Day 60- The Final Day-Camden to Bar Harbor

We started the day half an hour away with our host family. After a good breakfast (thanks Greg) we made our way to Camden and the Baptist Church parking lot. The other riders were getting there and after our final preparations and excited pre-ride talk, we set out.



After crossing the Penobscot River by it the spectacular bridge, we started our final map.
After crossing onto Mount Desert Isand, we took Rte 3 along the northwestern coast and met with our police escort. But we had a wait as Murphy's law tried to defeat or frustrate us. Earlier, Dan Chapin wrapped his rear derailleur into his rear spokes and Jonny had 3 flats after crossing onto Mount Desert Island. But finally every one assembled and we rode the final 3 miles together into the center of town and to the port of Bar Harbor. We finished the wheel dipping custom that we began 4159 miles earlier. The front wheel got dipped in the Atlantic.

It was a great feeling to finsh. But the joy of finishing took time to sink in.



Distance: 91.37 miles
Climb: 5608 ft
Total time in the saddle: 6:44

Overall Distance: 4159 miles
Overall Climb: 131592 ft (24 miles)

Day 59 Oxford ME to Camden ME

Today we contine in Maine with one more day to go. A long day, saw some good climbing too.

Camden in a very attractive port town.

Distance: 98 miles
Climbed 5914 ft
Time in the saddle: 7:04

Overall Distance: 4067 miles

Day 58 Lincoln NH to Oxford ME

Today we arrived in Maine, our final state. New Hampshire and Vermont were amazingly beautiful. The mountains, while not as rugged are steep. We saw some roads with 15% grades.

First thing this morning, we did our final pass, the Kamcamgus. All I can say is that is was a pleasant climb, since is was no steeper than 7%.

Only two more days. Tomorrow we break 4000 miles

Distance: 89 miles
Time: 6:28
Climb: 5359

Overall Distance: 3963 miles

Flats: 2 since the beginning.

Day 57 Rochester VT to Lincoln NH

Another day in the mountains of New England. From the Green Mountains of Vermont to the White Mountains of Hew Hampshire. With 5559 ft of climbing it was a calorie burner. But we also saw some old fashioned charm when we crossed this bridge built in the early 1800's. We also crossed the famous Appalachain Trail.

Distance: 97 miles
Climbed: 5559 ft
Time in the saddle: 6:30

Overall Distance: 3874 miles
Total Climbed: 115071 ft

Day 56 Newcomb NY to Rochester VT

Today we set of for the last five days of our Ride Across America. Newcomb is in the center of the Adirondak Mountains and Adirondak State Park...one of America's biggest parks. It is really beautiful.
Before the end of the week we will cross the Green Mountains and the White Mountains.

A nice clear day turned into a wet rainey one. Only the third we've had. (Notice the shower cap on my helmut). It was raining when we crossed the Ticonderoga River. It was raining when we crossed into Vermont. It was raining when we climbed Brandon Gap.

Distance: 92 miles
Time in the saddle: 6:30
Climb: 6684 ft

Total Distance: 3777 miles
Total Climbed: 109512 ft (20 miles)

Day 55 Newcomb

A day of rest. We went to two of our sponsoring Methodist Churches: Long Lake MC and Newcomb. Carol is pastor of both congregations. We had a great time with our host Bob and Donna. I got my bike cleaned an relubed after the soaking we got several days before.

Day 54 Redfield NY to Newcomb NY

The rain stopped. We dried out a bit. And now it's off on our longest day. We entered Adirondack Park and began to see it's beauty.

Adirondack Park is a state park and is one of the largest in the United States. As we entered Old Forge, we also began to see that it is a very touristy place.


It proved to be my most difficult day. 120 miles is the longest. But the climbing was also the longest, 7297 ft: even longer than our second day in the Cascades in Washington. It was a 5:35 p.m. before I dragged into Newcomb to a warm welcome from Carol, the pastor of Newcomb United Methodist, and Mike, her main pray-er.

Distance: 120 miles
Time in the saddle: 8:22:15
Total Climbed 7297 ft

Overall distance: 3685 miles
Overall Climb: 91,787 ft

Day 53 Williamson NY to Redfield NY

After a week of not having any internet access, I'm finally in a restaurant in the boonies of northwestern New York where I can give you an update. We've traversed Pennsylvania and are now in New York since Tuesday. Instead of a great view of Lake Erie, we've been on the south coast of Lake Ontario.

