Tom's Cross Country Ride

Today we rode 80 miles from Erie PA to Hamburg N.Y. It was a great day to be on a bike.

Our route was pretty simple today as we travelled east out of Erie on PA 5 which became NY 5. We then turned onto US 20 East and followed it into Hamberg.

It rained pretty hard overnight in Erie but the skies were clear as we left the hotel. The streets were partially wet and had a few left over puddles. The traffic was a little heavy in the city as we rolled out during rush hour but for the most part we had enough room to negotiate our route.

As we reached the edge of the city, we found that PA 5 had a nice smooth surface and a wide shoulder. Our route was basically to the northeast and the light northwest wind was mostly favorable. Recipe for a great day.

Shortly after we left the city we found ourselves traveling through the country side. However, the corn and soybean fields that have been a part of the landscape for weeks now gave way to vineyards. Miles and miles of vineyards covering the gently rolling hills. And to our left, amazing views of Lake Erie. Nice bike ride.

In what seemed to be almost no time at all, we entered the State of New York at mile 20. Generally speaking, whenever a state line is crossed the road surface changes. That held true today as we crossed into the Empire State. Fortunately for us N.Y. 5 was freshly paved with a wide shoulder that was almost perfectly smooth. Add just a bit more tailwind as the breeze had picked up a bit and the riding conditions were nearly perfect.

At mile 30 we stopped in the little town of Barcelona New York to look at the light house constructed there in 1828. The keepers house has been turned into a small museum to tell the story of the lighthouse built to guide shipping vessels into what was known then as Portland Harbor.

At mile 42 we stopped at our first and only rest stop of the day. By the time we reached the rest stop, we had run out of new pavement and the road surface had deteriorated. But the skies were blue, the scenery was still wonderful, and the tailwind was pushing us along. I’ll take it.

After refueling we continued on NY 5 and soon rolled through the town of Dunkirk NY. Beautiful place right on the shore of the lake in Chautauqua County with a population of just over 12,000.

A few miles further up the road in the Village of Silver Creek at mile 58, we picked up US 20 East and our route turned inland away from the lake. For several miles, the surface of the shoulder on US 20 was pretty rough so the riding was more difficult. However, it improved toward the end of the ride and we found ourselves on a nice surface again.

Throughout today’s ride we saw evidence of the heavy rain overnight but none of the flood damage that we’ve seen so frequently over the past several weeks. Even the rivers that we crossed, although they were running fast, none of them were out of their banks.

All in all, it was a pretty spectacular day on the bike.

Tomorrow we’ll continue our trek across New York as we’ll ride 89 miles to Victor, a suburb of Rochester. The forecast calls for favorable weather so hopefully we’ll have another great ride. Thanks for following along.

Today we enjoyed our 5th and final rest day of the tour in Erie Pennsylvania. I slept in until 6:30 this morning bypassing the normal 5:00 A:M wake up. The extra sleep felt good but I didn’t want to spend all day in bed. As I’ve done on the other rest days, I gathered up my laundry, found the guest laundry here in the hotel, and got that project underway.

While my laundry was in process I found a number of the riders gathered in one of the hotel restaurants for breakfast. The conversation centered around plans for the rest day, which would be limited as it was raining and the forecast was calling for rain most of the day. Very unfortunate as we’ve had rain on three of our five rest days.

We also talked about the tour and how far we’ve come. We have now completed 2,847 miles and 85,102 feet of climbing. We have just under 600 miles to go. As such, there was a lot of conversation about the tour’s end which is now just eight days away. The beginning in Los Angeles seems like years ago now.

After I finished the laundry, I went to a local bike shop and a drug store to pick up a few supplies. I hitched a ride with Jeff, a rider from Near Rochester New York, who’s wife had driven to Erie for the rest day. Greg and Ovi, a rider from Canada, also came along.

A little later, Greg and I walked into the downtown area and ate lunch at Dave’s Diner, a 1950’s themed restaurant. I spent the rest of the afternoon in the hotel resting.

For dinner we again walked into downtown and met Charlie, a rider from Minnesota, at an Italian restaurant and enjoyed some pasta. Later we walked to an unusual ice cream shop called Fat Lenny’s and had some rolled ice cream. Unusual but very tasty.

