Total Jersey ... We made it!!

All the way to Cape May!! All good (kids are in the water as I write). Yippee!!!!

Final Night Campfire

Final reflections and thoughts around the campfire tonight. Tomorrow we rise early and boogie fast from Belleplain State Forest toward Cape May. We will be in touch from the road. We looked at the state map and were amazed by what we've accomplished!! Total Jersey, top to bottom!!! See Folks Monday pm!

Lunch at Lake Lenape

Making time this morning, ripping through Egg Harbor City and lunching early at Mays Landing. On to Belleplain SP tonight, thus shortening Monday's riding. These kids are terrific, btw, scorching the highways. They could go Jersey to the Pacific in a flash. And nice too!!!

Leaving Atsion

After a nice visit at Batsto Historical Village, we pedaled on to Atsion, where the swimming and sleeping was gentle. On PAST Mays Landing Sunday.

Rumbling Quiet in the Pines

Sleeping in this morning: long hot ride yesterday, short day today, rain and distant thunder of disappearing storms. Ride to Batsto Village later this morning and visit this Pinelands artifact. Then on to Atsion SP to camp and enjoy the lake there, and perhaps canoe. The group is terrific, riding like thoroughbreds, cooking like camping chefs, giggling endlessly around picnic table card games, and, even more to the task, paying attention to the land and people they are moving through and among. These six are lovely people, fast asleep on a soft summer morning in the dropping pines along the Wading River. -PJC

One Component of the Curriculum

Because this trip is not built as an experience built for and delivered to the kids but rather as a group task that the kids accomplish together, we do meals a particular way. Here Melissa and Carly are out shopping for the meals of the next 24 hours for us all. With a tight budget and some general guidance, they head into the grocery with a plan. Knowing that a hungry horde is just about to finish a 56 mile day through the pines in the 90s. And the pressure for good food, and lots of it, is high. It works out just fine. Tomorrow a new pair takes over. -PJC (4.34'pm)

Lunch beneath a tree in Pemberton

... then on to Chatsworth and our campsite deep in the pines.

Oops... No post: All good. At Pesdie

43 miles today from Flemington, across the Amwell Road to Millstone, down the Millstone River to Rocky Hill, the towpath to Kingston, across to Plainsboro to Grover's Mill (yikes!! Martians!!!), across to Cranbury (and a stop in the Bookworm), then Old York Road to Hightstown and Peddie. Made camp, took a swim, grabbed dinner then off to the movies. Said goodbye to Bryan Lauth of our Development Office who rode this first half with the group, made friends with students and faculty, and enjoyed seeing part of Peddie in action. We are joined by Amanda Buchner tomorrow for the second half of the trip, and by Mike Mirelman for the first 20 miles of Friday's ride. We do about 56 total Friday on our way (long) past Chatsworth in the heart of the Pines. Maybe we'll swim again at Chips folly CG!!! All good here. Kids are awesome.

Day's end ... smooth...

Steady storms and flood warnings kept us off the road. Great breakfast at the "Star River Diner" in Hackettstown, followed by a massive laundry session at the next down the road laundromat. Two hours in Flemington downtown, including long reading session at library. Ensconced in motel south of Flemington, and pizza tonight (can't cook in the parking lot!). Heading to Hightstown early morning. Photo here outside Flemington jail suggests nothing.

Waiting out a Stormy Morning

We're taking our time this wet morning, sleeping in, doing laundry, finding a Jersey diner, and reading the weather. No worries.

On the Morris Canal

Just a couple of miles from camp at Stephens State Park. Weather sweet now (3.51 pm)

In Sparta, Dry in the Bus

Great morning to lakeside park in Sparta. Safe in the bus while a fresh deluge sweeps across Lake Mohawk. All good. Just humid inside the yellow mother ship. Btw, Kerrie has lost her ink.

New Tattoo in Jersey

Kerrie Kortmann sporting snappy new ink.

Successful Day!

We made it! A TOUGH start heading straight up to High Point SP. Then a long ride with a second climb (who knew?) and a beautiful roll down 519, a GREAT Jersey road for cycling . Dinner crew Kerrie Kortmann and Kelly Bailey knocked us out with pasta, salad, and great conviviality. Tomorrow looks to be longer but no way as vertical! Steve McConville had the quote of the day: "I never knew New Jersey could be this beautiful."

... High Point Monument!

...an honest climb!!!

Leaving Port Jervis NY

Fresh and anxious about the immediate four mile climb...

On the Road

We off to the top of Jersey!!

Total Jersey !!!

Sophomore Ride #2 -- from the northern top of New Jersey (think Port Jervis, NY) to the southern extremity (Cape May). Imagine: over 250 miles of Jersey without a turnpike, parkway, or mall!! Who knew?

Check here for frequent postings about the further adventures of the Peddie Class of 2012.

We Made It!

Not the official photo. But you get the idea. Left DC at 1.40 pm.

Los Hombres

Climbing up to Abraham

On the way to DC

The traditional Cracker Barrel fest on the way to our final ride.

