Day 2: Apples!

Lying in an apple Orchard somewhere in farm country, on top of a large mountain, wondering how I got here?
...
Lolz, East Syracuse is ghetto as fuck!


I biked out at 10AM after some brief trouble getting my bike unlocked from the side porch of the hostel.
The weather if phenomenal. Blue sky's sun and warmth with a cool breeze, perfect fall climate to enjoy a beautiful countryside.


It's really true, Americans are some of the nicest people you could meet. I
I met a women named Cindy in a place called Sheril county who told me how far my next turn was; something which had been concerning me.
she just bought some apples and insisted I have one.


"New York state apples are the best in the world" she boasted.
I tried to explain that Ontario apples were the same but she was more concerned with how much I had eaten today.


"you're gonna want a second one"
I hesitantly accepted, even though i didn't want to carry it.


The eerie canal trail was amazingly beautiful while I was on it, and I had it mostly to myself the whole day. Some fisherman fished and some riders rode horses past me which was awesome but after only a few hours the trail ended for 22M. Nature triumphs.
I navigated towards my new home: ROUTE 5 East, smooth sailing.


I will say this about America:
While they may not have the bragging rights we do about our railways, they beat us ten to one on highways and roads.
America's got broad shoulders, bike lanes on most highways and hardly any rough patches.


I never got back on the canal trail but I thought, fuck it, you see more of the country this way, more diners, stores, and women named Ed'.


I stopped at a diner in a town called " " and had my first slice of American pie. "bert and dicks homstyle diner" mmm...


Ok. then this thing happened where I climbed hills all day. What the fuck? 
I mean there are hills, but these were fucking massive, and I'd go miles without seeing a town.
II knew I was going the right direction so I stuck true.
I climbed from about 4:00 straight through to dusk.


the hills would wind going up at steep angles and I had about fifty pounds on my back end. I was screaming out loud in parts, and as soon as the top would near I could see the angle of the next one waiting for me.
I got to the top and for the first time in what felt like forever I was on flattish ground, even sloping slightly down.
I was on top of a mountain in the middle of farm country, hadn't seen a car for miles and the sun was setting. Shockingly quiet, nothing but wind pushing accross the grass, I coasted.


There was a dog at the side of the road named looked friendly so I stopped and shared an apple with (thanks Cindy) him, and thought about where i should sleep.
I decided the dog was named Jeff, don't ask me why.


As it turned out, the dogs name was actually Emily, and her owner was really nice and helped me figure out the easiest route down the hills back onto route 5, although she suggested route 20 as an easier flatter route. I thanked her and biked on until dark, then about an hour more.
Finally I was about to collapse and pulled up to a house with a huge rural property and knocked on the door.
"My name is Matt, I'm a traveling cyclist and I can't make my destination tonight. Would you be kind enough to share a corner of your property and let me camp out?"


"sure, would you like to camp in the backyard? or the apple orchard?" 


"uhm... Apple orchard?"
"Yea, you can eat as many as you like."
And that brings me to where we started, lying in a tent about 75M west of Albany eating apples and hoping this good weather lasts.
Day 2:
money spent: $30.00 
Distance Traveled: ?? 60M?

Friends made: 3
I amsomewhere