Across America Trekkers Breeze Across Canada

8/12 In Norfolk we had hot chocolate and big breakfasts at The Lunchbox while planning the day's route. We biked 42 miles to Port Dover, first along Road 45 and for most of the day Road 3. On 45 we saw a sign with an image of three triangles, which we soon discovered referred to the road elevation, but 3 was flat and beautiful. We had pizzas for lunch in Port Dover with Timbits for dessert while checking the conditions of a shortcut backroad along the water. We quickly biked the last 33 miles of the day, shopped for groceries, and were welcomed by Sandra and Kevin to stay on their farm. Kevin told us stories of cycling from Portugal to Vietnam and we shared notes on preventing flats (buy good tires) and learned about methods of surviving on a bike in foreign lands (dumpster dive recently expired food, accept hospitality, don't worry too much about what people think of their neighbors, duct tape can work wonders). We enjoyed cherry tomatoes from Sandra and cooked a meal of pasta with beef sauce and zucchini, made good use of their bathroom, and went to sleep.

Across America Trekkers Are Biking in Canada

8/10 We woke up to the not-so-pleasant surprise that Detroit's bumpy streets had broken a spoke of Lydia's. We gobbled down the complimentary hotel breakfast and Lydia headed out 8 miles to a bike shop while the rest of the group finished getting ready. After John discovered a flat and fixed it the group hit the road and quickly caught up with Lydia, whose bike had been repaired. The whole group made their way through the suburbs of Detroit, pointing out potholes along the way. At 26 miles we stopped at a gas station for a huge snack of Clif bars and bagels as storm clouds rolled in. We made it another 27 miles to Algonac in steady rain with only a quick stop when John wiped out. We had an amazing late lunch at a restaurant next to the ferry: one-pound burgers and generous omelettes. After a quick ferry ride we picked up a map of Ontario in Wallaceburg and ate a hearty dessert in
Dresden. A friendly backpacker invited us to stay at his house where we played with his border collie, Zoe, and learned about the history of the town (Uncle Tom's Cabin is in Dresden!). By 11 we settled down for a good night's sleep.

Lake Ontario Trek Returns to the States

On our Lake Ontario Trekkers' last day in Canada, part of the group got a tour of the area from a retired seasonal camper, while the rest got an early start on their biking.  By lunch time, they had already ridden 30 miles!

They all met up in Kingston for lunch, and to find a cake -- it's Trekker Julia's birthday!  She's the one our very smiley group is holding up in the photo above.

The Trekkers will reenter the U.S. today and stay at the Tibbets Point Lighthouse Hostel, where they'll get a chance to tour the historic lighthouse and break up their camping with a night indoors, sleeping in beds, before striking out across NY state for the last leg of their journey.

Friendly Faces in Prince Edward County for the Lake Ontario Trek

Today our Lake Ontario Trekkers woke up in dry tents and warm sleeping bags, with a sky full of sunshine! They enjoyed a hearty breakfast and made great time to a small town, where they had lunch with cookies for dessert.

The Trekkers biked on to Bloomfield -- stopping to horse around in a cornfield along the way -- and enjoyed handcrafted ice cream in the afternoon, plus a stop at the local bike shop. The dinner crew then biked ahead to Picton to buy dinner and breakfast for the next morning. 

A wonderful Picton family hosted the group for the night. They even fired up their barbecue for a classic hot dog dinner by the fire and gave everyone warm, homemade blueberry-lemon cake!

"Every day," leader Zari says, "we enjoy seeing how kind people are, and how beautiful Ontario is."

Lake Ontario Trek Bikes Toward Brighton

A gray, drizzly morning didn't give the Lake Ontario Trekkers a lot of hope for a great start to their day. . . but as they got into the biking, they found that the cool temperatures and the beautiful landscape around them made their first 15 miles some of their best yet!

In Cobourg, they found a friendly bike shop owner/mechanic who not only changed one of the Trekkers' tires for free, but sent them on their way with an extra innertube, too. By lunchtime, the rain had let up and the group had excellent energy levels for the last part of their ride to Presqu'ile Provincial Park in Brighton.

Everyone's looking forward to biking through Sandbank Park and the Thousand Islands region before returning to the U.S. in a few days.  Hopefully, they'll get more cool weather and meet more bike-friendly people along the way!

