Do you know why no one in America ever knocks? Because freedom rings – ha! Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Today Apogee groups explored all around the globe and reveled in natural beauty along shorelines and on top of peaks. Let’s see what everyone got up to!
Skip to a Specific Trip: AKMCA, AKMCB, AXA, AXB, CCM, CI, CRM, CRMC, CS, DEXA, ECC1, ECC2, ECC3, NEMCA, NEMCB, NWX, PC, PMC, VMA, VMB
Alaska Mountains & Coast A (AKMCA)
AKMCA got to take a load off today (and put a few loads in the washing machine at the laundromat – LOL!) and rest up after their exciting trip into the backcountry. Showers are in order as well as some rest and relaxation in the port city of Seward. They happened to stumble upon the finish line of the Seward Fourth of July Mount Marathon, so they were able to cheer on the runners at the end of the race! Not many can say that they’ve gotten to celebrate America’s birthday in the 49th state!
Alaska Mountains & Coast B (AKMCB)
AKMCB is chug-a-lugging along into the backcountry section of the trip. Vistas of clear lakes and snow capped mountains await these rugged explorers who are no strangers to the Alaskan wilderness at this point! Who knows, maybe this crew will be greeted with a school of sockeye salmon singing the star-spangled banner at their campsite tonight… but at the very least, they’ll have plenty of incredible vistas!
Alps Explorer A (AXA)
Aaand they’re off on the Tour du Mont Blanc! AXA bid adieu to this iconic, picturesque pink church for the next 12 days as they set off on the adventure of a lifetime. Here they are, looking strong, fierce, and ready for anything the days to come have in store for them!
Alps Explorer B (AXB)
AXB enjoyed a stunning descent down into the picturesque mountain town of Chamonix. Morale was high as the group ate a fresh and delicious lunch in a quaint park and explored town. See if you can figure out what word they’re trying to spell out below (challenge level: just about impossible)!
California’s Coastal Mountains (CCM)
Our California’s Coastal Mountains crew is on their third and final day of backpacking in Point Reyes. With temps in the low 60s and a salty breeze following their trail, these hikers had prime conditions to end their time in the land-of-no-service. Our CCM explorers will emerge from the backcountry feeling extra strong and ready to take on Big Sur tomorrow!
Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)
This group got to celebrate the 4th of July in style in the great American city of Boston! They enjoyed a beautiful ferry ride into the city, and had an awesome Tea Party final dinner. The holiday celebration coincided perfectly with their last full day on trip – what a bittersweet end to an epic 10 days!
Caribbean Service (CS)
Our Caribbean Service trip had a wonderful morning doing service with their partners at Apoyo Mutuo Agricola for the second straight day! The hardworking crew prepared a field and planted seeds at the local farm. They enjoyed a traditional Puerto Rican lunch following the farmwork. After lunch, the team headed out for a quick dip to cool off before returning to their accommodations for an afternoon of games and laundry!
Colorado’s Rocky Mountains (CRM)
CRM awoke to the sounds of birds chirping after spending the evening on the outskirts of Rocky Mountain National Park, and made a special breakfast to celebrate their last full day together! The energetic crew completed a beautification project at their campground for their community service work, then made their way to Boulder for the afternoon before having a wonderful final dinner together. I wish I was celebrating Independence Day in the Centennial State! (Fun fact: Colorado became an independent state 100 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed!)
Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)
CRMC started their day off strong with a gorgeous wildlife hike! The group wandered down a nearby trail and were treated to views of toucans, hummingbirds, butterflies, wildflowers, and waterfalls. After their walk, they enjoyed a peaceful yoga session back at their accommodations before lunch. This afternoon, they’re headed towards the coast where they’ll get to surf and snorkel over the course of the next few days. Pura Vida, indeed!
Europe Coast to Coast 1 (ECC1)
Picture this – you’re on a Belgian canal, strolling along under shady trees, with a freshly cooked chocolate-dipped waffle in hand, chatting and laughing with your newfound friends. Your legs are strong. Your belly is full and happy. Castles and cathedrals dot the city skyline in the backdrop. Well, you don’t have to imagine it, because you’ll soon hear all about your child’s day doing just that! ECC1 had a simply magical rest day in the enchanting city of Bruges, Belgium. The grins and happiness exuding from their group photos are proof enough that this blog writer needs to add Bruges to the bucket list! Tomorrow they’ll continue their journey towards Venice, and the day may come when they find themselves reminiscing of that waffle… but there are plenty of other treats to be had and memories to make lying in wait!
