Well, well, well, what a day today was! Zip lining, surfing, venturing into the backcountry, REST DAYZ, tremendous biking, legendary day hikes and more. The fun-o-meter is about to explode from high levels of fun!!
Today a lot of our students and leaders also said goodbyes to each other and to the places they were lucky enough to spend time in for the length of their trips. The tears that were shed were happy ones because of the friendships that were made and the exciting and challenging experiences that were had.
Skip to a Specific Trip: MCJ, CI, CRM, GSA, CS, MCCE, DEXA, DEXB, VMA, VMB, CRLS, CRMC, CMCA, CMCB, AKMC, NWXA, NWXB, PCA, PCB, SH, AX, PMC, ECC1, ECC2, ACC
Maine Coast Junior (MCJ)
WOW! Well, today MCJ woke up before the crack of dawn to catch the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain. From there they jetted down from Acadia to good ol Brunswick, Maine to pick up mail and eat a delicious celebratory lunch at a diner. Tonight they will catch up on sleep to fuel their service tomorrow in Harpswell. You are the absolute best MCJ!!!!
Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)
Today our bikers on Cape Cod traveled by THREE transportation means — bicycle, ferry and feet (yes I am counting feet). They first biked from Nantucket to their ferry, before riding the waves all the way to Hyannis (welcome back to the mainland!), and then zipped their way over to their campground for the night. Did you know that Cape Cod has 115 pristine beaches and 19,000 guest rooms? So much space to vacation (and bike)!
Colorado’s Rocky Mountains (CRM)
“We only part to meet again”
With hiking boots a little more worn in and friendship circles a little more full, this crew of awesome people hugged goodbye today in the Denver Airport, hopefully singing some John Denver as they boarded their planes. Goodbye is only temporary!! Friendship is forever!!
Golden State Adventure (GSA)
“Saying goodbye to someone just means that there’s a hello waiting around the corner”
Though these pictures were taken at yesterday’s surfing adventure, these California dreamers gave their last hugs and high fives goodbye today as they jetted home to tell all of their friends and family about the amazing experiences they had in the Golden State.
Caribbean Service (CS)
SURF is UP for our friends in Puerto Rico! After a full two days of service, these lucky ducks got to shred some Caribbean waves. This whole scene is idyllic and wowza I am jealous.
Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)
“Don’t be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before we can meet again and meeting again, after moments or a lifetime, is certain for those who are friends”
These big brained writers said goodbye today after a week of connection, thinking, writing, and friendship. Meeting again is most definitely in their future.
Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXA)
On this beautiful Wednesday, DEXA continued their sea kayaking and island camping journey and even added some service into the mix! After giving back to Mother Nature (and Maine) by cleaning up the fabulous island they get to inhabit, they smiled through some rain like the champs they are and kayaked their way through the day!
Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXB)
DEXB awoke earlier than most this fair morning to reach one of the most beautiful sunset spots on the Eastern Seaboard — Cadillac Mountain! After a gorgeous morning, this crew traveled to Bangor and prepared to start their back country route tomorrow on the Appalachian Trail. What a truly awesome day this looked like.
Vermont to Montréal A (VMA)
Picturesque farmland and quiet country roads is what these Vermonters rode through today on their way towards Burlington. This may not come as a surprise to many of us but dairy accounts for more than 70% of Vermont’s agriculture economy, so you can bet these bikers have been motivated by dreams of ice cream the whole way!!
Vermont to Montréal B (VMB)
Another fantastic day spent riding through the countryside of Vermont. These bikers traveled through Middlebury over to Lake Champlain today, and had oodles of fun doing it! Since about 250,000 people get their drinking water from the lake, it is highly likely that this squad was fueled by the pristine waters they biked by. What a day to be alive!
Costa Rica Language & Service (CRLS)
“The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again”
Another goodbye!!! After 9 days in Costa Rica, shining their Spanish skills, engaging with the community, making lasting connections and having a ball of fun this squad is most definitely Más Tico que el gallo Pinto (More Costa Rican than a spotted rooster”).
Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)
Zip lining!! In Costa Rica? How spectacular! That’s exactly what CRMC did today! They took a ride on Central America’s longest zip line and were able to see Costa Rica from a unique and beautiful angle.
