ocean park, maine

Our directions for the final day of pedaling.

When I wrote these directions this morning, I did not know they would take us down the exact street to the beach at Ocean Park, Maine that we pedaled in 2009. There was a big difference however. In 2009, when we arrived at this same beach and this same place there were only four people on the beach, a family of four. And one of the four took our picture doing the traditional tire dip in the Atlantic. Today, the beach was very crowded. We took our bikes to the ocean's edge, met Michelle, and she graciously took our pictures. She even took one for herself as she heard our story, and said, "I can't wait to tell my husband what he missed." Michelle, thank you for your interest in our ride, your kindness, and your very encouraging attitude. 

The ride today was on very smooth shoulders along Maine routes 202 and 111. When you ride a bike on highway, smooth and wide shoulders make a huge difference. And we were blessed most of the day. I don't think we took very many pictures because of being so close to the finish. I guess we were like horses going to the barn. Good ride.

My Bible verses for this journey has been 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:17: 

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  (1 Corinthians 10:31)

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17) 

To come clean with you, I'm not really sure how to bring glory to God pedaling my bicycle. I do hope that, maybe, I've shared a little bit about Jesus in my blog and shared a little bit of his character with the people I've met. I've decided that the best way for me to end my blog about my cross-country journey would be to share my spiritual journey. It's been nothing short of incredible.

Growing up in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania, a town of about 850 when I was a kid, was a journey in itself. I loved, and still, love that town. I walked to Shrewsbury Elementary School and rode the school bus to Susquehannock High School in nearby Glen Rock. As a kid, I knew there was a God. When you grow up in a farming area of the country, you just know all this stuff didn't just happen. Fields of corn and wheat, calves being born, chicks and ducks hatching? It doesn't take much to know that there is a Creator. These things just don't happen accidentally. My problem with God was I was afraid of him. Mom taught my brothers and me the bedtime prayer most kids then knew by memory:

"Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should . . . "  You know what word goes there, don't you? "If I should die before I wake. I pray the Lord my soul to take." That scared me so badly that I would try to stay awake all night, hopefully so I could keep from dying in my sleep.

A friend of mine who lived nearby in Shrewsbury, Marvin Hendrix, invited me to go to church with him on weekday night. I think it was a Thursday. I went because Marvin was my friend. At his church, a pastor had come to preach for a week. I didn't know who it was. Still don't. But I do remember that, as he preached, I thought my heart was going to explode. He gave an invitation and I thought I was going to die. After the invitation, Marvin said to me, "Barry, I never thought to ask you but are you a Christian?" I didn't even know what a Christian was. I just knew that some people in Shrewsbury went to church and some didn't. I was one of the ones who didn't. To me, church was kind of boring, except on Christmas and Easter when free candy and an orange were given to the kids. Back to Marvin's question, I knew I wasn't. After talking with Marvin's dad and the visiting preacher, I prayed and trusted Jesus as my Savior and Lord. I know something was different when I went home, went to bed, and as a teenage still prayed, "Now I lay me down to sleep . . ." I went right to sleep.

My journey as a new Christian was uneventful. Before, I didn't know what a Christian was. Now I didn't know what a Christian should do. I didn't know I should be reading my Bible, praying, attending a church where I could fellowship with other believers and could be taught how to grow in my faith. I didn't know anything!

While I was in the Air Force and stationed at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, an airman who was part of the Navigators, a ministry focused on guys and gals in the military, stopped by my room in the dorm. He asked me about my faith and I told him how I came to faith in Jesus as a high school student. He told me that in order to grow in my faith I needed to be connected to a local church where I could grow and serve. I tried the base chapel but that really didn't work and I didn't connect.

Stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio, a captain invited me to his church and I went, immediately connected, was welcomed into the church family, started to get instruction from a pastor who preached God's Word, and began serving others in a Sunday School class of third graders. I also finally realized that I needed to follow Jesus in Believer's Baptism, which I did. Things started happening spiritually. I even met and married the Queen (Margaret) while I was there. Sarah and Carey, our daughters, came into the world at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Hospital. Two more incredible blessings.

We moved to Cincinnati, Ohio so I could attend the University of Cincinnati. We started attending a nearby church in Fairfield and there, I felt like the Lord wanted me to serve as a pastor to the middle school and high school students there. That's what I did. I'm retired now but I still serve in my church in Georgia, Prince Avenue Baptist Church, where I now hang out with and minister to college students. (Really, I just harass them and they minister to me.) That's about it for the very short version of my spiritual journey to this point.

At our church we sing a song with these words, "All my life You have been faithful. All my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God."

