Todays Distance: 77 miles
Cycling time: 5 hrs 08 mins
Average Speed: 15 mph
Today’s cumulative ascent: 2038 ft
Average Heart rate: 111 bpm
Distance so far: 3,663 miles
Ascent so far: 115,519 feet.
Centuries so far: 13
Punctures so far: 10
Centuries so far: 13
Punctures so far: 10
Today’s Profile:
Today’s Route:
Dedication: Today I cycled for my niece Deirdre and Diarmaid who got married today. I would have loved to be there but they were in my thoughts as I cycled along. Best wishes to you both as you set out on your joint life journey.
I was expecting stiff climbs today but they were quite gentle. Beautiful weather and an early finish. 
PROVIDENCE [7] The cost of running Providence for a year at present (including paying the teachers) is € 9,000 ( $13,000 ) or € 190 ($ 280) per week. Relatively small sums when you consider the 200 children and the 7 teachers.
Loading at 7.30 with mixing of Gatorade and pumping of wheels. A mist hung over the Mohawk River as we took to the road and it was so pleasantly cool. Some rain had fallen during the night but no sign of any more pending. The sun was doing its best to break through the clouds and burn off the mist as we moved east along Route 5. We would be spending 50 miles on this before turning off to the right. I almost missed it. 
The Trinidad group rode together today. Two more Cary and Winston joined Sarge in Erie for the final 8-day section to Portsmouth. So the number of internationals continues to grow.
The route followed the Mohawk down stream for the day, though we were not cycling along the very edge. It was like following the Suir from Clonmel down to Carrick, a number of fields between but you knew it was there. The Mohawk even at this stage would be the same width as the Suir when it comes to Waterford. Rail, road and canal move along this east/west valley.
Untill the first SAG the weather conditions were ideal, light sun, cool and fresh. Climbs were gentle with a low gradient. Soon afterwards we came to some familiar placenames again. Hetty and Piet (NL) obviously had to stop for a snap at the welcome sign for the City of Amsterdam. In fact the ‘city’ didn’t impress anyone. Very run-down the part of it that we saw. But hetty and Piet had more to come – Rotterdam was a little more presentable and with canals and barges they surely felt at home. A pretty town was St Johnsville (not St John’s Villas) with a fine display of flowers. It is the centre of New York state and claims to have the state’s best tasting drinking water. All was quiet as I passed through around 8.30. Didn’t expect much activity at that hour on Saturday morning.
All was quiet in Longhorn Trucking Co Inc on Saturday morning with half of their trucks lined up and resting for the weekend. Salt is one of the big commodities they move in preparation for the winter snows around here. Very many houses have small trucks with snow-ploughs fitted ready for the call to clear roads and drives.
The railroad ran beside the route along the valley. At one stage a large train overtook me on the right doing around 50 mph. I was cruising along the level terrain at 18 mph and I had travelled 1 mile for it to pass me completely. So, non-cycling mathematicians can work out the length of the train.
Much of today both before and after the 2nd SAG was on a dedicated bikepath. Shortly after Rotterdam we took a left and spent 4 miles with no traffic. Not many pedestrians or other cyclists on it so we could keep up to the 15 mph allowed. Plenty of growth on either side and at times brilliant open views of the river. It looked so peaceful and only rippled by the water-skiers out for a bit if activity.
While on the bikepath in Niskayuna I passed by the entrance of the headquarters of General Electric Global Research Centre. This complex of 525 acres overlooks the Mohawk River and has a workforce of 1900 covering all scientific disciplines working on innovations and breakthroughs. They have another such facility in Bangalore, India. Their motto “what we imagine, we can make happen.”. I like it.
Today Deirdre and Diarmaid were married and I would have been there. I missed the occasion and the celebration but made contact with Deirdre to wish them all the best. During the cycle I frequently thought of them and when I spotted a wedding party posing for photos in a park by the river I had to stop and savour some of the feeling. I’ll catch up on all the news of the day when I get home.
Students of Providence, you recognise these? The produce of Providence vocational skills is very much part of my luggage. Bags from the rexine and tailoring sections of Providence contain necessary elements of my kit. One for toiletries, one for medical, one for phone accessories and Garmin bits and one for all the camera cables and rechargers. They all remind me of the students in Providence as I go about my daily chores.
PROVIDENCE [7] The cost of running Providence for a year at present (including paying the teachers) is € 9,000 ( $13,000 ) or € 190 ($ 280) per week. Relatively small sums when you consider the 200 children and the 7 teachers.
Loading at 7.30 with mixing of Gatorade and pumping of wheels. A mist hung over the Mohawk River as we took to the road and it was so pleasantly cool. Some rain had fallen during the night but no sign of any more pending. The sun was doing its best to break through the clouds and burn off the mist as we moved east along Route 5. We would be spending 50 miles on this before turning off to the right. I almost missed it. The Trinidad group rode together today. Two more Cary and Winston joined Sarge in Erie for the final 8-day section to Portsmouth. So the number of internationals continues to grow.
The route followed the Mohawk down stream for the day, though we were not cycling along the very edge. It was like following the Suir from Clonmel down to Carrick, a number of fields between but you knew it was there. The Mohawk even at this stage would be the same width as the Suir when it comes to Waterford. Rail, road and canal move along this east/west valley.