Tomorrow we’ll ride 80 miles to Hamburg New York. The route looks like a good one as we’ll travel near the Lake Erie shore line the entire way. The weather forecast looks favorable with no rain expected. Should be a good ride. Thanks for following along.

No you didn’t miss day 39. I skipped 39 to sync my days with the tracking of Crossroads Cycling. It’s complicated but Day 40 is the correct day. It’s all good.

Today we rode 90 miles from Niles Ohio to Erie Pennsylvania. Even though we had a 105 mile day on Sunday followed by three consecutive days of 90 miles or more, today’s ride was one of those that answer the question, Why do I ride a bike.

Our route was basically north to Lake Erie and then northeast along the shoreline into Erie PA. We would again follow a number of county roads as well as Ohio Routes 87, 193, and 7, US Routes 322 and 6, and PA Route 5.

We left Niles Ohio this morning under rain free skies. First rain free morning since we left Crawfordsville Indiana last Friday. But Mother Nature did not give us a free pass. Fog was the word as we rolled out of the hotel parking lot. The fog was thick and limited visibility quite a bit. I was hesitant at first but the flashing back lights on our bikes are pretty bright and could still be seen from quite a distance in the fog.

The first several miles were uneventful as we peddled through the country side shrouded in the fog. It seemed more quiet than usual as we rode along as if the fog were a giant blanket muffling the sound. The landscape was rolling so there was some climbing but far less than we’ve had in recent days. We did run across some curious pigs waddling in the mud and I couldn’t resist a picture.

About mile 25 we encountered a long moderately steep hill with a tiny town at the top. When we reached the town, the fog was gone. We made a left turn in the town and rode the top of the ridge for several miles and we could see the blanket of fog covering the valley below us. Things you notice on a bicycle.

At mile 36 we arrived in the little town of Andover Ohio for our first rest stop. It was a nice little town at the corner of US 6 and Ohio Route 85. I made a wrong turn and missed the stop before flagging down a local police officer and getting directions back to the route. It was a minor detour but did give me an opportunity to ride around the little town a bit more. I wish I would have taken a few pictures.

The rest stop was in a McDonalds parking lot. I went into the store to use the restroom and as I was leaving I had a wonderful conversation with a group of seniors enjoying breakfast. They had lots of questions about the trip and wished me well on the remainder of the journey.

After the rest stop we continued north to the Lake Erie shoreline some 25 miles away. We traveled Ohio Route 7 with light traffic, a very slight headwind, and a surface that was not smooth but ok.

We reached the shoreline and rode into the small Ohio town of Conneaut. Like most small towns we’ve been through Conneaut has a nice memorial for its war veterans. We also found the White Turkey Drive-In in Conneaut, famous for turkey sandwiches and root beer floats. Excellent place for lunch and our second rest stop of the day.

Just a few miles from the drive-in we said goodbye to the Buckeye State and hello to Pennsylvania, the Keystone State. We rode into Pennsylvania on PA Route 5, a nice smooth highway with a wide shoulder. Easy peddling and nice scenery along the way with orchards, vineyards, and roadside stands selling fruits and vegetables.

At mile 85 we road into Erie PA and peddled through the downtown area on our way to the hotel. Beautiful buildings, nice parks, and lots of activities. Nice place for a rest day with a hotel overlooking the lake. Nice ride. Why I ride a bike. Thanks for following along.

Today we rode 93 miles from Wooster to Niles Ohio. Niles is a city in Trumbull County with a population of around 20,000 and is located a little north and west of Youngstown.

Like yesterday, our route included a lot of country roads. We also travelled on Ohio State Routes 93, 241, 619, and US 224.

We left Wooster in a drizzling rain, the remnants of a storm that passed through the area a few hours earlier bringing heavy rain. The route out of the city included some climbing and as we rode up we went through water coming down the streets. Runoff from the rain.

The streets coming out of Wooster were filled with traffic and had less than desirable surfaces and shoulders making the first 10 miles of the ride a bit challenging.

Once out in the country we found rolling hills dotted with large dairy farms and more flooding. Many of the fields were swamped and the creeks and streams were swollen and quickly moving. The rolling hills of course meant more climbing. The hills we encountered were not long but some were very steep with grades above 9%. Grinding up such hills makes for a long day.

