Bon Ton Roulet: Foreshadowing?

On the last night party of the Bon Ton Roulet they read off the entries for the 6 word stories. Try as I might during the tour and after I cannot fit the "Bon Ton experience" into 6 words. While entries such as "Crotch on fire, not heart's desire", and "Sleep, eat, pedal, shower, eat, repeat" do capture some of the essenence, I will try, and maybe not even succeed to do it in 6, or maybe 8 posts.

Sunday 7/26

While on the way to the Bon Ton Roulet, just east of Syracuse, NY we drove through a line of thunderstorms. Rain so hard you couldn't see the road. Of course we also had to stop for gas and in the run to the rest area got completely soaked. Later at the camp site however, the tent held up well against the next line of showers and we stayed dry. According to the weather report there is only a 20% chance of rain today. With tomorrow's forecast for a 60% chance of rain - looks like we're going to doing some wet camping and riding in the upcoming week.

Dinner was on our own at the Green Shutter diner. Definitely a local restaurant with a little vegetable/herb garden out back and curbside service (if you honk) out front.

Now, 499 other people and myself are settling down for the night in the field behind the Auburn High School. Can't say I've ever camped at a high school before but thats where this soon to be mobile camp is tenting tonight. Looking out over tent city there are distinct neighborhoods. Located closest to the bathrooms, staked, corner to corner is the high end neighborhood. For between $385.00 and $500, In Motion Events - Camptel services supply, set up and break down your tent every night. Mostly Eurekas. Radiating out from this upscale tent Levittown is an interesting mixture of tents randing from single person TNF bivy tents to 6 person L. L. Bean palaces. One guy, has a Kelty 4-person sun shade set up with numerous chairs. Lots of his friends, and people's he's ridden with on these types of rides before are stopping by to say hello. These supported rides seem to be the way a lot of people spend their vacations.

From this vantage point, inside a palatial L. L. Bean tent complete with blow up mattress, chairs, standing room etc. I'm guessing the upcoming week will be:

1. Wet
2. Full of lots of different people, tents and bikes.
3. Covering more than a few miles.