Since I’m interested in watercolor painting, I decided to play around with a photo special effects app.
I like the way it turned out.
Isn’t that just about the most beautiful corn field you have every seen?
“Command Duck” is determining the cause of my first flat tire. I made it 4,145 miles with only one flat tire. I have to think that is close to a record for someone traveling this for and running tubes.
After careful examination, Commander Duck determined an electrical staple was the culprit.
I was bragging to a fellow in a bar about my good fortune when it came to avoiding flats, he said that was because I knew how to “miss stuff.” That might be the reason, or it could be just luck.
I made it to New York.
I’ve been anticipating this for a couple of weeks. I’m not going to follow the ACA Route along the shoreline of Lake Ontario to Ticonderoga New York. I’ve decided to take the Erie Canalway Trail through Albany and then take the Champlain Valley Canalway Trail to Ticonderoga. That is a flatter route with a lot of cool history of New York along the way.
A Barista gave me a special message. “Enjoy the Ride.” So far I have done just that. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say I’m have the time of my life.
I am 16 Miles North of Buffalo in Lockport. This is the beginning of my journey on the Erie Canal Trail.
The Erie Canal Trail is 280 miles of crushed limestone bikeway that follows the historic Erie Canal.
New York is called the “Empire State” because the Erie Canal was the waterway that, to a large extent prior to the railroads, built the United States West of New York.
This is the only lock on the Erie Canal where original and newer locks operate side-by-side. The photo above is the original lock with a restored canal boat tied up.
After more than 3,000 miles of dealing with cars and trucks, I’m now able to enjoy an experience where four wheeled vehicles are, at least for awhile, the furthest thing from my mind.
The historic sights along the Erie Canal are a real treat for a history buff.
With the Erie Canal Trail and the Champlain Valley Trail behind me, it’s time to enter Vermont.
I took a cable ferry from Ticonderoga at the Southern end of Lake Champlain into Vermont. I’m about 50 miles from the Canadian border.
As I’m waiting for the ferry, I’m wondering why it’s not crossing the lake to get me. I can see it on the opposite shore. I wait for about 20 minutes until a car finally joins me at the dock. The driver looks at me and says, “are you going to raise the flag to let the ferry know there is someone over here?”
That was the beginning of a nice conversation that occupied the entire crossing. (The gentleman followed my Blog and sent me a congratulations message when I finished!)
While we were crossing, I asked the captain what would happen of the cable the ferry was running on broke. He thought about it for a minute and said, “we would end up in New York Harbor.” He added, “of course we would have to navigate several locks along the Hudson River and it would probably take about two weeks…
The Ferry landed in the hamlet of Shoreham Vermont. Vermont is the home of the Green Mountain Boys. Led by Ethan Allen and others, in the 1660’s and 1670’s, they were instrumental in establishing Vermont as an independent U.S. Territory.
In May of 1775, the Green Mountain Boys captured Fort Ticonderoga from the British, a key strategic victory in the early days of the American Revolution.
Vermont is green AND hilly.
There are 64 covered bridges like this one in Vermont. Yes, I think it would be fun to do a tour of all of them.
The reason they built covered bridges was to protect the bridge deck from from rot and decay caused by the severe New England weather.
Another State Line. I’m getting really close now. I can taste the finish line!
I’m crossing the Connecticut River into New Hampshire.
My body is starting to complain to me and I can hear it asking me when will I arrive in Bar Harbor?
The interesting thing about Vermont, New Hampshire and Main is that there is more climbing in those states combined than there is in either Washington or Montana.
This struck me by surprise.
It’s a different sort of climbing. The climbs are shorter, but steeper. The roads are also a lot more winding. I assume that is because when these roads were built, heavy earth moving equipment had not yet become available.
It’s no piece of cake making your way through the New England States.
It would be a lot of fun if you had a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300…
I always brake for Moose, don’t you? Another one of those road-side signs that is a statement of the obvious, like wash your hands.
I made it to the top of the Kancamagus Pass. This is the biggest climb in New Hampshire. 3,000 feet of climbing in 6 miles. This is world class cycling fun.
The locals affectionately refer to it as “The Kank.” It is steep, but also winding, and very beautiful.
When you top out, you really feel like you have accomplished something. This was probably the most challenging part of my tour but if was also one of the most beautiful.
