Day 50 Latham, NY to Brattleboro, VT  79 miles and 6042 feet of climb

Today was yet another extra special day on this adventure across the USA. Jack Himmelsbach, a friend of mine from Simsbury High School Class of 1975, drove 3 and a half hours from his home in Vermont to our hotel in Latham, NY just to join us for the first 35 miles of our ride today. He rode a total of 70 miles today because he, of course, had to ride back to get his car at the hotel.

 Jack, myself and British National Cycling Team member Steve enjoying a bike ride.

Jack and I at the New York- Vermont state line. 

 I had not seen or corresponded with Jack since we both graduated from High School in 1975. Jack's father was our family physician for over 25 years in Simsbury, Connecticut, where we grew up. In High School, Jack and I skied together a few times, but generally, we didn't hang out with the same crowd. We both agreed that High School was not the easiest of times for either of us. I hung out in the music department as much as I could. I'm not sure where Jack hung out, but I'm sure he had his preferred place as well. I knew Jack had become a Vermont State Trooper almost right out of High School, from speaking with his Dad at a medical appointment back in 1980. Up until a few weeks ago, that was the last I knew of Jack Himmelsbach. Then a friend of mine posted something about me doing this bike ride on Facebook. Jack saw it and emailed me about joining us.

Last night and today it was great catching up and riding with Jack. He is an avid bike rider, and that showed today as we rode with the British National Cycling Team- Masters Division. He got high marks from everyone. It had been a while since Jack had ridden in a paceline, but he didn't miss a beat. There is not an ounce of fat on that guy, just like back in High School. I'm trying to convince him to join me on the next bike tour I do.

I wasn't going to put this next item in tonight's blog entry, but I feel I must. 

We had many hills to climb today, and the most significant climbs were 8 miles and 2 miles long, respectively. Climbing has never been my strong suit as I've mentioned here before, so when we approached the 8-mile climb today, I implored the Brits to carry on up the hill and let me grind up it slowly as I always do. But as much as I insisted they would not have any of it and they insisted that I take the lead as we started up. These guys can devour hills and mountains, and here they are, slowly making their way up the climb at my less than impressive pace. "We're a team!" they'd say. 

On the way up, Steve was coaching me, telling me the grade that was coming up and to keep breathing and not push it too hard. I kept saying, "I'd feel more comfortable in the back. " And the response I got from another Brit, Chris was, "Well that wouldn't be training now would it?".

On the second 2 mile climb, Andy (who is a fantastic bike rider) was at the front, and he kept the pace such that I could stay on the back and not fall off. At the top of the climb, he gave me a thumbs up.   

I still feel as though I don't belong with these guys, but they have been so helpful and gracious to me all these weeks that I'm at a loss for words.

One last tidbit. I asked Jack if he thought Vermont had changed much over the previous 35 years that he's lived here. He didn't hesitate, "No.," he said. 

Indeed, Brattleboro, VT, where we are staying tonight, does look a lot like it did back in the 1980s when I was last here. 

2 more days of riding.