Hi All,

This is incredible--we only have 5 more days to ride--a few weeks ago I kind of thought we might be "coasting" by this time but not so. 

Of course our van tragedy is still so fresh in our hearts and minds--I still cry every night when I cycle into our parking lot at the motel and don't see our pretty blue van with the signs all over it.

Many of you have probably heard of the Erie Canal by folk song if nothing else--today I rode 25 miles along it on a bicycle path and it was so awesome.  We talked to some of the locals walking on the path and learned that they drain it every winter and leave only a foot of water in it so it doesn't freeze and damage the locks.  Also learned it's been here for almost 200 years and although it was built for commerce reasons, it now is used for pleasure boats only.

That was the fun part of the ride--as I turned off the bicycle path--a sharp right--there was a bridge and also a walkway--after bicycling over 3,000 miles without a scratch, I hit the railing between the two pathways and it caught my bike and kept throwing it from section to section with me still on it so I kept getting impaled with the metal poles holding it up so I ended up with a bruised chest, arm, cuts on my legs, two gorgeous bruises on one leg that should really be pretty in a couple of days and my bike bent out of shape in a few places.  It was completely pilot error--maybe I'm just on too much overload at this point--anyway, I was so glad I didn't make anyone else go over--I can nurse my own wounds and they really hurt but the good news is nothing is broke or I would be out--period. 

The staff really wanted me to "Sag" into town but I was not ready to give up so I did make it, am sitting here now with ice on my "owies" and hoping I can ride tomorrow. 

It was also lucky that we have two doctors on the tour and while they are usually way ahead of me somehow they were just getting off the bicycle path at the same time so I had immediate medical attention. 

I was so tangled up with the bike I couldn't get up until my friend came back and pulled the bike and me apart. 

Only 5 days left to ride but understand now that a couple of the last days have climbs that are not as long as Teton Pass but VERY STEEP so my legs better get well fast or I'll be in big trouble!

Something like 382 miles to go but it's not over until we dip that front wheel into the Atlantic.  I surely was scared when I went over today because a broken bone can happen so fast but thank goodness, I must have strong ones.  Thanks for the good vitamins Dr. Allen!!!

Love, Patricia