Day 6 05/07/09 NYC > Howells, NY. 87 Miles

Wow! What a first days riding! Got up at 5.15 checked out etc, took a few photos then left. Cycled up over the George Washington Bridge via Harlem. Not the most glamorous of places! Had a strong feeling that someone was going to come up & pinch our bikes!

Getting over the bridge and into New Jersey was like arriving in a different country! Lovely green lawns & trees etc. 9W road was fairly gentle riding to! Few issues with my bike – front rack came loose as screws fell out but that was resolved. Met a nice bunch of cyclists on route 17 that helped us find a good route to Middletown. Doing well for timing until we hit the Appellation Mountains. Killer Hill – See video! Flattened out after 15miles or so going past really nice lakes and campgrounds. Next event of the day was me trying to get food out of my bag, knocking my milometer off, slowing, and falling into a bush whilst clipped into bike! After that episode we made it to Middletown. Half expected a sheriff to ride through the town on horseback & shoot some bank robbers!

Rang up campsite for directions no luck for a while – they even came out to find us! Anyway made it & had a lovely reception. Felt much better after a shower. Mr & Mrs Korn cooked us dinner& we ate with them! Lovely people as were their friends!