GAP Trail Day 1 - 6/8/2025

GAP Trail Day 1 - Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Start in Pittsburg to West Newton PA Bright Morning BnB, 35 miles

We waited out a passing rain storm this morning and left at about 10:30 am.   We had light rain off and on until about 1 pm when the sun came out for a while.   We arrived at our BnB and got under the porch cover just as it started pouring rain again. Whew!  The great advantage of weather radar on the phone. 

The route was on the GAP trail all day with the first 20 miles paved then very nice crushed stone for the remainder. 

At the GAP start.  Point State Park in Pittsburg.  The Ohio river behind us, the Allegheny river on the right, and the Monongahela river on the left  

Take a break from the rain under one of the many bridges

Lots of small waterfalls - this one with high sulfur level giving the orange yellow colors.  And it really stinks!

Our BnB for tonight

Lake Erie Day 14 - 6/4/2025

LET Riding Day 14 - Lampe Campground, Erie PA to Ashtabula OH, 55 miles

Another day with a stiff headwinds and temps in the 80s from the start.   This was offset by lots of great Lake views along the route, sunny skies, and two ice cream stops!  At Ashtabula we said good bye to the lake. 

This is the last day of our Lake Erie tour!  Thanks to everyone for following along. 

We start the GAP tour (Great Allegheny Passage) on June 8.  Stay tuned!

Lake Erie Day 13 - 6/3/2025

LET Riding Day 13 - Suncliff Inn , Derby NY to Lampe Campground, Erie PA, 75 miles

Another great weather day with light headwinds and warming into the 80sf. Our longest day yet, cruising thru NY along the lake and into PA. Lots of short rolling hills.    The route was along Hwy 5 with nice wide shoulders.  

Lake Erie Day 12 - 6/2/2025

LET Riding Day 12 - Rock Point Provincial Park Ontario to Suncliff Inn New York - staying at the inn, 65 miles

Another very nice weather day with tailwinds and warming temps.  First 18 miles was all along the lakeshore.  Beautiful.  Then into Port Colborne for brunch.  From Port Colborne we followed the Friendship trail, all paved, all the way to the Peace Bridge.   After US  Customs we landed in Buffalo.   This is our second time riding through Buffalo and it is still challenging to navigate.  Now we are riding along the Erie south shore in the US.  

Sunset on Lake Erie from Suncliff

Lake Erie Day 11 - 6/1/2025

 LET Riding Day 11 - Turkey Point to Rock Point Provincial Park - camping 53 miles

What a great day!  So good to ride under clear skies with a tailwind!   We had 5 or 6 steep hills to climb at the start of the day but otherwise the route was mostly flat.  Had a nice walk along the beach at the campground this evening.   Very pleasant day. 

Lake Erie breakers at Rock Point

Navigator Sherri at sunset

Lake Erie Day 10 - 5/31/2025

LET Riding Day 10 - Port Stanley to Turkey Point - staying at a motel, 59 miles

Burrrrr!  Strong crosswinds out of the north and temps in the 40s gave a windchill of 35f.  Today we even wore our down jackets while riding.  The terrain is still mostly flat but we had 6 or 7 steep hills to climb, starting with a 12% grade just a 100 yards from our hotel room.  Whew - what a way to start the day!  The route took us closer to the lake today with some nice views south.

The forested areas continue to be all deciduous trees.  We expected by now to see more evergreens.  The provincial park plaques state that this area is the northern terminus of the Carolinian Deciduous Forest. 

Mark against the cold

Lake Erie Day Off - 5/30/2025

Enjoying our day off in Port Stanley.  Quaint little resort town on the Ontario side.  A “working” port there are a number of fishing boats moored here.  The fishing boats leave at 4am.  We watched the boats returning around 1 pm with buckets of fish.  They fish mainly for Perch.  

Port Stanley Harbor from the harbor bridge   Rescue boat on the right.  Fishing boats in the distance on the left.

West side Port Stanley Pier protecting the harbor, with Lighthouse at the end of the pier in the distance.