COVID CROSS

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

Covid Cross Day #5 June 5, 2020 Madisonburg, PA to DuBois, PA 88 Miles Start 7:22 AM Finish 6:22 PM Ride Time 9:00 Ascent 5514 Feet Descent 5521 Feet Tour Total 427.6 Miles Details at:  https://cyclemeter.com/3f1ef27914a4c684/Cycle-20200605-0722-41309 I slept well last night in my tent across the stream from highway 445. It sounded like it rained all night long. Perhaps it was the sound of the rushing stream or a combination of the two. I could hear traffic from the highway. I thought that I had heard voices, but I think it was my imagination. Unlike the Carretera Austral there was no fencing alongside the roads here, and it was easy to stealth camp. Everything was wet in the morning. I had managed to stay warm, but the outside of my sleeping bag was damp. I woke up at 6:30 and it was a slow strategic pack. My socks were soaking wet so I put on my waterproof socks. My shoes were wet, particularly the left one that had submerged in the stream. I wanted the moisture to w

Covid Cross Day #6 June 6, 2020 DuBois, PA to North Washington, PA 75.8 Miles Start 9:20 AM Finish 8:44 PM Ride Time 8:00 Ascent 4336 Feet Descent 4846 Feet Tour Total 496.3 Miles Details at:  https://cyclemeter.com/3f1ef27914a4c684/Cycle-20200606-0920-73532 I slept so deeply in my underground bunker at the Best Western hotel. I was exhausted and my body was sore. There was a couple in the room directly above me, whom I could hear stirring throughout the night. With so few guests in the hotel, why did I need to be stuck right beneath others? Was I put in the lower level because I was from New York? I woke up at 6:30 AM and It was a long slow pack. My socks were still wet. I had sunburn on parts of my arms, and my crotch was saddle sore. The only bike maintenance item that I took care of at the hotel was cleaning my chain. I hadn't inspected my tires or bolts. I heard from my high school friend Pete who said that he and his partner had re-considered my staying with th