Around mile 25 we peddled into the small town of Canal Fulton. The town had remnants of the Miami Erie Canal in its downtown area. Unfortunately the canal was flooded and overflowing causing some serious flooding in the downtown area.

From Canal Fulton we peddled toward North Canton and our first rest stop of the day at mile 35. The roads into and through North Canton were rough and had a lot of truck traffic on them. Navigating them on a bicycle was difficult on this overcast morning.

Our rest stop was at a cemetery of all places. But it worked, as we refueled with energy bars, fruit, and other snacks. Out of the rest stop we travelled a maze of country roads in a northeast direction. More rough surfaces, more traffic, and of course more hills. Occasionally we would get a break and follow a state route for a short time. The state routes generally have better shoulders and surfaces than the country roads and also seem to have fewer and flatter hills.

From the first rest stop at mile 35 to second at mile 64, the scenery did not change. Nor did the road surfaces. We did however arrive at the second rest stop on US 224. The surface of US 224 was much smoother than that of the country roads and it had a decent shoulder so traveling was a bit better. Somewhere along the way to the second rest stop my phone went dead so I have no pictures after that.

Unlike yesterday when a good bit of the climbing started after the second rest stop, today most of the climbing was behind us at that point. We left the stop and travelled on US 224 for 14 miles. During that time, the skies cleared a bit and we saw peaks of sunshine.

At mile 78, we left the highway and followed a paved recreational trail into Niles. Smooth surface and no traffic. Nice way to end the day.

The rain, the road surfaces, and the maze of country roads made for a long day. The trip took nearly eight hours in total and I was on the bike for 6 hours and 44 minutes.

Tomorrow we’ll leave the Buckeye State as we travel 90 miles to Erie Pennsylvania and our 5th and final rest day. A much needed rest day. Thanks for following along.

Today we rode 99 miles from Marysville to Wooster Ohio. The roads were wet but we mostly were not.

Our route included a lot of county roads as well as US 36 and Ohio Routes 229, 314, and 95. The forecast called for showers and heavy rains throughout the day with light winds out of the south and west.

We left the hotel in Marysville peddling in a light rain shower. Nothing heavy but a shower nonetheless. The temperature was in the low 60s so the rain jacket felt good. After a short time the rain shower dwindled to a drizzle as we rode along on smooth county roads.

But all around us we saw evidence of recent heavy rains, likely overnight rains. Farm fields were flooded with standing water and every creek and stream that we crossed was swollen and running very fast.

As the showers subsided, the skies did not clear. They were grey and filled with heavy rain clouds. The skies would remain unchanged the entire day.

The landscape was beautiful as we rode through rural Union County and into Delaware County. Rolling farm fields that for the most part had standing crops of corn, soybeans, and wheat but were flooded in many places.

We road through Delaware, the County Seat of Delaware County on our way to the first rest stop of the day at mile 36. As we refueled, the rain had stopped but the smooth road surfaces were wet from recent rains.

As we left the rest stop we were told of a detour in the route due to a closed bridge. The closure was due to construction, not flooding, and would add a mile to our ride. The detour would be just before our second rest stop at mile 75.

And so we peddled on through Delaware County and into Morrow County. The farther east we traveled the more rolling the landscape became and of course the more hills we encountered to climb. Most of the climbing was easy during this part of the route but we were warned there would be much more climbing near the end of the route as the total for the day would exceed 4,000 feet.

The flooded fields, rushing streams, wet roads, and grey skies persisted as we rode into Richland and then Ashland Counties. Our route took us past the Mohican State Park and the heavily wooded area around it. Near the detour we were told about, we encountered another small detour in the form of a fallen tree blocking the roadway. The cleanup was underway and we were able carry our bikes around the obstruction and be on our way.

At the second rest stop of the day at mile 75, we were warned that there would be more climbing over the remaining part of the route. The warning was accurate.

Immediately out of the rest stop we climbed a long hill with a grade of over 7%. Over the next 20 miles or so we encountered similar climbs one after another. Some pitched up higher with ten of the climbs having a grade of over 10% and a few that pitched up over 13%.