Yesterday, we had a first really wet day in over 3500 miles. IT RAINED. We were all soaked...serveral times. Today we do our longest day...120 miles. Our daily average until next Friday when we finish is 98 miles. Today we enter the Adironacks so we're planning on lots of climbing.

Distance: 87 miles
Time in the saddle (and in the rain): 6:07
Total climbed: 3700 ft

Overall distance: 3563 miles

Day 52 Medina NY to East Williamson NY

In Medina we had a great tail wind that took us all the way to Rochester New York. This took us along the Erie Canal. Then in Rochester we took the Erie Canal Bike trail which is a very nice paved trail through the whole city. Arriving in East Williamson and spent the night on the Lake Ontario.

Distance: 85.90 miles
Riding Time: 5:41
Climb: 2770 ft

Total Distance: 3477 miles

Day 51 Angola NY to Medina NY

August 6 Back along lake Erie from Pioneer Camp, through Lackawana and Buffalo New York. After crossing to Canada on the Peace bridge, we went Niagara Falls. The ride along the river and the falls is pleasant. The falls are spectacular.
On to Medina which is on the famed Erie Canal.

Distance: 106 miles
Riding time: 7:18
Climb: 2464 ft

Total Distance: 3391 miles

Day 50 East Springfield PA to Angola NY

On along Lake Erie we went and into the State of New York for our first night in that state. This is an area with many vineyards and wineries. The night was spent are Camp Pioneer, a Lutheran Church Misouri Synod camp.

Distance: 99.67 miles
Climbed: 2360 ft
Time in the saddle: 6:07:00

Overall distance: 3285 miles

Day 49 Cleveland to East Springfield

We continued on along Lake Erie. The roads were good with a good shoulder. Very flat but good scenery. As we passed through Conneaut OH, and entered Pennsylvania, there was this really neat drive-in where I had yet another milkshake for recharging my glycogen. The night was spent with the folks at East Springfield Federated Church. Our YFC parnters were there to welcome us. We had a great time with Ruth Warner in the house that her grandfather built.
Distance: 96 miles
Climbed : 1664 feet
Time in the saddle: 5:57:00
Average Speed: 16 mph

Total Distance: 3187 miles

Day 48 of Paul Luedtke's Ride Across America - Akron Oh

After arriving in Lakewood/Cleveland yesterday, I'm spending my normal day off with Becky and her mom in Akron OH. Becky came up and picked me up at the Nehemiah center in Cleveland. Akron sits the Cuyahoga River and is still acknowleged as the Rubber Capital of the U.S. Goodyear's corporate offices are there and is the home of :


We went to "The Chapel" this morning and had a good time of Sunday worship. The Chapel is a very good and very big church that is very faithful to bringing the Good News of Jesus to people and helping them grow in their faith. It's always a pleasure to be a with this church.

The days off have been important for rest and to remember that life's rythyms help us to make sense out off what we are living. Just a moment to step back ( or step down) and get some perspective is really important. This cycle trip is such a metaphor for life. This journey is long. But the goal is clear. Keeping our eyes to the East and Bar Harbor. For my life, the journey is long, but the goal is clear, keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.

Day 47 Gibsonburg OH to Lakewood/Cleveland OH

Our stay in Gibsonburg was a very warm one. We gave After spending a quiet the night with Kim and Larry, at their 1860's vintage house, we set off toward Lake Erie.


The NNE wind was slightly in our face as we went east, so we did not work that hard. But barriers and detours are inevitable. We had add about 3 miles to our day because of this:

The ride along the Lake Erie coast is really worth seeing. Small resort towns reminded me of the east coast.

Distance: 100.6 miles

Total Distance: 3089.55

Day 46 Grove City OH to Gibsonburg OH

My first night out on a farm on this trip. Kent and Pam Eddy's place is amazingly quiet. We woke to a wonderful sunrise. Thanks for giving us this, bed and a great breakfast.


With the wind at our backs, we kept our eyes to the East. Ohio is also the land of corn and soybeans. Small towns dot the country side. But when we arrive at Napoleon, we had a surprize. Memories of my children flooded my mind as we paid homage to the place where my favorite tomato soup came from:

It was a great way to celebrate August 1 (The Swiss National Holiday)

Distance: 87.1 miles
Total Time: 5:24
Average speed: 16
Climb: 1012 feet

Overall distance: 2988.55 miles
Overall climb: 72107 feet

Day 45 Wabash IN to Grove City OH

The night before, I saw my friends Ed and Anne Benson who live in Indianapolis and made the drive up Wabash. We spent a nice evening rediscovering Ponderosa. (I was pleasantly surprised, the steak and the rest of the food was a good as the company). Thanks guys for the nice night out.


