Week Nine

Jersey City and New York Harbor, New Jersey - August 31

The start of this week saw us scale the Queenston Bluffs and on to Niagara Falls. In conversation with American cyclist many had not hear much of the war of 1812 and the defeat of the American invading force by General Brock and the Canadian Forces. They were truly Canadian as they not only included the British regulars but also regiments of the settlers, United Empire Loyalists and even a black regiment. It is strange how history is told in ones country to reflect what we want to hear about our past. Our ride up the escarpment was by a cycle path and up to the Queenston Heights. We collected before the Rainbow Bridge and crossed the falls on mass. The American customs just waved us through as we had all been cleared previously. My easiest crossing of the boarder ever!

Niagara Falls form American Side.

The American Falls and perspective on the Canadian Falls was quite different than on the Canadian side and we stopped to take it all in. Then we cycled through Niagara Falls, New York and on into New York State. The terrain was fairly flat with but as we got to the Finger Lakes the rolling countryside arrived. The group I was riding with did and extra 10 km. on the Monday as we took a right fork where we should have taken a left. We were not the only ones as it was confusing. But we did find a great ice cream stop as a reward and even though the weather is cooler it was great.

Cycling along Martin Creek, Hwy 11, Hop Bottom, Penn.

The Finger Lakes are a beautiful area of New York State but with steep climbs, especially the rise out of Ithaca. This was good practice for the Appalachians that we had to face on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The country is beautiful and I especially enjoyed the ride along Martin’s creek on the Lackawanna Trail; hardwood forest all around, a gentle downhill ride for more than 20 km, interesting old towns like Hop Bottom, and amazing rail bridges spanning the valley floor.

Lackawanna Rail Bridge, Nicholson, Pennsylvaina

Mirror Lake, Blue Mountains, Pennsylvania

The Appalachian Mountain, Second last day of ride.

We were again treated to great support by the CRC community where we found it. Lunch stops and a great supper in Sussex were excellent. We made it through the Appalachian Mountain to New Jersey State and finally into Jersey City.

Echo Lake Road, New Jersey, Last Day - Fall colours.

The last 10 km were escorted by police and into Liberty State Park, past the Statue of Liberty and on to a pebble beach to dip our tires into Atlantic Ocean tidal water. It was great to be there, said a prayer of thanks, lots of congratulations and goodbyes and almost a stunned realization that it was over. The evening of supper and a celebration final service and it is all over. A short sleep in the East Christian Middle School , a day travelling back with Joe and Margret DeWeert and Dirk Van Wyngaarten to southern Ontario and to my sister’s home in Brandford. It seems a sudden end to so many weeks of nomadic life; the reality of all of this will take some time to sink in. I know I will miss the friend of the tour and the fellowship of the wheel but ‘regular’ life intrudes again.

Welcome at Liberty State Park, Tour's End.

Dipping Tires into Atlantic Tidal Water - Tours End!

Statue of Liberty from New York Harbour

My last part of this journey was a real highlight however. Myself and Jim Beeshold from California took a offered ride on a sail boat with New City Kids Church, a inner city ministry in Jersey City (newcitykidschurch.com). The sail boat was skipper by Pastor Trevor Rubingh and crewed by some of the inner city kids that had learned how to sail this summer in busy New York harbor (citysailyouth.org) , just one of the many activities of the Church. The boat was donated to the ministry as well as the berth. It was great to meet the kids and Pastor Trevor and just enjoy their company as we sailed by the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island (Port of entry for countless immigrants into USA) and the now abandoned train terminal. Across the harbour is New York (Manhattan Island) and the Empire State Building and looking out to the Atlantic, the Verrazanno Narrows Bridge. I was even asked to be the helmsman for a small portion of the sail! We sailed into the Jersey harbour and then toured the facility this ministry has in downtown Jersey City with the kids being proud guides.

The kids of New City Kids Church and our sailor/guides, New York Habour

What a way to end the cycle ride with an introduction to this type of program that is making a difference to those in the city and in poverty. This is the reason we have cycled all these days and kilometers! If our funds raising efforts can go to causes such as these maybe we riders and all who supported this fundraiser to End the Cycle of Poverty can by God’s Grace be change agents in this world. It has been a privilege to have been part of this grand venture this summer. I thank all of you who came into my life this summer and most especially to my fellow cyclist. May God keep you all safe and well as you transition back to ‘ordinary’ life. Keep cycling!

Week Seven

Grand Rapids, Michigan, Aug. 17

We are in the holy city for the Christian Reformed Church! Last weekend it was Madison Wisconsin at an outreach church which was very good. We traveled down from Wisconsin to Illinois and stayed on Tuesday night at Trinity Christian College. We were hosted there very well with a great meal of pizza and ice cream. I got to do a load of laundry at no cost which was great. These little things are so important when you live out of a duffle bag for weeks on end! I am surprised how little I really need on this trip and it will again make me re-evaluate the stuff I have at home.

Fox River Bike Path Coffee Stop - Great Pies!

The ride this week was eventful to say the least. Chicago was very difficult on the ride into Trinity as we were on very rough roads during rush hour. I found the ride very nerve-racking and at one time had a vehicle drive so close that the mirror on my trike was swept forward as it passed by. Another few cm. and I would have been hit in the front wheel. Thank God for his traveling mercies!
Some of our tour went to the inner city area where the CRC is working with the poor to make a difference. It was a good experience to see the face of poverty and what some solutions may look like. We also stopped at churches for lunch and witnessed the destructive power of a tornado that had hit south Chicago a few weeks ago.
Cycling took us to a number of cycle paths in and out of the Chicago area. These were mostly very good as they are abandoned rail beds and thus the grades are gradual and smooth. We are truly in the eastern forest ecosystems as the trails were often arched over by ash, oak, maple and other species of the Great Lakes-Carolina Forest. The contrast with the wide open spaces of the prairies of a few days earlier is remarkable.

Sherman's Ice Cream, South Haven
South Haven, Michigan Lake - east shore

Thr ride up the east shore of lake Michigan was enjoyable and not hard. We visited South Haven and sampled Sherman’s famous ice cream which was very good. A few of us took a unique hand ferry across the Saugatuck harbor that can only take 20 people and a few bicycles at a time. The ferry has been in service since the 1800’s. This served us well and was a preview of the ferry to come across the St. Clair River next week.

Graafschap CRC, Holland, Michigan

On our way to Holland we visited Graafschap CRC Church which is the first one in the denomination. They had a great interpretive historical center in the basement of the church showing the immigration of the Dutch settlers in the 1840’s and the reasons the church began as a split from the Reformed Church of America. It is good to be able to do this cycle trip with fellow Christians form the RCA and hopefully heal some difference. Having ridden and talked to some RCA members it is apparent that we have much in common and we should continue to work

together .

Sunset, CRC Conference Grounds, Grand Haven

In Grand Haven we camped for the night at the CRC conference grounds, were treated to our first steak supper and enjoyed the lake. I went for a swim in the 62°F water which was refreshing, but most enjoyable especially with the large surf. Beautiful sand and an evening topped by a awesome sunset. The next day saw our ride into Grand Rapids. A good ride and helped by church stops and the buying a single large juicy peach from a local road side producer. The ride through Grand Rapids reminded me again how much easier the country riding is than the city; I was glad to arrive at Calvin College and to be hosted at the home of a friend and fellow cyclist Dale Mowry.