Ideas for 2026

My goal in 2026 is to keep the cycling momentum by incorporating new trails and routes. Besides the  Colorado trip, I want to complete another weeklong bike tour - last year's was great - where is yet to be determined.

• In March, I'm heading back to the Philly Bike Expo, this time with my husband! I'm excited to meet up with cycling friends, ride with others, attend seminars, and, of course, attend the main event. It's also the 250th anniversary of the US, and we may stumble upon some of Philly's special events.
• Because bike touring in summer's heat was successful, I plan to do it again. It has its merits: cooling off in streams, packing less, and being able to bail on local adventures. Ideas include a 3-day Champlain Islands loop, an upstate New York adventure using the Adirondack Rail Trail, and a one-way journey using Amtrak. So many possibilities!
• With a front rack and comfortable bars installed on the Downtube Dyan, I plan to test its handling capabilities on an overnight. The long-term goal is to lower the gearing and try wider tires for more adventurous multimodal trips, but one step at a time.
• I'm heading back to Colorado, which has now become an annual pilgrimage, visiting family and friends in Fort Collins for more cycling/hiking fun. 
• We'll continue to explore more mountain bike trails. Ideas include Woodstock, Millstone and North Branch, all in VT, and Blueberry Hills in Elizabethtown, NY.

Inaugural Bike Overnight with the Specialized Hard Rock

 

In May I set out on an easy peasy 15 mile ride to meet up with my significant other for an overnight at a state park lean to. The goal was to see how the Hard Rock fared with camping weight.

My sleep system was piled atop the Jack the Bike Rack...

...with a homemade pouch strapped below. I have toured in the past with this rack, undermounting a couple items that ended up falling out on bumpy terrain using only webbing attachments. The pouch idea work better, and with daisy chain webbing surrounding the opening, the 4-hook cargo net secured both sleep quilt and pouch items in place.

The stuffed pouch rubbed a bit against one side of the V-brakes, so a little alteration is needed. However, this solution will provide added security and take advantage of the extra space beneath the rack.

I arrived ahead of my glamping partner and I was pleased at the private lean-to.

Chairs, cooler, good food, and beer - plus my guy - were welcome additions.

Packing up the dusty bike for the return ride home.

Enough pink for ya?

The trip was a success. I love when a simple overnight works out, you get to test gear, and miles of smiles is worth the simple getaway. Jack the Bike Rack works better on this older bike, keeping front weight low. As expected the Hard Rock handles touring weight just fine, and the cushy tires add a plush, comfortable ride.

Outdoor Ventures Packable Jacket Review

After our Erie Canal adventure in 2023 where we encountered chilly mornings and evenings while camping, I vowed to find an affordable, packable, warm jacket for future trips. I've had good luck with Outdoor Ventures softshell jacket so I bought their synthetic Full-Zip Puffer Jacket. I prefer bike touring during the cooler months to avoid insects, humidity, and crowds, but it requires extra gear to stay warm - a trade-off that we find worth it.

I've been wearing the jacket exclusively for the past two months, cycling in windy 30-50F range, also toting the jacket on an Amtrak adventure to visit the Philly Bike Expo. The jacket is windproof for the most part; the only exception is the zipper flap extends only 3" from the top, (misleading in the website photo) so in extreme frontal blasts a little cold seeps through. Barring that, the jacket has an incredible warmth-to-weight ratio, deep pockets, an internal chest zip pocket, a high neck, and a hood. A stuff sack is provided, but the jacket packs smaller, folded inside the left pocket. No doubt, the jacket is a good value and will ensure that I stay warm on future adventures.

Tangentially, as we lighten our camping gear, most recently using a new, 3.5 lb. two-person tent, it's apparent the tent no longer provides warmth. To save weight, the tent is constructed with mesh; the rainfly is coated ripstop nylon. And with thinner poles. It's a flimsier arrangement that requires greater care when entering and exiting the abode. No longer can I dash inside and expect instant warmth!