Near the end of the route we rode through a very small town with a most unusual name, Funk. Reminded me of the day’s weather.

Finally, after 6 hours and 35 minutes on the bike, we rolled into Wooster, the County Seat of Wayne County, to spend the night. Our third consecutive day with rain was over. In many ways we were lucky however. For nearly 100 miles we were on roads wet from rain but were only rained on briefly.

Tomorrow we’ll continue our trek to the northeast as we’ll ride 93 miles to Niles Ohio. The forecast calls for more of the same. Thanks for following along.

Today we rode 105 miles from Richmond Indiana to Marysville Ohio. The ride turned out to be great but the ride didn’t matter.

Our route followed IN Route 121 into Ohio which then became Ohio Route 121. After a few miles we picked up a series of country roads and worked our way up to the Village of Covington Ohio. From Covington we headed east and north, again on a series of country roads, to the Village of St. Paris. We took a right turn in St. Paris on US 36 and followed it to our destination in Marysville.

The day started out wet as we left Richmond. Heavy rains and, as we found out later a tornado, visited the area overnight. The tornado did some damage at a local shopping mall just a few miles from our hotel. The rains were still coming down as we rolled out but just in the form of light showers. We had some new riders today as Richard Herbst and his son Rick met us at the hotel and joined in for the day.

After just a few quick turns we found ourselves on a smooth country road headed toward Ohio. The state line was upon us so quickly that most of us in the group missed the sign and had to circle back for the photo. We were back in the Buckeye State.

The roads going north in Ohio were some of the best that we have ridden on during this trip. Although there were lots of puddles from the still falling rain, the surface on most of the roads was very smooth and there was very light traffic on this Sunday morning.

We were moving along at a nice pace with the help of a moderate wind out of the southwest. Just a few miles along however, Richard’s front tire went flat. Fortunately Peyton, the mechanic, was in the group and the repair went quickly.

Many of the farm fields that we passed had standing water and all of the streams and creeks were swollen with rushing water, evidence of the heavy rains overnight.

An hour or so into the ride the rain stopped falling but the smooth road surfaces and the tailwind persisted. This was becoming a nice ride. By mile 31 the group had become spread out and I found myself riding with six or seven other riders. Somehow as a group we missed a turn on the course. As we slowed to the sounds of bike computers telling us we were off course, we found ourself at an intersection with US 36.

I’m pretty familiar with the area and so a decision was made to take US 36 into Covington, the site of our first rest stop of the day at mile 43. US 36 is smooth with a nice shoulder and before we knew it the tailwind blew us into the rest stop.

And man what a rest stop it was. We were greeted by dozens of friends and family members, banners, and music. It was so great to see familiar faces after being away for more than five weeks.

I was so touched by the outpouring of support I couldn’t stop smiling. It was awesome! Normally our rest stops take 15 minutes or less. Today I spent an hour. It was so great to talk to everyone and to find out the level of interest they had in our ride. I am so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.

Some of the highlights of the stop. Kim, Derek, Heather and her daughter Katie, Bobbye and her husband Phil from my office were there. Derek and his wife Bethany brought their new born daughter Claire whom I’d not yet met. She’s very cute. Kim greeted all the riders to Ohio with a package of chocolate Buckeyes.

My sister Jennie, and my brothers Joe and Gary were there as well as my sister-in-law Connie and Joe’s fiancés Linda. And very specially, my Dad was there.

Also to my surprise some clients and friends of the firm were there. Mike and Kay Pax, Tim and Julia Weikert, and Steve Schumann. Steve brought his bike and rode along for a while after the stop.

And there were a number of people from Greg’s family, his friends, and a number of people from the Ohio River Road Runners that I hadn’t seen in years.

It was fabulous. I can’t say thank you enough to everyone that made the stop such a memorable one. It was truly one of the highlights of the trip and something that I will remember always.

As we left the stop and said goodby, the sun appeared and the rain gear was put away. The tailwind was still there and the riding was easy. In what seemed like no time, we made our way to Marysville. It didn’t matter. We could have dodged hail and hurricane winds the rest of the way and this would still have been a great day.

Tomorrow we’ll ride 98 miles to Wooster and climb 4,400 feet. There’s rain in the forecast so it could be a challenging day. It doesn’t matter. I’ve got a great support team and I’m charged up and ready to take this thing to the end. Thanks for following along.

