A training ride...

So, I went for a 'short' training ride today. But, got massively lost. So, I ended up riding 24 miles instead of my proposed 10.

However, it was beautiful. For Yalies, I just took Whitney out for 10 miles to Quinnipiac University and Sleeping Giant Park. There I found some pretty sweet hills to train on.

Basically, take Mt. Carmel Ave to the east. The only scary thing is that the road is pretty thin and winding, and there were a lot of cars. otherwise, it was fabulous.

The only recommendations I give:

When biking, take water, perhaps a powerbar, a cell phone (for when you get lost) and a little bit of money for a bus back.

Also, tell someone where you are going, dress for the weather, and perhaps take a friend with you.



But although I got lost, I now feel rather buff and accomplished.

Route Planning

So, the trip is starting to gel. We have several nights set for our accommodations this summer. I finally got my butt in gear and called all my contacts. Unfortunately, it's saturday and no one was at their offices. Not all life revolves on a college schedule.

Here is our tentative route for the summer. I can't seem to get it formatted right. There are two tentative re-routes (one through SD and one through WA). I will update as everything comes together. I'm also compiling a list of all the microbreweries and brewpubs along the way. I plan on tasting all sorts of new and interesting brews. And when I'm burning 10,000 calories a day, I can.

Date	Destination
26-May	New Haven, CT
27-May	Danbury, CT
28-May	New Paltz, NY
29-May	Callicoon, NY
30-May	Binghamton, NY
31-May	Work - Broome County HfH
01-Jun	Corning, NY
02-Jun	Houghton, NY
03-Jun	Buffalo, NY
04-Jun	Niagara Falls, NY
05-Jun	Brantford, ON
06-Jun	London, ON
07-Jun	Sarnia, ON
08-Jun	Orchard Lake, MI
09-Jun	Ann Arbor, MI
10-Jun	Work day in Ann Arbor, MI
11-Jun	Battle Creek, MI
12-Jun	Saint Joseph, MI (itinerary says Benton Harbor, MI)
13-Jun	Westville, IN (itinerary says Indiana Dunes National Lake, IN)
14-Jun	Evanston, IL
15-Jun	Day off
16-Jun	Lake Geneva, WI
17-Jun	Madison, WI
18-Jun	Richland Center, WI
19-Jun	La Crosse, WI
20-Jun	Stockholm, WI
21-Jun	Minneapolis, MN
22-Jun	Day off
23-Jun	Hutchinson, MN
24-Jun	Madison, MN
25-Jun	Watertown, SD
26-Jun	Miller, SD
27-Jun	Pierre, SD
28-Jun	Kadoka, SD
29-Jun	Badlands National Park
30-Jun	Rapid City, SD
01-Jul	Newcastle, WY
02-Jul	Gillette, WY
03-Jul	Work day in Gillette, WY
04-Jul	Buffalo, WY
05-Jul	Ten Sleep, WY
06-Jul	Riverton, WY
07-Jul	Dubois, WY
08-Jul	Grand Teton National Park
09-Jul	Day off
10-Jul	West Yellowstone, MT
11-Jul	Ennis, MT
12-Jul	Butte, MT
13-Jul	Work day in Butte, MT
14-Jul	Drummond, MT
15-Jul	Missoula, MT
16-Jul	Polson, MT
17-Jul	Kalispell, MT
18-Jul	Build day
19-Jul	Libby, MT
20-Jul	Sandpoint, ID
21-Jul	Newport, WA
22-Jul	Kettle Falls, WA (Colville)
23-Jul	Republic, WA
24-Jul	Okanogan, WA
25-Jul	North Cascades National Park
26-Jul	Day off
27-Jul	Rockport, WA
28-Jul	Mukilteo
29-Jul	Seattle, WA

We had a small but successful and enjoyable 'hydration practice' with some Yale Northies before spring break. Bender, Roller, Chase and I are looking to have some more bonding exploits before we get much closer to the set-off day.

Bikes are getting sent out, maps mailed to us... It's getting exciting!

I bought myself a CycleOps Mag Plus Trainer and have been industriously biking in the basement of a friend. I find it easier than going out in the chilly New Haven weather right now, and I can do it at night. (and watch television as I go). The only problem is that it is really really loud, so I can't do it when anyone else is around and still be social.

Otherwise, this has been a fabulous way to procrastinate from my senior essay.

-d