Untill the first SAG the weather conditions were ideal, light sun, cool and fresh. Climbs were gentle with a low gradient. Soon afterwards we came to some familiar placenames again. Hetty and Piet (NL) obviously had to stop for a snap at the welcome sign for the City of Amsterdam. In fact the ‘city’ didn’t impress anyone. Very run-down the part of it that we saw. But hetty and Piet had more to come – Rotterdam was a little more presentable and with canals and barges they surely felt at home. A pretty town was St Johnsville (not St John’s Villas) with a fine display of flowers. It is the centre of New York state and claims to have the state’s best tasting drinking water. All was quiet as I passed through around 8.30. Didn’t expect much activity at that hour on Saturday morning.All was quiet in Longhorn Trucking Co Inc on Saturday morning with half of their trucks lined up and resting for the weekend. Salt is one of the big commodities they move in preparation for the winter snows around here. Very many houses have small trucks with snow-ploughs fitted ready for the call to clear roads and drives.The railroad ran beside the route along the valley. At one stage a large train overtook me on the right doing around 50 mph. I was cruising along the level terrain at 18 mph and I had travelled 1 mile for it to pass me completely. So, non-cycling mathematicians can work out the length of the train. Much of today both before and after the 2nd SAG was on a dedicated bikepath. Shortly after Rotterdam we took a left and spent 4 miles with no traffic. Not many pedestrians or other cyclists on it so we could keep up to the 15 mph allowed. Plenty of growth on either side and at times brilliant open views of the river. It looked so peaceful and only rippled by the water-skiers out for a bit if activity.While on the bikepath in Niskayuna I passed by the entrance of the headquarters of General Electric Global Research Centre. This complex of 525 acres overlooks the Mohawk River and has a workforce of 1900 covering all scientific disciplines working on innovations and breakthroughs. They have another such facility in Bangalore, India. Their motto “what we imagine, we can make happen.”. I like it.Today Deirdre and Diarmaid were married and I would have been there. I missed the occasion and the celebration but made contact with Deirdre to wish them all the best. During the cycle I frequently thought of them and when I spotted a wedding party posing for photos in a park by the river I had to stop and savour some of the feeling. I’ll catch up on all the news of the day when I get home.Students of Providence, you recognise these? The produce of Providence vocational skills is very much part of my luggage. Bags from the rexine and tailoring sections of Providence contain necessary elements of my kit. One for toiletries, one for medical, one for phone accessories and Garmin bits and one for all the camera cables and rechargers. They all remind me of the students in Providence as I go about my daily chores.This evening after dinner I had welcome visitors in the Holiday Inn, Mary and Steve Muller. Mary’s folks hail from the Clonmel area and they live here in Troy. It was so nice to meet and have the chat.
The back wheel is problematic again. Had it worked on by Gerard last Tuesday and it seemed OK. But the wobble is back and seems to indicate that something has broken down inside. He reckons that it is unsafe to continue with and has given a loan of a rear wheel from the van until Portsmouth. Solution is to have the hub rebuilt or a new wheel. Tomorrow I’ll order a new one from Portsmouth and have it ready for the last two days.
So I arrived at the Motel in Latham at 1pm and rang Deirdre at Waterford Castle just in time before the wedding dinner commenced.
A great day’s cycle – I reckon it was my strongest and most consistent so far and I felt great when arriving here. I believe we have a few demanding days ahead as regards climbing. We’ll take that when it comes. No need to be in a rush. Good night’s sleep first.
Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.
The back wheel is problematic again. Had it worked on by Gerard last Tuesday and it seemed OK. But the wobble is back and seems to indicate that something has broken down inside. He reckons that it is unsafe to continue with and has given a loan of a rear wheel from the van until Portsmouth. Solution is to have the hub rebuilt or a new wheel. Tomorrow I’ll order a new one from Portsmouth and have it ready for the last two days. So I arrived at the Motel in Latham at 1pm and rang Deirdre at Waterford Castle just in time before the wedding dinner commenced.A great day’s cycle – I reckon it was my strongest and most consistent so far and I felt great when arriving here. I believe we have a few demanding days ahead as regards climbing. We’ll take that when it comes. No need to be in a rush. Good night’s sleep first.
Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.
6 comments:
Hello Dick, we are fittness testing Kilfeacle players during this summer - you are welcome to have a go and set the standard for them on your return - no bikes allowed. I make your train 4448m - submitted for correction! that side of cranium rusted over. Keep it up. PatC
Dick, whatever about what Jim Coman says, the end is very near now. Best of luck for the week ahead.
Your rear wheel is obviously a cause for concern. Your bike loks like a Specialised TriCross Sport 2007 which is the same model that I had for last year's trip. I had trouble with the rear wheel on mine - it basically cracked and fell apart around about Garden City. Make sure you bring it home with you and give the dealer / Specialised some grief. There is no way the wheel should pack in on the ride!
You can almost smell the Atlantic but don't forget Brattleboro to Manchester!!
Andrew
Disappointed with your attitude to Amsterdam! Anyhow I'm glad that
you have passed through.
Bi curamach agus tog aire agus creid gur ''Is gaire cabhair De na an doras''Micheal
Hey Dad,
We all had a great day at Deirdres wedding on saturday. Fun was had by all, it was great to see our cousins asweell. We made some funds for providence too! Auntie Breda won a bet at our table for the length of the best mans speech and she kindly donated the winnings! The money is resting in my account at the moment!!
Richard
Hi Uncle Richard,
We had a great time at Deirdre's wedding, everything went so well and even the weather was glorious! We all missed you but are so proud of your progress so far - will you ever walk again??!Margaret was looking beautiful and Richard and Charles were in great form, I see they have some of your moves on the dance floor! So looking forward to seeing you soon, Take care and keep cycling!! Siobhan
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