With the addition of a warm jacket (that can also be stuffed inside my pillow case for lumpy-free head comfort), wool socks, hat, and gloves - all of which can additionally be worn inside the tent - I should be good to go on our next bicycle tour.

2023 Erie Canal Bike Tour

The start of the Erie Canal Trail in Tonawanda.

The basics

As with any bike tour, there's more than one way of doing things, so overall impressions are worth noting to help future travelers on the same route. The actual Erie Canal mileage, from Tonawanda to Albany, is 350 miles. Tack on 10-12 miles if starting in Buffalo, riding the Shoreline Trail to the start. The prevailing wind is from the west - our journey was west to east - though we encountered headwinds 3 of 7 days. We had allotted more days to finish, but averaged 50 mile days to avoid a forecasted, unchanging, rainy day. We were lucky to have not encountered any rain at all. Leaving a car in Albany, we took our bikes and gear on Amtrak to Buffalo, stayed a night in a hotel, and set off the following day. In general, it was a positive experience and highly recommended, especially if you enjoy history.

Why did we choose the Erie Canal?

The trail has been complete and popular for many years. Living within 3 hours by car from Albany, the route is not far from our home. Vacations usually took my husband and I further field, by plane, or to the C&O Canal region. It took the pandemic to open our eyes to nearby trails and/or regions easily accessed by Amtrak. Impressed with other segments of the recently completed Empire State Trail system, the Erie Canal route was the next logical goal. We chose May to avoid the crowds and potential difficulty securing accommodation.

Learning History

I am most intrigued if cycling and history intersect. As we learned from excellent historical signs, central New York was once the breadbasket, so thus the impetus to move crops efficiently to the Atlantic coast. The canal was started in central New York in the 1820s, and construction went both directions eventually connecting Lake Eric to the Hudson River waterway. In some regions the canal was enlarged three times and/or sections were abandoned and wider canal sections rebuilt as traffic increased. The canal trail follows all three portions, depending upon the region. From the bike seat, we were often privy to new canal, old canal, railroad (our trail often was on a former rail line) to nearby highway with trucks hauling goods, spanning 230 years of moving goods to market.

Flora and fauna

Spring was in full force with blooming trees (apple and cherry), pink and white honeysuckle bushes, wildflowers (trillium, buttercups), and fragrant lilacs from adjoining properties. Flower petals swirled in the ever-present breeze.

In the central portion it was evident that farming is still king, Corn, grain, and abundant apple orchards (in white full bloom) as far as the eye can see. Large double-tired tractors were constant companions in the fields.

We encountered a few snakes on the trail: a black and white variety that we couldn't identify, and a dark mottled kind that I later identified as a watersnake. Canadian Geese and goslings were ever-present and we often had to ride single file to gently move them off the trail, the guard geese, mouth open honking, often flapping their wings. There were muskrat, beaver, great blue herons landing and taking off from the old canals pea soup-like waters, woodchucks scampering across the trail, a few deer, blue jays and one Baltimore oriole.

Route navigation

There was impressive signage and navigation through cities, most notably in Syracuse where there was phenomenal in terms of moving bicycles through congested areas.. Overall there is no shortage of Empire State Trail and Erie Canal signage, or on Buffalo's Shoreline Trail. It's hard to get lost.

Accommodation options

We opted to camp as much as possible, but found that campsites weren't abundant within two miles of the trail, and our personal barometer to average 50 daily trail miles didn't align well with private campsites and/or lock camping. One would need to stagger between 20 and 70 miles between camping sites. Beside staying in Buffalo, we stayed in hotels two more nights, one because of cold, the other because of lack of accessible camping.

Trail towns and signage

Communities embrace the canal trail with parks and parking access at most road junctions. The amount of parks was astounding though 90% didn't provide trash cans, portolets, or water. We had to get creative with acquiring enough water: take advantage of store bathrooms, in one instance walking into a diner, where a waitress kindly filled my bottles.

