let seatosea 2017 begin

Week 9 Beginning

5:40 means time to go get supper for me!  So see ya later maybe.  Or perhaps I'll see you like Thanksgiving or Christmas time...  I'll try to get a few pictures up later.

Wednesday, August 21 – Whitehall to Albany

Today actually began quite unexpectedly.  I think that yesterday’s difficulty caused people to overestimate what today would be like.  So camp was empty by about 7:20 (when I normally leave and about 40 min before the last people normally do)…  To prove my point; I was sitting at a café and my mom and dad passed me!  It’s not like my group was going slow either!  For a majority of the day we had a reasonable headwind with high humidity and over 90⁰ temperatures but it was nice and sunny with plenty of spots with shade.  I have noticed certain subtle hints of people ready to go home and actually sleep in for once…  In their own bed too!  I’ve also noticed my thoughts really turning towards upcoming college and what it may be like, soccer tryouts and potentially the season, and AOE (for those of you that care about this reference).  So I would say that I am getting ready to be done.  9 weeks is a long time to be away from everyone you do things with (with the exception of my family I guess) but also it’s odd thinking that I won’t see 90% of these people ever again…  I’ve become great friends with a few of them in particular but at home they will be at least a 10 hour drive away.  But, I am definitely looking forward to meeting people at college!

Tuesday, August 20 – Ausable Chasm to Whitehall

Today was exactly what we didn’t need…  First and most importantly; we finally got French toast for breakfast but they ran out of syrup before half of us were awake!  Talk about getting your hopes dashed, ran over, and then buried!  Then…  To start the day we went up and down and up and down relatively large hills.  Then; we went up and down some more hills; only with a headwind to boot!  And then we had another hill that came out of nowhere.  I don’t know how steep it was (I’ve heard 20% grade) or how tall it was (easily 400 ft) but about half of the riders had to walk up at least half of it…  Amanda and I only made it up because of our stubborn personality and the commitment to not walking up the rest of the hill with the old people we had just passed that were walking…  Competition is a great motivator for me.  And after that hill we had more ups and downs until we eventually finished in a crawl at 82 miles.  Today really beat a lot of people!  Some of us think that the weeks through Michigan and Canada made us wimpy due to quite easy hills and lack of great distances…  But we made it and that’s what matters!  Tonight we stayed at a small little RV park that just barely could fit us but despite being basically in a swamp had surprisingly few musquitoes!  Supper as always had something that I didn’t know of until now…  But was still enjoyable nonetheless (which is good cause I went for seconds)!

Monday, August 19 – Today we biked on some pretty sad roads (bumpity bump bump BUMP!) for a few miles including 3-4 miles of gravel (which those of us riding tanks, steel bikes with wide-ish tires, even felt).  We also crossed from Quebec into New York!  Woah was that a switch!  Suddenly I could read signs again!  And suddenly everything got a lot farther away as we made the kilometer to mile switch on roadsigns…  I really do prefer the simpler metric version of measurement.  Today was relatively easy although keeping up with the top guns for the last 13 miles just tuckered me out! 

Sunday and Saturday…  I can tell my short term memory (along with many other people’s) is shot!

We biked to the Kahnawake Survival School on/near the Mohawk reservation in Quebec.  Signs switched from readable English (albeit Canadian versions) to (for me) virtually uncomprehendable French.  But; there was a Tim Horton’s right across the road (highway) from camp so jay-walking was done quite regularly by our group!  On Sunday we rode (by bus) into Montreal and attended a very structured Presbyterian Church service and then when going by bus to Old Port went in a perfect square (30 minute detour) due to ridiculous traffic…  Let’s just say we were quite fed up with riding on a bus by the end of the day (total of about 4 hours spent riding the buses).  A euchre tournament took place Saturday night but was never finished due to an excess of participants and a late start (7 pm is late for us!).  Joel was doing surprisingly well (after confusing everyone he played against (and with) with his relatively unexpected (and unprecendented) strategy.  Apparently it works though although I don’t think that it’s supposed to according to hints people have told me.  Let’s just say if no one can understand how you think it messes them up completely!

