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Matt lauer

Matt Lauer pulls into Macari Vineyards and Winery in Mattituck on Wednesday. (Credit: Vera Chinese)

The first day of Matt Lauer’s 230-mile charity bike ride from Boston to New York City started with clear skies, dry conditions and a comfortable temperature.

The Today Show host wasn’t so lucky while traveling wet North Fork roads on Tuesday, day three of the five-day tour.

Lauer started his day at the Cross Sound Ferry terminal in Orient, and traveled along the North Road making stops at Sep’s Farm in East Marion and Macari Vineyards and Winery in Mattituck.

“What a nice sight this is. What a beautiful place this is,” Lauer, who has a home in East Hampton, said as he arrived at the winery. “I love the North Fork. I’m here all the time.”

Lauer is making the journey from Boston’s Fenway Park to Rockefeller Center to raise awareness for Red Nose Day, a campaign that is raising money to fight childhood poverty.

“We hope that all the people watching this will go to our website and learn more about Red Nose Day and give generously,” he told co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Willie Geist while filming the live segment.

Lauer’s tour will end today in Port Jefferson and he will arrive in New York City on Thursday.

Lauer and his team stopped into the Macari tasting room to dry off and for the host to enjoy a warm cup of hot chocolate.

“It’s an amazing cause. We’ve been fans of the Today Show since I was a kid, so this is awesome,” said vineyard and winery manager Alexandra Macari. “I’ll call my 88-year-old mother and she’ll tell me everything [she saw on television.] She’s a diehard fan.”

Among those waiting for him was Remi, winemaker Kelly Urbanik Koch’s four-year-old yellow lab, who wore a sign that said “Hi Wrangler,” a nod to the Today Show’s pet puppy.

 

Locals like Milicent Russell of Mattituck stopped by Macari Tuesday morning to get a peek at Lauer, who generously posed for photos with anyone who asked.

Macari wholesale rep Gibson Campbell and Matt Lauer. (Credit: Vera Chinese)
Macari wholesale rep Gibson Campbell and Matt Lauer. (Credit: Vera Chinese)

“He was so accommodating,” Russell said. “The biggest bike ride I ever took was the Five Borough Bike Tour — and that was a lot.”

Red Nose Day is a British-born fundraising event that invites people to raise money for children in need. NBC’s primetime special marking America’s first Red Nose Day airs Thursday, May 21,

You can donate to the cause here.

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