One Journey Ends

The weather for the last week was reasonably warm and the skies were sunny. Cycling thru Ontario, Canada was an excellent choice as the farmfields were much nicer than riding thru the armpit of industrial Ohio around Lake Erie. Passing thru customs in Marine City, MI was a breeze, but the next day I had to navigate around the Detroit suburbs. Everything went fairly well to begin with; when a road got too busy I simply found a backroad. Although the dirt backroads had less traffic my cursing at the bumps was loud and constant. By mid-afternoon I had reached Pontiac and thought I was in the clear. Unfortunately as I road southwest there was not a road that wasn't crowded with suburban commuters burning fossil fuels.

I finally reached Island Lake State Recreation Area where my brother Mark drove out to meet me. We had good food, cold brews, and a nice fire to celebrate my last night on the road.  The next morning a heavy frost covered the ground and by eleven it was finally warm enough to ride. I set out and traffic was much more pleasant, but the wind was not giving me a pass on my last day. Mark road out to complete the last few miles with me. My cadence was smooth and my tires kept rolling forward. Soon I was climbing the last hill and taking a right onto Hickman Road. For weeks I have been thinking about the end of this ride. At the finish I simply road into the driveway, hugged Mom, took a few photos and went inside for lots of chocolate chip cookies.

Now, this being a milestone one may wonder what thoughts or conclusions I have from my journey. If my reader is expecting some grand epiphany I am sorry to disappoint. This journey was long, but not particularly difficult. I was just doing what came naturally and on the open road enjoying myself.  I've seen some beautiful places, met some wonderful people, and gathered some memories. As the journey progressed I've grown older and learned a few things, yet am still puzzled by many of life's complexities. Life's a journey and this was just part of it. There are still many backroads yet to be explored and I do enjoy riding my bike...

Ontario cornfields

Sombra, Ontario and the St.Claire River

Morning frost

September 11, 2001

November 5, 2011

White, Green, and Beyond!

Well, I posted the last blog in Maine, so that is where I shall begin. My two days on the Maine coast were very nice. There is something about the sound of waves on surf that allow one peace and thought. It would comprise my only day rest day of the trip. After leaving Westport Beach I cycled to Freeport and visited the world headquarters of L.L. Bean. They had some tempting gear, but as I did not want to carry it I only bought a needed canister of fuel. Soon after Freeport I turned left and head to the West and home.
That evening I met a 'road angel' in Turner Center who provided me with a warm place to stay, laundry (this was much needed!), shower, and the best breakfast of the whole trip. It was most excellent! From their house I cycled into New Hampshire's White Mountains along the Kancamagus Highway. I cycled up to the tour's highpoint just below 3,000 feet and then cruised down into the ski town of Lincoln. Then it was more short steep climbs for the rest of the day. Then the following two days were nice and sunny as I cycled the quite backroads of Vermont's Green Mountains. Straight from the Green Mountains I entered the Adirondacks of New York. Since it was a state forest I was expecting lots of public land, but a fair amount along the roadside was private and posted. This is also where winter caught up with me. Temperatures dropped near freezing and rain was falling. It was survival and each little town became an oasis and place to warm up. I was surrounded by mountains, but the rainy mist kept them hidden. I cycled hard for lower elevations and in three days was on the shores of Lake Ontario. This is where the hills became endless and really exhausted me. I got a room in a flophouse in Wolcott, did laundry, and had a wonderful pizza from a local pizzeria. The last few days have been difficult, but I am exiting the mountains knowing that I've got some powerful legs to put to use.
Palmyra, New York was really nice. Here I joined the flat multi-use path along the historic Erie Canal and also saw some sights around Hill Cumorah of Latter Day Saint notoriety (it's where Joseph Smith got the plates and had other religious experiences). I was cycling three days in beautiful weather along the quite banks of the canal before entering Canada at Niagara Falls. Here I stayed in a hostel and the next morning visited the Falls. Then the ride across the farmlands of Ontario commenced. 200 miles in three days along nice quite roads. It's great weather and excellent cycling!

Fall colors along the Erie Canal

American Falls from Niagara Falls, Canada

At the Falls

Ontario Farm