On Wednesday, September 13th, 2006, I left my home in Marlborough, MA on a five day biking vacation. I biked through Connecticut to the ferry, then across Long Island to New York City, over the Hudson River into New Jersey and ended in Nyack, NY. I took a bus back to Framingham, MA and biked back to Marlborough.

Photo gallery from the trip!

Total mileage: 312.48 miles
Saddle time: 21 hours, 16 minutes, 54 seconds
Average speed: 14.68 mph

Wednesday, September 13th, 2006
Left at 8:20am.
Mileage: 78.35 miles
Saddle time: 5 hours, 17 minutes, 36 seconds
Average: 15.23 mph
Max: 38.3 mph

After stopping in Oxford, MA, my front derailleur was rubbing the chain. I stopped to “fix” it and ended up snapping the cable. I backtracked a bit to a gas station to try to find a bike store. I was limited to the smallest front chainring. I ended up continuing on South toward Danielson, CT. When I arrived I ran into a UPS driver who told me where to go, and even gave me his map. I went to Danielson Adventure Sports and met the owner Don. He fixed everything, derailleurs, brakes and tightened everything up. He let me use his bathroom and let me fill up with water. When he was done he only charged me $5 for the repair!!! I bought some freeze dried beef stroganoff and a Clif bar. Don was an awesome guy. He told me how the year before he biked from San Francisco to Boston. He camped in cornfields, cemeteries, ball fields, etc.

Arrived at Highland Campground, Scotland, CT around 4pm. The campground (Highland Campground) is very nice. Had a large selection of sites to choose from, all near the showers, bathrooms and laundry. All the sites have electric and water - charged my cell phone. Also nearby is a rec hall and store - but closed. Also a playground and fenced in “Tot-Lot” and a pond with a gazebo nearby. I think there is a swimming pool - out of season. Hot shower was nice - unlimited hot water, plenty hot - clean modern bathroom.

I stopped at a little farm stand and bought some cherry preserves, two green peppers and some fresh picked raspberries. I ate a green pepper and the raspberries for dinner along with some bread and PB. Also had a 24oz Budweiser and a bit of a chocolate rice crisp bar. I’m saving the other green pepper for breakfast.

Lily, Ben, Matthew and Erica before the trip started.

Entering Connecticut.

Set up at the camp sight.

On the ferry.

Thursday, September 14th, 2006
Left at 7:50am.
Mileage: 70.15 miles
Saddle time: 4 hours, 22 minutes, 40 seconds
Average: 16.5 mph
Max: 39.5 mph
Arrived in New London, CT at 9:50am, took the 10am ferry. Arrived at Wildwood State Park, Wading River, NY around 4:00pm.

I woke up around 6:15am, it was cold. Did my bathrooming and had some breakfast. PB + banana, green pepper. Got dressed in my bike clothes and packed everything up. The dirt gravel roads in the camp sight are tough, lots of brakes and concentration.

Everything went well until Rt. 32. It turned out to be a limited access highway. I ended up on it, no signs telling me not to. Very nerve racking. After I got off I was able to find my way back on route. Much hillier than I had anticipated, but I made good time anyway. The last couple turns were fun. Went down Deshon, but Bear Dr. was on Coast Guard base property. The guard looked at my license and let me through. I got a nice tour of a military installation! Also, at this point I was smelling sea air and heard the sounds of seagulls.

Earlier in my ride a took a few moments to look to the side. Rolling hills and mountains, really breathtaking. Passed lots of farms and rang my bell for the horses.

I took the New London to Orient Point Ferry (Cross Sound Ferry Services). On the ferry I got a blueberry pound cake, coffee and Gatorade. I sat on the roof and took some pics, then got cold and sick of the noise so I came inside.

Arrived on Long Island and biked to the campground (Wildwood State Park), stopping once at Country Time Cycle.

At a farm stand just before the campground I got some blueberries, green peppers and a tomato. At the deli across the street from the campground I got 4 Budweisers, and filled my freeze dried beef stroganoff with hot water. After registering at the campground I ate the beef stroganoff, it was awesome!

The bathroom at the camp sight was very modern, but also very institutional. They had a big fan running to dry the room out, so I stuck my bike clothes that I wanted to wear the next day in front of it.

I took a walk around the camp sight. Right next to my site was a family, as I walked by the father asked if I played guitar - we ended up chatting, he gave me a beer. Jim, his son Jim and wife Sharon. We talked a lot, they ended up inviting me for dinner. Homemade tomato sauce with ziti and meatballs and sausage and Italian bread. Also, they gave me enough beer that I lost count. We took turns playing his guitar and singing songs. I can’t believe how nice these people were. So very generous.

It rained throughout the night, had trouble sleeping, started getting a sore throat and the rain noise kept me up - I stayed dry though.

On the ferry.

Welcome to New York.

My bike fully loaded at Orient Point.

Wine Country.

Friday, September 15th, 2006
Left at 7:50am.
Mileage: 73.85 miles
Saddle time: 4 hours, 48 minutes, 23 seconds
Average: 15.9 mph
Max: 34 mph

It rained all day, and Long Island is not nearly as flat as I thought it would be.

