DAY 1 - GAP TRAIL - WET AND WETTER

Laura's parents, Pam and Don, were kind enough to give us a lift to Pittsburgh.

At the hotel with Pam and Don. Ready to go.

The day started with rain, so we decided to wait it out for a little while at the hotel. The radar looked as though it would clear up. Eventually we decided to head out to get to the start of the GAP Trail in Pittsburgh. Before we even made it a mile, it started to rain. We took shelter at a church.

Taking shelter from the rain at St. Margaret. One mile completed.

We finally got on our way and made it to the start of the GAP Trail at Point State Park in Pittsburgh. More rain.

Point State Park. Start of GAP Trail. Pittsburgh, PA.

We were on our way, and we got wet! But, we were having a great time.

Crossing into Pittsburgh.

Drowned rats! Still having fun.

Lunch at McKeesport.

Taking a break in West Newton.

Lucky to get a lean-to at Round Bottom Campsite. Yes, it rained that night.

Along the Tough River at Round Bottom.

Click HERE to see more photos on Flickr.

FIRST OVERNIGHT ON THE NEW BIKE - EXCURSION TO DOVER, MA

NEW BIKE(S) DAY - TANDEM EXPO 2016

We attended a tandem bike expo hosted by Tandems East in Pittsgrove, NJ over the weekend of April 2-3, 2016. We went into the event thinking it would be great to have the opportunity to give some other tandem bikes a test ride. While our trusty Burley Duet is a joy to ride, we knew with the type of riding we wanted to do we would need something more up to the challenge. Although not necessarily thinking we would ride away with something, I guess I really was thinking we will probably ride away with something.

The event proved to be truly awesome. A complete focus on just tandem bikes and the needs of tandem bike riders. The Expo was held at the local Middle School, and walking into the gym you are awed by a gym full of tandem bikes. Needless to say it is like being a child in a candy store. All thoughts of holding back went right out the window.

Gym full of tandem bikes. About 90 bikes in all!

Our first test ride was on a Hokitika 2-BE-ONE (the house brand of Tandems East). We could instantly feel the difference from riding the Burley Duet to riding the Hokitika. We also tried a Co-Motion Speedster and a DaVinci In-2-Ition with its unique independent drive train. All felt great! We ended up choosing the Hokitika (it was slightly used so the pricing was right). So we ride away with a new tandem (which includes S&S couplers so the bike can be broken apart and stored in two suitcases for travel).

Our new Hokitika 2-BE-ONE.

SOLD! We call her Felicity, the French derivative for happiness.

On the second day of the Expo, after attending some talks and looking around the gym, we came across a cute little Bike Friday tandem. This bike has a low frame on small wheels (20-inch) which makes for a compact bike. It also had the ability to come apart into sections. We decided to give it a test ride just for fun. Wow, was it a zippy little thing. I think I mentioned in joking we should get this bike too. Laura talked me into it (it was also used and we got a reasonable price for it). We somehow convinced ourselves that this would be a great bike to take with us on out 26' sailboat. Since it comes apart, we could transport it in the dinghy and have the ability to ride around places we sail too. So, bike number two, Bike Friday.

Our new Bike Friday Family Tandem.

Bike Friday enjoying a dinghy ride.