Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Nothing hard is ever easy: A bicycle tour attempt.

Update: Port Jervis, NY. 12:20pm Texas time, maybe three miles from my first objective.

OMG I got whupped yesterday. I had envisioned an idyllic cruise along the beautiful Delaware. And indeed there are such stretches, but I wouldn't encounter the first for another seven hours after leaving the diner in Hancock.

Given enough mechnical advantage (ie. small enough granny gear) hills should be no problem, just slow. I am running a 22 tooth granny in front in combination with a 34 tooth big sprocket in back. Turns out there's a reason why contemporary touring bikes come geared lower than that. Anytime you are gasping and sweating on a bike tour you are doing it wrong, but that is what I found myself doing time and time again over a relentless series of roller-coaster hills. Once in a while the road would swoop down to near river level only to follow with a grinding climb back up again, most of the time the river far off downhill to the right.

A bright spot was the discovery of the 1850's era bar and hotel in Long Eddy NY. I'll expound more on it later but all I can say is that if I was a retired alcoholic of means I would just move there and stay at the hotel in a room over the bar

Rolled into Narrowsburg NY at 5pm Texas time, whupped. So tired I was worried that a big enough pothole or frost heave could bounce the bar right out of my hands and cause me to wreck. Just thirty miles from where I was headed that was it for the day.

Fortunately there's a campsite there on the river, with tremendous showers; as per usual my first in three days.

Rolled out about 7am Texas time, still whupped, rode in slow and gentle mode. Actually, this is "just average" touring conditions here in the NE, you make less miles in a day is all. Stopped off for a leisurely breakfast along the way, finally that beautiful ride along the river I remembered so well.

Along the way an attractive older lady called Helga pulled her Mercedes over to talk. We had a lengthy and interesting conversation in a sort of roadside park set up for eagle observation. Helga divides her time between NY State and the Bahamas and she had seen me the previous day riding down the highway and was curious about me and my purpose.

Anyways, if there's a victory photo to be had here it is, taken for me about an hour ago by a nice retired couple up on the Hawks Nest, a famous overlook on the Delaware, the climb there being the very last �real� hill of the trip



OK, one month and four days later, somewhere around 2,000 miles from my own front door (I'll figure out mileage later) I'm off to spring the first surprise on my unsuspecting cousin just across the river in Matamoras

Once I get into this family stuff up here I become pretty busy, but sooner or later I'll get back on here and catch up on pics, of which there are many.

Thanks to all for your interest and support

Birdwatcher

Thanks for the update, Mike. I've been watching for it all day, wondering whether you made your nephew's house yesterday or not.

Congratulations on your journey. Like Mickey, I'm just a bit envious of your adventure , but very happy for you.

You 'da man, Birdy!

Congratulations!!

Way to go, Mike!!SALUD!!!

YAY!!

Well done, birdy!

Awesome birdie!

Just an awesome thread! Thanks for sharing your journey!

Congratulations! What an accomplishment!

You sir are STUD. Well done, well done sir!

From one biker to another...

It will be interesting to see what your chain wear/stretch is after you torquing on it for 2000 miles.

Gonna be a great story for the future...

Can just see Birdie years from now sitting at a campfire with grandchildren,his and "adopted", saying... "Let me tell ya about the time..."

Simply an amazing journey, Mike!! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!!

Mike text earlier, said his cousin was wondering where the car was.

Yep. Really enjoyed it every day. Gives hope & inspiration to us old fat middle aged fellows

Outstanding! congrats!

Way to go, Mike! Heartiest congratulations!

I have had fun keeping up with your journey and updating my wife (she asked almost every day after I told her about your thread). Glad you made it safe. It's something a lot of us dream of doing but don't have the intestinal fortitude to do it.

Congrats Mike. Best thread on the internet. Congratulations on an amazing journey.

Mike, congrats on reaching your destination.
By far the best thread of the summer, which got be to thinking ...... what am I going to do before I go to bed at night now. I think the only think for you to do after your family obligations are fulfilled is turn around and ride to Northern Dave's house and have him rebuild your bike.
That way we get another travel log plus a restoration thread that should take us up to the start of school.
This will kill two birds with one stone. We can ween ourselves slowly off your summer adventure and Dave can break in his new shop .... plus you can drink his beer!
Feel free to take 72 hours off before starting your new trek .

Greg

Mike,

I say, if you dont have any pressing needs at home, and have the money and time, you take the train to the coast and get some prime seafood to celebrate your triumph of will.

Whens the next time youll make it up to that part of the country?

Finish in style, Iron Man.

Maybe Helga will take you to the Bahamas! Nudge, nudge, wink, wink

That's one heck of a feather to put into that cap of yours.

I'm proud to be able to say that I know of a man who rode a bicycle from Texas to Upstate NY.

Adventure draws us in and we all hunger for it. I'm so grateful that you were kind enough to share yours with us.

Thank you, sir and congratulations.