Day 26: Fort Lee to Orient Point

Touched tires down to the Atlantic earlier this evening, around 6pm, marking the end of the trip. My parents and friends welcomed me into Orient, NY with a banner and cheers as I made my way for the tip of the fork to hit water. Time to run a wash and take some rest. Excited to catch up on the Vuelta, publish more videos from the trip, and lay down for a bit. Thank you for following along!!!!

I’ve finished! Enjoying some foooooooooood

Survived the night without getting kicked out. Early start around 7 - started at a French bakery to charge up and get some food before heading into Manhattan Very fun rolling through the city in the morning - quite nice roads, lots of cyclists out. My friend, Nick, met me near Central Park and we rode through Manhattan and over the Queensboro where Sam was waiting to cheer on. Got a breakfast sandwich at a deli around 11:30. My original route was bringing me down bad bike paths and closed gates so I’ve rerouted and have been on a smoother course for last 2 hours or so

I’ve made it to just across the river from New York. Boy was it a tough day - hard to properly eat and hydrate. Started feeling better around 6 (after most of the bigger punchy climbs were completed) and was determined to make it to Fort Lee. Rode in the dark for a couple hours. I’m trying to sneak a sleeping bag at the top of a parking garage. Not sure how thoroughly cameras are checked, but I’m out of sight from vehicles. Waiting some time before setting up sleeping bag - gonna see if someone tries to boot me before I try to get some sleep Peep the skyline!!!! Very happy to see it and gave me some extra motivation to keep up the pace to the end

I have crossed the Delaware and am having lunch in New Jersey! Tough morning - felt a bit ill (I seldom have this recurring sensation of being too warm and I try to cool myself down but it takes a while). Stopped for an OJ and corn muffin but didn’t help much. Pulled over just a few minutes later to rid my stomach of the vile contents and started to feel better. I was suspicious that the water from campsite played a role so haven’t been drinking much water - instead pouring over back of my neck photo: this is the Pequest River that feeds into the Delaware - right next to my diner stop

I admittedly overindulged in those French pastries earlier. Also , the cake was $15!!! what!??? That’s worse than Seattle prices. I didn’t see the price until it was rung up so at that point I just went with it. Today was allllllright. Lots of elevation towards the very end coming up Sugarloaf and into Hickory Run State Park. I was having a bit more difficulty resuming the ride at each stop I made, tho not terrible. I arrived at campsite around 7:30pm with dinner packed in my backpack - lunchables, trail mix, and an Amish muffin. I was gonna eat in my tent but after filing up my water, I was made aware there’s a bear sitting in the brush a few campsites over from mine, so instead eating at my site’s picnic table, a few feet from my tent with the hope it might deter bear encounters tonight 🤡 Tomorrow looks like more elevation than I anticipated (common theme) but less distance than today, so hopefully will finish up at a reasonable hour again.

Oh Lewisburg - waiting has served me well

Had a breakfast sandwich , yogurt parfait, chocolate milk, and baked goods at an Amish cafe around 9. Continued on - trying to find a bathroom now but seems like Pennsylvania gas stations in particular don’t have public restrooms - legally not required to? First state I’ve had issues with this. Not going to reward the restroom-less gas station in Forest Hill with my business. On to Lewisburg Oh also, lottery seems very popular here for some reason. Pennsylvania Lottery even touts that they help pay for parking signage????

Willow (biological sister, not a nun) joined me at Spruce Creek to finish out the day in State College. We had Polish food for dinner from a food truck at a nice brewery on the south side of town. She escorted me with headlights to my campsite which was a treat. Tomorrow is last full day in Pennsylvania - I also thinkkkk it might be the last of the bigger Appalachian elevation, but I’m not totally sure.

Welcoming sister Willow for the afternoon! Next stop: State College

Quick stop in Dilltown. Chicke. Sandwich, gob (whoopie pie), and a coke. Sitting on the porch

Morning breakfast . Foggy start to the day

Made a breakfast stop in Columbiana, OH earlier today. Crossed border on a country road so unfortunately no crossing sign. Rode through Pittsburgh - some really nice neighborhoods! LOTS OF ROLLING HILLS. Some nasty fast car roads along the route hugging the river - cmon Steve. Exited Pittsburgh and merging back into the countryside which I am a big fan of. Lots more elevation today compared to recent legs. Lots more elevation next few days! Might have a surprise visitor tomorrow 😝 Tomorrow’s plan is to start early, tackle some elevation and finish up somewhere near Penn State Camping on a bit of an incline tonight. Hopefully I’m able to find a good restful position

Off to a good start this morning. Taking a quick break to eat elote corn chips I’ve been carrying since day 1 and a tomato I picked up a few days ago.

Okay , maybe took too leisurely of a stop earlier in Fremont - I was hoping to get to camp a bit earlier tonight but here we are. Arrived in Akron before sunset, so still not a bad way to finish the day. Had Italian for dinner and got a few snacks at Whole Foods before finding spot for tent. More climbing towards the end of the day than I anticipated. Had some issues loading my route onto my cycling computer midday but it fixed itself eventually, somehow. Tomorrow into Pennsylvania! Not sure how far I’ll go, but will figure it out along the way.

First stop of the day in Fremont, OH. Need a phone charge and little (big) snack. The next few towns I pass by are Bellevue and Medina; Seattle subtweet Much chiller mileage targets this week than last week, so not rushing the stops as much today which will be nice 😊

Finished the day in Bowling Green, OH. Longest ride in a while at 167 miles. Tailwind all day helped the body and spirit tremendously. Tomorrow I’ll pass just south of Cleveland, then the following day into Pennsylvania. I’m trying to plan out the final night’s camp spot since it might be harder to find a spot to pitch my tent on the fly just west of Manhattan.

Onto the next

Lunch/breakfast stop in Kendallville. Quick resupply at dollar general before crossing border into Ohio. Unfortunately doesn’t look like there’s a welcome sign along my route , but will take a picture on the dividing line. Doing okay on time/pacing for the day. Time zone shift is messing with my head a bit, but I think I should make it to Bowling Green before sunset

Looks like I’m in eastern time zone. Stopped in New Paris, IN. I was looking to get some breakfast, but none of the restaurants are open 🙂 So eating some trail mix and hopping back on. Feels a bit slow going this morning. Should make it to Ohio border by 4 or so I saw what i believe to be some Amish folk this morning. Bikes and horses and buggies