By: Annika Nygren
The Apogee office writes to you from our empty nest up here in Maine. Three more trips are starting today and our Europe Coast to Coast leaders are finally en route Amsterdam via Dublin. As support staff, I am so so sad to see the amazing leaders go, but am also so so honored and psyched to document their amazing adventures with our amazing students (I know, that was so so redundant but I just cannot emphasize enough how excited I am!!! Sorry, Chad… I am going to justify my use of three exclamation points here.) Okay, enough about me and my loneliness, let’s see what everyone is up to today!
Cape Cod and Islands (CI): These guys (Will, Emily and their Merry Band of Biking Phenoms) are on Martha’s Vineyard and ready to swim in the ocean, maybe lounge on the beach, and of course…ride! This is a picture of the gang before they boarded the ferry this morning. Check out that cloudless sky!
New England Mountains and Coast (NEMC): First day out and these guys already conquered a four-hour ropes course challenge! They are on their way to camp in the White Mountains now to set up tents, cook something delicious, and then embark on their first (of many!) hikes tomorrow. Very high spirits are reported all the way around!
Group-wide buddy system? Can you say foolproof?!
Strategizing, I presume.
Great belaying technique! Way to keep your teammates safe!
Vermont to Montreal (VM): As seen below, these guys rode all day under cloudless skies and are pictured rolling through a pretty wooden bridge. Word on the street was the ride was pretty hilly, but dinner looks delicious!
California Mountains and Coast (CMC): First day on the water: done-zo! Camp is already set-up and the group is warming their toesies by the fire (see below – actually, this is from last night, but it’s going to look pretty similar tonight….). The waters look calm and the scenic views are guaranteed. Sounds like an awesome day of kayaking to me!
Hooray – we’re on land! Solid Land!
Caribbean Service Adventure (CSA): Today this group worked hard cleaning up trash along Lighthouse Beach in Arecibo, PR! Their goal was to pick up all the trash so they could reward themselves by swimming in the clean beach afterwards. Will and Lucy’s dynamos even earned applause from locals as they were picking up the trash.. go team!!
Mission Complete.
Now for a little game of “Woosh” in the water after a hard day’s work. They earned it!
After cleanup and beach time, the crew went to check out La Cueva Ventana near Utuado – good-looking spelunkers, don’t you think?
Coast to Quebec (CQA): I just left this trip start and was salivating listening to leaders Mike and Mary (aka M&M) share their dinner plans for the first night at camp today. Everyone has arrived safely and are eager to get rolling on their journey to Canada. Surprise for the students… Mike baked cookies last night to have for dessert tonight! Yum.
Coast to Quebec (CQB): This group already has dance moves associated with each others names in addition to being well rehearsed in an Apogee favorite… “Wah!!”. Canada, here they come!
Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEX): These guys are already at camp by the sea and down the coast – tents are set up and dinner’s on the way. Erin and Marino have big plans to check out a nearby beach for their first night of bonding over dessert. Sunsets, sand and sweets? I’m in.
Montana Service Adventure (MSA): Here is the group halfway through their 30-mile ride today stopping to check out the stallions and the scenery. A few clouds didn’t stop this group from crushing their first day on the roads.
Here’s a selfie with alllmost everyone!
Northwest Explorer (NWX): All is well in Olympic National Park this afternoon, but, unfortunately NWX is hiking in an area with poor cell reception so we have no photo from Izzy and John today. We should get something from them tomorrow before they head into the woods for their first backcountry adventure.
Pacific Coast (PCA): Some showers didn’t stop Jeanne and Matt’s awesome students from having a great first on the saddle! The lunch picture is a little blurry but we are happy to see that the group is working together to stay full of fuel.
Pacific Coast (PCB): Here is a picture from yesterday of Trevor and Kate’s group before boarding their bus to the coast. These rockstars faced some rain, but the clouds cleared up for their afternoon swim. Clear skies and clear waters came together today!
Alps Explorer (AX): Internet!! Jack and CC were excited to have found some Wifi – and we are the ones who benefit with these great pictures. As promised, here is a picture of the whole group together for the first time yesterday! Safe and sound.
Did someone say “Matterhorn?”
Now onto the good stuff! Nothing like snowcapped mountains in the distance to start off the summer am I right?!
America Coast to Coast (ACC1): One state down! Josh, Laura and their Excellent Expedition is safely tucked into Georgia for the night. They made amazing time today – and,check out those happy, smiling, mile-eating faces!
America Coast to Coast (ACC2): AND THEY’RE OFF! Sam and Ally’s team of rockstars have officially dipped their tires into the mighty Atlantic and are now hot on the heels of Laura and Josh’s group and making tracks for Georgia and beyond. Those red white and blue jerseys look so good!
It’s official… they’re in!
Fun Fact! (and cuteness alert) These two fabulous leaders (Ally and Sam) worked as support staff together for Apogee two summers ago and are now reunited as co-leaders for this epic ride across the country. From Brunswick to San Diego these two will have done it all. Talk about a Dream Team.
Day three: Down. Now we must wait for our Europe Coast to Coast trips to starts and Apogee will be in full force all over the world. WOO! Until mañana…