Madison to Boston Bike Journey

Boston

2008-08-06T10:24:00.000-07:00

Boston Baby

Atlantic Ocean dip

Let's Celebrate

We Did It!!

2008-08-05T06:11:00.000-07:00

Hellooo Boston.. It's official, the journey is complete.

Destination Day 15: Oneida, NY (on the banks of the Erie Canal)

Eating dinner with a majestic view of the Wal-mart parking lot. Americana at its finest. And, Hobo life on the trail, packin' up

Josh made friends with an Erie Canal snake, crankie.

Destination Day 16: Cooperstown, NY (Cooperstown High School and Baseball Hall of Fame)

Our typical riding formation We ride for Freedom

Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY (God Bless America)

Destination Day 17: Schenectady, NY (Frosty Acres Campground)

Our friendly campground neighbors, The Linds, invited us to breakfast after a dreary night biking until 1am.

Destination Day 18: Petersburg, NY (guests of the Share family)

Outside the home of the Share family. He found us on the mountain like lost puppies and took us in for much appreciated showers and beer. Thank you Kathy, Ike, Hunter, and I-Z.

Crossing into Mass. Home of overgrown weeds and those Boston drivers who love to share the road. Nonetheless, some of the most beautiful sights along the way.

Destination Day 19: Shelburne Falls, MA (guests of Al Ladd and Marilyn Beal: http://www.alladd.com/)

We made it! Atop Florida Mountain The ride downhill is always more fun

Destination Day 20: Barre, MA ( Carter and Stevens Farm)

The view from our last campsite Partying at the farm

The trip toughened us all up.. you wanna mess with us?

Final Tallies:

Miles: 1,100 +

States: 5

Canadian Provinces: 1

Days: 21

Nights: 20

Average miles per day: 60-70

Flat Tires: 1

Broken Spokes: 1

Confirmed road kills: 1

How we spent our nights:

Campgrounds: 7

Hobo Camping (Schools, Parks, etc): 5

With random families who graciously harbored us for the night: 4

With people from warmshowers.org: 1

With friends/families we knew before the trip: 2

Hotel: 1

Staple Foods:

Instant Mash potatoes

Beef jerky

PBJ sandwiches

Granola Bars

, Canada to Syracuse, New York

2008-07-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

Where to begin, where to begin....... The last week has brought some exciting adventures to the bike trip, including befriending a man known only as 'BIG Al' in south-central Ontario and sleeping under the stars in a New York State Trooper's backyard after happening upon a Gin Blossoms concert. It was eriely fitting when they sang "tell me do you think it'd be alright If I could just crash here tonight."

The riding has been going well....we are finally hitting our stride and are making pretty good time through New York. The rear ends are even feeling numb instead of sore. :) Only a few hundred miles to Boston. Peace and love to all our peoples!

Destination Day 11: Dunnville, Ontario (guests of "Big Al" in his man's man garage. What a friendly Canadia. Let the record show canadians are nice people and stopped their tradition of eating babies years ago.)

Chillin' in Big Al's garage

Niagara Falls (As you can see we have been growing our facial hair to blend in with the canadians. Nice beard eh. )

Destination Day 12: Lockport, NY (on the banks of the eire canal getting our hobo on.) We pitched our tents after dark and were able to pack up before the trail got too busy. Free lodging rocks!!!

Destination Day 13: Rochester, NY (guests of Officer Beth)

Gin blossoms lead singer Ron Saturn (thats for you Nasim :) ).

Breakfast in Rochester with some of our New York friends (Beth, Stephanie, Beth's biking sister and Sundar Nisim)

Our police escort back to the Erie Canal.

Destination Day 14: Montezuma, NY (Kijchamund Campground )

In front of the home of Mormon Profit Joseph Smith. Josh was escorted off the tour for giggling. (Palmyra, New York)

Brennan finding his peace in the sacred grove.

2008-07-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

PBJ: We're making our way across Canada within striking distance of Niagara Falls. We would have updated sooner, but in this remote area the libraries are rather scarce. When we have encountered a few their hours are like Tues and Thurs only from 1-8P.M. Don't worry Mom and Dad, we're doing just fine!

Destination Day 4 (July 17th) = Clare, MI

Destination Day 5 = Bay City, MI (County Park)

Destination Day 6 = Romeo, MI (guests of Matt Gomez's family)

Children of the Corn

Destination Day 7 = Marine City, MI (Algonac State Park)

Setting up Camp

Destination Day 8 = Day off (Marine City, MI)

Destination Day 9 = Eagle, Ontario (E.M. Warwick Conservation Area)

Looking across the St. Claire River to Canada

Destination Day 10 = Turkey Point, Ontario (Turkey Point Provincial Park)

Lake Erie

Day 11 (July 24th) = In progess, currently Port Dover, Ontario

I heart Burt Reynolds :)

2008-07-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

Currently in Leroy, MI

pbj: A little rain last night forced Pat and Josh to cuddle real close :) little did we know the infamous 'dog man' roams these woods....a seven foot tall, 300 pound half man half dog beast. We donated some blood to the local mosquitos, ate cold mashed potatoes, and swam in many a clear waters. Trip is a blast....even gas station food is becoming a luxury :) ....thus far we came, we saw, and we conquered. Now only 800 miles to go.

Here's some pics

Destination Day 1= Fond du Lac, WI

Destination Day 2= Luddington, MI

On the ferry

Luddington State Park. Luddington, MI

Destination Day 3= Luther, MI

Where the sidewalk ends. The recent floods made for several detours and a portage across one of these "potholes" on day 3.

Local political humor near Luddington, MI. The top outhouse says "politicians" and the bottom says "voters".

Day 4= in progress.. Leroy, MI. We hit a large rainstorm last night, but our tents held up and we took it all in stride. Looks like it's getting sunny, so it's time to hit the road.

2008-07-13T22:28:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone.. Tomorrow morning (8AM) we (Brennan, Josh and Pat) set out on our 1,000 + mile trip from Madison to Boston. This blog will likely serve as an easy way to show some pictures along the way and to update our current location (proof that we haven't turned back yet:) ). Our current plan is to bike from Madison to Manitowoc, WI, take the ferry across Lake Michigan, and head west through Michigan and Ontario to Niagara Falls. From there, we will likely follow the Erie Canal trail across much of New York, and then find some good back roads through Massachusetts to Boston. 23 day trip, flying back Aug 6th, except Brennan.. he plans to bike home.

Here's some pics from the night before:

Kerr sleeping/ guarding the bikes:

Test run: