Tom's Cross Country Ride

Today we rode the final 17 miles of my cross country ride from Burlington MA to Revere Beach in Boston.

As we rode toward the the beach, the sun was shining on a very pleasant Friday morning. There was a lot of chatter in the group as the riders expressed their excitement about the finish and reminisced about the adventure.

As we approached our final destination, the emotions welled in me and the tears fell. The long journey was about to end. The amazing adventure would soon be over.

At the beach we were greeted by the families and friends of the riders including a surprise visit from my sister Jennie. Her and a friend drove from Ohio to greet me at the finish. What a wonderful surprise. Thank you Jennie.

Once we arrived, there were lots of hugs, lots of photos taken, and of course I waded into the surf and dipped the front wheel of my bicycle in the Atlantic Ocean. Three years after the start, the ride was over.

Shortly thereafter, the goodbyes began. Although I had only met some of the riders a few weeks earlier, saying goodbye was hard because we had been through a lot together in that short time. And so many of them offered their support and encouragement when I joined in.

Saying goodbye to Paula and the staff from Crossroads Cycling Adventures was harder yet as I consider them good friends.

And finally the goodbyes to my friends from the 2019 tour who came back for a fallen friend, were the hardest of all. To Bill, Linda, Charlie, Jeff, and Tom, thank you, stay in touch, and we’ll ride together again.

And a special thank you goes to my dear friends Greg and Margaret for all that you have done. You have been there through every inch of this journey and played a big part in making the end a realty. Thank you so much!

So after three years and nearly 4,500 miles, my ride across the country is over. I finished the ride and I learned a few more things. I learned that finishing this great adventure was worth the wait and the effort to make it happen.

I learned that it doesn’t matter if you fall. All that matters is having the fortitude to get back up.

And finally, I was reminded what true friendship feels like. I got a lot from this great adventure but nothing greater than the friendships.

To all that have been reading this blog, thank you for taking an interest in my cross country ride. I appreciate your support and encouragement and hope that it may have lit the spark of adventure in you.

Thanks for following along.

Today we road the last major leg of the tour. We road 90 miles from Brattleboro VT, passed through New Hampshire, to our destination in Burlington MA. The route was a challenging one that included eight major climbs adding up to 4,845 feet.

As we rolled out of the hotel this morning the sun was shining, it was cool, and there was excitement in the air. The end was in sight.

The ride started out easy enough as we crossed into New Hampshire just a few miles in and rode along a picturesque river for several miles. But soon the climbing began. Almost half of the elevation gain was in the first 35 miles, as well as six of the eight major climbs. And the climbs were tough, some with grades above 10% for portions of them. After all the climbing yesterday, my legs were tired, but up to the challenge as we ground our way up the long climbs.

Our first rest stop of the day was at 35 miles. Immediately after the stop we faced the seventh major climb. The eighth climb was at mile 72 and was arguably one of the hardest of all. Although the climbing was challenging, the thought of knowing the end was in sight was great motivation to keep turning over the pedals.

The route passed through many small towns in both NH and MA. Many of them were quaint post card type New England towns with steepled churches and small shops lining the streets.

I road the entire route with my friends from the 2019 tour. It was so great having them there to finish what we started together three years ago. So around 3:00 this afternoon we rolled into a hotel parking lot together, one last time, as I unofficially completed the cross country ride. Tomorrow we’ll ride just 17 miles to Revere Beach, and I’ll ceremoniously dip the front wheel of my bike in the Atlantic Ocean signifying the end of a great adventure.

Tonight, an awards banquet was held to recognize the accomplishments of the riders. It was great fun as I received my certificate of completion, 3,400 miles and a helicopter ride, as well as my EFI sticker. EFI, Every Fabulous (but I’m free to use the adjective of my choice) Inch, as I have now pedaled my bicycle from coast to coast!

Thanks for following along!

Today’s ride was scheduled to be a tough 74 mile ride from Troy New York to Brattleboro Vermont. The scheduled route included 5,200 feet of climbing. A road closure detour added 16 miles and 500 feet of climb to the ride. But we made it. It was a big day.

It was a big day for another reason as well. Today’s route, was the same route that I rode on my last day of the tour in 2019. Of course on that day I didn’t finish. Today was different.

The route begins in Troy NY and includes some significant climbing just a few miles in. The route flattens a bit at mile 10 and then rolls up and down into Bennington VT at mile 30. Bennington sits at the base of Hogback Mountain, so that’s where the real fun begins.

