Archive for Pennsylvania

NY/Canada, PA, OH Photos

Posted by Andrew on July 5th, 2009 - No Comments;  

Rain. Not sure what else stands out for me from NY, PA, and OH other than the rain, which is disappointing. Riding farm country in NY wasn’t bad, but I’ve seen farms in the northeast, so nothing new there. The best part of NY was not actually in NY at all - it was crossing into Canada, then back into NY later that day. Crossing the border on a bike amused me:

Border Policeman: where are you coming from?
Me: Um, New York? (huh? Bridge starts in NY and ends in Canada…)
BP: Where did your trip start?
Me: Maine
BP: Where are you going?
Me: Uhh, Canada?
BP: Where will your trip end?
Me: Hopefully in Oregon
BP: OK, go ahead.

The vineyards out in NY/PA were interesting too, but I blasted through most of it due to the rain. OH was my first experience riding in a truly flat area. We have little stretches of flat roads in VT, but nothing like this. Completely flat for as far as I could see in every direction.  More on the midwest later…

View NY photos on flickr…

View PA photos on flickr…

View OH photos on flickr…

ArrayAt Niagara Falls, Canada
view on flickr»

ArrayWelcome to Pennsylvania
view on flickr»

ArraySunset over Lake Erie in OH
view on flickr»

1,000 Miles, Rain, Suburbs, Glass

Posted by Andrew on June 22nd, 2009 - 2 Comments...  

1000 miles!  Finally out of the  suburbs of Cleveland, the weather is good, and the roads are excellent.

I was not having fun at all for a few days - it seemed like nothing went well.  After I left the Erie Canalway (very nice ride) the weather got nasty and just wouldn’t let up.  I missed seeing the Canadian side of Niagara falls because of the rain and fog and the Cycling Museum in Orchard Park was closed when I got there (slow going in the rain).  Oh yeah, first flat in the rain too, that was fun.  It let up for 15 mins while I took things apart, then promptly started to pour again.  Outside of Buffalo I got into wine country for a bit, which was nice, but then the suburbs started.  I had a feeling I wouldn’t like riding through the suburbs  and Cleveland itself.  I was right.  I stopped on the corner of 3rd and West Superior in Cleveland and thought, “why the hell am I riding my bike through Cleveland!@#%?  Of all of the places I could ride in this country, why am I here?”

I remember standing in front of the train station in Buffalo for a bit thinking about packing up and going somewhere else because of the weather.  Not home, just somewhere else.  In retrospect, I should have taken the train right through Cleveland to the other side and started again.  I’ve got more to stay about the start of the trip, but I’ll save that for later.  In short, things got off to a slow start because I am so familiar with the northeast.  I’m glad it’s out of the way.

So, goodbye Cleveland.  Excellent parks along the lake (most with ice cream), well done on that front.  Really awful roads around the city, but thumbs up to Avon Lake and Sheffield Lake for the outstanding bike path.

Side note: what’s the deal with the broken bottles on the side of the road?  To the asshole that launches bottles out of the car, uhh, you’re an asshole.  Topped only by whoever is dropping dirty diapers on the side of the road.  Come on.

Headed to Bowling Green, OH, about 70 miles for the day.  I’m excited to ride this part of the country - I don’t know where I am, I’m looking forward to rolling through little towns along the way, and the sun’s out!