Water Over the Falls

2019:  Water Over the Falls For our summer vacation “Plan B” kicked in when Evie’s knee worsened. So we packed up the van and drove to the Niagara region of Ontario. It’s a beautiful bike-friendly area. We enjoyed staying at universities (Brock U in St. Catherine’s & Niagara U in Welland) and riding every day. Cycling past Niagara Falls, you feel the magic of its thunderous roar into the Niagara River. Cycling beside the mighty ships on the Welland Canal—watching them rise and fall in the many locks—never gets old. This bike path follows the historic canal between Lakes Erie and Ontario. Revisiting Niagara-on-the-Lake—a UNESCO World Heritage Site--with its wonderful theatre, vineyards, and lake views was a joy. We had 2 plus weeks cycling in this terrific region. We’ll be back!

Next stop Erie, PA--for some great cycling at Presque Isle, Lake Chautauqua, and Findley Lake. The spirit of Commodore Perry lives on! Another treat—no pun intended—was meeting up with Aunt Max, Fay and Linda for a lunch of local Erie specialties. Then, we were on to Franklin, PA—a Rails to Trails mecca--where we rode the awesome trails to Titusville, Oil City, and Van (BIG tunnel.) You can easily imagine a birch bark canoe gliding downstream, along the majestic Alleghany River, to a bustling Shawnee village. Next stop was Limestone for a wonderful visit with mom and dad. We rode two new scenic bike trails—along Redbank Creek and a trail north from Clarion. We love cycling along the Clarion River in Cook’s Forest, ancient hemlocks overhead, with great blue herons fishing its shallows. Vacation Plan B, with its 1000 miles of inspiring cycling, gets an A+.

Winter cycling without the chill!. Brrr-too cold to stay in Baltimore.... We started the (2019) year off right with our annual trip to Florida. Riding the serene paved bike trails beneath the live oaks and Spanish moss, egrets and alligators for company, we love this sojourn. We walk the quiet beaches at Longboat Key, collect shells, and enjoy the stunning sunsets. Visiting dear friends, Rita and Bob Bennett, is always a treat! We love cycling around Sebring’s lakes and through its orange groves. Other destination rides included Robinson’s Preserve, Shamrock Park, Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach, Casey Key, and lovely Ledo Beach. Lots of cycling on the Withthecoochee, General James A. van Fleet, Good Neighbor, Legacy, and the Venice Waterway (paved) trails gave us many joyful hours on our tandem—the perfect cruising machine for those wonderful trails!  Forgot to mention—Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island—the final stop on our Florida getaway. That place has it all—a quaint town on the harbor, a wonderful paved bike trail, lots of shop and restaurants—don’t miss the Salty Pelican—and it borders the Atlantic, Ocean that is!!

Happy cycling, Evie & Mike