We had a rest stop in Bennington, so we fueled up for the first of two climbs up Hogback. The climb out of Bennington is 10 miles to the top with most of the grade in the 4-5% range but includes a section more than a mile long with a consistence grade between 7-9%. It’s a bear.

Once to the top of the first grade there is a very steep descent. The descent I got in trouble on three years ago.

For perspective, if you have ever traveled in a mountainous area in the US, you may have noticed that on some exceptionally steep descents there will be signs for “Runaway Truck Ramps”. Basically a sand tramp for trucks to crash into if their brakes fail. The first descent off Hogback has a runaway truck ramp.

My anxiety was pretty high as we approached the descent as the weather had taken a turn for the worse. There was thick fog, drizzling rain, and temperatures in the high 40s. Miserable conditions for descending on a bicycle.

But I was with my good friend Greg and two friends from the 2019 tour, Bill and Charlie. They stayed with me the entire time as I crept down the mountain with both hands firmly grasping the breaks. The descent wasn’t fast or pretty but we made it down and now it’s behind me.

When we reached the bottom, we stopped at a small store and got some hot chocolate to warm up and prepare ourselves for the second ascent up Hogback. This one was a little shorter, about 4 miles, and not as steep as the first.

It took us about 45 minutes to make the second climb thinking we were then just 10 miles or so from the hotel, most of which would be downhill.

However, when we reached the top, all of the cyclist were there because the road down the second peak was closed. By the time we arrived, an alternative route had been worked out. A route around the base of the mountain that would add 16 miles to the days trip.

So with the rest of the group, we turned around and rode back down the mountain. The alternative route wasn’t exactly around the mountain’s base so essentially we had to ride back over the mountain, but at a lower elevation. Another 500 feet or so of climbing.

So it was a big day. Seven and 1/2 hours in the saddle, we covered 90 miles, did a lot of climbing, and I faced a fear that has haunted me for three years.

One more big day of riding remains. Tomorrow we’ll ride 90 miles again as we travel to Burlington MA. And they’ll be more climbing. I hope my legs are up for it. Thanks for following along.

Today we rode 100 miles from Utica to Troy in New York. We traveled on NY 5 East for most of the way passing through Herkimer, Little Falls, St. Johnsville, Mohawk, Amsterdam, and others along the way, finally exiting the route in Schenectady. From there we jumped on the Mohawk River Bike Trail to complete the ride to Troy.

The day started cool with overcast skies and changed very little as we rode along. It was cool enough to pull on both leg and arm warmers at the start and I kept them on all day. The overcast skies produced some light drizzling showers a few times but not enough for rain gear or puddles.

NY 5 East follows the Mohawk River Valley and provides some nice vistas of the valley and the River. Very nice scenery for the ride.

The ride included two rest stops. One at mile 38 in the little town of Fort Plain, and the other just outside of Fonda at mile 57. I enjoy the rest stops not only for the break and refueling provided, but it’s also a chance to chat with the other riders and hear stories of their experiences for the day. On long days like this one though, the breaks have to be short to cover all the miles.

I finished the ride around 3:00. After cleaning the bike, some cloths, and myself, I met some friends for dinner at a nice Italian restaurant just a few blocks from the hotel. Wonderful food and great conversation. Nice way to end the day.

Tomorrow is another big day. We’ll ride 74 miles to Brattleboro on a route that includes more than 5,200 feet of climbing. I hope my legs are ready. Thanks for following along.

Today we had a short easy ride as we traveled 58 miles from Syracuse to Utica in New York. The start today was delayed until 9:00 AM and we rolled out under blue sun filled skies, cool temperatures in the low 60s, and calm winds. The conditions didn’t change much throughout the day, although the wind did pickup a bit, but was mostly favorable. And the route included very little climbing. A recipe for a nice easy day in the saddle.

We worked our way out of Syracuse after the morning rush hour so the traffic was light. In a short time we found ourselves riding through the New York country side on pretty good roads surrounded by farms with large barns and lots of pastures.

Just before we reached the days only rest stop at mile 33 we peddled through the small village of Canastota and road along a preserved section of the Erie Canal running through the small town. We continued to follow the canal for several more miles after we left the village as we were passing through a national heritage area.

Also just before the rest area we found an odd little structure that was billed as the world’s smallest chapel. The stuff you can see when traveling at bicycle speed.