Father's Day Wave...

from the C&O canal.

Climbed the Final Climb

The entourage atop Boonsboro Mountain, climbing concluded. Everyone is safely off the mountain and on the way to Sharpsburg and then the Potomac River. Whew....

Several Versions ...

Modeling clothes never to be worn at Peddie. Go figure...

Back from Harpers Ferry

... and enjoying either lake, nap, or shopping (4.15 pm) 33xBirthday suprise conspirators pictured here. I wonder what university is represented in the T-shirt on the right??

-- PJC
.
Patrick Joseph Clements
Teacher -- Peddie School
201 South Main Street
Hightstown, NJ 08520
609.290.4864

Birthday & Beautiful Morning

Shaanon Loughran awoke on her 16th birthday to a decorated tent and bike. Heading off at 9:00 for scenic motor ride to Harpers Ferry and the many stories it holds. More later...

Great Day, G'burg to Greenbrier SP

Great ride from Gettysburg to Fairfield then UP a mountain to Blue Ridge Summit, a record ascent by sophomores. Lunch and then across the Mason & Dixon line to Maryland. Great riding through Wolfsville, then across the Appalachian Trail to Greenbrier State Park. Good dinner and team chat tonight Great spirit and tired legs. Tomorrow is a motor trip to Harpers Ferry and a rest day before heading to the Potomoc and
the Capitol.

Leaving Gettysburg...

... for Blue Ridge Summit (special shout out and wave to Grandpop).

After battleground, a corn lesson

Terrific cycle tour of battleground we bought some fresh corn from Mr. Bush from Brown's Farm on old 116. Had to teach kids how to eat raw fresh-picked corn (raw!). A hit. Will post later photos from Little Round Top and the High Water Mark. Kids were moved while looking down to Devils Den, imagining in real space and dirt the stories they'd seen and heard. Kids their age, or their brothers', marching with Pickett into the teeth of what they knew was coming...

Larry Bourland '50 in Gettysburg

At Gettysburg Visitor we met Peddie alumnus, Larry Bourland. Can't tell who was more surprised, or tickled.

Mirelman and Bright Depart...

Mike and Chris ham it up with the riding kids. Onion arrives tonight to join in the fun.... (Storm passed just north of us. Weather lovely). Tomorrow: Gettysburg.

OK, so food is a theme

Like the boys last night, some girls kicked it with dinner tonight too!! Names protected to spread the goodness.

On the road from

Seven Valleys to Jefferson (2:00 pm). Lauren Marrazzo with a sardonic smile.

Wonders of the World; Food by Boys

Pre dinner: high anxiety. Afterwards, rampant amazement. Great ride up Rawlinsville Road, a three mile climb from the highway. Otther Creek tonight, singing, digesting, and sleeping, perhpa on rain. Tired kids, but wildly rejuvenated by 8.00 pm. All snoring last night by 10.15. Hope for the same tonight. All good.

Sunrise Observers

The scene this morning at 5:45 after a 5:36 (on schedule sunrise). GREAT and difficult ride today, with long climb to Rawlinsville. Setting camp as I type in Otter Creek, on west bank of Susquehanna. Camp staff says rain tonight so we'll pitch extra careful. More later after dinner under a pavilion.

Dawn

Setting camp in Amish land

A sweet day on the road among the Amish farms, as here in Kinser PA. Cooking underway as I type, with our neighbor farmer aquit from the field for his family's supper. Sunrise in the morning arrives over these fields.

Lunch break in New Holland

All goes well. A smooth morning.

Whoa, Nellie: what a cool day!!!

After a peloton start we hit Allentown where the Chief of Police of Bordentown met us and led us on a escorted ride through town, down to Crosswicks, and into B'town, including shutting down 130 and 206 so our yellow thunder could roll through. We were met at the Delaware River by bike trip alumna Jill Skipper and her Mom Debra skipper who delivered cheer and hoagies. We were guests at friend Rick Lynch's home (renovated 19c Baptist church for a break from the sun and a cool drink. We hit the highway, only to suffer a truck breakdown, solved niftily by superman John Lucs. Drove through rain into PA, shopped, made camp, and huddled happily in rain after AWESOME dinner ("Tell the parents we ate better than them!!") Steak, pasta,, salads, tacos, plenty of hors d'oeuvres, accompanying guitar and ukelele. Tents are dry, singing is breaking out, and sleep will come soon.

The Peleton???

About to roll on out of Peddie!

First Light on Center Campus

A first, I suspect, for Peddie. Time to roust some sleepyheads.

Happy Day 1!! ... post meal bliss

All set on opening day; tents up, bikes rolling smooth, dinner done, spirits soaring. Tomorrow will be a fresh adventure.

A Mountain of Gear...

... awaits

Center Campus Awaits

The graduation tent is soon to be replaced by the tents of 32 sophomores and 10 faculty riders. Fire up!

It's coming soon!!

And will be THIS much fun!