Today we rode 72 miles from Indianapolis to Richmond IN, in the rain. Our route was US 40 East the entire way.

We left Indianapolis in a light rain shower. The first precipitation we’ve ridden in of any significance since we left Flag Staff Arizona in a downpour of sleet on May 20th, 25 days ago. We’ve been lucky.

With our rain gear on we headed east. The showers were fairly light and were on again off again most of the way. The temperature was in the mid 50s as we left Indianapolis and never climbed higher than the mid sixties. With the rain gear on, I felt pretty comfortable the entire trip.

There are a number of small towns along Route 40 in eastern Indiana. However, on a rain day it’s tough to get pictures because the camera gets buried pretty deep in the layers to avoid water damage.

Route 40 is a divided four lane highway through most of Indiana, has a nice riding surface, and is lightly travelled. I’ve ridden it a few times before and have always enjoyed the ride. Today we had a nice southwest wind so despite the rain, it was a nice ride most of the way.

I did get some photographs in Greenfield Indiana, a nice town just outside of Indianapolis, and the county seat of Hancock County, with some nice markers for Route 40, the Historic National Road.

At mile 34 we had our first and only rest stop of the day in Knightstown. A small town in Wayne County with a population of 2,000 or so. Knightstown is famous for being the setting for some of the filming of the 1986 film, Hoosiers. They also have a little car museum called The Class of 1957.

After the rest stop we continued east toward Richmond. There were a few more rolling hills but the route is mostly flat. As the day wore on the showers became a little heavier and more consistent. We arrived in Richmond around 12:30 in a steady rain having made the trip in 5 1/2 hours.

Rain days require some bike cleaning to get the road grit off the bike and especially out of the chain which then needs to be re-lubed. Once complete, our wet cloths had to be washed and hung to dry to get ready for tomorrow’s ride.

This evening I got a special treat as my son Domenic and two of his friends joined us for dinner. It sure was great to see him and spend some time catching up.

Tomorrow we’ll cross into Ohio and head northeast through Greenville, Covington, Fletcher, Urbana, and finally Marysville, our destination. It will be a big day, 105 miles, and probably another wet one per the forecast. But it’ll be an even bigger day because we’re likely to see some familiar faces. I’m excited about that. Thanks for following along.

Today we rode 55 miles from Crawfordsville to Indianapolis IN. Our route was US 136 to Indianapolis, a number of streets and byways outside the city and then the White River Recreational Trail.

As we left Crawfordsville the skies were blue and the gusty winds of yesterday had subsided to a slight breeze out of the southwest. Even though we had a delayed start until 8:30 due to the short day, it was chilly, so I pulled on my jacket as an extra layer.

Leaving Crawfordsville was pretty easy with just one turn before we were on US 136 headed east. The landscape was slightly rolling, the traffic was fairly light, and the road surface was reasonably smooth. With the slight breeze giving us a bit of a boost, the riding was pretty easy.

There wasn’t a lot to see along US 136 except slightly rolling farm fields, most of which had this year’s crop growing or appeared to be seeded with it. Around mile 10 or so we stopped in the little town of Mace Indiana to pull off the extra layers as the sun was warming us and the slight rolling hills were making us work just a little. I took a few photos of what appeared to be a vacant road side service station from a prior time.

At mile 25 we pulled into the lone rest stop for the day and enjoyed a special treat, some cinnamon rolls, before getting back on US 136 headed for Indianapolis.

The closer we got to the city the heavier the traffic became. Soon we were riding through the suburbs of the city and all of the traffic of a busy Friday morning. I can’t say I’ve gotten used to riding in traffic as we’ve done it many times on this trip but I have learned how to deal with it better. You have to be acutely aware of everything that is going on around you and ahead of you at all times. You have to watch every car and communicate your moves with hand signals so the drivers know what to expect.

We spent around 10 miles or so peddling through what I would call pretty heavy traffic. And has been the pattern on this trip, with just a few exceptions, the drivers were courteous, friendly, and gave us room to ride.