The rest of the ride went pretty quick and before we knew it we were working our way into Utica. Once we arrived, we learned there was a mix up with the hotel and there would not be enough rooms available for everyone in our group. But the crew from Crossroads Cycling found a solution and several of us were sent to another hotel just up the road. It’s clean and comfortable so it looks like everything will work out.

It’s hard to believe but starting tomorrow we’ll begin the big push to the end. In the next three days we’ll ride 265 miles and climb 12,300 feet, leaving just a 17 mile ride to the beach on Friday morning.

Tomorrow we’ll ride 100 miles to Troy New York. I have good memories of the route from three years ago even though it rained most of the way. I remember spectacular vistas of the Mohawk River Valley and the Hudson River. Tomorrow’s forecast calls for clear skies. Should be a great ride. Thanks for following along.

Today we rode 86 miles from Victor NY to Syracuse. The day started out chilly with temperatures in the low 50s but the wind was calm and the sun was shining.

For me, this was the best day of the tour so far. Five riders from the 2019 tour, Charlie, Jeff, Bill, Linda, and Greg have joined in to escort me to the finish. How cool is that!

On today’s route we passed through a number of small NY towns and some rolling hills dotted with small farms on our way to the first rest stop in Geneva NY located on the north shore of Seneca Lake. The rest stop was in a park at the waters edge and made for a very picturesque setting on this beautiful Sunday morning.

From the rest stop we continued east through Seneca Falls before passing by the north end of Cayuga Lake before turning north/north east into more rolling hills on our way to the second rest stop at mile 57.

The second rest stop was at a little ice cream store and restaurant with outdoor seating. Great place for lunch, a little ice cream, and some great conversation.

After the rest stop we made our way to Camillus NY at mile 71 and stopped by Erie Canal Park. The park includes a preserved section of the Erie Canal and a restored lock. Interesting place and some very nice people.

From there we made our way through the outskirts of Syracuse and the hotel for the night. Dinner was catered into the hotel and was very delicious, followed by a short walk to a nearby ice cream store for desert.

Throughout the ride today, the temperatures were cool but comfortable, the wind picked up but was mostly at our backs, the roads were smooth, the sun was out, and there were hills but not too many. But the most enjoyable part of the day was riding with my old friends from the 2019 tour. It was such fun catching up and reliving some of the memories from that time! It was a great day!

Tomorrow we’ll have a short day with a delayed start as we’ll ride just 57 miles to Utica NY. Thanks for following along.

Today we rode 80 miles from Buffalo to Victor NY, located just south of Rochester. The day started out cool and windy. The temperature at the start was in the mid 50s and the winds were out of the NNW at around 10-15 miles per hour. With a heavy grey cloud cover, it felt cold on the bike.

At the start of the ride I had trouble downloading the route to my bike computer so I started the ride using the paper turn by turn instructions that I carry. Lately however, I have noticed that the paper instructions are just a little off from the odometer on my bike.The difference isn’t much, but easily enough to allow me to miss a turn or two. So the next best thing, follow someone. So that’s what I did. For the first 20 miles I hung on the wheel of Kyu, a rider from Korea. I rode with Kyu earlier in the week, so I new we likely wouldn’t get separated, and I wouldn’t get lost. Fortunately, at the first rest stop, John, a young man from England, who uses the same bike computer I do, was able to help me sort out the issues and get my navigation system working. Thank you John.

Aside from the computer issue, I had other problems on today’s ride. The wind, as I said, was NNW and we were riding generally east on US 20 for a good part of the ride. As the day went on, the wind picked up and became gusty at times. Although generally the wind gave us a push, there were times it was a cross wind, and a gusty one at that. The course included a lot of climbing and a lot of long steep descents. The gusty cross winds made the descents challenging. Throw in some uneven road surfaces covered with loose gravel, and you have a recipe for disaster. I made it through without any mishaps but I was literally on the edge of my seat dragging the breaks for a big part of the ride. It was exhausting.

The sun did come out later in the day and revealed a beautiful blue New York summer sky. And it warmed up a bit making the final part of the ride generally better than the rest. I rode the last part with Brian from Connecticut and Ben from Israel. Both really nice guys.

But the best part of this ride was at the finish. When I rolled into the hotel, I was greeted by my friends Greg and Margaret and shortly thereafter by Bill and Linda, two riders from the 2019 tour, and part of the team that will escort me to the finish line. After a quick change of cloths, Greg, Margaret, Bill, Linda, and I enjoyed a nice lunch and time catching up.