Europe Coast to Coast 2 (ECC2)
Today ECC2 took on a big challenge day AND had their first international border crossing from the Netherlands to Belgium! The crew conquered their coastal route, passing under wind turbines and crossing on ferries along the way. It was quite the windy ride today as they faced a headwind most of the way, but it didn’t phase them! The crew has since landed in Bruges, the heart of Belgium’s fine Flemish Region, where they will enjoy an awesome rest day tomorrow. Well done, ECC2!
Europe Coast to Coast 3 (ECC3)
Today our ECC3ers rode along the Dutch coast to the quaint city of Ouddorp. This scenic ride was filled with blue skies and stellar views of the North Sea. The squad took the ferry from Maassluis to Rozenburg, and continued to ride across the Netherlands until they made it to camp. They enjoyed a tasty campsite dinner and went off to dreamland before they take on their challenge day tomorrow!
Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXA)
This morning our DEX crew split up into two groups to tackle a couple of day hikes in Baxter State Park!! One group crushed Owl Trail and the other gallivanted up Sentinel Mountain. After experiencing some epic views of red cardinals, blue skies and white clouds, the groups reunited after lunch. After filling their tummies they went into town to celebrate the fourth with friendship bracelets and games. Yahoo!
New England Mountains & Coast A (NEMCA)
NEMCA was back out on the water today! The crew enjoyed a picnic lunch on some rocks by the ocean before spending the afternoon kayaking around Casco Bay. Our New England Mountains and Coast team celebrated the fourth with a good ole fashioned cookout on some very green grass in coastal Maine. How beautiful! In the words of their trip leader Andrew, “Can’t believe this is our last night with such an awesome crew!”
New England Mountains & Coast B (NEMCB)
Today NEMCB went sea kayaking! They dipped their boats into the Atlantic and beach-hopped around the stunning coast of Maine! They came back to the campground for lunch and then went into Portland to explore and enjoy their final dinner. A couple of awesome quotes from campers today include: “I am sad this trip isn’t longer,” and “This trip is like pizza, it is good at the start and good at the end.” We couldn’t agree more, NEMCB!
Northwest Explorer (NWX)
NWX is back from the country of the backs! Or something like that… oh, right, it’s the backcountry! They hiked into the beautiful, diverse Hoh rainforest – one of the largest temperate rainforests in the U.S.! The Hoh rainforest has stellar views of the gorgeous surrounding tree-dotted mountains. The pictures below speak for themselves! Now that they’ve hiked out of the backcountry, it’s time for some 4th of July today festivities in the front country including showers and laundry!
Pacific Coast (PC)
This group of cruising cyclists continued their epic trek down the coast by completing their only border crossing of the trip, leaving Oregon behind and saying hello to California, where they’ll be for the remainder of the journey. Their leaders report that they saw their first sign for San Francisco today too, which is an exciting development. They also made it to their first rest day, and boy, have they earned it! They’ve completed their longest section of consecutive riding days of the trip, and they’re stoked to participate in their surfing lesson tomorrow for a well-earned day off the bikes.
Pyrenees Mountains and Coast (PMC)
!Bon día y feliz día de independencia de los Estados Unidos! This group reported one of their best mornings yet, complete with mini American flags and a celebratory dance party! They got down to some good American favorites– the Macarena, Cotton-eyed Joe, and the Cupid Shuffle. As usual, their hike was full of mind-blowing views as they gained elevation above the clouds, and the kids were especially excited about the triple-decker bunk beds in their newest home!
Vermont to Montreal A (VMA)
Our biking heroes were back in the saddle and venturing north after a successful few days in Burlington, ever persistent in their quest to reach the metropolis of Montreal. Today’s journey took them skirting the very Lake Champlain upon which they kayaked yesterday, and they’ll follow its shores tomorrow, too! Tonight is their last night in the USA for a few days, as they will bid farewell to America and cross into Canada tomorrow. At least they were here for the 4th of July! VMA celebrated not only our nation’s birthday today, but also the birthday of their beloved Twyla! They celebrated with balloons, singing, sparklers, and plenty of dessert.
Vermont to Montreal B (VMB)
VMB spent an incredible morning out on beautiful Lake Champlain with their kayaking guides. These bikers-turned-kayakers enjoyed the warm sun and blue skies while they dipped their paddles into the refreshing waters and propelled themselves forward with their arms instead of their legs, for a change! Afterwards, it was time to explore Burlington, so the group headed downtown to check out the cool sites and shops together! No Apogee visit to Burlington would be complete without attempting to conquer the legendary Ben & Jerry’s Vermonster… it may come as little surprised to our readers to learn that the group had ZERO problem crushing it! A fitting end to a wonderful day!