The Lake Ontario Trek Bikes the Northern Shore

On their last full day in Toronto, the Lake Ontario Trekkers had an easy morning and a delicious breakfast at Average Joe's Cafe in Kensington Market. They trawled through the district's shops and put together a fantastic "Parisian" lunch -- fresh baguettes, fruit, meats, and cheeses, all from Kensington Market shops.  In the afternoon, they packed and prepared to hit the road the next day, swam in the hotel pool, and went out for pizza in Little Italy.

They wrote this haiku about their stay at the Hyatt Regency --

This hotel is nice
Lots of free coffee and food
I don't want to leave.

and this one about their Parisian-style picnic --

Fresh bread and savory cheese,
Meats, baked treats, and mangos galore,
Market hustle and bustle.

Warm, hotel beds or not, the group got back on the trail, for a bright, sunny day biking with stops for ice cream and Tim Horton's donut holes along the way to Darlington Provincial Park.  After a night of thunderstorms, they woke up to another beautiful day.  They cruised along the waterfront, admiring the views out over the lake and enjoying some breezy downhill biking that kept the summer heat at bay.  They also got to ride alongside Friends for Life, a group of 400 bikers going from Toronto to Montreal to raise AIDS/HIV awareness.

When they reached their lakeside campsite at Victoria Park Campground, they went for a swim, cooked dinner together, and shared stories.  They have three more days camping out in Canada before they'll cross back into the U.S. at Cape Vincent, NY.

Downtown Toronto Welcomes Lake Ontario Trekkers

The Lake Ontario Trekkers started their day by doing laundry, then checked out the shops in Chinatown and bargained with a restaurant owner for their lunch.  In the afternoon, they got in some swimming at the hotel's pool, then headed to the harbor for dinner, live music, and a little salsa dancing.

 

An evening stroll helped everyone digest their delicious dinner out.  Tomorrow, they'll begin the second week of their Trek, heading east along Lake Erie.

Lake Ontario Trek Reaches Toronto

Trails along Lake Ontario gave the Lake Ontario Trekkers fantastic views of the landscape and lake as they made their way to Toronto.  The group had a breezy ride without any problems at all -- not even a flat tire! -- and made it to a Subway for lunch in great spirits.

They continued on through beautiful parks, finally cruising into Toronto and signing in to some wonderful rooms at the Hyatt Regency on King Street.  They found a delicious burger joint nearby and spent the evening exploring downtown Toronto and sleeping hard to get ready for the next day.

They'll be in Toronto two more nights, then strike out across the Canadian countryside along the northern shore of Lake Ontario.

Lake Ontario Trek Explores Southern Ontario

The Lake Ontario Trek group biked out of Niagara Falls and coasted down a series of beautiful hills, heading toward Toronto.  They stopped for lunch at the Museum at Lock 3, where they had a picnic lunch in the museum's park and watched a barge get lowered down beyond the canal walls.

In the afternoon, they had a great swim in the pool at their campground, then built a fire and roasted hot dogs.  They're camping out again tonight, and then they'll spend three nights in downtown Toronto before striking out on winding back roads and bike paths through Great Lakes country.

Architecture, Art, and More Poutine: New York - Montreal Trek Enjoys Montreal

The New York - Montreal Trekkers had a superb day in Montreal.  They started off with a great breakfast at McGill University:

Next, they walked to Old Montreal and admired the beautiful French architecture and numerous historic statues and landmarks:

They ran across a car show and some murals painted by the Etam Cru, a team of artists leader Rachel particularly likes.  Here's one of those:

It's not hard to see why she's a fan!

They went up to the Chalet du Mont Royal at the top of Mont Royal, the hill that gives the city of Montreal its name, and ate lunch while enjoying sweeping views of the city.  They cooled off by going to the movies to watch Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and capped off the night with some delicious Portuguese chicken and pastries -- and more poutine!  Finally, they got in some exercise on the swings and slides at a playground and had a pull-up contest on the monkey bars.

Tonight, they'll take an overnight bus back to NYC, where they'll run around the city together before pickups in the afternoon.

New York - Montreal Trek Bikes through Quebec

The New York - Montreal Trek has been riding through Quebec to Montreal, and the Trekkers are really excited to be traveling through another country.  One of this group's members is from France, so he's been a big help with interacting with the province's French speakers.