With abundant park access, information in trail towns was lacking. Intersections with small town main streets left us guessing: did they have a store, bank, public bathroom, bakery, ice cream place, eateries? We wondered why towns didn't capitalize on tourism dollars with simple direction signs.

The recycling dilemma

As with most travel, recycling is difficult. Coming from a state that recycles everything, even required composting, we know it's as easy as providing dual trash/recycling containers. We didn't find recycling receptacles in parks, town centers, campgrounds or hotels. It left us baffled.

Free camping the first night along the canal.

Trail surfaces

In general, we guess the overall trail surface is 60% stone dust, 30% paved. The remainder is a mix of double-track and rougher gravel. There is an ugly on-road 20 mile detour away from the canal on a semi-busy, hilly of course, road made bearable to us at least, by a wonderful tailwind and reasonable road shoulder.

I had a love/hate relationship with paved trail sections, especially around Rochester. When pavement is smooth it's wonderful, though when they become buckled, they are jolting, cracks often hidden through sun dappled surface, sending me cursing and standing on the pedals. I preferred the smooth, predictable stone dust portions that was the predominate surface.

Equipment review

My Bassi Rachel step through, overall, performed well. It's fairly lightweight, setup tubeless with V-brakes, which helped when I needed to remove the front wheel, and suspend the bike from it's rear wheel on Amtrak's closet-like vertical hook storage. I used two rear panniers in conjunction with a Jack-the Bike Rack on the handlebars, which housed my sleep system. At first I loaded the three components into a duffel on the top, hoping to contain all, but after the load shimmied on a 2 mile ride from the train station to our hotel in Buffalo, I moved two items beneath the rack to distribute some of the weight closer to the wheel. I repurposed the duffel bag for food, attached on the rear rack, which proved more versatile. The Jack Rack sits too high on Rachel's long head tube, so I'll be investigating other removable front end solutions for a future adventure. The tubeless tires were efficient and comfortable, requiring air in the rear wheel two or three times. The lack of tread though, caused me to slip on newer trail sections with looser gravel. Because of possible toe overlap with the front wheel, I experimented with Power Grips foot retention. I found them awkward and used them very little.

Because the mid-May weather ranged from 31-75F, it was difficult to pack the right amount of clothing, though I did pretty well. I discovered the low end of my Cosmic quilt - mid 40s - and supplemented with extra layers and wool socks. We stayed indoors on the coldest night. I wished I had brought overmitts in addition to my thin gloves. I used every clothing piece, except for the unneeded rain gear, and layered when needed. I brought 2 padded shorts, 1 padded knicker, 1 unpadded knicker, long unpadded tights for sleeping in and/or as a layering piece, cotton t-short for sleeping, 1 wicking bike top, and a lightweight longsleeve sunshirt, a baselayer, and a breathable, semi-windproof jacket, plus a thermal full zip layer (I wore these latter two a lot). I brought a couple other items, but the point is, we encountered a diverse range of weather that made the layering system a good idea.

Parting thoughts

I am happy to have completed the trail in 7 days without ever really preparing ahead of time. However, in hindsight, to appropriately enjoy the region and spend less time on a bike saddle, I would've preferred to slow down and ride around 40 miles each day. I had 4 more days of vacation so there was no hurry. I wished we had stayed at a couple locks and went to a museum.

The Amtrak route continued on from Buffalo and ended at Niagara Falls. Had we realized, we would've started from a more scenic location as it was the same distance to the start of the Erie Canal.

I'm interested in reading further about canal history. Any historical fiction suggestions?

Bassi Rachel - Dialing in the Fit

Bassi Rachel, complete with racks, fenders, two bottle cages, and foot retention straps.

I have finally set up the Bassi Rachel to my liking! For touring, there are racks and fenders, and a handlebar cushioned for a change of hand positions. Most importantly, the cockpit is comfortable, finetuned for optimal body position.

In record time, compared with the former Clem-entine.

Our son also clipped the support brackets on the fenders so there's less hardware to catch on my shoes.

