SARATOGA SPRINGS NY!!!!

just a few of the chosen vehicles

the sign sais it all

this little guy wasnt even an inch long!!

A triple!!!

cornell university

takin a little swim to cool off

seneca lake, one of the finger lakes, in front of it, one of the many vinyards in that area

you see behing my tent?? showers!! they look small but they are amazing!!

SOME MORE PICS FROM THE GREAT BIG FANY RIDE!!

mark twains grave

the big apple

james and i at henry fords mansion

niagra falls

day 1 of the Great Big Fany Ride (while it was still flat!!)

whew... anyone looking for a relaxing vacation ride, new york is not the place to go. As much fun as the Great Big Fany ride was, I think ill just take the next two weeks to recover. in all seriousness though i had a great time, and an exciting adventure.

I saw lots of hills, mountains, goats, vinyards, and waterfalls. what a pretty ride!!!!!! I also got to see niagara falls, watkens glenn, mark twains grave, canada, Henry Fords mansion, and of course, New York (although not the new york everyone thinks about) and of course meet another group of amazing, quirky, and very interesting people with great stories and adventures to tell.

watkins glen, new york

we are now in watkins glen new york. nestled right up next to one of the "finger lakes". very challenging ride today and yesterday. there are lots of long steep hills. yesterday we went up lunda hill. the most challenging hill ive ever had. and today was a few at about the same grade but much shorter. this ride is only a week so we will be finished up by saturday and ill post some more pics then.

GREAT BIG FANY RIDE 2009

it is now feburary 2009. its been 6 months since the big ride across america 08!!! what an experience!!! Although i want to do it again there are so many other rides and places to see that i cant do this one again..... at lease for a while. :) so my next big adventure..... well not big compared to last summer, but just as fun im sure. The great big Fany Ride.

FIVE HUNDRED MILE RIDE
ACROSS
NEW
YORK

James Crosby. a rider i met while cycling america will be going with me, and i will be using this blog the same way i did in the previous ride. although im not sure about the oportunities i will have to update, I will do my best, as I did before.

why am i doing this???
well its certainly not the saddle sore, cold nights in a tent, waking up early, pb&j, oatmeal, countless hills, or spandex pants i crave. its the air, the sights, the people you meet, the things you see that are so often missed while going 60 with the windows up. I love the conversation, and accomplishment as well.
originaly my next adventure was going to be the PALM, (pedal across lower michigan) but after missing the registration deadline, i thought to myself , "i have to ride somewhere Ive never been before" . Well...Ive never been to new york. tell me a better way to discover new places.

FANY SUPPORTS....

The Double H Ranch

please if you have time, visit doublehranch.org to learn more about what they do to help improve the lives of cronically ill children by providing them a camp where they can get away and be a kid.

FANY FACTS

July 19-25
500 miles
starts in Niagra falls....500 miles later ends in Saratoga Springs
tents by night..bikes by day
a whole lot of butt butter

hey everyone. so it has been a while since i last updated....my apologies to those of you who were using my blog to keep up with my progress. well....the ride is now over and although i am glad to be home and to see all my friends and family again i am very sad about leaving the big ride family as well. i feel kindov strange not waking up and getting right on the bike...in fact my first day home i did get back on the bike. people thought i was crazy but it just seemed like the natural thing to do!! all in all the ride was by far an adventure of a lifetime. some of the places i had seen and been i probly will never get a chance to go back, and the relationships that formed will alwase be special. i want to add some pictures from the last part of the ride that i was not able to access a computer, but that will have to wait for tomorrow since i forgot to grab my camera cord. i want to say to everyone that helped my with this journey and sponsored my and prayed for me....thank you, and to the big ride family.... i miss you!!

speechless......

barb and jim.....again.....speechless

new ulm

one of the propellors for the windmills

i should deff be in bed right now and i really dont have any excuse to be on the computer.....but....figured id add some more pics instead of just wandering around. today was a good rest day, went and had a good breakfast, cleaned my bike, talked to my mom and my sister and matt on the phone, and went to a barbque with patty and kevin and james and pattys family who came to visit us.

perfect place to escape the sun

there was so much corn around all day we decided to just take a hike in a field

american white pelecan, there were several of them swimming on a lake we passed by this morning

WINDMILLS!!! made me feel like i was in bakersfield

laura ingalls. we went to two of her hometowns, desmet and walnut grove

the fog this morning

our last camp just before bed

yaaaa.....minnesota

the suns finally peeping through the clouds to give us some relief from the rain

very rainy morning i made poor james stop so i could run up the hill and get a pic.


Today was a good day followed by a good day. perfect weather all day, 86 miles, with a rest day to follow, great scenery and good dinner. yesterday we had our first experience on the big ride of riding in the rain. it was a little annoying at first then i decided that i was gonna get wet anywase so i might as well just go. we ended up having a lot of fun. riding in the rain isnt that bad as long as its not too cold and windy, this was just enough rain to ensure cool weather all day although it did brighten up enough to dry us out which was very good. now i am in the martin luther lutherin college in New Ulm minnesota. im having a great time and really enjoying the company of some great people although i miss matt and my family so much. well, think im gonna make some phone calls and go to bed!