Mama's Boy

Featherstonhaugh State Forest, NY -> Saugerties/Woodstock KOA, NY

77 miles

At 12 years old, I lied about my age so that I could ride my bike across France with a bunch of high schoolers. Bike trips like this are in my blood: my family's been doing this for as long as I can remember. As we've grown older, our strengths more distant, we keep the family tradition alive by acting as support for each other's rides. Last year, Mom was my sag wagon for a 775-mile trip to San Francisco. We had a blast and at the end I said to her, "you know, if you die before I do I'll have to ride my bike across the country to celebrate your life." (When people ask me the genesis story of this trip ["So when did you like actually decide you were gonna do this?"] and I tell them this anecdote, there's always an anxious pause at this point, like the mood is about to suddenly turn tragic. Don't worry. It doesn't). My mom laughed off my macabre sensibility and said, "It sounds like you want to ride your bike across the country. Why don't you make it happen?" That was 13 months ago.

This would've been a totally different trip without Mom's involvement. She's been my first line of support through the phone, always ready to help me find solutions. She's been my google. As Sister texted, "Mom = HQ."

I don't really need maps from here on out. I'm staying -- for the most part -- on New York's 9W, which hugs the west side of the Hudson River and will drop me right off at the George Washington Bridge. Today started so hot I was sweating just standing still. At about 2 pm, rain brought relief. It was only torrential for a moment but then turned to a gentle mist that lasted up to dusk. No need for rain gear. I faced climbs and headwinds pleasant enough to appreciate their challenge.