From the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, I have been overwhelmed with the goodness of God. He's blessed me with his creation. He's blessed me with health and strength. He's placed people along my journey who were kind, caring, fun, and friendly. And he placed the people at just the right time every time. He's blessed me with a fifty-eight day revival, hanging out with me as I've pedaled. And, did I mention encouragement? I've received notes, cards, texts, phone calls, and face-to-face encouragement from everywhere! I've even been blessed by my pastor and church as I've watched and listened to the online service from my church. I'm constantly reminded that I miss two things from home: my family and my church. I'm super excited about finding my spot at church and hearing live music and preaching. 

The finish, today, was incredible. Tomorrow morning, I'll wake up, get up, and I won't pedal. This journey is over but I'll have memories for the rest of my life. I'm loving America more. I'm loving God's creation more. I'm loving people more. I'm loving God more. I'm ready for a new beginning, now. I'll love it as well. I've got some things in my mind and on my list. I'll see what happens.

All my life He has been faithful . . .

rochester, new hampshire

Grand old flag and a grand old New Hampshire barn.

 Day 57, next to the last day! 41.64 miles from Boscawen, New Hampshire to Rochester, New Hampshire. We are right across the border. On the other side . . . Maine. And a few miles more . . . the Atlantic Ocean! Are we ready? I feel kind of like it's Christmas Eve. Not too sure I'll be able to sleep tonight because of tomorrow. (Just kidding about that!) After today, I could sleep on a pile of bricks! The description for today's ride looks something like this: Hill. Hill. Hill. Hill. Hill, and Hill. Seems like most of the hills were uphill too. STRAVA says we climbed 2,281 feet on our journey to the sea! I believe it.

Margaret took a picture of Smokey and said, "Fire danger low except for the flames coming from their bikes as they race to the coast!!!" Tomorrow, we'll cross over into Maine and pedal about thirty-nine miles and finish this ride. I'm not sure about the flames but we will probably be moving a little faster than we have been.

This evening we drove tomorrow's route in our Explorer just to check things out. It is relatively flat with maybe two or three hills. We'll get over them and finally get to check out the Atlantic! I don't have a bucket list, but if I did, I would get a big red marker and do a huge checkmark beside this journey. Then I'd find an ice cream shop and buy a huge banana split with the works: a scoop of chocolate, a scoop of strawberry, a scoop of vanilla, one banana, strawberries, pineapple, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, chopped peanuts, and a cherry on the top. I've been thinking about that the whole trip. That's bucket list stuff right there! I'm doin' it! I'll take a picture for the grand finale blog.

I just read the last three encouragement notes I received from so many of you. I've been able to read two or three each day. I usually would read them the night before and then again in the morning. It worked out just right. I also received text messages and Facebook notes galore. I am blessed and grateful for the notes and also the many prayers that came with them.

"Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

You did that! Thank you.

tilton, new hampshire

My special tag I received from the Gendron family in Rochester, Vermont.

Two days to go! After 80.83 miles today we arrived in Boscawen, New Hampshire. Tomorrow, we plan to pedal 44 miles to Rochester, New Hampshire. Thursday we pedal 39 miles to the Atlantic Ocean!

Out of the Green Mountains of Vermont and into the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Nothing like back to back challenges in adjoining states. Thankfully, both states are very narrow where we cross. Both are very beautiful as well. 

This morning I told Phil if we did 50 miles, that would be super! If we did 60 miles, that would be incredible. If we did 70 miles, that would be impossible! Well, somehow we ended up with 80.83 miles. I'm not sure what to say about that except I am a happy rider. Those are 80 miles we don't have to do again! Sounds good to me.

As we pedaled today, we passed close to the birthplace of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church. It's kind of spooky as was the Hill Cumorah near Palmyra, New York, where Joseph Smith said he found a set of golden plates which he translated into English and published as the Book of Mormon. As I looked at the plaque, all I could think of was Ephesians 6:10-13, 

 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." 

A few more miles down the road, we stopped for a break at Potter Place where I saw another plaque that was quite interesting. Richard Potter sounds like he too, was quite an interesting fellow. He was a magician, ventriloquist, hypnotist, showman, and master of the Black Arts. I'm not sure what a master of the Black Arts is, or was, but it sounds like something from Harry Potter. Maybe the two were related. I've read the books and watched the movies but I've not seen any Richard. Oh well, I would have liked to see his mansion in town. 

Wikipedia has this to say about Richard Potter: In 1814 Potter purchased about 175 acres in the village of Andover, New Hampshire. He built a large house on his estate. Known for his showmanship in all aspects of life, the estate included two life size wooden carvings of human figures on pillars. To this day, this area of New Hampshire is called "Potter Place" for Richard.

