At long last we’re off on our ride through New England, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Our planning began months ago and has provided hours and hours (and days) of entertainment as we project our needs and wants on the road. That involved planning routes to sights we want to see, engaging lodging and making reservations for ferries and even some national parks.

Who would have thought that you would need reservations in America and Canada?! Go figure.Nevertheless, Connie claims she had fun finalizing our arrangements and can place the spreadsheets in evidence. My job of identifying some routes and getting the bike in shape was easy. Now I just have to ride. 😉

We hung a map that included Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in our upstairs hallway just on the way to the bathroom for inspiration. I noticed I was inspired a lot.

We pulled out around 10 this morning to make our way north in New Jersey principally along Rt 29, Rt 627 north along the Delaware from Milford NJ to Phillipsburg, and County Rt 519 toward Dingmans Ferry, PA.

There was some fun stuff along the way here. When we left Morrisville, it was already nearly 95 degrees and we’re not yet in prime biking shape. We were very glad to arrive in the Poconos where it’s about 10 degrees cooler. We can also look forward to some more very hot days before getting to Canada where 70-80 degrees will be the norm. (We think and hope).

When we needed a break, we stopped at the Blairstown Diner, (in Blairstown NJ) which is still famous as a setting for Friday the 13th! We had a cup of coffee and a slice of pie amid dozens of Jason masks and posters of terrified kids. Delightful.

We subsequently ran into a little difficulty when the mapping app we were using led us into a number of dead ends, especially in and around Delaware Gap Nat’l Recreation Area. Very pretty roads but many seemed to go nowhere we wanted to go. At one dead end, we had to make a U-turn on a gravel stretch and we fell at slow speed. I didn’t do the things I know to do on a tight turn, and worse, I looked down. Since the body follows the head, that sealed the deal. We are both a little bruised but we picked the bike up and got on our way. The worst injury seems to be my ego. That’s survivable if embarrassing.

Our destination today is the home of Joe and Laurie, dear friends to Connie’s sister, Val and brother-in-law, Bob. They have become our friends, too. They have a lovely home on a lake in the Poconos and generously welcomed us into their home. The setting is beautiful and so very peaceful. Add in great company and the mishaps of the road don’t hurt so much. We are grateful.

Tomorrow we’re planning to continue north to Chatham, NY and spend a couple of days with my brother Jeff and Rosemary.

Have a great night!