Adirondack Adventures

Brandon Scanlon
First things first, everyone go and block off July 12th on your calendars right now.  That’s when the World Famous Osceola Hotel’s 42nd annual Turtle race will take place.  Judging by this year’s 246 turtle entrants (which far exceeds the number of Osceola inhabitants), this spectacle is gaining international acclaim.  Oh, Osceola, NY how truly memorable you were.  Here are just a few of the highlights:

• Turtle racing strategy was described to us with great enthusiasm.  Each race competitor has their own method for getting their turtles to run fast; however, two of the most popular  methods are tickling their bellies and leaving them upside down for a while before the race
• The “World Famous Osceola Hotel” is actually a bar/restaurant that numerous colorful locals frequent.  Apparently, the gentlemen who lives above the bar has a pet wolf and he insisted on describing its lineage to us in detail
• Steve-O, an extremely inebriated local, spent much of the night howling loudly, playing “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, and being warned that if he didn’t quiet down he would be thrown out… until he was thrown out
• Finally, the toll for camping behind this historic building was having to listen to a blaring church sermon on the radio all night long

Start training your turtles today

World famous

We came across this amazing town in New York after a beautiful descent out of the Adirondack Mountains where we spent two stress-free nights in North Hudson and Raquette Lake.  These two picturesque and remote towns rejuvenated everyone’s spirits after the numerous days of climbing that we’d endured.

Rejuvenating yurt

Picturesque riding

In Fulton, near the eastern edge of Lake Ontario, Kellen almost hit a deer.  Instead, an oncoming car hit and killed the dear before it jumped in front of Kellen.  Miraculously, the car was undamaged.  Mustering all of his mid-western charm, Kellen promptly got the young girls in the car to pose for a picture.  They asked if the deer was alright… Kellen let them know it was NOT alright.

The car was ok; the deer was NOT ok

Continuing our trek across New York we remain humbled by the generosity of everyone we meet.  Barbara, Cindy, Len and the other members of the Fulton Methodist Church were kind enough to invite us in for a BBQ diner and provide us with a place to sleep.  We did our best to contribute by helping to clean up their historic church after the diner.  After reaching the Erie Canal and camping along its banks in Palmyra, NY (where Mormonism started) we were lucky enough to encounter a fellow biker, Beth while biking along the canal.  She helped guide us to a local bike shop so that Cory could get an extra tube and she ensured that we found a good place for lunch.  Lastly, Ed in Medina helped guarantee that we had a safe place to camp during the approaching storm and even had his son deliver us a bottle of local wine for the night.

Evening lodging

Earning our stay

Cycling the historic Erie Canal

Other notable events from our travels through New York:

• Bro-Tank: We completely forgot to take a picture with the semi-jacked Fulton high school kid wearing a tight, neon-colored tank top that read “Bro, do you even lift?”
• Hot Wings Eating Challenge: Kellen was relegated to the Wall of Shame at Sodus Point’s Captain Jack’s restaurant after only eating 4 of the required 10 hot wings
• Carrie is a machine: No matter how sore her back or knees are she just keeps plugging away.  No whining, just powering through
• Kellen’s Wardrobe Malfunctions: He gets overly concerned spilling on himself at meals; conversely, he voluntarily wears biking shorts with a hole in the butt… I don’t get it

Kellen said it was "the hottest thing he's ever eaten"

Wardrobe malfunction

Finally, after 620 miles and 10 straight days of riding we’ve reached our first big checkpoint: Niagara Falls, Ontario where we’re taking a rest day and enjoying the scenery.  Sadly, for me this is the end of the road.  I’ll be heading back to Boston to move out and flying to San Diego to find an apartment.  While I’m disappointed to be missing the Michigan leg of the trip (my home state) I’m extremely grateful for the adventure I have had.  Having never biked before I’ve learned that this is a great way to experience the world in an extremely intimate manner.  I will definitely continue riding as I move out west.

Bikes over Niagara

Thanks to Kellen, Cory, and Carrie for such an incredible experience.  But, most importantly, thank you to the countless people who’ve shown such generosity along our trip.  Good luck, team as you continue your journey.  I’ll religiously be reading your future posts.

Signing off