Today we entered our (WA, ID, MT, ND, MN, WI, IA, IL, IN, OH) our tenth state. Ohio, the Buckeye State.


In Grove City we stayed with Jack Fetter and his wife at their YFC Wilderness Camp. Some foolishness happened when Stuart decided to sell/auction Dan's bike in the YFC auction.

Distance: 96.28 miles
Time: 5:49

Day 44 Brook to Wabash

Distance: 98 miles

Day 43 Cornell IL to Brook IN

Thanks to Dan and Jenny our host and all the team and Cornell United Methodist Church. As had a warm welcome and and great stay.

As we set off we passed Jenny's place of work where the make food for exotic birds and ship all over the world.

Today we arrived in another state, my ninth: Indiana. No sign welcomed us since we were on the back country roads, so this picture witnesses our entry.
Just before leaving Indiana we came to the town of Iroquois. A relic from the past is still prominent. I thought it was a an outhouse, but it was "The Calaboose." At the time they were concerned that a second salon would bring in people from outside of town who would need cooling off in "the cooler."




















Total Distance: 92 Miles

Day 42-Kewanee to Cornell

This past weekend was very special. After riding on Saturday with Debbie and Dan Berg, we all visited Kathy and Dominic Ascone, more old friends from my days at North Area YFC. It was a great time. Kathy and Dominic took us to "The Crossing" a really imaginative church in Macomb IL. And, then I saw Arnold Bandstra, my old post advisor from Post 104. We had a super time of reconnecting. Such as great time with old friends.

After a day of rest in Kewanee, and a great stay with our sponsoring church, Zion Lutheran with a super couple, Jim and Margaret, who welcomed Stuart and I into their home, we set out again ... this time for Cornell IL.


The bean and cornfields are impressive. They all look to be in great shape and will give great yields. We crossed the Illinois River and the Vermillion River which I canoed down as a Scout and an Explorer.
































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One big lesson our riders learned was about "road tar". Five riders headed off after lunch on a very tarry road and got mired down and covered in tar and gravel.



















90 degree heat and 80 percent humidity made our final hour into Cornell...memorable.

Distance: 83 miles
Time Riding: 5:15
Average Speed: 15.7 mph
Overall Distance: 2615 miles

Day 41 Day off in Macomb

Debbie and Dan Berg took me to see Dominic and Kathy Ascone down in Macomb. So I spent the night, went to a great church and relaxed on my day of rest.

Day 40 Muscatine IA to Kewanee IL

Mulford Evangelical Free Church gave us a warm welcome and our hosts Janet and Harry provided a very nice tour of the town, snug beds and good tuck.

Muscatine is right on Mississippi River. This past Monday a very bad windstorm with "straight line wind" blew through and did unbelievable damage.



















We set off from Muscatine and crossed over the Misssissippi and entered the States of Illinois our (WA, ID, MT, ND MN, WI, IA, IL) eight states.


















Today we were joined by Dan and Debbie Berg, old friends from my YFC days in North Area. Both are strong cyclists. We all enjoyed having them for their company and because they pulled us along.

















The roads were the nicest we've been on for many days with gentle rolling hills. The weather was fine with partly cloudy skies, mid-80's temp, but high humidity.

Distance: 80.87 miles
Time on the bike: 4:49
Total Time: 1755 ft

Overall Distance: 2532 miles

Day 39 Central City IA to Muscatine IA

After a great evening with our hosts, Bruce, LaNiel and Ian, we set out for Muscatine. Today would be one to remember. We passed a number of weird and wonderful things.

Did you know you could rent a bull? That's right, if you have cows and want calves and have not bull, you can rent one. Here's proof.




































An then, do you know where the world's largest limeston structure? Well, according the people in Anamosa IA, it is their 1800's vintage Penatentury.



















The highlight of our day was when we joined the famous "Ragbrai" The Ride Across Iowa. We rode about 15 miles with the over 10,000 people who crossed Iowa this week and bikes. It is one big party.


















Finally, we got to see some of the terrible destruction caused by the flooding that happened earlier this year in Iowa. Instead of taking the detour, we rode the damaged roads.





















Distance: 79 miles
Time on the bike: 5:20
Ave Speed: 14.6 mph
Max Speed 35.7

Total distance since Anacortes: 2452 miles
Total Climbed: 66,000 ft