Tough Slog and Sore Knees

To North Adams, Massachusetts -- 57.9 miles, 9.1 mph, 4175 ft

We are now 0 for 2 in terms of getting to our intended destination. Yesterday, we got within four miles, today, about seven. Once again, it was starting to get dark and the prospect of riding in the rain, despite the relatively flat terrain, was enough to discourage us.

Sara, our Warm Showers host last night, made sure we had a healthy and filling breakfast before driving us back to retrieve our bikes. She also suggested that we leave all our panniers at the house since we would be passing within a few hundred yards of it when we rode through town. That was a brilliant thought and made the steep climb into town much more doable.

If anything, the day was wetter than yesterday, and we eventually ended up in a steady though short-lived downpour. This was just before reaching the closed railroad crossing that we determinedly crossed, signs or no signs.

Both Meg and I seemed to be suffering from the long day yesterday. For whatever reason, Dex and Kylie seemed relatively unscathed, or at least weren’t complaining about it. (I'm sure youth has nothing to do with it!) Tonight, for the first time in my life, I iced my knees.

About half way through the ride, we stopped at a mini mart for junk food and met John, a civil engineer with the Department of Transportation. He was interested in our story and offered to drive us up the road to his house to meet his wife and seven year old son. The offer was very tempting, but we'd really like to complete the ride under our own power (though, admittedly, that power level is pretty low right now.)

The next several hours were spent on Route 2 following the Deerfield River. Despite the consistent and moderate grade, it was a real struggle. Rarely have I ached on a bike as much as today, and I'm pretty sure Meg felt the same. [Meg's Note: Indeed! Also, I have to add, there are gobs of black flies that go the exact same snail pace as Dex and I as we climb up hills. That does not help matters....]

John actually met us toward the top of the climb. He suggested grabbing dinner in North Adams -- at the bottom of a five mile descent and just a few “flat” miles to our final destination in Williamstown. As luck would have it, we actually met our Williamstown Warm Showers host (Bruce) on a ride of his own as we approached the last climb. Apparently, we were fairly easy to recognize.  We agreed to meet him at his place after dinner.

Finally at the top. Suffering mostly forgotten.

View over North Adam

As agreed, John, his wife Karen, and their son, Jonathan, met us in town at a new pizza parlor. They graciously treated us and patiently listened to the kids stories of our travels. John himself had lived in San Jose when younger and also traveled quite a bit for work once upon a time. By the time we finished eating, it had started to rain again and was getting dark. Meg was all for taking John up on a ride to Williamstown while Dex and I wanted to finish on the bikes (Kylie was undecided). As we debated what to do, we noticed a Holiday Inn across the street and settled on a compromise. We would skip the free ride to Williamstown but also avoid the forty plus minute ride in the dark and rain. Given my aching legs and sore knees, this was not a big sacrifice!

John, Jonathon, Karen, Kylie, Meg, Dex, and Dean