We ate supper, after arriving in Tilton, at the Tilt'n Diner. It must be the place to eat in Tilton. It was packed and people were waiting. The food was good and we will go to bed with our bellies full. And . . . that's where I'm headed.

44 miles tomorrow. 39 Thursday! I'm ready.

Put on the whole armor. 

3,467.5/83

white river junction, vermont

Barns and Old Glory. What a great combination! Welcome to Vermont.

 We pedaled 46.72 miles today and we climbed 3,470 feet in those beautiful but tough Green Mountains of the Green Mountain State of Vermont. We thought we were going to have rain but, much to our surprise, no rain gear was necessary. Yippee!

On the way up Brandon Gap, 2,170 feet, I spotted a hitchhiker on my flashing tail light. It only stayed with me for a minute or two, just long enough for me to get a few snapshots. I have no idea what kind of butterfly it is but it sure was showing off.

We met two families today who made our day extremely special. As I pedaled down Vermont 73, I was not sure I was on the right road. I saw a farm-looking building that specialized in maple syrup, candies, etc. so I stopped to ask if I was, indeed, on 73. There was nobody in the shop but I saw a similar sign across the road. I also saw chickens in the front yard. (That's always a good sign.) I pedaled down the driveway and was met by a young mom who let me know that I was on the right road and headed in the right direction. She even told me while looking at my map, "Don't go that way. It takes you over the mountain and it's not made for bikes." Good advice and we did not have to go that way anyway. I think

her name was Charissa but I'm not sure. Soon, I met her mom, Joyce, and the three of us started talking about the bike journey across America. Questions about where we started, where we plan to finish, where were the hardest mountains to pedal, and how long has the trip been. After I mentioned the license plates we've found, I was soon given a Vermont Centennial license plate that came from the barn across the road. Before Phil and I left, we exchanged pictures and had our water bottles refilled with water and ice. What a treat! Then Charissa's dad said, "Don't leave too quickly." He went back across the road to the Maple Syrup Shop and came back with maple candies for our whole crew. Another treat! I told Joyce I would send her a picture of us when we dip our front tires into the foaming water of the Atlantic, Lord willing, Thursday. (That's three days away!) Thanks Ray, Joyce, and Charissa, for making our day so special. Charissa, if your name is not Charissa, I will correct this as soon as I know for sure. Thank you.

At suppertime, we met another special family at Trail Break Tacos in White River Junction. These folks we already knew: Mitch and Sara Kimbrell and their crew, Georgia, Bethany, and John Mitchell. Mitch and Sara are close friends from our home church in Bogart, Georgia. Mitch is the pastor of Christ Memorial Church in Williston, Vermont. We had a great time of catching up on things here in Vermont and at home in Georgia. The food was great but the fellowship (that's a church word for hanging out) was far better. What a great day of pedaling and hanging out. Thank you, Mitch and Sara, for driving all the way to White River Junction, to hang out with us. We were blessed.

Back to the bike journey . . . After we arrived in Bethel, Vermont, we loaded the bikes and headed to our homes for the evening. Tomorrow we will go back to Bethel and resume our ride into New Hampshire. 109 miles later, we will pedal into Maine and then to the ocean.

For two special families that made our day,  "Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God." (Philippians 1:3)

3,386.67/167

I guess this is Harley art. Don't know for sure but I think it's really neat. I wondered if, possibly, the motor could have been stolen but if it had a motor I doubt it would be secured to a huge rock in the middle of a huge field. Just a thought. I like it!

ticonderoga, new york

Lonergan's Antiques & Militaria, Ticonderoga, New York

Sarah, Barry, and Geneva headed home this morning. They will stay in Virginia tonight and be home tomorrow. For their final ride with us, they pedaled eighty miles on the Erie Canalway Trail yesterday. Sure am glad they came and rode with us for the week.

We did not ride today but we are in Ticonderoga, New York. We are four miles from Vermont but will have to pedal twenty-four miles to get across Lake Champlain. The ferry is not operating because it is without a captain at this time, so . . . Monday morning we will pedal south to go around the lake and head east. I'm not complaining since we are now approximately 235 miles away from the ocean.

In Ticonderoga, Margaret and I went looking for a New York license plate. They seem to be hard to find but I found out why. When a car is sold here in New York, the seller has to return the license plate to the state. I understand there may be a fine for doing otherwise. At a local antique shop I was told of a man who would most-likely have bunches of license plates. We departed the antique shop to check things out at Lonergan's Red Barn Antiques, An Adirondack Destination For Over 60 Years.

