DAY 2: HARVEY STATION TO ST. STEPHEN, 74 KM

2 June 2011

No rain today, but lots and lots of bugs – black flies, to be specific.  They began eating us alive as we took our tent down this morning.  We walked around in circles while having our breakfast in an effort to prevent them from having theirs.  Fortunately, while we were on our bikes, we were able to keep them off.  But as soon as we’d stop, they’d be right back on us. 

Michael's legs are covered in bites (mine aren't!).  This photo doesn't do them justice.

About 40 k into our ride, we were exhausted; our bodies are still not used to cycling for hours on end.  We wanted to take a break, but stopping at the side of the road just wasn’t an option.  Fortunately, an elementary school proved to be the ideal shelter: the teachers welcomed us and were very sympathetic about our having to ride during the pinnacle of black fly season.  “We saw you coming in,” one of them said.  “Each of you had a black cloud of flies around your head.”  We had lunch at the school before continuing on to St. Stephen, where we arrived a few hours later. 

Although we camped outside, the spot was excellent, and some sweet old church ladies treated us to tea and baked goods.

We’re planning to camp at a church here, and we’re even hoping that the minister will let us stay inside.  We meet with him in an hour or so.  Fingers crossed!  Tomorrow we cross the border and hope to make it to our friend Isaac’s cottage in Deblois, ME.

DAY 1: FREDERICTON TO HARVEY STATION, 47 KM

1 June 2011

Set to go in Riiko's backyard!

I suppose I should begin by telling you about this trip: why we’re doing it, where we’re going and how it came to be.  Michael is a friend of mine from grad school who has been thinking about doing a long cycling trip for quite some time.  When we found out that the annual meeting for our academic society (CSHPS) was going to be held in Fredericton, NB we thought, “we should go to the conference and then do a cycling trip!”  In my head, this trip would only be about three weeks – I do have a thesis to write, after all!  But when Michael and I met to talk about it, it turned out that he had something bigger in mind.  I’m all for long bike trips, but I’m also all for finishing my thesis on time (or at least trying to).  So I proposed that we go on the trip, but bring our work with us and work for two or three hours everyday.  I’d contemplated this idea before and now I had a chance to make it a reality.  Michael was totally on board and we decided to do it!  After all, when else might we get the chance to take such a trip?  We consider ourselves so unbelievably lucky to be doing the kind of work that is so portable.

We had no destination in particular in mind, but eventually decided we’d head south into the States, stay with our friend Isaac in Maine and then do the Transamerica trail (or just part of it, depending on time) starting in Virginia and heading west towards Oregon.  We’ll see where we end up!

After conferencing for a few days, today we finally set off on our first day of cycling.  It was a late start, since we took the time to get all of our stuff together and we’re really in no hurry.  It was warm and sunny, but we had the worst headwind all day, making for extremely tough cycling. We were exhausted when we finally decided to stop at village of Harvey Station around 7, where we ate dinner and set up camp.  I’m writing this from inside the tent – what a strange juxtaposition!

The forecast calls for rain for the next few days.  Hopefully the wind gods will bring us a lovely tailwind to carry us across the border into the States!

Yes! Another bike trip!

1 June 2011

After three days of conferencing, we leave today from Fredericton, NB.  We are cycling south into Maine, for now.  More (and, hopefully, more exciting!) posts to come!