This evening, Charlie and Jeff, two more riders from 2019 arrived. They too will escort me to Boston and celebrate the finish that eluded me three years ago. I’m so blessed.

Tomorrow we’ll ride 86 miles to Syracuse NY. The forecast is calling for more wind and colder temperatures. But the sun is supposed to shine and riding with old friends will bring a smile to my face. Thanks for following along.

Today we shuffled off to Buffalo, riding 92 miles from Erie PA to Buffalo NY. As we left the hotel in Erie, the temperature was in the low 70s and as we headed north east, a nice WSW wind pushed us along. Those conditions changed very little over the course of the day, with the exception of an increase in the tailwind. Nice ride.

For most of the day we traveled on State Route 5 East along the shoreline of Lake Erie, crossing into NY around mile 30. The climate along the lake is very favorable for grapes, so the corn and soybean fields of Ohio, gave way to vineyards as we travelled into PA and NY. For a big part of the ride there were beautiful vistas of the lake on our left, and vineyards for as far as one could see on our right. The scenery, the temperature, the tailwind, and a nice smooth road surface, all made for a great ride.

Along the way we passed through the little town of Barcelona NY with its quaint little light house as well as Dunkirk and its beautiful harbor.

The day went by quickly as the tailwind moved us along at a quick pace. I covered the 92 miles in just 5:34 on the bike.

Tomorrow evening, 5 riders from the 2019 tour will join us for dinner and on Sunday that group will join the tour to escort me to the finish. I am overwhelmed with emotion. The love and support being offered by them, as well as the riders I have met this week, has left me in search of words to express my gratitude. I’m certain I’m going to cry.

Tomorrow we’ll continue in the Empire State as we ride 80 miles to Victor NY. Thanks for following along.

Today was a rest day in Erie PA. In the four days since leaving Richmond IN Sunday morning, we have ridden 386 miles with just under 12, 000 feet of climbing. I needed a day off.

I did join the Crossroads staff for a short 20 mile ride out to Presque Isle State Park. It was a leisurely, scenic ride, on a narrow strip of land that extends out into Lake Erie. We enjoyed a nice breeze off the lake, shade most of the way, a lot of good conversation.

We did come across a cool little diner in the park. Unfortunately we arrived about 30 minutes before opening time so we left with just a few pictures. After the ride, Rick treated the group to ice cream at a little shop in town a few blocks from the hotel.

After the ride, Peyton did a little maintenance on my bike, I cleaned it up, and then I did some laundry. Followed that up with a few beers and dinner, and a walk by the lake shore. Should be ready for tomorrow’s 92 mile ride to Buffalo NY. Thanks for following along.

Today we rode 90 miles from Niles OH to Erie PA. The route was basically north out of Niles to Conneaut on the Lake Erie coast followed by a turn to the east following the shoreline of the lake to Erie PA.

The ride was a good one. The sun was out, the temperatures were high, but not oppressive, and a slight tail wind pushed us along most of the day. And there was much less climbing than the past two days.

A side effect of the favorable conditions is that the riders tend to stay together. When the conditions are unfavorable, especially if that includes a lot of climbing, some riders get dropped, the group splinters and you can find yourself solo or with just one or two other riders.

When there is a larger group just rolling along together, there are plenty of opportunities to chat and get to know each other a little. Today was one of those days. And one of the most interesting things to find out is each person’s motivation to ride a bicycle across the United States. And I have found there are as many different reasons as there riders in the group. Good conversation and a really good day of cycling.

Today’s ride included two rest stops. One in Andover OH and the other at the famous White Turkey Drive-in in Conneaut, a Crossroads Cycling tradition. Delicious root beer floats and turkey sandwiches. Great on a warm day.

Shortly after leaving the second rest stop we crossed the state line into Pennsylvania. Technically my second state line crossing as I joined the group in Richmond IN. For the others it was their tenth.

I got my first flat of the tour about 20 miles from the end of the ride. Someone left a roofing nail on the edge of the road and my back tire found it. But, as luck would have it, I was riding with Peyton, the tour mechanic, and he had me rolling again in less than 10 minutes. Guess I’ll have to wait till the next time to see if I still remember how to change a flat.

Tomorrow is a rest day and once again we’re staying in a hotel right by the lake. A small group of us are going for short ride around Presque Isle State Park. I understand it’s a great park and a really nice ride. Should be fun. Thanks for following along.