I met the owner, Craig Lonergan, in a red barn with aisles that were single-lane and, in some places, wide enough for anyone who would turn sideways and take a deep breath. When I asked Craig about license plates and told him what we were doing, we went to another cluttered space and he started digging through a small pile of New York license plates, found one, and handed it to me with a smile. When I asked him how much it was, he smiled and said, "For any man doing what you're doing, it's free." Thanks, Craig. A.K.A. Santa. (Craig also has been Santa in Ticonderoga for years.)

We met Phil and Gale at Burleigh's Luncheonette, a setback to my high school years, and ate an early supper. The food was super, the signs were great, and the service was fun. One of the signs stated, "This is not Burger King. You take it our way or you don't get it at all." (Boy, that's a fun reminder of the sign we always displayed in the dining halls at our church camps.)

Margaret and I came back to the Circle Court Motel and worked on the reorganization of our belongings and how they were packed in our Explorer. I think we've got more stuff than we started with, especially license plates. We now have twenty-four. My Wisconsin license plate is very beat up but unless I find another it will be displayed on my garage wall with dignity and pride. 

This was a great day off. 

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

Any Takers? I can pick it up and bring it home with us.

These things are amazing! You put them into the door knob, turn, and the door opens. You can even carry them next to your phone and they still work! Incredible! Fun!

troy, new york

Smooth water in the Erie Canal near Little Falls, New York this morning.

 Day 54. 80.9 miles from Little Falls, New York to Cohoe, New York. This is our last day on the Erie Canalway Trail and the last day of pedaling eighty miles or more. After some recalculating and map checking, we've decided to go back to our original plan to ride to Old Orchard Beach instead of Rockport. Why? Rockport is approximately 300 miles and Old Orchard Beach is approximately 220 miles. Eighty miles is eighty miles! Why pedal it if we don't have to? It also looks like, on the map, Rockport has a little more traffic to deal with. Anyway . . . it looks like we'll head to Old Orchard Beach to dip our front tires. 

Tomorrow and Sunday, we don't pedal. We're taking two rest days before heading to Maine and the Atlantic Ocean. We haven't had a rest day since 26 June! That's twenty days! So we're taking two! We'll use that time to repack and reorganize everything for the trip home. We'll also look over and finalize our route and how many miles we'll pedal each day. We'll also plan lodging for the remaining nights on the road. (Well, Margaret will do that.) I'm sure we'll find a few other things to do as well. I'm looking forward to two days of laziness. I may even find the New York license plate I need to be caught up with the states I've been through. All I need after that is Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine!

This is what we look like after eighty miles of pedaling, some of which included unexpected climbs. So, you're asking, where is Phil? Well, Phil and Gale had to find a bike shop in Albany this afternoon. One of his bikes needed some repairs that only a Specialized dealer can do. He found such a bike shop, left his bike, and will pick it up tomorrow morning. That's why he's not in the photo with Sarah, Barry, and me at the end of today's ride. I didn't want you to think he fell into the Erie Canal somewhere and we left him floating downstream. He is alive and well and will be pedaling with me Monday morning after the rest days. By that time, we will be more than ready to see that beautiful Atlantic Ocean.

We've been blessed. I'm reminded of this special passage of Scripture from Numbers 6:24-26:

“The Lord bless you

    and keep you;

25 

the Lord make his face shine on you

    and be gracious to you;

26 

the Lord turn his face toward you

    and give you peace.”

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. 

Not sure what to call this but it is interesting, fun, and could have been a challenging and exciting restoration project. Long live those little VW buses.

BTW Someone paid for our motel this evening. I don't know who that is but I am grateful and thank you very much. You are loved.

little falls, new york

Erie Canalway Trail near Little Falls, New York

 Day 53. We pedaled 65.14 miles from Canastota, New York to Little Falls, New York. Tomorrow, we head east toward Albany. It was another day on the Erie Canalway Trail and much like the other days on the trail. . . but without rain. 

We stopped at a pharmacy in Rome and stopped for lunch in the SnackWagon in Utica. The breaks are much needed and much appreciated as well. It's fun to sit around with everyone and go over the ride, what we've seen, and where we're going to meet next. Sometimes our breaks take longer than others and, from time to time, we have included a nap in something air-conditioned and with soft seats. Our lunches have ranged from turkey and PB&J sandwiches in the SnackWagon to Arby's, McDonald's, and we did find one Chick-fil-A in Grand Forks, North Dakota. I don't think we've lost any weight, that's for sure. I've heard that a bird can eat up to eight times its weight in food every day. Think about that next time you tell someone, "You eat like a bird." Well, we've been eating like birds.

