Return from Lake Ontario

We had many miles to pedal before we slept (in our own beds). 508.1 miles, to be exact, assuming you made it the whole way through without making a wrong turn, missing one, or deciding to tack on some extra mileage by choice. (Crazy cyclists and centuries can't be separated sometimes.)

I managed to keep my phone charged through the full length of my ride each day (turned cellular data off for every app but Strava), so for a change, I've got a full set of cycling data for the week. The ride has been chronicled in more detail in the moment by writers other than I, so I've linked up to two of them from here:

1. Krystal writes for and runs Planet Princeton, and does a great job of covering the variety of cool stories all over the ride.
2. Ken is a a fellow rider, and his son Adam is a former Little League teammate. He documents his own personal perspective on the week

Full cycling data, daily cliff notes, and some photos, after the jump. But first, I just wanted to close this section by just saying thanks again to everyone for all your support this year, and every year. This seven day ride is all about the kids, and the money that we raise to help them through Anchor House. If you've already donated to the cause through my father or myself, thank you over and over again. If not, it's never too late! Donate Today!

Data summary:

Day 0: Saturday, July 11
Krystal Knapp (Planet Princeton/the Trentonian)

• Bus ride for just under six hours to Oswego, NY.
• Great time along the Oswego River docks between our two hotels.
• This was the spot where I began my first Anchor House ride, seven years ago, at the age of 18. Same hotel. Quite a strange and cool feeling of nostalgia.

Day 1: Sunday, July 12
Krystal Knapp (Planet Princeton/the Trentonian) | Ken Carlson

DJ Buckley behind the bar

• Departed at 6:37am with my Pops, the Brother's Currie (Dick & Paul), Erin, and Nicole.
• Beautiful 74.7 mile ride through the SUNY campus along Lake Ontario. Stop in the Chimney Bluffs, too.
• While many of the Genevan eateries decided to close up for lunch before the 200 small-business patronizing cyclists came to town on Sunday, the great folks at Lake Drum Brewing agreed to stay open late for us that night. Fantastic evening of shuffleboard, darts, DJ-ing off a Macbook behind the bar, and library books for all in attendance.
• Crossed the Erie Canal today.

Day 2: Monday, July 13
Krystal Knapp (Planet Princeton/the Trentonian) | Ken Carlson

Keep those feet planted!

• Later start to the day, riding with the Youts! (Alternate spellings include yoots, yutes, utes or, you know, youths.) Shoutout to fellow veteran-yout riders Erin Drulis (six years), Nicole Papparella (three riding, two sag), Carley Moseley (three years), Adam Carlson, Ben Hayon (two years each), and Gabe Hayon (new rider).
• Came upon a field of dreams at our first sag (gas spelled backwards... a food/water stop)-- we were located on an old baseball diamond, and the locals left some softball supplies out.
• Ben hit one to the cornfield on a short hop on his first pitch.
• See relevant episode of the Yellow Truck Chronicles here.
• We did not think it was wise to stop at any of the many wineries on the route.

Day 3: Tuesday, July 14
Krystal Knapp (Planet Princeton/the Trentonian) | Ken Carlson

Nicole chalking #ahride15

• A little bit of zig-zag on our way out of Corning. The day ended up being Erin & I crushing the hills of all styles.
• 50 riders or so ended up staying at the Penn-Wells Hotel, which was built in 1869, and only restored as recently as 1920. A wooden front door, window A/C units, a sitting room (parlor?) in every room, and a shower turned closet? Too beautiful for us to appreciate.
• Poured rain in the evening time in Wellsboro, but we made our way down to a spot off Main Street called the Wellsboro House Brewery. Met the head brewer and owner, who's a Mayfair native. They get Amoroso rolls delivered in, and the whole brewpub was decorated with Philadelphia sports. Currently expanding into the building across the street next to the train tracks -- good luck to them!

Day 4: Wednesday, July 15
Krystal Knapp (Planet Princeton/the Trentonian) | Ken Carlson

Panorama shot courtesy of Nicole

• Rode through the modestly named "Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania"-- it was still actually gorgeous. The elevation chart treated us quite nicely as well. I don't think I've had a nicer stretch of scenery and riding on my seven years of riding for Anchor House than this day. More than half the day we followed the Pine Creek River downstream.
• Had a cup of coffee and bacon-egg-cheese on a biscuit at sag 2. Caffeine really had me cruising, maybe a bit too hard. It's fun to climb with the serious cyclists, even more fun to descend with them.
• There is a town in PA called "Jersey Shore".
• Rode the last few miles along sweet bike paths. 
• Did not get to see the current Little League World Series facilities. The route did take us past the originals, though, as well as the Williamsport Phillies stadium (Single A)
• Said farewell to fellow YOOT Carley Moseley, who headed back to Chicago to crush her Second City gig.

Day 5: Thursday, July 16
Ken Carlson

• The most difficult day of the week in my opinion. One climb in particular started with a 19% grade, and just when it leveled out and you thought it was over, you could see up to the right, another road leading up even higher. A quick peek at the cue sheet revealed "BR (bear right) in 0.4 mi". When in doubt, climb.
• The peanut butter, nutella & banana sandwich I had at the sag stop after that climb was the tastiest and most satisfying thing I ate all week.
• Crossed the Susquehanna River today.
• Banquet night at the country club: Adrian, Corey, and Nicole all received 5-year plaques, and I got a nice little shout out for my help with the route planning committee. All the YOOTS got a ride back in the big-wheel Knapps-mobile-- the huge cyclery truck-van that hauls a full service bicycle service trailer from hotel to hotel.

Day 6: Friday, July 17
Krystal Knapp (Planet Princeton/the Trentonian) | Ken Carlson

• Today was the first of two days I helped out on with the route planning committee-- I did a final review of the cue sheets for while in a car, back in April. Recognized and remembered quite a bit, including the trio of hills through gorgeous Hickory Run State Park.
• Lots of fun descents today, but they had to be earned by climbing.
• We dreamt about appetizers and pitchers at sag stops while on the bike-- we ended our day at the Ruby Tuesday's in the hotel parking lot by ordering just that.

Day 7: Saturday, July 19
Krystal Knapp (Planet Princeton/the Trentonian) | Ken Carlson

Photo Credit to Nicole

• Walked out for a brief breakfast at 7 am, was greeted by thunder and rain. Resulted in a halt on cyclists leaving the hotel until 8:45am, which resulted in quite a crowded and hectic departure on busy roads out of Bethlehem/Easton.
• The Hayon's father, Jack, took a spill on some railroad tracks 16 miles in. He's doing well, but the three Hayon's day was cut short. Ben & Gabe were both able to make it back for the police escort to the Mall, and Jack was there in a sling and good spirits.
• The one flat for the crew came with about 20 miles to go, when Pops got one on River Road (Route 29) in NJ.
• Once we got to the ending picnic before the Mall, the YOUT's crew was surprised with the Veteran's "Spirit of the Ride" Award. We return to our day-to-day lives with a conundrum-- how do we split a trophy seven ways? Or, perhaps we each spend some time with it, like the Stanley Cup?