Journey of living life with joy, gratitude and adventure: Day 61 August 29 Dalton to Sussex Sea to Sea 08

Day 61 August 29 Dalton to Sussex Sea to Sea 08

Today’s Stats
Distance 82 miles
Time in Saddle 6 hours
Average speed 11.9
Ascent 6600 feet.

Today was an amazing ride even though it was a very hilly ride. Most cyclists enjoyed the day even though it appeared to be a tough day in the beginning. Many were anxious, and were concerned that they could not do it. The weather was cool and overcast which as a real blessing considering the length of the ride and all the hills we needed to climb. The roads were also very good considering that did not always have wide shoulders. With the cool weather and good roads, I think it helped all of us handle the ride much better than anticipated and was rather enjoyable overall. We climbed over 6600 feet today. As we went down one hill we saw another hill ahead to climb. It was a day of one rolling hill after another, mile after mile. Often the roads had a canopy of trees and provided us much shade when needed. It was all

We got up this morning at 530. It is the last night we will sleep in our tents as Hank and I are staying at my sister’s in Sussex and a hotel on Saturday night. We are not sorry to give up our tent after nine weeks. Having to get up in the middle of the night, get out of my warm sleeping bag, to walk a ways to the restroom was not always appreciated by myself. I rather like have a restroom close by. We were told there might be bears in the area so when I had to go to the restroom in the middle of the night, I was alert to possibly seeing a bear. Fortunately, I did not see or hear one.

I left camp at 650 with Mike and Phil and Jan. Hank decided he would take a SAG past most of the steep hills and ride up High Point. Within the first couple miles we had several big hills that set the tone for our days ride. Jan and Phil were a little slower than Mike and I going up the hills. When Mike and I got to Carbondale we stopped at Dunkin Doughnuts for a coffee and doughnut and to wait for Phil and Jan. They decided that we should not wait for them the rest of the day as they were not going up the hills as fast as we were and did not want to hold us back. Mike and I finished the day together at about 330. Jan and Phil came in about 6. Jan had a blow up on her tire so this slowed them down somewhat and they climbed up to High Point Monument which Mike and I did not. Jan’s sister had been involved with the restoration of the Monument so Jan felt she had to visit it. This was an additional climb of over 300 feet and 2 miles in.

We rode through very forested areas and lots of hills and valleys. We also rode through the Poconos and past Lake Wallenpaupack, a lake I went to on an 8th grade outing. This area is very beautiful and there were lots of wealthy New Yorkers who own country property out here.

We stopped for lunch at 1230 PM in Milford, which is a quaint town with lots of old homes and interesting shops.

We headed to Sussex and figured it might be 2-3 hours before we would be in camp because of all the hills we thought we would half over the remaining 22 miles. We were pleasantly surprised that the next 9 miles from Milford to Port Jarvis were flat and we sped along at 17-18 miles per hour.

We started the climb over High Point a 4 mile climb at about 2 PM. I was determined not to make one stop climbing this hill. I was pleased that I got all the way to the top without stopping once even though we had grades of 8-10 % in a couple of places. Mike and I both felt very strong. We were very pleased to reach the top. On top we were welcomed by Cory’s SAG and the family of Sandy Westra, a cyclists from NJ. We took a picture at the top but mine did not turn out great. The Applachian Trail runs along the top of High Point so we took a picture of the sign indicating the trail is here. Lou Haveman one of our cyclists walked the whole trai,l which runs from Georgia to Maine over 750 miles, during the summer of 2005.

The downhill from High Point is very, very steep. I used my brakes all the way down as I knew there was a curve at the bottom. I was afraid to look at my speed as I was very focused on the road and keeping control.

On the way to Sussex, I rode past my parent’s grave. My parents were John Aukema who died in 1967 and Grace Jaarsma Aukema who died in 1994. My parents were instrumental in establishing both the Sussex Christian Reformed Church and Valley Christian Reformed Church in Binghamton. They immigrated in 1947 from the Netherlands and settled in Sussex County for 17 years before moving up to Binghamton NY in 1964. Sussex church was one of three churches established in the area by Dutch farmers after WWII.

We arrived at Sussex Christian School and I was immediately greeted by Hank and Mel. Hank had taken a SAG to Milford and than rode his bike to Sussex. Mel did not ride today as he felt he could not handle all the hill climbing. I also saw my niece Ann Mary Amels and my nephew Charley Kuperus and my nephew Miles and his wife Lisa, my cousin Dot Aukema Valkema and her husband Sam.. I saw lots of people I knew as I had grown up here and moved away when I was 16 years old. Lots of people remarked about how much family I have. It seemed either I had family or friends in many of our stops across the country,

Hank and I and Mel and Sylvia Hugen were invited to stay with my sister Anne Kuperus for the night. We headed out to her house so Hank and I could take showers before supper. When I was at Anne’s my brother Bill Aukema called and wanted to come to see me. He and his wife Gloria and his daughter Christina came to see Hank and I for about an hour. It was good to see Hank's kids and all my family including kids, grandkids and brothers and sister.

At supper, I again saw lots of former acquaintances and family members. It was great being in Sussex. Both Sussex and Goshen churches served a great meal of hamburger and hotdogs pasta dishes and potato dishes, apple crumb dessert, which was really enjoyed by the cyclists. Thanks so much to Sussex and Goshen for their hospitality.

Hank and I finally got back to Anne’s at 930 and were ready for bed since we had gotten up fairly early and had a good day of biking. We were looking forward to finishing our last day of riding.