Old Forge, NY

After a delicious pancake breakfast in the Selkirk State Park, we were on the road by 7:45: much earlier than usual. I had been dreading Day 40 for a while, so when we started our uphill battle to Old Forge, I was a little nervous. It turns out I had no reason to be, because we arrived at the Adirondack Lodge at three o’clock. Maybe we all had a little extra oomph from the pancakes, or maybe it was Mr. Brockett whipping us into shape, but we definitely traveled at a faster speed today that I am used to. It was a day full of hills, mostly up, with a fifteen-hundred foot elevation gain throughout the day.

The ride was relatively seamless. No rain, no crashes, no wrong turns, and not even a single flat. As my dad commented, we “run like a well-oiled machine”. I should hope so, after six weeks together! Of course we only start to get it down in the last week… typical.

I would like to add a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Brendon, who is bringing home a silver medal after his four weeks at crew camp. He raced against the Canadian national team, the Mexican national team, Boston Rowing Club, and many others and did us very proud, placing second in the 4’s (meaning there were four people in his boat). Brendon, you are amazing, and we are all SO proud of you! We can’t wait for you to rejoin us tomorrow in Port Henry. Hopefully we will all be able to keep up with you a little better this time around, although I won’t be surprised if you are even stronger now than you were when you left us.

Now we are at the beautiful Adirondack League Club lodge in Old Forge, New York. Mr. Grayson is a member of the club, and he drove up from Connecticut to meet us here and provide us with these amazing accommodations. From the window of the room that Gwen and I are sharing, we have a sweeping view of the lake, along with the hills and beautiful forest around us. I am finally starting to feel like we are in New England, or at least close. Even though I DO hate hills, they are a comforting reminder that I am getting closer and closer to my home turf. Soon enough, I’ll be sleeping in my own bed! (Snuggling up with Gwenny, of course).