Day 89 4th Millennium September 8, 2001

! was up early this morning and riding @ 7. Good thing too. ! knew it would be a long day. What kind of restaurant doesn't have pancakes w/ breakfast? @ least ! didn't set MYself on fire today. Just 1/2 an hour for breakfast. For some reason the climbs were slow. Part of the problem was that ! was hitting red lights @ the bottom of most of them. On the flats ! was fast. Through one city no problem. Into New Haven, CT and MY knee was feeling a little twinge on the climb. On the west side ! was hungry and it was noon. ! had seen an ice cream store earlier so ! was ready. ! spotted a dairy restaurant. In ! went. First thing ! looked @ was the milk shakes. ! wondered what flavors were available. They told ME they have chocolate, vanilla and strawberry syrup. Or the many flavors of ice cream. Always thinking ! asked for coffee ice cream and chocolate syrup. Stupendous! The waitress thought that was really odd. And MY request for swiss cheese instead of american on MY burger. ! guess they haven't ever seen anything like that. ! was only about 15 miles from Bridgeport, CT where ! was going to catch the ferry to Long Island. ! made it to the dock w/ 45 minutes to spare. Just over an hour on the boat. ! was back to riding by 3:45 pm. 25 miles to the south side of the island to camp. There are no campgrounds closer to NYC and none any where else nearby so ! had to make it. ! got there right @ 6. Something didn't look right. The campground is closed for the season due to West Nile Virus bearing mosquitos. No camping left in NY. ! had just hit 4,000 miles and 90 for the day. ! estimated 45 miles tomorrow. ! figured why not do 10 of those tonight. ! went up 27A 'til ! hit 100 miles. There were plenty of little towns along the road. ! thought it would be cool to get a hotel in Babylon, NY. ! stopped @ a gas station to ask for directions. The guy didn't know of any nearby. None in the Babblin' town. or anything west. Then he asked which way ! was headed. West. "Oh that is much easier". "Go through the Babblin' town and you will see a light w/ a Buick dealer on one corner , etc., etc." ! went by the Hess station and the burnt out catering building. The hotel was there. $80 dollars and no surfing. ! showered and got a pizza. About 30 miles of headwinds today. Great shake, another century and 4,000 miles. Into Manhattan tomorrow. ! need to call hostels before ! leave Lindenhurst, NY tomorrow. 104 miles.