Day 1

Our first day of riding got off to a wobbly start. Dad's back packs were shaking something terrible from the get-go. He re-balanced the load, which improved things. We also ditched our malfunctioning camp stove and later got a new one. We were forced to start out without our planned-for oatmeal and my instant coffee was only as hot as the bathroom sink water.

We rode along with a lot of traffic on Route 20 before heading off to a back road. Having given a donation, we ate cans of peaches and drank ice tea from a food bank. It was a timely stop, coming just before the appropriately named town of Summit.

We arrived at Marc and Hannah's around 3:30, feeling tired. To lighten his load, dad mailed back some shoes, that heavy lock and a few clothes. But, he forgot to put that heavy flashlight in the box, so he still has it. - Chad