Sam here. Lots of wrapping up going both here in the office as we have our first final dinner for departing leaders back here in Brunswick tonight, and there are lots of (incredibly tasty sounding) meals happening out there in the field. The trip number decreases every day, and we are down to 11 left out there.
CI: The gang rode out a storm last night in Nantucket with a culinary masterpiece of chicken and veggies in an Italian marinade. Tasty! Luckily a roof over their head kept them dry; with the storm out of the way, the skies cleared up to a beautiful day for a ride to the ferry, which took the group back to the mainland, and back on their way to the end goal of Provincetown today. We’re not sure what’s going on below, although it certainly has all the hallmarks of a rousing game of Duck, Duck, Goose.
CQ: They’ve made it! Both CQ groups pulled across the ferry from Levis and into Quebec today, and every single person (on both trips) then cruised up the incredibly steep hill seperating them from the hostel. Great work guys! Now it is just the group, the sweet feel of mattresses, and the taste of buttery croissants for the next 48 hours before they re-enter the USA. Below are both groups after conquering that crazy hill (CQB featuring a staple of childhood, Ring Pops).
CMC: Today marks the last full day for CMC, as the group headed in to San Francisco to spend a day relaxing and exploring. Here is a photo of the group from last night on Half Moon Bay beach as well as the quintessential Golden Gate Bridge shot (excuse the cloud, but it is San Francisco…) before their final dinner in town (although this one won’t be cooked over camp stoves).
CSA: And in what seems to be a recurring theme from CSA is two students passed out on the ground while the rest of the group has a great time – see below. They spent the morning cleaning up a beach at Playa Grande on Vieques with Fish and Wildlife, and all in high spirits (except for those poor kids on the ground). Tomorrow, it’s back to the main island for a transit all the way over to Cabo Rojo.
PCA: While this group will ride the famed Avenue of Giants through one of the tallest, oldes sequoia groves in the world tomorrow, they met their first giant yesterday, and they even got a photo with him! Below is the group with Paul Bunyan (or at least his right foot), as well as a shot of the group all clambering into a tent last night. They awoke to a tasty, filling egg breakfast today before a day of service working with Food For People.
PCB: Featuring lots of smiles (and Shem’s tongue out…), here are several of our PCB-ers as they made their way towards Arcata to hang out with the PCA group tonight. They will get a day off the bikes tomorrow as they pick up where PCA left off and volunteer with Food For People.
NWX: Today marks the night two of the group’s extended backcountry stay, so we are sadly without photos. Night two means that they are just 4 days away from showers, and we are four days away from pictures, but that they still have lots of incredible sights left in the North Cascades. Hopefully when they return we will post a photo dump chronicling their backcountry stay.
TSA: Today was a short and beautiful ride for the Italian crew into an even more beautiful destination, Spannocchia! They arrived in time for a scrumptious lunch of all Spannocchia-grown food, explored the 11th century tower on the property and got to check out a 900-year-old olive press. They also happened to arrive for pizza night, described by Laura as “seemingly endless pizza was delivered from the wood-fired oven.” Tomorrow they will spend the day in a serene setting, doing a bit of service in the morning and recharging at the midway of their trip, before continuing on towards Rome.
ACC1: This group left the flatlands of Texas behind several days ago, and their legs have known it, but now finally we have picture proof! With a rest day full of mail and relaxing behind them, they hit their last stretch of road to the Pacific on a long but beautiful ride today, with gorgeous mountains in the background. A scheduled 97 miles, they went a little bit further so they could complete the century ride; if that weren’t enough, they did it before lunch!
ACC2: A day of big rollers, the group has been able to ride the motivation of a rest day throughout. Pulling into Prescott will be sweet as they get to spend a day off the bikes and in air conditioning, lounging with mail from home. Today was also a big day as it is all-star leader Mike’s birthday, happy birthday Mike! Unfortunately they didn’t send us a photo yet today, but when they do we will update here!