Friday

I honestly can’t remember anything from today…  Writing this on Wednesday.  And looking at the clock it’s 5:34.  Just half an hour until supper so I’m feeling a little bit rushed…  So today was probably a good day.  We had sun, heat, humidity, and spent a majority of the day biking.  Maybe today was when a time trial was set up by a group of riders but that easily could have been yesterday otherwise…  Going to college will be such a transition.  Here I can forget something and everyone else will forget it as well but I think at Calvin I’ll be expected to learn and retain things!  What a novel idea!  With that I’m off to start the supper line!  Getting in line in front of 120 other people has perks such as the potential for seconds so it’s a highly contested position (almost as contested as the bathroom and shower lines!)!

Week 8 Basically

Also I had to use a library computer so I have a time limit here...  So if this is a bit hurried that's probably why.

And my mom says that I need to say that they are still alive.  So for those of you who were wondering if there was any reason they don't make it into these posts it's because they are normally posted before they arrive in camp to say what happened that day...  But she adamantly exclaims "They DO make it into camp!!".

I really would have liked to update this sooner but we have been staying in places not near wifi…  Today (Thursday) I might be able to bike to a library with a flashdrive (I love flashdrives for those of you who don’t know and a laugh for those that do) and post this online but maybe it won’t happen.  Also, all American people’s phones don’t work due to being in Canada so I can’t mooch of their plans either…  At the moment sitting in a camp chair in the shade eating Frito corn chips while others wait in line for the (singular) shower in the campground we are staying at tonight.  So we’ll see how many people don’t even bother taking one today and just jump in the nearby lake instead!  Also, I can’t remember what day I left off at in the last post.  So…

Over the weekend we stayed at Redeemer in Ancaster.  John Noordhof brought John, Joel, and Eric to Niagara Falls, we slept in the dorms/apartments, and we were fed by local churches.  Sunday night we had sack lunches for supper (John and Joel got “Tupperware Lunches” so we could keep the containers and for the chocolate bars that went along with them!) and were surprised at how well we ate.  Never underestimate what goodies (sometimes healthy) people can stuff into paper bags, grocery bags, and other such things!  Saturday’s ride was very relaxed and easy (only 50 miles) and mostly downhill (or at least it felt like it).

Thursday, August 15 – Kingston to Brockville

Today was a relatively short ride, only 52 miles.  But the day was lengthy due to most of us stopping at the Ivy Lea Cruise for a 1 hour boat tour of the St. Lawrence River at the 1000 Islands.  We had to be at the boat by 10:15 which gave us about 3 hours to bike ~30 miles and was easily done.  This morning I was forced to wear the tutu that has been working its way across Canada on the waists of various riders.  So today I did my 15 mile section of its trip before passing it off to Eric Versluis who was equally unexcited to wear it.  After the boat tour we hunted for our helmets in the tangle that the “security guards” put them in (as a prank) and then continued our bike ride along the river into Brockville.  Where we were greeted by a few trays of cookies, gummy worms, and watermelon!  I believe that Bethel CRC is providing supper for us tonight but they at least provided us with the ride end snacks.

Wednesday, August 14 – Trenton to Kingston

Before I forget, John and Tim (John’s riding partner) rode the entire distance (73? Miles) without ever touching the ground with their feet!  Which means that they didn’t stop at Lake on the Mount or at the church that welcomed us with cookies, cake, fruit, and various other goodies near mile 55.  But that sure is quite a feat nonetheless!  In addition, they along with a number of other cyclists committed to riding the entire day in one single gear.  Therefore they biked up and down hills while occasionally fighting the wind without shifting once.  I also did this but did stop at SAGs and the church.  We took a ferry across a river (John and Tim biked onto the ferry and held onto the rail to not touch the ground) and many of us put jackets on due to the wind on the water (which then we took off once we got back onto land).

Tuesday, August 13 – Ajax to Trenton

The best part(s) of the ride were the 3 churches on the route that came out and cheered us on with countless cookies, bars, candies (Canadian varieties nonetheless!), fruits, and whatnot else!  They were conveniently spaced about 15 miles apart from each other and were awesome places to sit down and chow!  If only we could have had this much tummy) support in the US we would all be gaining weight.  In Trenton we stayed at a small Christian school but ate inside!  What a difference it is to actually sit in a chair at a table while eating…  After supper we ate loads of pie and cake and such and some of us just fell asleep right away once we finished eating!