They followed winding country roads through lower Quebec and happened on a small-town street festival where the kids got to sit down in some shade and listen to traditional African music.  When they reached Montreal, everyone had a nice, warm shower, then went downtown for poutine, Quebec's signature dish -- fries with fresh cheese and gravy.

In all, the group has ridden more than 400 miles!  They'll spend a couple days in Montreal before catching an overnight bus back to NYC for one last day together.

Lake Ontario Trek Heads for Niagara Falls

An overcast, drizzly day brought the Lake Ontario Trekkers into Canada via the Peace Bridge on their first day out.  In all, they rode just over 20 miles to reach Niagara Falls.  After fixing a flat tire and making a few mechanical adjustments, the Trekkers are now all official road warriors, ready for whatever their journey brings them!

The group was all smiles when they reached the Falls.  Tonight, they're staying dry at the Niagara Falls Youth Hostel and looking forward to the Maid of the Mist boat ride in the morning.

The group wrote us a haiku for the day:

A beautiful finch,
Soaring over Niagara,
Color was yellow.

We look forward to hearing more about their adventures through Canada and back across New York State!

New York - Montreal Trek Makes Montreal!

Our first New York - Montreal Trek has reached its destination!  They biked from Rouses Point, NY to Montreal in one day -- 50 miles.  They stopped for an ice cream break before getting on a bike trail that runs down the middle of the St. Lawrence River toward the city.

They happened upon a salsa dance party in the park before crossing the Jacques Cartier Bridge into the city of Montreal. They went out for Asian food for dinner near the hotel, and afterward, found an acrobatic dance performance going on in the park across the street from their hotel.

They'll spend a couple days exploring the city, then take an overnight bus back to NYC on Monday night, and have one more day together there before the Trek officially ends.

Pacific Northwest Trek Gets to Know Victoria, BC

Trekker Sunny has an update for us on the Pacific Northwest Trek's travels through Canada:

The longest day for the Pacific Northwest Trekkers ended us up in Victoria, BC, Canada. We biked 63 miles on roadways, horse paths, and everything in between, finally arriving at Hostelling International Victoria where we made quality quesadillas in the kitchen. We ended our day with an evening constitutional through the lively downtown. We stumbled upon a music festival on the water where we saw the closing act of the one and only Shaggy!

The next day we visited the Royal BC Museum and then saw the Pride parade as it bounced by outside. We went to lunch at a barbeque placed called Pig. The rest of the day, we spent exploring the city. For dinner, we got pizza and ate in the hostel, and then watched a movie together in the tv room. We then finished out the night playing cards. Writing this, we are on a ferry on the way to our next adventure on the Olympic Peninsula.

 

What a view!

Our Pacific Northwest Trekkers return to the US today for two days in beautiful Olympic National Park.

Pacific Northwest Trek Goes International

Trekker Teddy has an update for us from Vancouver:

Yesterday we traversed the border into Canada, covering 45 miles as we traveled into Vancouver.  Along the way, a stranger, Tracey from New Westminster, BC, talked to us about our trip and bought each of us gift cards to help us on our way.  We also received plenty of directions from other people on how to navigate the streets and bike paths to reach Hosteling-International of downtown Vancouver.  For dinner, we treated ourselves to sushi, teriyaki, and udon noodles at a Japanese restaurant.

Today, we slept in a bit since we weren't traveling far.  We went to Granville Island and explored the shops, which ranged from a public market full of fresh food to a store selling dragon-related items.  We also bought a challah since it's Friday! After heading to McDonald's for lunch to spend some of the gift cards we received, we headed to a beach at Stanley Park.  While it was cloudier than we'd expected, we enjoyed our time there, attempting to solve a crossword puzzle and burying Dan and Russell in the sand.

Tomorrow we will tackle our longest mileage day as we head to Victoria, BC!

Huge thanks to good Samaritan Tracey, wherever you are! 


Here's Monique putting the finishing touches (or handfuls?) on burying Dan and Russell in the sand:

And redheaded Trekker Anna, who knows karate, found a very appropriately labeled package of "Ginja-Ninja Ginger Beer":

We hope it was tasty, and we hope Canada continues to be a lot of fun for our Trekkers!

