Category: Touring

Lynn and I wake up at 4 AM and start packing up the campsite to leave at 6 for the ferry to Mainland. We purchase tickets and go across the street to have breakfast at a restaurant. We have an hour to wait for the next ferry to arrive.

The ferry arrives and we board for the ninety minute ride to Mainland. We watch Harbour seals and porpoise swimming alongside the boat.

Back on land we ride over to the stony beach to look for sea glass. Today we found sea glass.

Now we ride to catch the ferry to Deer Island. On Deer Island we ride the many steep hills to the ferry to Campobello. We are early and have a forty five minute wait so we head to the point to sea Old Sow, the whirlpools, but the tide is high so the whirlpools are small and difficult to see.

We head back and board the ferry to Campobello.

Now back to the campsite and set up camp. We will wake up at 5 AM to leave at 6 o’clock for Vermont.

Today we head out to explore the shore around our campground. Last night we noticed a cafe close by so instead of making breakfast we will go out to eat. This little place has very nice food.

With full bellies we ride off to explore. We decide to look for sea glass but the tide is rising and noon is found.

Now back at the campsite we settle in, relax, and prepare for an early start. If we leave by 6 AM we might make the eight o’ clock ferry to Deer Island.

We started the day by breaking camp and packing up to catch the ferry to Deer Island. So my breakfast was a pop tart.

We landed at Deer Island and began the race to catch the next ferry to MainLand New Brunswick.

The third ferry took us to Grand Manan. This was the largest ferry that also carried loaded tractor trailers, the trip took ninety minutes. From the ferry we had 18km to get to the Anchorage Provincial Park campground. We set up camp as it was getting dark.

It rained last night, soft rain with a sleepy sound. I awoke and closed the side flaps of the tent and fell back into sleep. Breakfast at 7 began the day before riding to the campground beach.

Touring some gravel roads and a lighthouse at the end of the island was the result of a wrong turn.

We stop at a market with a deli to buy lunch to bring down to the pier. We eat on the wharf and watch the tide.

Now off to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt cottage.

Back at the campsite we shower and eat. A campfire brings the day’s end.

Today at 4 AM Lynn came to pick me up to drive to Campobello, NS. I met Lynn while I was out riding, we both like touring so … We are on our first tour together.

We made the drive to our campground at 3:30 PM. The border crossing into Canada was easy. We are now set up, fed, and ready to sleep. Tomorrow we explore the area.

I checked my tires this morning, I find this on my rear tire, only 2100 miles on it.

Erin made lunch for us so we all had a nice meal before I packed the van with my bike and gear. Erin also sent me on my way with a bowl of ice cream. We got to the start of the trail in Columbia and parked next to the Coffee and Cream. CK gets a dish of ice cream, I get a milkshake and blueberry pastry. We say our goodbyes and I ride off to Mt Gretna.

The first third is on a bike trail along the Susquehanna River. Very scenic and easy riding.

The second third is over back country roads to Elizabethtown, rolling with steep hills.

The last third is on a bike trail that brings me to Mt Gretna.

I am now with Nancy and the puppies. Nancy’s sister, Sue, is here. Her brother Jeff will get here tomorrow.

After breakfast I begin organizing. CK will drive me back to Columbia, PA where I will ride to Mt Gretna and connect with Nancy. CK gets home and we talk about the rest of the day and plan a route on the trails that will bring us to the Newark Reservoir.

We ride into the city for dinner at the Iron Hill Brewery. The food and beer is very good. I choose the Chili Burger and IPA. We walk our bikes up the sidewalk to get back onto the bike trail. It is dark by the time we get home.

We have Tillamook ice cream and talk about the ride. This is my final night here so this is a special day.

This morning CK and Erin went back to their jobs at the Universities. I tuned up my bike. When CK finished he was back home around noon. We loaded our bikes and set off to ride the trail to and back from Delaware City and then to and back from Chesapeake City. Today is hot and we stop in Delaware City for ice cream.

Then we head to Chesapeake City a the sun begins to set.

Another great day on the bikes riding the entire trail both ways.

We packed my bike and gear into the van and walked across the tracks to a coffee shop, Coffee and Cream, for lunch.

On our drive to Newark, DE. CK showed me many wonderful sites on the local roads.

Today I was given a tour of CK’s research lab at the University of Delaware. We then rode out of the city to spend the rest of the day riding around the local parks and back roads.

We are both tired but now full from the wonderful pasta meal prepared by Erin. We head out in the dark to build a fire and relax after this hard and wonderful ride. This was a great day.

After a wonderful stay I pack up to leave York for Columbia. Paul rides out with me to where I am outside and east of the busy city streets. Paul guides me to my route on nice less busy roads. This was complicated a bit because a section of the bike trail we were taking was being used for a race and the runners were coming toward us. Paul knew a good work-a-round which brought us to a city park that was donated by the Penn family. There is a lot of history here, on the park the Union Army had a hospital here during the Civil War.

When we got to the route Paul headed home. Thank you Paul for guiding me out of town.

I crossed the Susquehanna River and rode to the MW Lancaster County River Trail Visitor Center. Next door is a great coffee shop, I stop and get a Danish and fill my water bottle with coffee. I am now under the pavilion enjoying the coffee and Danish while I wait for CK to arrive. I will visit him for a few days.