By: Emily Sturtevant & Hannah Gensheimer
Another day, another EIGHT trip starts! Although it may be a bit of a wet start (ok, ok, maybe more of a washout…) here in New England, we won’t let it “rain on our parade” – or bike ride! Today, we are welcoming our Coast to Quebec (CQA & CQB), Montana Service Adventure (MSA), Northwest Explorer (NWX), Pacific Coast (PCA & PCB) and Alps Explorer (AXA & AXB) groups to both their Apogee Adventure and the old blogarino! Let’s check in to see how the trip starts are going as well as yesterdays’ groups’ first 24 hours.
Maine Coast Junior (MCJ)
Our MCJ-ers woke up to the pitter-patter of rain on their tents along the coast of Maine, and spent their first day transiting down the coast to Acadia. On the way up they made a stop at the Owl’s Head Transportation Museum where they enjoyed lunch and got to know some of Maine’s most famous wildlife – the moose! Next stop, camp!
Looks like they are really embracing their inner moose here in Maine!
And inner airplane!
Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)
Due to the weather, all of the ferries to Nantucket today have been canceled. As such, our CI group will be spending their first full day exploring the many delights of Falmouth, MA and getting to know one another! Here is the group getting crazy with some local art! Tonight they’ll be staying out of the elements, cooking a great meal, and will be ready to head over to Nantucket bright and early tomorrow!
Vermont to Montreal (VM)
It’s Day 1 of riding for our VM-ers and it looks to be all smiles all around as they start their journey north! It’s a short ride today – but it’s a perfect day to celebrate a special 14th birthday (note the balloons on the far left!). This afternoon the group was able to enjoy the campground and cook up a delicious dinner. And (more good news) the rain has largely stopped over there in the Green Mountain State!
California Mountains and Coast (CMC)
Matt and Midge’s crew started their adventure with a full day of sea kayaking! These superstars will be on the water for the next two nights, enjoying beach front camp sites together. They will work their arms while they paddle today and tomorrow, giving their legs a break before the back-packing portion of their trip.
Caribbean Service Adventure (CSA)
Today is the start of 35 hours of service! Our CSA crew spent the day working in the gorgeous Tanama River valley of central Puerto Rico. This morning they worked maintaining local trails, before an adventurous afternoon exploring the valley with their guide. We just got off the phone with Thomas and Emily – they reported a great day of vigorous service on the trails. They definitely hit the ground running with five-plus hours of hiking and service on the Tanama! And they were even able to get us a picture!
With their guide and implements of construction
Coast to Quebec (CQ A&B)
It was a rainy start for our Coast to Quebec trips that met today in Freeport, Maine, but spirits are high – CQA leaders Rosa and Kyle and CQB leaders Emily and Zack (commonly known as Dixie), welcomed their students with rain coats and smiles. They will be spending their first night indoors, and will be up-and-at-em early tomorrow to start their adventure along the coast!
Our CQA group started the evening by learning how to set up their tents! #tentolympics
CQB getting to know each other!
Maine’s Downeast Explorer A (DEX A)
John and Erinn’s crew spent the day hiking in the hills of Camden. Although it was a slightly wet day, they had a fantastic time and enjoyed lunch in the scenic seaside town of Belfast. Tonight they’ll be camping in Stonington, and tomorrow they’ll start the kayaking portion of their trip – exploring and camping on some of Maine’s finest islands!
Maine’s Downeast Explorer B (DEX B)
Jessi and Jonathan’s group got up and going early and had a great first morning hiking in the clouds above Megunticook! This afternoon the group transited up to Mount Desert Island to get set-up for incredible hikes and gorgeous views in Acadia National Park over the next few days.
Group shot in the clouds!
Ponytails are a bit wet, but the smiles are ear-to-ear.
Boys are also all smiles despite the rain!
Montana Service Adventure (MSA)
Annika and Christian welcomed their group into Bozeman today! According to Annika and Christian, it’s sunny skies, cowboy hats, and good vibes all around. Today they will complete a short ride to their first campsite, enjoy a great dinner, and get prepared for their first big ride tomorrow along the plains of Montana! Yeehaw!
Northwest Explorer (NWX)
Students have traveled from all corners of the country today to arrive in good old Seattle, Washington! Will and Becca welcomed their group, gathered bags, and lit out for the coast. After get-to-know-you ice breakers tonight, they’re headed straight for Olympic National Park tomorrow!
Pacific Coast (PC A&B)
Welcome to Eugene, Oregon! Today’s PC students – PCA led by Mike and Emily (aka Sherry) and PCB led by Abby and West – are all making their way to Eugene as we type. After a late afternoon shuttle to the coast, tonight will be spent playing get-to-know-you games around the campfire and enjoying the starry skies of the West! The two groups will head out early tomorrow for their first day of riding along the Pacific, and learn to embrace the phrase (whether you believe it or not) “West coast, best coast!” We’ll get pics of the kids up tomorrow, but here are West, Mike, and Super Support Dude Alex Doig showing off their bike packing job this afternoon.
Our guys getting 28 bikes ready to go this morning!
PCA with Lady Duck in the airport…
PCB Group hanging with the other duck…
Alps Explorer (AX A&B)
“Bon soir!” from Geneva – “Guten Tag” from Zermatt! After all of our AX adventurers got in this morning from their overnight flights, they continued their travels via train through lush mountains and valleys to their campsite in Zermatt. Pictured here are both trips enjoying their dinner of baguettes, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil (YUM!!) before they hit the hay for the night. They’ll be up early to hike in the shadow of the Matterhorn.
Dinner with a view for this crew (AXA) (see that little ol’ Matterhorn peaking around the corner?)
Getting to know their trip-mates! (AXA)
Smiles all around for AXB
America Coast to Coast (ACC)
And the cycling trip of all cycling trips is now miles from the coast. Their first day of riding – a mere 70 miles! They stopped briefly to let some weather pass, and were tucked in camp by 4 PM. Not bad for a first day’s ride!