We are now at 3,259.05 miles pedaled with approximately 455 to go. Yep, WE ARE UNDER 500 and headed east! As we get closer to the Atlantic, the excitement rises and so does the anticipation of feeling the Atlantic Ocean tickle our bare feet.

Tomorrow, Lord willing, we finish our miles on the Erie Canalway Trail. Saturday is a rest day and Sunday . . . on to the Adventure Cycling route to Maine! We will pedal out of Ticonderoga, New York in the morning and head to our finish at Rockport, Maine. I think we have about five or six more days of pedaling to go. We also have a little climbing to do in the mountains as well but at least they are not like the Rockies and the Cascades. We should, by this time, be in a little bit better shape than when we were out in the Northwest seven weeks ago. It's been a long ride.

It's been a great ride but that doesn't mean it's been an easy ride. Mountains, of course require a bit of extra energy. The wind can be unmerciful in your face and an eagle at your back as it pushes you through the countryside at twenty-four miles an hour. Rain! Yep, we've had it in all shapes, sizes, and from all directions. We've had snow, sleet, and fog. We've only been chased by three dogs the whole trip and they were all at the same house out west. Then there's always cars and trucks and I will say, we've been passed by mostly very kind and careful drivers. (Truck drivers are the best drivers out there when it came down to respect for those of us pedaling on two wheels.) Cities gave us some mazes to pedal but, once again, even on the busiest streets of the few cities we've navigated, drivers were kind, courteous, and careful. All of that sounds a bit like life in general to me. There will always be mountains, winds, storms, mazes, and even dogs. The great thing for us is that we've got the way to navigate successfully through life. We've got a roadmap in the pages of the Bible and a Father who cares where we're traveling and what we're traveling through. So when the going gets tough and you want to throw in the towel and quit, go to the Map and the Maker of the Map and keep on keeping on. It will be worth the trip when you get to the finish. Proverbs 3:5-6 says it something like this:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.

If you don't know where you're going, any road will get your there. Follow the Way.

3,259.05/approximately 455

Yep, UNDER 500!

  

canastota, new york

Interesting. And it all happened right here in the small town of Clyde, New York.

 Day 52! 83.87 miles pedaled from Newark, New York to Canastota, New York. All of our riding was along the Erie Canalway Trail except for a few detours and a maze going through Syracuse. When we looked at the route on Strava, we were surprised at how direct our route was through this rather large New York city. We did good!

Our first stop was in Clyde. We stopped to fix a flat and, of course, it was raining. While in Clyde, I saw the train wreck sign (above) which caught my attention because of my love for trains. There seems to be a lot of train activity along the route we have taken all across America. I guess it's no different back home. I hear several trains sounding their horns on tracks near our home in Statham, Georgia. In Clyde, we were on a street that looked somewhat like a ghost town. Maybe it was because we were there pretty early in the morning but I tend to think we were in an unused part of the town. On the corner stood an old building which interested me. I would like to have a permit or license to explore old buildings like this, especially the attic areas. Who knows what I'd find! You do have to admit, it's a building looking like it's full of stories and, maybe, mystery. Down the street, to the left, we could see can entire street of empty-looking storefronts. Probably once a busy street and now every store looks empty and lifeless. I need some stories here!

When we arrived in Camillus, New York, the center of the Erie Canalway Trail, we found the Erie Canal Park Steam Engine Exhibit. We soon met Jim, who knew all about the steam engine on display. He told us how it ran, how it was used and why, where a steam engine was located in a large building, and how it pumped water to floors high in a tall building while, at the same time, generating electrical power for the building as well. After giving us the steam engine tour and information, Jim started and ran the very large steam engine. The huge wheel that seems to be a flywheel is eleven feet in diameter and weighs in at seven and a half tons. Nevertheless, Jim started turning the huge wheel and soon the steam engine was running. The surprise, to me, was that the engine was making no noise. I suppose silence for a steam engine located in the basement of a large department store or tall apartment building would have been a must. It was well worth the time to make this stop today. Thank you, Jim.

Well . . . we now have a total of 3,193.91 miles pedaled through almost eleven states. That's a lot of pedaling but it's been worth it. Some days are tougher than others. Some days are longer than others, but the finish will make the days worthwhile. We have sixty miles to pedal tomorrow and eighty miles on Friday. We have approximately 520 miles to go. In two days then, we will be down to around 380 miles and we'll be dipping our front tires in the Atlantic Ocean at Rockport, Maine. 

Saturday is our last rest day and it's much needed for rest and recovery as well as some reorganization of bags, bikes, and paraphernalia in the vehicles for the ride home. I think we'll be doing a day or two of sightseeing in Maine and then heading down the road. Thus far it's been an amazing journey and full of surprises and adventure. We've enjoyed God's incredible handiwork.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2 

Day after day they pour forth speech;

    night after night they reveal knowledge.

