Rowland I call Grandma Ruth, get Hadie and Earl’s correct phone number, and call them. It turns out htat their schedule works best if I can arrive today. It’s…

Manhattan $55 :: food, tickets Rowland insists on giving me $30, arguing that it is for his own vicarious enjoyment of the city. Ok, ok. He drops me at the train station and heads to work. I’m back in the position of not knowing how things work. I have 4 tickets, 2 for now and…

Greenwood Lake, NJ to Maplewood, NJ $10 :: BF, snacks 41.80 mi ::

Cornwall on Hudson, NY to Greenwood Lake, NJ $10 :: chinese, coffee, snacks 46.87 mi :: 4.25 hr :: 37.6 mph :: 10.5 mph :: 6777 mi I cook oatmeal in my hotel room, tolerating the mundane morning TV just because it’s there. I do a little work on the bike, write, try to make…

Norrie State Park, NY to Cornwall on Hudson, NY $54 :: BF, ice cream, motel room 42.00 mi :: 4.10 hr :: 31.7 mph :: 10.0 mph :: 6730 mi It’s fun riding off the mansion grounds, casual and unobserved at quarter to seven. On the way to Poughkeepsie I peek at the Vanderbuilt and…

Norfolk, CT to Norrie State Park, NY $2 :: coffee, donut 70.21 mi :: 6.16 hr :: 32.7 mph :: 11.1 mph :: 6688 mi I wake up, it’s too light to be night, too dark to be morning, and very cold. The thought of leaving the sleeping bag is unbearable, so I tell myself…

Crystal Lake, CT to Norfolk, CT $12 :: grocs, coffee, snack 57.19 mi :: 5.18 hr :: 37.9 mph :: 10.7 mph :: 6618 mi A cloudy, threatening morning. I say goodby to all my friends at the Del-Arie Campground, promise to stop and see Furly in Florida, and ride off. The goodbye is always…

Northbridge, MA to Crystal Lake, CT $55 :: BF, snack, grocs, campsite 52.16 mi :: 4.43 hr :: 40.5 mph :: 11.0 mph :: 6561 mi During the night I get an idea and can’t sleep. I sit on the clifftop, smoke, and think. The essence of it was that, as Sun built an empire…