Another challenge as we got closer to the city was the road surfaces. The smooth surface of US 136 deteriorated into lots of patches, pot holes, and washed out shoulders. Many of the pot holes were large enough to damage a car let alone a bike. So the combination of the heavy traffic and the rough roads made getting to the city a challenge.

At mile 50 our reprieve arrived however as we picked up the White River Recreational, a paved path along the river that took us the rest of the way downtown and to our hotel.

This afternoon with the extra time we had due to the short day, we took in some of the sights of downtown Indianapolis including a climb to the top of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

Our stay in Indianapolis will be brief as tomorrow we’ll ride 72 miles to Richmond. It’s a route that I’m very familiar with having ridden it many times over the years. Unfortunately it looks like our streak of rain free days may becoming to an end as there is rain in the forecast for most of the upcoming days. I’ve ridden in the rain before.

And of course on Sunday we’ll be making our stop in Covington at the Government Center which I’ve now learned is located at 1 South High Street. We should be there around 10. Thanks for following along.

Today we rode 80 miles from Champaign Illinois to Crawfordsville Indiana. Our route was US Route 150 to US Route 136 into Crawfordsville.

There was heavy rain and thunder storms in Champaign Illinois yesterday afternoon and evening. Fortunately for us, that system had left the area by morning. In its place was a cold front with chilly temperatures in 50s this morning and strong gusty winds out of the northwest. The air was cool to downright cold as we left the hotel but our course was east, southeast for most of the day so the chilly wind was our friend as it was at our backs and remained there all day.

The road surfaces on both US 150 and US 136 were vastly better than the road surfaces of yesterday so we had mostly smooth surfaces and a tailwind. Very nice combination.

The scenery in eastern Illinois was more of the same. Large flat farm land. Unlike yesterday, there was very little farming activity in the fields today presumably due to the overnight rain. The planted corn continues to look taller and better as we make our way east.

We passed through a number of small towns in Illinois on US 150. Most of them looked much more prosperous than the tiny dilapidated towns that we have passed through in Missouri and western Illinois.

At mile 39 we pulled into our first and only rest stop of the day in a small park in Danville Illinois, a good size town with a population of 33,000, and the county seat of Vermilion County. Also located just outside of Danville is the Danville Correction Center, a huge prison run by the State of Illinois, with an incarcerated population of over 1,800.

After the rest stop we traveled just a few miles to mile 42 where we crossed the Indiana state line. Indiana is the 9th State we’ve travelled in on this trip. We also lost an hour when we crossed into Indiana as we entered our 4th and final time zone.

On the way to Crawfordsville on US 136 the wind remained at our backs so the pace was pretty quick as it had been all day. We did pass through a few more small towns including Hillsboro Indiana where we found some art in the form of bicycles attached to the wall of a building. Photo opportunity.

Tomorrow we’ll get a little closer to home when we ride 55 miles to Indianapolis. It should be a short riding day so we should have some time to spend in that great city.

After stopping in Richmond on Saturday we’ll be riding through Ohio on Sunday with a scheduled morning stop in Covington before heading to Marysville. I hope to see some familiar faces Sunday morning. Thanks for following along.

Today is a rest day in Champaign Illinois. This is the fourth of five scheduled rest days. The final rest day will be on June 20th in Erie PA.

As with the other rest days, this one included a load of laundry and cleaning and maintenance on the bike. I also switched out the inner tube in the rear tire to address an annoying slow leak that’s been present for a few days. Hopefully that took care of a small problem before it became a bigger one. Technically it was my eighth flat of the trip.

Also took a walk to a nearby CVS to stock up on a few supplies. There appears to be a lot going on in Champaign but I guess I expected that from a Big Ten College town.

As I walked through the hotel lobby I snapped a photo of a display I see everyday. In every hotel we stay in, the crew from Crossroads sets up a board display that shows a map of our route. The route is updated each day by connecting the dots of the places we’ve been and with photo graphs of our experiences. The generates a lot of interest and sparks a lot of conversation. The photo graph is attached below.

Tomorrow we’re back to riding as we head to Crawfordsville Indiana, in our eighth state, 79 miles away. It rained here in the late afternoon but the forecast shows that the rain will stop before morning and give us cooler temperatures and strong gusty winds out of the northwest. We’ll be heading east so hopefully the wind will play in our favor. Thanks for following along.