3 

They have no speech, they use no words;

    no sound is heard from them.

4 

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,

    their words to the ends of the world.

God is good!

America . . . I love you.

newark, new york

RV&E Bike & Skate in Fairport, New York

 This will probably be a quick blog post. I am so tired and I may fall asleep doing this. Maybe it's because I just had a great supper at the SnackWagon. I don't know, but somethings has me ready for some major sleep. ZZZZZZZZ.

We pedaled 54.77 miles from Brockport, New York to Newark, New York. (Not New Jersey!) All of our pedaling was, once again, on the Erie Canalway Trail. For most of the ride we were right next to the Canal so we had a flat ride with headwind again. The surface was asphalt for a small part of the way. The rest was on crushed limestone but wasn't bad at all.

It seems like every other town along the canalway ends with the word port. We stayed in Brockport, pedaled through Spenceport, Lockport, and Rockport. I'm sure there are more and I'm also sure they were, in the past, and maybe still are, ports along the canal where goods are shipped in and out.

We stopped in Spenceport to watch a lift bridge in action. A boat coming through the canal signals the bridge-keeper with three toots of the horn and then the bridge-keeper, who stays at the bridge all day, raises the bridge so the boat can pass under and then lowers the bridge for vehicle traffic. On the canal, we saw some good size boats, a barge, some small boats and kayaks, and two rowing teams out for some time of practice. Ducks and geese are in abundance by the canal, beside the canal, and on the trail path. We did have several detours as we pedaled today but they were well-marked and easy to pedal.

In Fairport, we ate lunch in the SnackWagon. We also visited RV&E Bike & Skate, a very good bike shop near the trail. The guys there were very friendly and helpful. Phil's front wheel on the bike he was riding today was way out of alignment and crooked. The guys at the shop repaired his wheel and replaced a broken part on his derailleur. They did all that while we ate lunch. Back at the shop we bought some needed items and talked with Ian and Phil (shop guys) about our ride from coast to coast. Of course, they both said they would like to do the cross-country ride sometime. It was a good visit at a great bike shop and if I lived in Fairport it would, for sure, be my bike shop: neat shop, great service, friendly staff, and good prices, based on Phil's service and the prices of items we purchased.

I'm going to quit this blog right now and head to bed. Tomorrow's got some questions about what we'll be doing. I'm sure we'll work them out before we depart, hopefully early in the morning. What comes to my mind at this time is the invitation from Jesus in Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." I'm accepting that invitation and going to bed. I've had a good day and am now 54 miles closer to Maine. Tomorrow, Lord willing, we'll do away with another eighty miles. To do that, I'm going to bed an hour earlier than usual. (Need my beauty sleep.)

See ya in the morning. Rested and ready to pedal.

"In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8)

Day 51 - 3,110.04/approximately 604 miles to go

brockport, new york

The Erie Canalway Trail in New York. Great Trail!

 We are over 3,000 and under 700! Our miles pedaled are now at 3,055.27 and we have approximately 659 miles to the ocean! We pedaled 71.48 miles from Buffalo, New York to Brockport, New York. We did have headwinds today, all the way, all day! But we made it and we are tired. Sarah, Barry, Phil and I left from the beginning of the Erie Canalway Trail at the Erie County Towpath Park in Buffalo where several drug deals were going down in cars nearby. We did pedal quickly and removed ourselves from the area ASAP! It didn't seem to be the best place in town to be hanging out.

The trail was paved for about the first fifteen miles or so and then became crushed gravel. The gravel wasn't too bad to ride on although it did require some major bike washing at a nearby car wash when we finally got to Brockport. Because the car wash was almost right next to a Dunkin' Donuts, we decided a donut or two would add additional power and pedaling strength to our riding tomorrow. I'm sure that's true.

The biggest obstacles on this ride were the Canada Geese. They must think this is their trail and that we don't belong anywhere on it. They simply plop down on the trail and dare you to ride through. I found that the best way to make it through is just to head straight for the ones in the way. Sometimes it's like an old-fashioned game of Chicken to see who moves first. I just want you to know that I won every challenge. The geese had their hissy-fits and I'm sure their geese language was not very kind as they flapped away in panic and turned to hiss a few censored goose words back at me.