Bike from New York City to Montreal with Teen Treks

Spend an amazing 16 days this summer traveling through the U.S. and Canada with Teen Treks!  Join a great group of high schoolers on our popular New York City – Montreal bike trek for some of the best cycling and most fun stops on the continent.

Head out from NYC early in the morning, following the Hudson River.

Enjoy the gorgeous countryside of upstate New York and go through smaller towns and Albany, the state capitol.

Stop off for the beach and water fun at Lake George.

Dig into Ben & Jerry’s famous (and enormous) Vermonster, a 20-scoop sundae served in, yes, pretty much a giant bucket. 

Come back up through NY state to head into Quebec, Canada. 

Spend 3 days exploring Montreal, hearing Quebec French, eating poutine (Canada’s favorite junk food – fries with fresh cheese and gravy), and seeing some of the world’s most beautiful architecture.

Like all Teen Treks, this trip gives the group flexibility on the daily details of the route.  If everyone wants to bike hard to get to the lake faster so you have more time on the beach, or if everyone wants to take it easy at a park, stop to appreciate a view, or make an extra ice cream stop, you can do that.

 

This trek ends with a bus ride back to NYC, where you’ll spend a day in Manhattan before heading home.

The New York – Montreal trek features moderate biking (30-50 miles per day) and camping as well as stays in hostels and hotels.  Teenagers entering grades 9-12 can enjoy this short trip, which is packed with things to see and do.  We’re running several New York – Montreal treks this summer:

• June 23 - July 8 (trip code JN-23)
• June 30 - July 15 (trip code JN-30)
• July 7 - July 22  (trip code J-7)
• July 28 - August 12 (trip code J-28)
• August 4 - August 19 (trip code A-4)

Visit TeenTreks.com to apply to bike New York City – Montreal with us, or sign up for one of our other super trips: Across America, Pacific Northwest, European Phantom, California Coast, New England Shore, Amsterdam-Paris, Maine Coast -- and more!

Canada at Last for New York-Montreal (NYM A5)

The New York -Montreal Trekkers were excited to cross the border into Quebec, Canada only one day away from Montreal.  On the way they rode a ferry and stopped to pick fresh corn.

Across America in Buffalo, NY

Across America had the chance to sleep in and relax in Buffalo, New York.  The group headed into America last night after two great days in Canada, where the group was surprised both nights by hospitable  locals who graciously offered them a place to stay-both set of hosts were avid travelers who offered great chat and amazing food (THANK YOU!).  
The group cruised into Buffalo feeling good, especially because they had a hotel and pool to enjoy.  Since Teen Treks is based in Buffalo, the Director, Cliff and Program Coordinator, Alexa and a few lingering Leaders met the group for wings at Anchor Bar, the place where Buffalo Wings were invented.  The Trekkers were hungry, as seen by the 2 pizzas,150 wings and multiple salads they devoured!  Afterwards, the group ate cupcakes while sharing their stories to an audience of Teen Treks staff. 
Everyone got a good night's sleep, and arrived for breakfast at Cliff's house this morning.  After hanging around and relaxing, the Trekkers decided to head to City Hall for a panoramic view of Buffalo before heading out. 
The group is going to Batavia, NY tonight, and then will be heading to Ithaca, where they will be staying with a Teen Treks Leader (Keaton) who they met last night.  The group is excited to be at the end of the Trek, and are very relieved that they can have more casual days on the road.

City Hall offers great views of New York, Canada and two Great Lake-Erie and Ontario.

Across America Going to Canada from Michigan

Yes, you read correctly: Across America is headed towards Canada!  
The group had the option of taking a route through Cleveland, Toledo, Erie etc, but decided to take the Canadian route because they wanted to check out the casual cool town of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The group spent the night in Ann Arbor, and will be leaving the town today and moving towards the Detroit River/Canada.  They are expected to cross the border tomorrow morning.  
The shortest way to get to Canada is passing through Detroit, but the group may substitute that option for a more scenic route that is about 8-10 miles longer.  The exact route is causing much debate with the group: some want more bike paths, others want to shave off miles and/or ride through populated areas.  Everyone is excited to get to Canada, where rural Ontario awaits!  
The group is expected to be in Buffalo on Sunday, and will be staying at Teen Treks' downtown headquarters.
Some random shots:

 

The Trekkers who shop together, stay together...

Main area of Ann Arbor