Monday, August 12 – Ancaster to Ajax

Today we early on rode for many miles through the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) which was made interesting by directions such as “keep the lake on your right”, various construction detours, and overall busy roads and traffic.  Towards the end of the ride John Noordhof, Bonita, and Joel stopped at a Tim Horton’s for John’s birthday and to initiate Joel into being a tourist in Canada…  I think McKenzies and Sweetwaters are just as good if not a little cheaper as well.  In one spot near a public beach a family (somehow related to someone on the tour) provided us with drumsticks (the ice cream cone things) as a SAG and it was probably most people’s favorite today!  At our destination Crossroads CRC welcomed us with popcorn, snow cones, and ice cream!  Churches around here sure do know how to make us feel welcome!

Me in the tutu...

Our campground Wednesday night in Kingston

Picture of John Noordhof, John, Eric, and me at Niagara Falls

Just to show we always go uphill!

 Skylon Tower near Niagara

 Niagara Falls on the Canadian side

 Also on the Canadian side

 A "Nookshook" (unknown spelling).  A common Canadian direction helper sort of thing.  Its arms point parallel to the body of water nearby.  Perhaps it has some other unknown properties as well?

Boldt Castle (or part of) in 1000 Islands on the St. Lawrence River 

Another part of Boldt Castle...  It's a pretty big castle but was hidden by trees so I only got pictures of some of its extremities...

Week 7 Pictures

These are in a very confused order...  so just go along with the non-ordered order!

Boarding the ferry to cross the border/river 

 Welcoming party on the Canadian side of the river!

 Eric...  crossing into Canada

 Decorations in the gym in Sarnia

 Newspaper clipping hanging up in the school in Sarnia

 Cool design eh?  Cupcakes in Sarnia for us to enjoy

 Cake in school in Sarnia

 Yep!  Bonita and I were lost!  We didn't stop in though...

 Fox that Bonita and I saw today (Friday)

 Visitors at Calvin on Sunday

 Also visitors on Sunday

 Self-explanatory...  Picture under a welcome sign

I'm assuming this was in a park in London.  But I am not sure at all.

Water in the shape of the Great Lakes.

Middle of Week 7 Written

Here is a written description of the last few days…  I will also put up a post of pictures with captions.

Friday, August 9 – London to Breslau

Today was pretty much perfect!  The weather was great, the temperature was awesome, and the ride was short(ish)!  Many of the riders towards the tail end took the ride at a very relaxed pace and some of them even competed to be the last into camp.  Our only problem was forgetting how to ride up hills because Michigan is actually quite flat.  We had a traffic light and then a steep long hill that multiple people had to walk up after giving up on biking.  I think that today is the only day that Sherry and Larry have gotten into camp before I have!  But I had a great relaxing day so I didn't mind.  We also had amazing snacks when we got into camp (candy bars, brownies, bottercuk?(some Dutch name)…).  Then a great supper (with seconds if not thirds) and a small group challenge face off competition during peloton (which is just about to happen).

Thursday, August 8 – Sarnia to London

Today we left Sarnia Christian School with perfect weather and quite yet full tummies from last night!  We took a right out of the parking lot, a right onto the next street, and went straight for a full 47 miles.  As we came into London we merged onto a bike path and followed that for almost the rest of the ride.  Joel and Bonita missed a turn (along with other groups) and ended up doing about 8 miles extra today due to their accidental detour.  To make it worse we went past a waterpark full of people but didn’t have our swim suits with!  Larry’s shifting cable broke while riding on the bike path and so he found a bike shop downtown before finishing.  The rest of the day here has been relatively uneventful for us but full of visits for many of the Canadian bikers.  Tonight we will be sleeping inside the lobby of the London District Christian Secondary School which will hopefully be dark, quiet, and cool enough to sleep in!

Wednesday, August 7 – Imlay City to Sarnia – The Border Crossing!

Today we began our 75ish mile ride in the midst of a thunderstorm.  We were thoroughly drenched, soaked, worn out, and blown by the wind for the first 35 miles of the ride!  Not to mention counting seconds after each lightning strike until we heard the thunder!  Many of the riders stopped either at a McDonald’s early on (4-5 miles) or a café (8-9 miles) or blew straight by the left turn at the café so Joel, John, and Bonita were some of the front riders for a time (after starting around 7 in the middle of the pack and riding right on through the storm)!  Of course, our lead was short lived due to some faster riders but whatever!  For miles 43-55 we rode across the street from the river and the border and occasionally caught glimpses of it between houses, hills, and other such obstacles.  We reached the ferry in Marine City just as the semis were crossing right at 11 (which is when we were instructed to try and get there by) and then sat in a nearby restaurant for a second breakfast!  Can you believe this was only my 2^nd cinnamon roll of the entire trip!?  As we ate the rest of the riders showed up and we prepared to board around 12.  The crossing took 5 trips due to a 35 bike limit on the ferry and many of us trying to cross.  After getting through customs we had a short (.1 mile) ride through a cheering Canadian welcome party into a park for cookies and watermelon!  I ate 7 cookies!  As time went on riders began the last 15 mile stretch into Sarnia where we were greeted yet again (this time by cupcakes, cookies, chips, and brownies)!  For dinner the community served us grilled pork and some other tasty sides with yet another helping of sweets for a community dessert social!  Wow, have we been eating good!!  Being warned of expected storms that night many of the riders billeted (slept in a bed at a local’s house) or slept inside the school.  We slept in the library and I couldn’t help but look at the titles and see how many I could recognize…  which was a lot!