The other obstacle between us and Brockport was the little, well not very little, piles the geese deposit onto the trail surface. Try as hard as we did, we simply could not miss all the piles. It was very much like a game that you will surely lose every time. But that game had several consequences which were not very pleasant. Most of our bikes have no fenders so whatever we run through or run over is often distributed in various directions. What we run over ends up on the backs of our clothes, on our bikes or the biker following, or on your bicycle wheels and frames. That's all I'm gonna say, except these piles also contributed to the need for the bike washes . . . and laundry . . . and showers.

It has been a good day. The headwinds made the 71 miles seem more like 101 miles but the ride is finished and tomorrow we only have to pedal 54 miles. How 'bout that! I always like it when a short day shows up on the schedule. If we begin early and finish by lunch time, it's almost like a rest day. We should be finished with the Erie Canalway Trail on Friday or Saturday. We'll then be close to Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

The goose piles remind me of something I heard Barry Milliner say to Phil yesterday. They were talking about how we often hit obstacles on the road as we pedal and Barry said, "If you look at something, you're going to hit it." Same is true in other areas of life, as well. Think about that for a minute or two. Your focus will become your life. 

Our pastor is preaching through the book of Hebrews and he just finished chapter seven. Along this journey through Hebrews, he has often said that all of Hebrews is wrapped up, or summed up, in chapter 12, verse 2, first three words, "Looking unto Jesus." That's where our focus needs to be . . . a target worth hitting dead center.

Look to Jesus.

The Harriet H. Wiles canal boat. I don't know who she is, or was, but she's got a pretty cool boat named after her.

Just so you'll know . . . I just checked this boat out and it is one of a fleet owned by the Wiles family and named after a family member as are all of their boats. This is a house boat and can be rented for private and personal use.

buffalo, new york

We're goin' ta Maine!

 This was a fun day of riding. We pedaled in some sort of dampness all 35.02 miles from Dunkirk, New York to Buffalo, New York. Tomorrow we begin riding the Erie Canalway Trail to Albany. Once again, I'm looking forward to the trail. We'll have four riders tomorrow: Sarah, Barry, Phil, and me.

On the ride today, we saw some pretty interesting signs that were photo-worthy. One was the ENTERING SENECA NATION OF INDIANS TERRITORY, Onondowa'ga:' Honoeja:de. I'm sure the last part of that sign is in Seneca language. I'd like to hear it pronounced. (Phonetics doesn't work.) The other sign was TOASTED HOG, BURRITOS, ICE CREAM & MORE. Burritos and ice cream just don't seem to go together. It would be interesting to stop at all of these places just to find out more about the food.

Right after entering Buffalo, I had my eighth flat of the journey. I guess that's not too bad for almost 3,000 miles of pedaling but I'd gladly do with less. Phil and I now have eleven flats to our list of accomplishments for this trip. We may have more. At this point, we just don't know. If we have more, we'll just patch or replace tubes, and pedal on. We're goin' ta Maine!

Just for the record, I had my ninth flat in front of the Ford Stamping Plant at Buffalo. For you trivia folks, I checked Wickipedia and here's what I found: 

The plant is located on an 88-acre (360,000 m²) site at the Eastern end of Lake Erie near the city of Buffalo, New York. The facility processes over 1,700 tons of steel each day and ships an average of 100 rail cars of parts manufactured daily. During the year, over 425,000 tons of steel are received for manufacturing at the facility. The facility has 20 major press stamping lines that include several transfer presses which include some of the world's largest. One of those large transfer presses is the Schuler. This press is 162 feet (49 m) long, 49 feet (15 m) high from the basement to the top of the crown and weights in excess of 7,000,000 pounds. 

Buffalo Stamping supplies components to two Ford Motor Company assembly plants: Oakville Assembly which assembles the Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX, and the Kentucky Truck Plant.

I just had a pretty serious nap and I'm almost awake. So this is a good time to get my blog done for the day. I may add more this evening since Barry mentioned a good ice cream place near the motel. I still have a yearning for a banana split. I'm talking about the whole banana, chocolate ice cream, vanilla ice cream, strawberry ice cream, pineapple, strawberries, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and a cherry. I will have one before or right after this journey is finished. (I may reschedule the ice cream since Margaret just walked in the door with Ben & Jerry's chocolate peanut butter ice cream.)

Before my nap, we ate lunch at Rock Stuffed Burgers in nearby Cheektowaga. Here's just a sampling of some of the stuffed burgers from the menu:

"The Observation Deck" The bun is topped with red sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni. The burger is stuffed with mozzarella & topped with mozzarella, grated parmasan & oregano.

"Oh-My-Oreo" stuffed with oreo cookies topped with bacon and frosting.

"The Dorito Torch" stuffed with cheese and original Doritos topped with cheese, spicy seasoning, Bison dip & Frank's.