I installed the front fender one evening, but couldn't fathom how to install the rear one with included clamp-type bracket, so I set the project aside. Fortunately our bike mechanic son offered to finish. His method involved drilling a hole in the metal fender, bolting directly to the frame hole (see below). It's cleaner-looking for sure - thanks to him!

It's often preferable to build the bike from the frame up: you get to choose components. I have light, tubeless wheels, I asked for a setback seat post. I chose easier, click-type shifting, and V-brakes for simple adjustment, 2x gearing, and a curvy handlebar for alternate hand positions.

What I hadn't anticipated, was toe overlap. I added the ugly, but customizable Power Grip straps, rather than using old school clips and straps. I'm hoping they'll prevent my shoes from whacking the front fender, potentially tearing my shoes and/or the rubber endcaps off the fender stays. I haven't used any foot retention for 5 or so years so we'll see...

As for the handlebar set up, I've used a similar approach on the Clem-entine, so I expect this will work out well.  

For fit, I realized the Bassi Rachel is designed to sit upright, more so than my previous step through bicycle - or the way I ended up using it. Once I embraced the new fit, I lowered the seat and tilted the nose upward, and raised the handlebars slightly, and all is well.

Of course, nothing like beginning a weeklong bike tour - leaving Friday - to encounter other quirks! 

Ideas for 2023

2023 should hold more opportunities for travel, this time with my husband. In his retirement, he has the time to plan our adventures plus fulfill his own wanderlust.

• I'm a creative soul. Come winter I design and create something, often inspired by a cycling need. 2023's project is a large, lightweight tote bag to hold my Dahon Boardwalk. I want a bag primarily for train journeys, with the ability fold/roll it when done, stowing it, perhaps, behind the seatpost. I've heard the inexpensive IKEA Dimpa bags work well, but question their longevity. I'd rather come up with a customized design.
• Finish equipping the Bassi Rachel for touring. My new step through queen needs fenders and a front rack. Ultimately, I want the Jack the Bike Rack - initially a Kickstarter project - soon to be available to the public. This rack would provide versatility and ideally I want to avoid a permanent front rack. For a temporary setup though, I could likely fit an older Blackburn lowrider or purchase another simple but effective Sunlite small rack. I have a few options at the very least to distribute weight on Miss Rachel for springtime tours.
• Touring ideas include a loop connecting the Cross Vermont Trail and soon to be complete Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, doable from home! It's an opportunity to ride dirt roads, pavement, and a gravel railbed, crossing the width of Vermont twice. We can see this loop becoming popular in the years to come. Also on the agenda is touring the Erie Canal Trail, hopefully early enough to avoid crowds, and later in the year, attending the Philly Bike Expo via Amtrak and my Dahon Boardwalk.

Getting to Know the Bassi Rachel

CL Cycles is a Montreal shop and develops their own brand of Bassi steel frames and complete bikes.

CL Cycles' Bassi Rachel frame caught my eye a couple years ago. It was their 2021 model updates, however: ability to accommodate wider tires, a second water bottle cage mount, and V-brake compatibility, that made me take a second look.

I test rode two sizes to determine which fit best.

What I initially liked about the Rachel was its shorter wheelbase and sparkly Beaujolais paint color. I could start from scratch and pay attention to overall bike weight. Our bike mechanic son built wheels, set them up tubeless for starters, working after hours to help keep my costs down. I checked in periodically to watch the build progress. I specified 2 X Low Gearing (love that about the Clem), easy shifting, and it was fine to go with used parts if it made sense. I am picky about handlebars though, so I bought Nitto's Dove bar, a comparable equivalent to the much loved but out-of-stock Soma Oxford's that graced the Clem. 

I vacillated over the housing color - too many choices - and my son suggested grey because it was classy.

Components include Nitto's Dove handle bar, a new Light & Motion coordinated headlight, and used, grimy Ergon Cork Grips, a Velo Orange stem (though I asked for removable faceplate style), SRAM drivetrain and Shimano silver and black click shifters (used?), which are brilliant for my arthritic hands! 

