Day 44

Piseco, NY to Ticonderoga, NY

• Miles: 84 mi

• Elevation Gain: 3,966 ft

What a difference a day makes! Today was absolutely stunning from start to finish — one of those perfect riding days you dream about. The leaves are at their peak, the air was crisp to start (low 40s), but by afternoon it warmed into the 70s. We had rivers, rock cliffs, steady climbs, sweeping descents, and fall color around every turn 🍂🚴‍♀️.

The group — myself included — was in much better spirits today. Maybe it was the shorter mileage (only 84 miles), or maybe it was the fact that we were celebrating my friend Karen’s birthday! 🎉 We sang to her at breakfast and lunch, decorated her bike with streamers, and even made a stop for ice cream on our way into Ticonderoga.

And speaking of Ticonderoga — if the name sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve used a Ticonderoga pencil at some point in your life ✏️. There’s even a pencil museum here (sadly, that will have to wait for another trip).

Tonight we’re back in the comforts of a Best Western after yesterday’s rustic cabin adventure, and morale is high. It’s hard to believe we only have two tough riding days left before the final push into Portland on Monday. We’re tired, we’re proud, and we can’t quite believe we’ve biked this far — it feels like ages ago that we dipped our tires in the Pacific, and yet it’s all gone by so fast.

Thanks, as always, for the love and support you’re sending my way — it means more than I can say 💕.