It's 5:45am, an early start for a Sunday. It's freaking cold out. I'm tired and grumpy. Contemplate bailing, but tell myself to HTFU and get ready.
Outside my window, the streets of Manhattan are dark and empty.
After pumping up my tires, lubing the chain, and packing my nutrition, the sun begins to rise over the east river.
After the uptown slog, I meet my riding partners Sara and Su by the George Washington Bridge at 7:30am. They both look chipper and raring to go. I resent them heavily
It's 50* out, and we are all COLD on our bikes. Wishing we wore the booties, happy we all have gloves. Su was the smartest; she wore ear warmers under her helmet.
En route to the orchard, it seems like it's all uphill. There are climbs, more climbs, and more climbs.
40 miles later, we are thrilled to spy our quarry
Off the bikes, out of the road shoes, throw on the sneaks and flip flops, it is time to hunt some
apples
dont have to worry about your
bike gettin stolen round these parts
the pickings look good
sara getting it done
I couldn't believe how many
apples were on this one tree
yet these had none
sara, myself, su... please excuse the helmet hair
applesauce anyone?
su, glowing as usual
this farm is over 200 years old
pre-picked
apples for the lazy folk
mini strawberry rhubarb pie = lunch
Su bought a TON of food in the farm for lunch! of course she couldn't eat it all and ended up bringing a lot of it back to NYC... her bag was so heavy for the ride home. it was hilarious
even funnier because of her Ironman bag! she bought: apple cider donuts, muenster cheese, two pies, an apple, a giant thing of challah bread, and organic peanut butter
CHALLAH!
nom nom nom lunch
hey anyone want to give us a ride back to the city?!
at this point we sort of got made fun of by these hardcore roadies outside of the farm. i think it was because of all the
apples we were bringing home (each one of us had at least a dozen
apples in our backpacks for the ride back). They didn't really believe us that we came all the way from Manhattan and acted all shocked that we were riding back.
Whereas they were drinking gatoraid endurance formula and having gels, the three of us enjoyed our schmorgashboard of local farm goodies
wtfever, roadie snobs... i knew they were just jealous of my carmel apple!
obligatory barn + foliage shot
ugh- back in NYC i spot my arch-rival the M72- what a juxtaposition to the serene roads of rockland county!
post-ride recovery meal: mini pumpkin pie and brooklyn brewery pumpkin ale, while my
apples are marinating in cinnamon sugar for the pie i shall later bake
what a freaking great day!
thanks for reading
court
TR: 80 miles, 3 chicas, and a few dozen apples
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