Day 2 - July 21st - Sayre to Corning

It was a mostly flat day with gentle rolling hills, marking our first long stretch of 60 miles. However, anticipation loomed over the looming challenge of the trip's largest climb, which lay ahead. But more on that later.

For lunch, we stopped at a park just outside downtown Watkins Glen before making our way along a delightful bike trail to Watkins Glen State Park. Here, we took an hour to explore the park, marveling at its magnificent canyon carved through ancient sedimentary rocks and its 19 stunning waterfalls—a perfect opportunity for the boys to soak in the beauty of nature.

After Watkins Glen, my bike computer signaled the beginning of the big climb a mere 328 feet from where we parked our bikes. There was little time to warm up for the one-and-a-half-mile ascent, rising 525 feet—roughly the height of the Washington Monument in just 1.5 miles. It was a challenging climb, but all the boys rose to conquer it.

I like to spotlight one of the boys each day, and today I had a chat with Issac. Together, we brainstormed names for our two riding groups. We settled on "Swifties" and "Blue Crew," the monikers we'll now use to distinguish the two teams.

What's a typical evening like? After showering, the boys usually unwind at the hotel pool before we head out for dinner, providing a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other better. Following dinner, we gather for a team meeting where one of the youngsters presents on a topic relevant to the area we're exploring. This year's topics include the Susquehanna River, the Finger Lakes, and Corning, New York. Each night, the ride leaders also lead a brief devotional lesson.Read more