Day 47, Miles Ridden Today: 48 Miles Ridden Overall: 1,824 Camping: $0 We are staying overnight at Quality Inn in Easton, PA (even though our Google Latitudes account says we are in Phillipsburg, NJ). I used the $38 available balance on one of our Comfort Inns and Suites sponsor gift cards together with $30 of our personal money to make the $68 fee. FYI, local campgrounds cost $40 and up for the night, so we thought for $30 out of pocket, we’ll have a restful night’s sleep.
- to track online our current location, see instructions on the Ride the Nation Route plan page
- also, follow us on Twitter, search “ridethenation”
- check out our Monday blog on www.bmxmania.com for exclusive details you won’t find here. (Fyi, sometimes our Monday blog doesn’t appear until Wednesday … so check back often)
We awoke to overcast skies after a terrific night of sleep. We enjoyed the free breakfast at the hotel and then headed over to Trilogy Park’s track office to retrieve our bikes. As we got on our bikes, each of us commented how “odd” our seats felt … how our bikes seemed to be dragging. Turns out, the bikes weren’t dragging. It was us. We had broken one of the rules of long distance biking: Never stay off the bikes more than 2 days, or you’ll pay.
We followed our GPS directions up (and up and up) Route 100 North. We all settled into the fact that we were going to “feel” this ride but that it was important to put in a respectable number of miles. Unfortunately for Frankenbutt, he had misplaced one of his riding gloves and was now riding without gloves. We kept an eye out for a bike shop but didn’t find one until the Bethlehem, PA area. I felt badly for him, especially since the only gloves he could find at the combination bike shop/cappuccino bar were pretty inferior. Still, they were better than nothing.
- to track online our current location, see instructions on the Ride the Nation Route plan page
- also, follow us on Twitter, search “ridethenation”
- check out our Monday blog on www.bmxmania.com for exclusive details you won’t find here. (Fyi, sometimes our Monday blog doesn’t appear until Wednesday … so check back often)
We awoke to overcast skies after a terrific night of sleep. We enjoyed the free breakfast at the hotel and then headed over to Trilogy Park’s track office to retrieve our bikes. As we got on our bikes, each of us commented how “odd” our seats felt … how our bikes seemed to be dragging. Turns out, the bikes weren’t dragging. It was us. We had broken one of the rules of long distance biking: Never stay off the bikes more than 2 days, or you’ll pay.
We followed our GPS directions up (and up and up) Route 100 North. We all settled into the fact that we were going to “feel” this ride but that it was important to put in a respectable number of miles. Unfortunately for Frankenbutt, he had misplaced one of his riding gloves and was now riding without gloves. We kept an eye out for a bike shop but didn’t find one until the Bethlehem, PA area. I felt badly for him, especially since the only gloves he could find at the combination bike shop/cappuccino bar were pretty inferior. Still, they were better than nothing.
We pulled into a Turkey Hill Convenience store (Wawa is better!) to check out the trailer tire and found that it was flat. I pulled our only remaining 16” tire tube with “Slime” while Frankenbutt pulled the wheel off the trailer. Coco and the Beast hung out and watched the tire change. In a short time, we were back on the road.
We only got a few miles down the road (or should I say “UP”? lots of UP!), when the Beast said her bike felt extra sluggish. Sure enough, she had a flat on her rear wheel, too. YIKES! It was going to be a long day! Frankenbutt pulled the rear wheel off while I held her bike up.
I looked up to find the Beast and Coco stretched out on the sidewalk, just happy to be resting. I felt nauseated through most of the ride and thought about joining them on the sidewalk but figured I couldn’t get away with it as well as a 12 year old could. We continued riding, checking our GPS for the total number of miles left to get to the hotel.
We passed through Allentown and it was sobering to see the old, empty steel mills that Billy Joel brought to the forefront of our country’s mind with his song of the same name: “Allentown”. It looks like the town is still in recovery and I was surprised to see a “Sands Casino” in the center of town. The building was designed and built to look industrial; I didn’t stop to take pix but I wish I had.
We passed through Allentown and it was sobering to see the old, empty steel mills that Billy Joel brought to the forefront of our country’s mind with his song of the same name: “Allentown”. It looks like the town is still in recovery and I was surprised to see a “Sands Casino” in the center of town. The building was designed and built to look industrial; I didn’t stop to take pix but I wish I had.
We pulled into a Wawa to pump up our tires at the free air pump (we hate “paying for air”) and I was surprised to see that our total remaining mileage was 10.1 miles! It was 3:45pm at that point and I felt renewed and ready to give it my all for the last 10. I ate a Clif bar and remembered just how much they look like a dog food glob. The good news is that it tasted pretty good and definitely gives you a boost when you need it. So, “Woof!”
Shortly after leaving that Wawa, the Beast noted that one of her pannier bag zippers spontaneously busted open. It was my personal pannier and I was glad at least my clothes didn’t spill out in the street. We decided to hit a Walmart in the morning and see if we can replace it since it’s beyond repair. I’m disappointed that only our 2 Jandd pannier bags are holding up well. Jandd … I’d buy those again if we ever do another long distance ride.
The last 10 miles were going well until we got to the last ¼ mile: a steep downhill that made all three of us nervous! At the bottom of the hill was our hotel AND a busy intersection with a Wawa on the corner. We all decided to hold our brakes on the way down and ditch our bikes if they pick up too much speed. Luckily, our brakes held out and we made it down the hill with white knuckles and clenched teeth. I got us checked in and then Frankenbutt and Coco met me at a rear door where I was waiting. We settled in, put our feet up and then 30 minutes later @ 6ish Frankenbutt walked to the Wawa and brought back sandwiches and iced tea. I still feel a bit nauseated but I’m hoping a good night’s sleep will get me back in the groove. Looking forward to seeing you crazy BMXers at New Paltz!
Shortly after leaving that Wawa, the Beast noted that one of her pannier bag zippers spontaneously busted open. It was my personal pannier and I was glad at least my clothes didn’t spill out in the street. We decided to hit a Walmart in the morning and see if we can replace it since it’s beyond repair. I’m disappointed that only our 2 Jandd pannier bags are holding up well. Jandd … I’d buy those again if we ever do another long distance ride.
The last 10 miles were going well until we got to the last ¼ mile: a steep downhill that made all three of us nervous! At the bottom of the hill was our hotel AND a busy intersection with a Wawa on the corner. We all decided to hold our brakes on the way down and ditch our bikes if they pick up too much speed. Luckily, our brakes held out and we made it down the hill with white knuckles and clenched teeth. I got us checked in and then Frankenbutt and Coco met me at a rear door where I was waiting. We settled in, put our feet up and then 30 minutes later @ 6ish Frankenbutt walked to the Wawa and brought back sandwiches and iced tea. I still feel a bit nauseated but I’m hoping a good night’s sleep will get me back in the groove. Looking forward to seeing you crazy BMXers at New Paltz!
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