The finish line is in sight....but this wasn't supposed to be about a finish line. We wanted to be impacted by the world. Have footprints left all over us and be changed by the bruises. The comforts of our homeland now are filled with pin pricks of discomfort. The typical American fears that surfaced before we first crossed into Mexico a year ago, never materialized. Now we are more impacted by the safe and sterile life many Americans try to create around them......and we don't like it. No trespassing, wash your hands, eat before this date, beware of dog, caution coffee may be hot, warning this peanut butter contains peanuts...........
Still have a few things to figure out. Keep riding.
I've got a mule, and her name is Sal. Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. She's a good old worker and a good old pal, Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. We've hauled some barges in our day, Filled with lumber, coal and hay, And we know ev'ry inch of the way From Albany to Buffalo.Christie was treated to music every inch of the way.
My grandparents went to Niagara Falls on their honeymoon...and again 40 yrs later (grandma always said the second trip was because they actually wanted to see the falls). This was our first time there, it was all it was cracked up to be.
We were drawn to the international flair of the area. Chinese, Colombian, Polish, Swiss and US travelers found the Jojo train a little more exciting than water falling....for a few minutes as we strolled by.
A $1 ferry ride addressed our bridge crossing issue. Detroit and Port Huron bridges didn't want anything to do with our preferred mode of transportation.
A friendly face on our final return to the states. Ray went pedaling around town looking for a map we could use, then prayed over our journey before we left him. I believe his understanding of Michigan roads and drivers triggered his prayer.
One cool family! A last trip before the start of school, the determination of this family, particularly the 8th grade twin girls impressed us. They were nearing the end of a week long bike ride along the Erie Canal.
Just part of the family. We enjoyed a Labor Day warm shower host and were welcomed as part of the family. We enjoyed our departing ride with Jim to the dunes of Lake Michigan.
Making new friends.
Stealth camping and warm showers have been the primary places we lay our heads in the US. Rural churches during the week and schools on the weekend are easy, urban camping has been a little more of a challenge.
Lift off in the dunes.
Christie's joy of shopping was slightly dampened as she walked into this mall...soaking wet, bright yellow cycling jacket, cycling shoes, and no shower in a few days. As one of our friends commented, the click of C's shoes walking through were the "loudest clicks ever heard."
We filled up at roadside stands throughout NY, Ontario and Michigan.
Grocery stores are hard. We are a nation filled with choices....going in to a store to grab simple things....maybe peanut butter, salad dressing and cereal turns into a colossal chore filled with no less than 100 options. On this Sunday morning it just seemed simpler to go with pumpkin pie....and you can't have pie without cool whip! There wasn't very much talking as we sat in front of the store and our breakfast disappeared.
Sometimes it is easier to have food choices whittled down for us. Hirsch (cycling for 6 yrs around the world) is teaching us the finer points of dumpster diving during our virgin experience. With our endless number of food choices comes a mountain of waste. These bagels were maybe a day old...and mighty tasty. We are excited to practice our new found skills for the rest of the ride. Brings a whole new meaning to the term dive master.
Peace Corps Vanuatu re-unites. The five of us overlapped for one year in the South Pacific. E, C, Hirsch - having a bit of a zen moment here, Sarah and Aaron Reedy - both Chicago teachers. A great stop and opportunity to discuss items with people who can readily relate to our experience as they have had so many of their own unique adventures.
A high school friend from Albert Lea who lives in the Chicago area. Christie is getting comfortable holding a young one.
We enjoyed moving under power while the clickity clack of the wheels on the steel rails sped us towards Chicago. We stayed with Pete (Eric's cousin) in NW Indiana.
A $1 ferry ride addressed our bridge crossing issue. Detroit and Port Huron bridges didn't want anything to do with our preferred mode of transportation.
A friendly face on our final return to the states. Ray went pedaling around town looking for a map we could use, then prayed over our journey before we left him. I believe his understanding of Michigan roads and drivers triggered his prayer.
One cool family! A last trip before the start of school, the determination of this family, particularly the 8th grade twin girls impressed us. They were nearing the end of a week long bike ride along the Erie Canal.
Just part of the family. We enjoyed a Labor Day warm shower host and were welcomed as part of the family. We enjoyed our departing ride with Jim to the dunes of Lake Michigan.
Making new friends. 
Stealth camping and warm showers have been the primary places we lay our heads in the US. Rural churches during the week and schools on the weekend are easy, urban camping has been a little more of a challenge.
Lift off in the dunes. 
Christie's joy of shopping was slightly dampened as she walked into this mall...soaking wet, bright yellow cycling jacket, cycling shoes, and no shower in a few days. As one of our friends commented, the click of C's shoes walking through were the "loudest clicks ever heard."
We filled up at roadside stands throughout NY, Ontario and Michigan. 
Grocery stores are hard. We are a nation filled with choices....going in to a store to grab simple things....maybe peanut butter, salad dressing and cereal turns into a colossal chore filled with no less than 100 options. On this Sunday morning it just seemed simpler to go with pumpkin pie....and you can't have pie without cool whip! There wasn't very much talking as we sat in front of the store and our breakfast disappeared.
Sometimes it is easier to have food choices whittled down for us. Hirsch (cycling for 6 yrs around the world) is teaching us the finer points of dumpster diving during our virgin experience. With our endless number of food choices comes a mountain of waste. These bagels were maybe a day old...and mighty tasty. We are excited to practice our new found skills for the rest of the ride. Brings a whole new meaning to the term dive master.
Peace Corps Vanuatu re-unites. The five of us overlapped for one year in the South Pacific. E, C, Hirsch - having a bit of a zen moment here, Sarah and Aaron Reedy - both Chicago teachers. A great stop and opportunity to discuss items with people who can readily relate to our experience as they have had so many of their own unique adventures.
A high school friend from Albert Lea who lives in the Chicago area. Christie is getting comfortable holding a young one.
We enjoyed moving under power while the clickity clack of the wheels on the steel rails sped us towards Chicago. We stayed with Pete (Eric's cousin) in NW Indiana.The honeymoon period of our return home is giving way to the day to day US realities. Before we could dismiss oddities (to us) as just being an East coast thing, no longer. We are now in the Midwest, the world we left, and it didn't seem to take a year off. A year removed from our cell service we notice nearly everyone is walking or driving or riding the train, while texting or with a phone to their ear. Those who aren't have stuffed their ear buds in isolating themselves from interactions.
So we give you a challenge today. For a few moments be electronic and media free. Move under your own power and engage 10 other people who are moving under their own power. Hey, Hello and Nice Day all count! Then remember what it is like to be a human....without fear.