Monday stuff

I had posted the blog before my parents got in and then learned that Larry had blown out his tire today during the ride.  Not just the tube, but the tire as well!  Also, I learned that when one volunteers to help cook on the grill one also sacrifices getting chocolate milk and seconds!  What a mistake!  Although the ice cream social after supper helped fill my tummy which was greatly appreciated!

Beginning of Week 7

Tuesday, August 6 – Laingsburg to Imlay City

My day took off to an amazing start!  We had French toast for breakfast!  From there the day only continued to be spectacular until about 30 miles in we ran into rain…  Which then went away, we dried out, and then came back harder and longer than before.  But it wasn’t cold out like yesterday so we were just fine.  For biking through Flint we were told to most definitely ride in groups of 2 or more, which resulted in some groups of up to 15 forming!  Normally the largest group each day will be like 7 or 8 people.  This means that the SAG stops were temporarily overwhelmed as each new group came in and that people who often ride with the same group met other riders and groups while biking today.  By now it is 3:00 and most of the riders are in camp, maybe up to 15 left?  So now it’s time to sit around and rest and contemplate what might be for supper.  I’ve heard that meals are going to be different due to what foods can or cannot be brought across the border into Canada and then ~10 days later back into the US…  So I expect that we will have a lot of fresh produce/fruit tonight for supper.  We’ll see!  Tonight we are allowed to sleep inside the high school due to expected rain later this evening and overnight.  Hopefully it’s dry out when we wake up for breakfast and more biking.  Tomorrow is the border crossing and I think that the Canadians are going to force everyone to hit up Tim Horton’s once we’re across!  I’ll try to compare it to Krispy Kremes and Sweetwaters…

Monday, August 5 – Grand Rapids to Laingsburg

Today we took almost the exact same route as they did in 2008 from Calvin College to Sleepy Hollow State Park near Laingsburg.  And it was an awesome day!  Albeit a little chilly at the beginning (49⁰F). We had great weather and only 63 miles to do in the entire day after a weekend.  Eric took a detour early on to meet with a friend or two, John left before the rest of us were anywhere near ready, Sherry and Larry took their time but still had plenty of the day to sit and enjoy, and Joel rode with a person Larry talked into joining last minute on Saturday.  I still can’t help but think how crazy it is that she took half a day to decide, join, pack, and get ready!  For supper we had corn on the cob that a rider and his family donated from their farm/fields and it was fantastic!  We also had applecrisp, cherrycrisp, and ice cream for dessert.

And here are some more pictures from last week that I had taken and hadn’t gotten onto the laptop for the blog…

 Supper and pie in Fulton, a week ago or so?

 This is what we look like while biking!  Soo fast we seem to have 4 tires on the back!

 Coming to Lake Michigan on Thursday last week

 Stain-glass windows in the church in Benton Harbor.  This is what Eric and I woke up to!

Biking with the other riders, friends, family, and Mark into Calvin on Saturday

Week 6 Pictures

Sorry these are not in chronological order...  But its late and I really want to get to bed!  I tried to label the day if I knew it.

 Ice cream stop in Frankfurt on Wednesday

 Leaving Calvin CRC for Calvin College on Saturday

 Eating in the dining hall at Hope as a family (with two add-ons) on Friday

 This is Iowa again...  Quite similar to the other picture eh?  (Monday)

 Crossing into Illinois from Iowa on Monday

Home!!  Well, not yet...  (Thursday)

Pot hole that caused mom to tumble  (Wednesday)

After causing trouble the pothole was adequately marked and a helpful local family promised it would be fixed likely the next day!  Too bad it hadn't been before we came through.