I followed 25A most of the way. Early on I followed signs for a bike route instead - which took me to Stony Brook University - then caught 25A again. Most of the day was on 25A - had lunch in Cold Spring Harbor near the water, boats and seagulls. I ate my cherry preserves and PB and finished the bread.

After turning onto 106 to go South, the Island got really flat. I was able to easily cruise 20-22 mph. Both 106 and 25A had some trafficky areas - but overall okay. In many places there was a dedicated bike lane, in other places there wasn’t even a shoulder.

I met Aunt Carrie at her hair salon, then went to the Pantry Diner. The food was great but the service was non-existent. I left the tip, but if I were on my own I wouldn’t have. I had whole wheat pancakes and eggs, sausage and potatoes. We talked for a long time - mostly about Grandma, Erica, and Rachel and her kids, and also about Weight Watchers.

Afterward I went to Aunt Laurie’s. The heaviest rain of the day was after the diner, only a few miles in it though. I did a load of laundry, hung stuff on a drying rack with fan and also used the dryer. I took a shower and then took Uncle Eric’s car to Trader Joe’s - made an Indian style dish with rice and bread and also bought some Chardonnay with a naked lady flying on a bike.

Lunch in Cold Spring Harbor.

Kawasaki parking only.

Aunt Laurie and me.

Ready to go.

Saturday, September 16th, 2006
Left at 8:40am.
Mileage: 79.2 miles
Saddle time: 6 hours, 3 minutes, 46 seconds
Average: 13.89 mph
Max: 34.7 mph

Saturday morning I woke up and packed up. I cleaned all the grit off the bike with a paint brush and swept up. Ended up with a very big pile of sand! I had cereal and leftover Naan. I took some pictures and left Aunt Laurie’s.

No rain, and as I biked it got brighter and brighter, turned out to be an awesome day.

I quickly realized my front derailleur wasn’t going onto the big chainring - probably because I dropped the bike in the garage. I put up with it for the morning.

I rode on the bumpy wood boardwalk for 4 miles. Great views of the ocean. Took the bridge over to Brooklyn and found a very busy bike shop, Sheepshead Cycle Shop. I had some fun conversations with the shop employees and other customers. They fixed and adjusted the derailleurs, not too well, but kept me rolling. My bike needs a major overhaul after this trip.

Everything took longer going through the city, but definitely worth the effort. While at the bike shop I called dad to let him know my progress. I learned I was only a few blocks from Aunt Patti so I stopped to visit her and Ricky and Vanessa after all. Family is so important. I was also going to stop in NJ to see Uncle Sol, but ended up being delayed too much. From Aunt Patti’s I went down to Coney Island and took some pics from the boardwalk and in front of the rides and Nathan’s. I got 2 fantastic dogs with everything - best dogs ever! Continued on through Brooklyn to the B. Bridge to Manhattan. Got a little lost on Manhattan but made it to the park where I could see the Statue of Liberty. Took the bike path up to the GW bridge - slow going with pedestrians and traffic lights. Up by the bridge it got very busy and I almost fell a few times because people were just moseying everywhere. I also had difficulty finding the entrance to the bridge. And then I had to climb and descend lots of stairs on both sides of the bridge. I made it to 9W, cut off to go through Piermont and then up to Nyack. I made it!

We had ravioli and meatballs, sauce and salad. Mom ran out for Buds and ice cream.

On the boardwalk.

Me with Ricky, Aunt Patti and Vanessa.

Astroland.

World’s best Hot Dog.

About to go into Manhattan on the Brooklyn Bridge.

The Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Made it to Rockland.

The Coney Island Boardwalk.

Sunday, September 17th, 2006
Biked from Framingham bus station home.
Mileage: 10.93 miles
Saddle time: 44 minutes, 29 seconds
Average: 15.05 mph
Max: 31.4 mph

Today we drove to the bus station (Port Authority) in the city, I pointed out the bike path - had a nice drive in.

My parents got a free bike box from a store - but I didn’t want to disassemble my bike to get it in. So I figured I’d buy a “bigger” box at the bus station. Turns out to be the same size as the free box. Oh well. So, took the wheels off and was mom and dad were very creative with bending, tearing and taping the box to fit. They let dad and me put the bike on first so it fit and I’m on the bus and going to eat my lunch now. Will be in Fram. At 5, and hopefully get my bike back together and bike home.

Arrived in Fram. Just before 5. Reassembled bike and biked home, got home just after 6. So glad to see everyone. In 5 days Matthew is speaking much more and Lily is such a big girl. Next bike trip will be with kids! Yay!

PDFs contain: Cue sheets, elevation profiles, maps and resources.

• Day 1
  Marlborough, MA to Highland Campground, Baltic, CT
  Campground to South Windham for dinner and shopping.
  Day1.pdf (4.39 MB)
• Day 2
  Highland Campground to New London (for Ferry)
  Orient Point, NY (from Ferry) to Wildwood State Park, Wading River, NY
  Campground to Wading River for dinner and shopping.
  Day2.pdf (3.03 MB)
• Day 3
  Wildwood State Park to Oceanside, NY
  Day3.pdf (4.39 MB)
  Modified route, including a stop in Rockville Center
  Day3b.pdf (1.69 MB)
• Day 4
  Oceanside to Nyack, NY
  Day4.pdf (6.23 MB)