Maine Coast Trek Arrives in Portland

The Maine Coast Trekkers have been enjoying Portland (and the air-conditioned hotel rooms they're staying in).  On their way there, they discovered an "awe-inspiring" candy store and had pastries and coffee at a cafe called Mornings in Paris.  They coasted the rest of the way into town, aided by a great tailwind.

They've been exploring the city, admiring the architecture, and checking out restaurants downtown.  Next, they'll head on up the coast to Freeport.

Close to Home for the Lake Ontario Trek

Since they got an early start, the Lake Ontario Trekkers decided to bike through Middleport and camp at Lockport tonight.  They did make a stop at Middleport, for ice cream and air conditioning.  The owner of the cafe where they took their break gave them a watermelon on their way out, too.

They're enjoying their last day on the Erie Canalway Trail and their last night of camping.  For dinner, they have quesadillas planned!

Lake Ontario Trek Bikes the Erie Canal Trailway

The Lake Ontario Trekkers started their day early with a stop at a bike shop for inspections.  Little did they know, there was a glass-blowing studio next door!  The group had lunch outside and then spent a good chunk of their afternoon being mesmerized by the glowing fire and beautiful pieces of colored glass.

They headed on to the Erie Canal Trailway -- a bikers' paradise along the peaceful canal, without any cars at all.  Kiran treated everyone to delicious pulled BBQ chicken sandwiches, thanks to his excellent camping-culinary skills, which they enjoyed at their own private campground along the trail.

Everyone's eager for more time on the trail before hitting Buffalo on Friday.  Their journey is almost complete!

Lake Ontario Trek Rides a 60-Mile Day and Hikes Chimney Bluffs

It's safe to say that everyone on the Lake Ontario Trek was happy to have completed Day 15, their longest day.  They biked 60 miles!  Plus, they had their greatest gain and loss of elevation.  Many of the Trekkers said these were the steepest hills they've ever climbed -- what an accomplishment!  They capped their Saturday evening off with nachos and s'mores around the campfire.

The next morning, they had a relaxed morning, with Trekker Kiran cooking everyone eggs to order -- over easy, scrambled, and even "eggs in a basket," a fried egg in a bagel, with gourmet toppings like pesto and chopped green onions. They then took a short ride to Chimney Bluffs State Park, where they had lunch under a giant maple tree and hiked up to admire the beautiful views. At the end of the day, they came back to camp for a delicious dinner of Shepherd's Pie.

Biking and Bagpipes for the Maine Coast Trek

Riding through Newburyport, the Maine Coast Trekkers discovered the town's Yankee Homecoming Parade, and they biked backwards through it from beginning to end, riding past a jazz band, marching bands, a drum and fife corps, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians bagpipe corps.

They've been enjoying scenic, hilly rides, and evenings around the campfire after cooking dinner:

They're about to enter Maine, where the hills might get a little steeper.  We hope they still enjoy their ride!

Maine Coast Trek Makes Some Friends in Northeastern Massachusetts

Riding up the Maine Coast, our Trekkers had a fun day of getting a little lost, biking through rain, and helping some friendly farm owners put up a canopy before they had a BBQ! 

They got a tour of the farm, meeting flocks of chickens, ducks, and geese, and had lunch in a dry part of the property out of the rain.

After getting to Cape Ann Campground in Gloucester, the group played cards, made chicken stew, baked potatoes in the fire, and made s'mores. Tomorrow, they'll bike into New Hampshire.

The Lake Ontario Trekkers Loved the Lighthouse Hostel in Cape Vincent, NY

The Lake Ontario Trekkers had a sad and beautiful farewell this morning at the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse. Two of the group's members took a spill that left one of them with a fractured thumb and the other with a sprained wrist -- minor injuries, but enough to send them both home early.  There were warm, heartfelt hugs all around, and everyone agreed to keep in touch.  We'll miss them, but we know they'll heal up better at home.

The rest of the group got back on their bikes and continued on down the New York side of Lake Ontario. They made great time to Southwick Beach State Park, where they ate dinner with fresh corn.  Tomorrow is their longest-mileage day, so they plan to go to bed early tonight and wake up ready for the challenge!

First Day for the Maine Coast Trek

The Maine Coast Trek got a bright start this morning!  Most the Trekkers met at Boston North Station this morning and boarded a train to Lowell, where they picked up the last two members of their group.

In Lowell, they visited the American Textile History Museum, participated in a scavenger hunt, and biked around downtown before heading to their first campsite, nearby in North Andover.

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.

Lake Ontario Trek Gets Soaked on the Maid of the Mist

The Lake Ontario Trek enjoyed a gorgeous, sunny day at Niagara Falls.  They enjoyed a picnic lunch including some very tasty rotisserie chicken and then biked the trails around Goat Island. 

Teen Treks' Director, Cliff Madell, joined the group for the day and gave them some tips about bike mechanics while he was there.

Next, the Trekkers went on the Maid of the Mist boat tour, which takes you right up next to the Falls themselves.  Here's the group looking cheerful -- and dry -- before Maid of the Mist:

And here they are afterward, drenched!  But still cheerful:

Check out leader Zari's t-shirt.  It's hot pink in the first photo, and it gets so soaked it actually looks dark red in the second.

The group is staying at the Niagara Falls Youth Hostel again tonight.  Tomorrow, they'll bike up to Jordan, Ontario, for their first night camping out together!

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 Bikes the Island Line Trail

Our second New York - Montreal Trek had a beautiful day to ride around Burlington and Lake Champlain.  They had breakfast together, then hit the Island Line Trail, which runs around and over Lake Champlain, reaching a series of islands in the middle of the lake.

In the afternoon, they biked to Plattsburgh, NY, for their last night camping out in the US before gearing up to enter Canada.