The last State Line. I’m starting to get really excited. The ride from here to Bar Harbor follows the coast line for most of the remainder of the ride. Contrary to what you might think, that does not translate to flat.
You learn something new every day. It’s not likely I will look at my breakfast egg in the same way ever again.
This is the point where Forest Gump reached the Eastern Shore and turned around to head West again.
I didn’t realize I had missed this landmark until I was about 30 miles beyond it. That made it too late to turn around and go back so I stole this photo off the internet.
This is a Cable Stayed Bridge. It was the most beautiful bridge of my entire tour. I was pleasantly surprised to find one in this fairly remote area.
The Cable Stayed Bridge is a hybrid design suspension bridge where most of the load is carried by the towers allowing for longer suspended deck spans. The first Cable Stayed Bridge in the United States was built in 1983. The world’s longest Cable Stayed Bridges (many of them) are in China. These are a relatively new design compared to the more traditional Suspension Bridge.
The traditional Suspension Bridge (like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge) use two massive main cables draped over the top of the towers and are anchored to concrete blocks on the shore. The road deck hangs down from these main cables using smaller vertical suspender cables.
The Cable-Stayed Bridge uses individual cables attached directly to the towers and running diagonally directly down to the road deck. The do now use vertical suspender cables or heavy shore anchorages.
My SAG drove out from Washington to pick me up. The last day was only 15 miles. We met along the way and enjoyed coffee and pastry half-way to Bar Harbor. It was a relaxing ride in to Bar Harbor. My SAG may have enjoyed a Lobster Roll, you never know. After I finished the last 15 miles, we had a nice leisurely day in Bar Harbor.
After I got the bike on the bike rack. I’m pretty sure I heard the bike say:
“It’s about time I got that fat “bleep” and all of his stuff off of me!”
Would I do it again?
If you can say you don’t spend time wondering how other people see you, but instead, you are focused on seeing other people for who they are, then you are on the path to becoming your best self.
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Washington
Idaho
Montana
North Dakota
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Iowa
Illinois
Indiana
Ohio
Pennsylvania
New York
Vermont
New Hampshire
Maine
This is my final Northern Tier Progress entry. Thank you for experiencing this journey with me. The journey has been epic. I’m proud to have completed it.
Without a doubt, this has been the most challenging of my three coast-to-coast bicycle journeys crossing America. I hope there are more cycling adventures in my future. Even if this is my last big bicycle adventure, I will keep on writing and posting when the spirit moves me. Feel free to join me here anytime you would like.
Once again, thank you to everyone that has been a part of this adventure. May all of your journeys be as wonderful and as exciting as this one has been for me.
Day 1, Anacortes, Washington. June 1st, 2026.
Day 101, Bar Harbor, Maine. September 9th, 2026.
Use the Contents link at the top of the page to explore the site. Enjoy!
Route
Metrics
Note
Thought For The Day
I will wrap this story up tomorrow…
Bar Harbor, Maine. Day 101
Route
Metrics
Note
Thought For The Day
This is my last day of what could be called serious riding. Tomorrow is “Photo Day.” A 15 mile stroll into Bar Harbor. But that’s tomorrow. I still have to get through today.
I would be exaggerating only slightly if I said this has been the most wonderful adventure I have yet undertaken. The people. The sites. The pain. The joy. The list goes on and on. There are few things I would trade for having experienced these last three months. Would I do it again? Yes; In a heartbeat. But undertaking an adventure like this has to be supported. Not just by yourself but by everyone that cares about you. I am so very grateful for everyone I have met along the way. everyone at home, everyone that has followed me, everyone that has been a part of this experience in even a small way, even those of you I don’t know.
Adventures can be big or they can be small. The size doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we look for adventure, when we find it, we grasp it. I met a lady on the street today, she said, “I admire what you’re doing.” She added, “it’s important that we keep moving, isn’t it?” I simply said, “yes it is.” Keep moving expresses a big part of what this is all about, also sharing the experience has made it more fun and rewarding.
The Penobscot Narrows Bridge A “Cable Stayed” bridge. It was mind blowing riding across on a bicycle.
Early celebration. Difficult to choose! I tasted the New England, the Heath, and the Coastal. The Coastal was the winner!
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