So.........

So, yesterday I spent quite a bit of company time creating my Three Things Thursday, just as I was getting ready to publish it an error came up on the page and kicked me out....Thanks Blogger! 

So, I go to read some of the comments left on Wordless Wednesday and my good friend Judi had written, "whatssup with this once a week post shit? :0) "  LMAO, I can ALWAYS count of Judi to keep me accountable!!!!  I *heart* you Judi!

So, what I had almost posted was my adventure through Up State New York a couple of weekends ago which was Hot, HILLY and Humid.  Three days of 280K full of fun, humility, learning and friendships. 

So, instead of describing every little detail and have you nod off at your computer I'll just say it was Awesome, exhilarating, humbling and a huge epic experience for me....I just get crazier as I get older....

So, I'll leave you with some photo's;

Leaving Kingston Habour

Wolfe Island Ferry to Wolfe Island

Crossing Wolfe Island

Wolfe Island Bakery

Arriving in Sacket's Harbour

Half way up the hill coming out of Watertown

Unsupported, carry your own for 280K

A great time was had by all

Things I learned;

• carry snacks, trail mix or something to give you energy, gum works too (luckily I had all of this with me).
• carry powdered Hammer Heed, or something similar, you can generally find water from somewhere, but you can't find PowerAid.
• SPF 30 sunscreen doesn't cut it when you are on the road for hours on end.
• don't try to keep up with the speedy speedster's, cycle your own speed, even if you arrive 15 minutes later than the rest, you still get there! (believe me!).
• know how to change your own tires, carry spares and tools, and if some one offers to help ~ take their help (yes, I got a rear tire flat 50K into the ride).
• it's a tour not a race, stop and take photo's (which I will do more of next time).
• practice, practice, practice riding with weighted panniers before attempting such a journey, thanks goodness I did...
• there isn't a hill I can't walk.  The hill coming out of Watertown was 2km long with an 800 foot elevation.
• just like marathon training, you don't know yourself until you have to dig deep!!!
• would I do it again?  YOU BET....

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Three Things Thursday

• We have been having some crazy summer weather here.  It has been hot, hot, hot and humid.  My kind of summer!  For the past few days we have been having major thunderstorms in the afternoon and they are calling for another Boomer today.  Yesterday I came home to find that my patio furniture had been blown right off the deck.  Patio table, cast-iron umbrella stand, chairs, plants all scattered in various locations in my backyard.  The umbrella was over the cedar hedge and broken.  The wind even blew over my birdbaths!   Ahhhhh, you've got to love Mother Nature.

• Last weekend was the longest consecutive cycle I have ever done in my life.  An unsupported 250K through Up State New York.  We left from Kingston, Ontario taking a ferry across to Wolfe Island, cycled across the island to catch another ferry that would take us to the States.  We cycled from Cape Vincent to Sacket's Harbour, around the peninsula then off to Watertown where we stayed over night.  The next day was Watertown to Alexandria Bay.  Day three brought us back to the ferry to cross out of the United States back to Wolfe Island and then to Kingston.   Was I prepared for it?  Kinda, sorta.  What I wasn't prepared for was the speed of the other cyclists, the HILLS and not stopping for breaks every 20K, (that's for wimps).  What had been advertised as a 21 - 24K tour pace, turned into the other cyclists averaging 28 - 34+Km per hour.  Needless to say I was left in the dust, but what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.  I did it and I'm very proud of myself for digging deep and mustering through it.  (report to follow).

• This coming weekend is the ride for the MS Society of Canada.  It is a fully supported 175K cycle tour and a cause which is close to my heart.  A former work colleague who became a great friend has MS and I'm cycling for her.    Having multiple sclerosis means that you may suddenly have blurry vision. Or that your memory will fail you for no apparent reason. Or that you may not always be able to walk, let alone ride a bike. The symptoms of MS are different, and devastating, for everyone - the only certainty is that it will affect yet another person every hour of every day. 
  If you find it in your heart to make a donation towards the MS Society of Canada, you can find my donation page here.   I THANK YOU in advance.

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily