Day 63: North Adams, MA

Day 63: North Adams, MA

August 14, 2016

Miles: 34
 
Cambridge, NY to North Adams, MA


We stayed at our first AirBnB apartment last night.  The location was great and the price was right.  We found it through a referral from a women in the town, so we didn't rent it online through AirBnB.  We didn't realize we had to pay cash, so between the two of us we fell short.  So this morning, I had to ride to the edge of town to a bank to withdraw cash.  This set us back, but it really was the Garmin that significantly delayed us.  The Garmin locked up in the middle of loading up the day's programmed course.  When I reset it, I found the day's course had been deleted, and after it would stop at loading maps.  I messed with it for a while until I finally gave up.  We had to ride without the Garmin today.  Normally this would mean getting lost, but today we did ok.  We only had to turn around a couple of times and not very far.

We decided on the local diner to get breakfast.  I had an omelette and Steve blueberry pancakes and an egg.  It was well after noon when we started pedaling this morning.

Omelette - good

Steve very much enjoyed his breakfast

The first 5 miles of the day felt like I was carrying lead in my tires.  I thought perhaps they needed air, so we stopped.  I checked both tires and found that the air pressure was fine. I didn't know what it could be so then I checked my chain and decided I needed to lubricate the chain, which I did.  We then got back on the bikes and rode off.  After a little while my riding resumed back to normal.  I later said to Steve, it is a good thing I lubricated my chain because my bike feels, and I feel, so much better riding.  He just laughed saying 'perhaps it's just your legs.'  I gave him the stink eye, and he followed with 'we have been riding everyday since North Hero Island without a rest day, perhaps it's just tired legs.'  The good news is that once my chain was lubricated and my legs were warmed up, I felt fine for the rest of the day.  Tomorrow's ride is going to be a difficult one, so getting into North Adams early today to rest our legs was important.  We made it in before 4:00p.

Looking for the lead

We headed straight for the Berkshires.  Today we weaved in and out of the mountains making our way to North Adams, but tomorrow there is no avoiding the big climb.  We have to cross the mountain ridge to get ourselves home.  That day is tomorrow.
  

Steve heading to the mountains

Berkshires vantage point 1

Berkshires vantage point 2

Berkshires vantage point 3

We rode through Williamstown today just 10 miles from North Adams.  It is a great college town.  Steve snapped some shots of a reproduction 1753 building using all of the materials of that time.  We passed by it as we rode through the campus of Williams College.

1753 reproduction

Great floor

Furniture

We are staying at the Holiday Inn tonight.  We are very happy with the TV and Internet here at the Inn.  Last night, we had spotty Internet and no TV, so we sadly missed watching the Olympics.  We weren't happy about that, so to make up for it we have been watching it since checking in at 4:00p.  Steve ran out to pick up dinner from the restaurant that adjoins the Holiday Inn.  No picture of dinner tonight - forgot to take one - but we both had a great dinner. Steve chicken parmigiana and me a sirloin steak. We really did need a good dinner tonight since we had skipped dinner last night and lunch today. Tomorrow's ride will be difficult, but we are ready for it!

We are headed 44 miles to Northampton tomorrow.  We will climb the tallest peak of the tour over 2000 elevation.

Got to go .. watching the women's beach volleyball!