The End, Part I: Winter in NY

First up, some notes about my trek across NY.

My parents, Gordon and Ginger, were very happy to have me home for the weekend.







This photo pretty much summarizes my journey through New York: mostly sunny, wintry and hilly.







I've pedaled through so many pretty places, but I happen to especially like the hilly farm country in western/upstate NY. Maybe it has something to do with the preconditioning of my brain's beauty receptors.





Frosty morning. There were a lot of those.








You know, people talk about the WalMartification of the country, but does anyone ever mention Dollar Generalization? These things are everywhere, everywhere, everywhere.






To continue the theme of seemingly random photos... This is my favorite sign. Not this one in particular, but this sentiment. Speed Zone Ahead means I'm getting somewhere. Making progress. And there may very well be bathrooms ahead. And who knows what else! I'm excited when I reach civilization and I'm glad when I leave it, too. What can I say? I'm easy to please.






Once again, I managed to photograph only a few of my wonderful hosts. I enjoyed an evening of conversation about birds and traveling with Roger and Pat in Canisteo.
I spent Halloween in Ithaca with Lars (3rd from left as John Steed from the Avengers - his partner Mrs. Emma Peel is to his left / your right) and Kate (2nd from right). The rest of the crowd is post-apocalyptic... and I just have scary hair. Really scary hair. They're a fun crowd, in or out of costume, pre and post apocalypse.


Back to normal and a lovely evening with Arlene and Clare Price in scenic Greene.











A delicious time was had by all in Stamford. From left: Bob, Peg, Becky and Mike. My delightful host Peg invited some cycling enthusiasts to join us for dinner. Bob rode part way with me that day - my first cycling partner since Colorado! Mike rode across the country via the northern route this summer. He also lent me his booties, which kept my feet toasty for the remainder of the trip. Fantastic.

Did I mention there were some frosty mornings? This is outside Peg's family farmhouse. I made it through the Catskills that day to visit relatives in Kingston: Lee, Didi, Tom, Andrew and Ethan. The latter were particularly fun conversationalists. And I spent my last night on the road - no in a warm and welcoming house - with family friends Alicia, Russ, Jacob and Caleb in Winsted, CT.



Part II -- wherein the blogger finishes her trip and ruminates upon it -- is forthcoming.

By the way, happy election day! For all of you who were concerned about my disenfranchisement - an absentee ballot awaited me when I reached CT, so I filled it up and sent it in. Yay democracy.