Days 149-154 Providence, RI (A Tale of Two Cities: Part 2)
Aside from the massive monetary outlay (Made less painful by the generosity of friends) Providence has been a great place to regroup. The hostel in Smith Hill has been fantastic with a group of wonderful young people doing and with plans to do some awesome things. It has been great to spend more than a night or two with these people. I have also been able to get some project done and start new exciting ones that I hope to soon tell you all about.
I have spent most of my time (and writing this post from) at the Athenaeum Library. Founded in 1753 the Athenaeum was a favorite haunt of Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft who once lived up the road. Surprisingly it is little used by the students of the area, I guess they prefer the modern computer age too much. But, for me this place has been an absolute gem and your ever in Providence, RI this is a spot that should not be missed (and it’s free!).
The exciting news is that I picked up the new rig yesterday afternoon and she is beautiful! After a it of set-up I think she and I will make a great team and we head out towards adventure. Surly’s have always been a responsive ride (they just seem to want to go, and more so with gear) and this one is no exception.
My last LHT and I have been through so much, Canada to Mexico, The Olympic Peninsula, to work and back countless times and most recently across Canada. I still miss it, I know is sounds silly but if you do anything for a long period of time you grow attached to the machines and tools that make it possible.
I am not one to dwell in nostalgia long though, I have things to do places to go and right now my focus is on getting back on the road and finish cycling down the Atlantic Coast.
Tomorrow that goal will be back on track as I will leave Providence, RI and start making my way to NYC.
The RISD Museum has a lovely collection.
Meet the new girl, standing under some friends. Brought to me by the good folks at Legend Bicycles in Providence. They have been fantastic since I first called them on the morning of the theft and set in motion it’s replacement.
Hey, Ken, So glad for the update and to know that you can get moving tomorrow! I am still feeling the pain. A friend who I mentioned the theft to left a message on my phone this morning outlining suspicious bike behavior and providing a detail or two about the associated bike. Not yours, but even I stopped dead in my tracks (wheels) the other day when I passed a Surly with dropped handlebars — only to see on closer inspection that it was a Cross Check.
Wishing you a safe and an interesting ride to NYC.
Thanks Deborah, I am happy to have wheels again. I will be keeping an eye out if I see it pop up on Craigslist. You never know.
Thanks for the well wishes, should be a fun day of my journey. Happy travels to you as well