Day 2 update

Day 2 update
Originally uploaded by mjschwimmer

Left Burton Island State Park after a delicious breakfast. Stopped in Swanton for some minor bike repairs. Onward to Canada!

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Day 1 picture

Day 1 picture
Originally uploaded by mjschwimmer

Here's a picture of the three of us about to begin our journey in Burlington. The camp ground is great minus the no food thing. Goodnight.

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feeding the fire

Day 1 is nearly complete and I need a good nights sleep after getting 2 hours last night. Today was pretty exhausting and tomorrow we are visiting our neighbors to the north. I'm heading back to feeding the fire and whittling away like in boyscouts all while dreaming about a great breakfast tomorrow following no dinner tonight!

Jesse in his tent

Its 852pm and I think I may have just settled into my tent for the night. I am wearing pants and a sweatshirt. We all took well needed and deserved showers tonight.

We didn't eat much of a dinner tonight but we are all looking very forward to our sweet breakfast at camp tomorrow morning. (I am espwecially hungry after that first huge hill).

I am studying tomorrows map for a bit then reading my book then lights out.

Good night all.

Day 1 Complete

Day 1 Complete
Originally uploaded by mjschwimmer

We rode a total of 44 miles from Burlington to St. Albans. It was a great ride but a little cold. The ride was a bit hilly and Jesse's lunch came up after he pushed himself a bit too hard too early haha. Other than that the highlights have been the extremely friendly locals, a pack of blinfolded horses on the side of the road and a guy who threw a box of marlboros out the window at us. We are on the ferry to Burton Island State Park. More pics and updates from Mitch and Lubin coming soon.

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On The Road

Its 606am and we are on 208 in NJ. We are on the road!

First snag...at 530 this morning we realized we couldn't fit all 3 bikes on the bike rack. Luckily we have the van and the fit was easy.

So far no traffic...knock on wood!

Last Supper (in Fair Lawn)

It's the night before we leave. We've decided to leave at 5am instead of 6. Better to be safe. The last thing we need is to miss the ferry in VT.

Schwimmer and I just went out to dinner with my parents. Big Italian meal was obviously a great idea before the trip. I am full and will get a solid night of sleep.

I just finished my final packing and everything is waiting in front of the door in the living room to be packed into the van. Earlier in the day we set up the bike rack on Mitch's mom's van while Mitch was partying at a wedding.

As of right now 9:40pm the night before, I am pumped. This is going to be one heck of a trip.

I was looking around the Internet for bike jokes and this is the best I could find. I give it a 6 out of 10...

http://www.jokesnjokes.net/funny.jokes.amusing.humor.laughs/Transportation/transportation.bicycle.cycling.001.htm

Border Crossing

A man on a bike, carrying two sacks on his shoulders, was stopped by a guard while crossing the US-Mexican border.

"What's in the bags?" asked the guard.

"Sand," the cyclist replied.

"Get them off. We need to take a look."

The guard emptied the bags and found out they contained nothing but sand. The man reloaded his bags and continued across the border. A week later, the same man was crossing again with two more bags. The guard demanded to see them, and again they contained nothing but sand. This continued every week for six months, until one day the cyclist failed to appear. A few days later, that same guard ran into the cyclist in the city.

"Hey, where have you been?" the guard asked. "You sure had us wondering! We knew you were smuggling something across the border. So tell me and I won't say a word. What was it?"

The man smiled and told him the truth. "Bicycles!"

36 Hours to go

I am getting extremely psyched for this trip now the countdown is on. I went on a geared up ride today and joined the Team Fair Lawn shaved head club. (See picture) Put in 25 miles with around 20 lbs. on the bike. It was a good ride and something that needed to be accomplished before we left. I just finished packing about 95% of my stuff only a couple odds and ends to through in early Sunday before we leave. All that stands between me and Vermont is Danielle's wedding and that should be a shocker to everyone when I show up with a shaved head. Next time I post it will be from the road. Hope everyone continues to follow us.

Shaved Head!

Shaved Head!
Originally uploaded by mjschwimmer

As promised

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Damn I look goooooood

I was only half kidding when I kept telling everyone I would shave my head for the bike trip and triathlon this summer. I think even my co-workers were a little doubtful I would follow through. Well you better believe on my lunch break today I shaved my head much to the dismay of my favorite east side Barber shop (Sutton Classic Cuts on 53rd and 3rd.) The barber had to be told at least 5 times that I am not joking and I want my head shaved!

I will be aerodynamic (Jesse Lubin style) on the trip now and can probably go days without shampoo living in the wilderness in Vermont. Picture to come soon. Due to bluetooth complications I can't get the camera phone picture from my co-workers phone so I'll have to wait until I get home tonight.