California Mountains & Coast (CMCA)
Ancient sequoia trees, towering Bridalveil Fall, and the looming granite walls of El Capitan and Half Dome. Everything about today is big for CMCA. Yosemite National Park is a place like no other and CMCA spent today making the most of it. Lack of service and lots of people in Yosemite Valley makes it very hard to send pictures in but we are conjuring up beautiful images in our mind!
California Mountains & Coast (CMCB)
Yo! CMCB is in Yosemite too! And just like their peers on CMCA, CMCB laced up their boots and got after it. CMCB spent the day hiking through the valley and taking in all the sights. Since the service in the valley is spotty to say the least, they weren’t able to send pictures our way but we can only imagine how beautiful the sights are!
Alaska Mountains & Coast (AKMC)
Watch out Chugach State Park, here come some really awesome hikers ready to head into the backcountry for a SECOND time! They followed a river up a beautiful Alaskan valley to their campsite by a glacial tarn and I just KNOW they are having oodles of fun.
Northwest Explorer (NWXA)
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard”.
There are too many goodbyes today. My heart aches for friends departing but it flutters at the thought that so many true friendships were made. NWXA swapped phone numbers, Snapchats, mailing addresses, smiles, letters of goodbye, laughs, memories and more as they boarded their planes at Sea-Tac, a little wiser, stronger and sillier than when they came.
Northwest Explorer (NWXB)
“There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart”
They say all good things must come to an end, but I think that all good things actually NEVER end — Apogee trips especially. These students of NWX may have physically parted ways today, but the feelings, growth and fun that the three weeks they just spent together gave them will continue to impact the months ahead.
Pacific Coast (PCA)
“It’s always difficult to say goodbye, especially when one has spent a long time with a friend, learning and celebrating with them.”
And WOW did this group of bikers have a whole lot to celebrate as they said goodbye! Biking from Oregon to San Fransisco is no small feat and this group celebrated each other properly throughout the whole way. I know they will stay in touch as they’ve shared such unique experiences together.
Pacific Coast (PCB)
“Though miles may lie between us,
We are never far apart,
For Friendship doesn’t count miles,
It’s measured by the heart.”
Is anything more true than that sentiment? After a fancy schmancy final dinner last night, PCB hugged goodbye at the San Fran airport. They covered many miles together by bike over the past three weeks so the miles between them won’t be a problem — they can bike to each other to say hi!
Scottish Highlands (SH)
Our hill walkers in the land of the Scotts had a day to dry their boots and rest some legs, and experience the Scottish public transportation system! Their day consisted of re-supplying with delicious Scottish groceries and exploring the quaint town of Oban before returning to their snug little hostel for the night.
FISH AND CHIPS?? IN SCOTLAND?? Wow. Jealous!
I LOVE grocery shopping, and it seems like so do these peeps!
Alps Explorer (AX)
In the wee hours of the morning (in Eastern Daylight Time) our friends in Geneva boarded their planes with backpacks full of European chocolate and cheese, minds full of joy and fulfillment, phones full of the numbers of new friends and leg muscles full of STEEL. Who knows, maybe some day this whole crew will go back to the Alps and start a goat farm together.
Pyrenees Mountains & Coast (PMC)
Today is day FOUR of the Carros de Foc for our Pyrenees crew, so unfortunately they didn’t have service to send in pictures but WOW are we excited to see the pictures once they can send them! Sending so many good vibes to Spain for these guys!
Europe Coast to Coast 1 (ECC1)
DO I SENSE A REST DAY? Oh yeah I do! Fearless leader, Donovan tells us that during this much deserved rest day there was some resting (I’m glad), swimming and an IRON CHEF competition that went down. We’ve got some culinary geniuses on our hands.
Europe Coast to Coast 2 (ECC2)
Up and out of Germany today for ECC2 and into Austria! These lucky folks biked up and caught some fabulous views of the Alps and Lake Constance. Boy am I jealous of the views, the rides and the European CHEESE they must be eating POUNDS of! I think I see a rest day in their near future…
Wooeee! Fearless leader Stella Gardner is a very talented photographer!
America Coast to Coast (ACC)
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY REST DAY! After an 89 mile day sandwiched between 95 mile days (and many more miles before those as well), ACC took a day to relax and rest their muscles for the journey ahead.