"The Dorito Explosion" stuffed with cheese and cool ranch Doritos topped with cheese, ranch seasoning, Bison dip & Frank's.

"The Reese's Extreme" stuffed with Reese's peanut butter cup topped with cheddar, bacon, and strawberry spread.

"The Fruity Pebble" stuffed with cheese topped with cheddar, fruity pebbles & frosting.

I'm not making this stuff up. It's for real! Oh . . . as we were leaving, a family of seven came in, five boys and parents. I can't imagine what their order looked like!

OK, let's get back to the ride across America. We are now using Map 10 of a set of eleven maps. We are  also on fold nine of a map with ten folds. We should finish the Erie Canalway Trail on or before 16 July and finish the ride across America around 22-23 July. That simply means we are close. The map above shows Buffalo, New York and Rockport, Maine which is in the circle on the coast. Keep following us for up-to-date information. And, please keep praying for us as we pedal. We sure do appreciate it very much. I've also enjoyed the notes from folks all over the country. They have been fuel for the heart and soul. They've been dessert for the days. Thanks again.

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 1:3-6)

2,983.79/approximately 731 miles to go!

dunkirk, new york

And now there are four!

UNDER 800! 

After a 60.99 mile ride, today, we are now in Dunkirk, New York. Four more states to go, one is wide and three are skinny. Look out Atlantic! We were blessed with wide and smooth shoulders and minimal traffic for a Saturday. And . . . our mileage stands at (drum roll please) 2,948.77/approximately 766 miles to go! Tomorrow, our total mileage should go over 3,000 miles and the day after, our miles to go should drop to under 700! 

I found a Pennsylvania license plate but not along the road where I usually find them. I stopped at a garage sale! I don't think I've ever been to a garage sale where I've found a license plate for sale. But . . . anyone who has a garage usually has a license plate or two hanging on a nail on a wall. I met Michelle, told her I was looking for a Pennsylvania license plate and told her why, she looked at a wall where there were quite a few license plates hanging on quite a few nails, and told me she did have one . . . or two. She took several off of the wall and said, "Would you like a truck, trailer, or car tag?" I picked the car tag and she told me, "No charge." Thank you for the tag, Michelle. Your kindness and generosity made my morning.

We pedaled out of Pennsylvania through some beautiful farming country including vineyards that look like we could be somewhere in Italy. Somewhere near Orchard Beach we were joined by Sarah, Barry, and Geneva. (For those of you who don't know, Sarah is our daughter, Barry is her husband, and Geneva is Barry's mom.) Sarah and Barry pedaled with us for the rest of the day. Tomorrow we head to the Erie Canalway Trail near Buffalo. From there we will be on the trail for about 300 miles to Albany. Here is the online information from the trail's website:

The Erie Canalway Trail follows the Erie Canal, which opened in 1825. At the time of the canal's construction, railroads were just coming into vogue. The Mohawk and Hudson, New York’s first railroad, opened in 1831 and ran from Albany to Schenectady. At first, the railroads were seen as competition for the precious canal, so the state’s lawmakers only permitted trains to carry freight during the winter when the canal was closed. But this restriction was soon lifted and, by the late 1800s, trains had clearly won the battle of transportation supremacy. Today, about a third of the Erie Canalway Trail (more than 100 miles) is built on these former railways, largely consisting of the West Shore Line on the trail’s eastern end.

As most of the trail follows these canal and rail corridors, it is nearly level with an average grade of 1 percent. A few steeper grades and hill climbs can be found in the Mohawk Valley section on the trail's eastern half. Large sections of the trail are surfaced in stone dust from crushed limestone; however, some stone dust sections are being converted to asphalt paving. A range of bike types can be used effectively on the trail, including mountain and hybrid bikes, as well as road bikes equipped with wider tires (28 mm or more recommended). The two longest paved sections are at either end of the trail: from Albany to Schoharie Crossing and from Buffalo to Pendleton.

I haven't mentioned anything about my notes of encouragement lately but I'm still reading one or two a day and it looks like they will last until we finish at the Atlantic Ocean. I plan to, near the end of the journey, doing a blog listing the names of everyone who texted, emailed, wrote, and doodled words that were encouraging, funny, and very special. Thank you for all the kindness.

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is never wasted."  -Aesop

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget the way you made them feel."  -Maya Angelou

"In a world where you can be anything, be kind."

"Kindness is more than deeds. It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch, It is anything that lifts another person."  -Plato

"A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little people."

"Kind words are like honey--sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  --Proverbs 16:24

"Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive each other, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done." --Ephesians 4:32 

The more kindness you give away, the more you'll have. Be kind.

One cool barn.