Month: June 2022

I couldn’t have done this ride without the support I received: 1) Becky Howell — We asked a lot and you delivered.  Setting up and taking down the campsites, cooking breakfast and dinner, doing laundry, and driving the truck to where we needed it. 2) Mike Howell — I called the bullpen and Mike finished… Continue reading Ride of My Life

There’ll be no Canadian crossing — for now!  I was thinking a lot over the last 3 weeks about the conversations that Greg and I had in preparation for this trip.  He was super excited to be part of this journey I had mapped out and I was excited to have him on board (Jason… Continue reading Day 20 – Saving Canada

Whoa!  I rode next to the Erie Canal for 57 miles between Rochester and Lockport on a crushed stone path into a 15 mph headwind with gusts much higher.  Dan S. had commented on the tunnel of trees yesterday, but there were no such trees today.  What I thought would be a really great scenic… Continue reading Day 19 – Mental Drain

I changed the route!  In tracing the family’s path to Canada, I would have had to go to Avon or Batavia today, and then to Buffalo tomorrow.  That didn’t seem as fun as going nearly straight North to Rochester and passing by beautiful Lake Honeoye in the Finger Lakes area. This picture was taken in… Continue reading Day 18 – Finger Lakes

I’ve been fascinated by the mystery of how my family moved from their homes in New Jersey to the wilderness in Ontario, Canada in 1801. In addition, I wanted to know the route that GW Howell took in 1846 that inspired this bicycle journey of mine.  I spent a lot of time before this trip… Continue reading History Lesson

Yay! I feel like I made some great progress today. After a hilly 22 miles, I crossed into NY.  I’m finally out of Pennsylvania!  Don’t get me wrong — I love PA; the countryside, the farms, the small towns, the people giving me room as they pass, and whoever ordered great weather for the whole… Continue reading Day 17 – Helloooo NY!!!!

By far the most difficult riding day.  I rode 67 miles with 4300 feet of elevation gain.  We started in Wilkes-Barre and ended up in Towanda.  Yes, still in Pennsylvania, but not for long.  We’re 20 miles from the NY border which we plan to cross tomorrow.  This picture was from a Scenic Overlook on… Continue reading Day 16 – The Big Up

After our adventure in New Jersey yesterday, I decided I wasn’t going to backtrack by riding out of Hope.  So I put the bike on the rack and we drove the 26.8 miles I would have had to ride to Tannersville, PA, and we spent the night at the Days Inn (worst place so far.)… Continue reading Day 15 – More PA

Made it!!!  Major milestone today getting to the halfway point.  This was also the first Welcome to a state sign that I saw on this trip.  It was on a backroad just after crossing the Delaware River into New Jersey.  Totally surprised me. This is the Delaware River just about at the State line.  This… Continue reading Day 14 – Jersey!!!

Another great start to a riding day.  It was a bit cool in the lower 60s, but with a big blue sky, I knew it would warm up.  Mike rode with me to get this day going.  A mile into our journey, we turned onto a street called Honey Hole Rd. Yes, I had to… Continue reading Day 13 – Great Start, Busy Finish