COVID CROSS

• Introduction • Equipment List • Covid Cross Day #1 Brooklyn, NY to Chester, NY: Back on Tour! 🚴🏽🚴🏽💥 • Covid Cross Day #2 Chester, NY to Delaware Water Gap, PA: Riots and Looting back Home 🔥🔥 • Covid Cross Day #3 Delaware Water Gap, PA to Hazelton, PA: Heavy Rain ⛈☔️ • Covid Cross Day #4 Hazelton, PA to Madisonburg, PA: Returning a Hat 🚴🏽🎩 • Covid Cross Day #5 Madisonburg, PA to DuBois, PA: Steep Appalachian Grades ⛰🚵‍♂️⛰ • Covid Cross Day #6 DuBois, PA to North Washington, PA: Behind Enemy Lines 🥷 • Covid Cross Day #7 North Washington, PA to Noblestown, PA: The Mirage that wasn't 🍺 • Covid Cross Day #8 Noblestown, PA to Barkcamp State Park, OH: Crossing into Ohio 🚴🏽 • Covid Cross Day #9 Barkcamp State Park, OH to Newark, OH: Sweltering Heat 🥵 • Covid Cross Day #10 Newark, OH to Xenia, OH: Hail Storm ☔️💯 • Covid Cross Day #11 Xenia, OH to Ft. Thomas, KY: Lost in my old backyard 🗺 • Off Day in Fort Thomas, KY: Parking Lot Memorial Service 💖 • Covid Cross Day #12

EQUIPMENT LIST <<BIKE>> • Surly Long Haul Trucker 64cm frame 700c wheels • DT SWISS TK540 36H 7 rear rim w/ M99 spokes • modified 11-34 cassette • modified 22-32-44 chain ring • Brooks B67 Saddle • Continental Contact II Reflex Bike Tires 700C x 37MM (traveling with one extra, shipping one to Minnesota) • Shimano PD-M324 dual sided pedals • Tubus Cargo Evo Rear Rack • Tubus Tara Front Rack • Planet Bike Cascadia bike fenders - 700c x 45mm • Cinelli Gel Ribbon Handlebar Tape • 3 Water Bottle Cages • Lezyne Air pump mount • Lezyne mount for selfie stick • CatEye - Volt 300 Rechargeable Headlight (mounted to front rack with with hose clamps and 1” wooden dowel) • Serfas Superbright USB Taillight (mounted to rear rack with Planet Bike Tail Light Rack Bracket) • additional taillight • Kryptonite KryptoFlex 1018 Combo Cable Lock • Bell Helmet (yellow) • Blackburn Helmet Mirror <<TOOLS & SPARE PARTS>> • 2 Rema Tip

Covid Cross Day #1 June 1, 2020 Brooklyn, NY to  Chester, NY - 76.8 Miles Start 7:19 AM Finish 5:01 PM Ride Time 8:20 Ascent 3649 Feet Descent 3234 Feet Tour Total 81.7 Miles Details at:  http://cyclemeter.com/3f1ef27914a4c684/Cycle-20200601-0719-13319 I dedicate this journal to my mom who passed away in December. She relished travel and was an active hiker. I have never been so nervous about beginning a bike tour. The country is ripping apart at the seams because of racial injustice and COVID. I’m worried that this trip might not be a good idea. I’m concerned about my personal safety and fear that I could get stuck somewhere. I’m worried about my home, friends, neighbors, and my dog Blanka. Will I be able to return to my life as planned when the tour is over? Last night I slept OK in my big comfy bed and woke up early. Everything was packed and ready. I had double-checked all of my equipment. Blanka had been brought to Mehiko and Fernando’s the night before. My home felt empty wi

Covid Cross Day #2 June 2, 2020 Chester, NY - Delaware Water Gap, PA 87 Miles Start 8:18 AM Finish 7:40 PM Ride Time 9:43 Ascent 4899 Feet Descent 4949 Feet Tour Total 169.5 Miles Details at: https://cyclemeter.com/3f1ef27914a4c684/Cycle-20200602-0818-68754 I slept well last night in my stealth camping spot alongside the Orange Heritage Trail. Myk's tent had been set up right behind mine. The loud roar of I-84 thundered in the distance. Birds started chirping at 5:30am. After I awoke, I sat in my tent for an hour editing yesterday’s report. My laptop is a joy to write on, compared to typing on my phone. I can’t believe I’ve been creating these journals on my phone all this time. It was a slow pack up. My tent was wet from condensation. Myk found a tick crawling up his leg. Joggers and cyclists were already out on the trail. We had an 8:15 start. Myk was heading back to the city and I was continuing west. We elbow bumped before departing. It was sad to be going forward alone

Covid Cross Day #3 June 3, 2020 Delaware Water Gap, PA to Hazelton, PA 62.5 Miles Start 7:10 AM Finish 3:16 PM Ride Time 7:34 Ascent 4230 Feet Descent 3045 Feet Tour Total 232.6 Miles Details at: https://cyclemeter.com/3f1ef27914a4c684/Cycle-20200603-0710-90510 I slept alright stealth camping at the Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Last evening after I had set up my tent, two different people had walked by and noticed me from the nature trail. It got dark soon afterwards, and no one reported me. There were thunderstorms throughout the night as forecast, but my gear was secure and I made it through the night. It wasn’t raining when I got up, and I was able to methodically pack. My tent was soaking wet and ten pounds heavier. It had to be strapped underneath my rear rack pack. I was riding down Cherry Valley Road aka the Stroud Greenway aka Pennsylvania Bike Route V. I was passing old farms, beautiful old houses from the early 1800s, and dilapidated barns. I started spotting deer

Covid Cross Day #4 June 4, 2020 Hazelton, PA to Madisonburg, PA 90.5 Miles Start 7:29 AM Finish 5:10 PM Ride Time 8:15 Ascent 3400 Feet Descent 3376 Feet Tour Total 328.2 Miles Details at:  https://cyclemeter.com/3f1ef27914a4c684/Cycle-20200604-0729-03355 I slept well in my room at the Fairfield Inn in Hazelton. It got a little bit warm in the middle of the night, probably due to my drying operation. I had weird dreams and was awake before my 6:30 AM alarm. It was an elaborate ordeal to pack up my equipment and return the room to normal. I swept up the leaves and organized my garbage. I left two cold Brooklyn Lagers in the fridge along with $5 for housekeeping. I almost didn't bother with the free breakfast. I grabbed a muffin, orange juice, yogurt, and coffee to take back to my room. I packed two bananas and an energy bar for the road. I figured I'd need my sweater, but removed it as soon as I stepped outside. The air was cool, but the sun was strong. I lathered