One day, Simple Green and I attacked the grips and I whittled corks for bar end plugs. 

Riding the the Rachel is like night and day from it's predecessor! 

Simply put, it's fast. Our son explained that lightweight wheels, set up tubeless, make a big difference, so I'm glad I sprang for whatever he suggested. I am leery of touring with this setup because it's foreign, and as much as I love 1980's bikes, new bicycle technology has advantages. At any rate, the rims and Rene Herse tires can accommodate tubes, should I wish to go that route in the future.

I have always loved this simply styled English-made steel rack. It graced my husband's 1970's Peugeot when we rode across the country, then I adopted it on my skinny-tired Peugeot, and now with an extension (refitted by Old Spokes Home) it's a perfect complement on Rachel.

Rachel's 55cm frame has 700c wheels.

With a rear rack, I've gained some functionality - something I require of all my bikes. A kickstand is next, along with a setback seat post. Since Rachel (pronounced Ra-CHEL in Canada) is my touring bicycle, fenders and a front rack are on the agenda. I'd like to explore Velo Orange or PDW black fenders, and investigate Jack the Bike Rack as a removable front rack option - made available to the public soon.

Anything I'm missing?

Dahon Boardwalk Bike Overnight 2 - Doing it Right

Dahon Boardwalk, all packed and ready to go.

The Dahon Boardwalk, in it's current setup, is best suited for simple overnights. As soon as a weekend weather window opened up, I made hotel reservations a 30 mile ride away, doable at my current fitness level. The goal was to recharge in a different environment and pedal somewhere new or where I haven't been for a long time. 

I was also trying out a new front bag, attached with a Klickfix bracket to the handlepost. With a little cable management, and moving the water bottle holder to the seatpost, I added a bit more carrying capacity. I planned to head out early afternoon and our son would would meet me at the hotel after his shift, arriving around sunset.

I was so excited for this adventure, all packed and had leaned my bike against the garage door for a photo. But then I remembered to lock the front door, exiting into the garage - because it's easier - only to tap the garage door opener and watch the bike crash to the ground. Oooof! I was just talking to the neighbor also, who saw what happened. A little beside myself, of course, the equipment and bike were fine, I straightened the new bag bracket, and set out. 

After crossing the Lamoille River, the walking began.

I have always enjoyed the Lake Champlain Bikeways route. The byway hugs the lake, but steers a rider on roads less traveled.

I pedaled by older farms where the smell of cow manure was a comforting reminder of Vermont's agricultural past. Chickens and ducks, plus the odd inclusion of Canadian geese honked from nearby farm ponds.  I noticed the abundance of horse farms and/or small dairies. Daffodils and wild violets colored the roadside. 

Saint Albans Bay - a favorite stop.

Riding a 6-gear bicycle, of course, has it's drawbacks. I struggled against a 10mph headwind the entire way, and walked a few steep inclines, and noted the route was hillier than I remembered, but no amount of setback hampered my enthusiasm! I was traveling by bike and had allowed several hours of daylight to arrive at the hotel. As it turned out, it took me 4 hours to pedal 30 miles.

I arrived at the hotel by 5 pm, and stowed my bike in the room, showered, and walked to a brewery I'd been wanting to try, Mill River Brewing. I ordered BBQ takeout, their specialty, and the timing was perfect - I'd barely returned to our room when my son showed up! Hoofing it to get there before dark, it took him less than two hours to ride a nearly identical route. The fitness of youth!

We were both tired and just relaxed all evening. The next morning we took advantage of the buffet breakfast and pedaled south along a different, and equally pleasant rural route, this time, thankfully, with a tailwind. Two thirds of the way home we took a break and gobbled a huge ice cream cone, then rolled the few remaining miles home. 

This is my first experience using a hotel for a bike overnight, and it was a perfect getaway. Highly recommended!

The Bicycle Journey

The Trek Marlin 7 outfitted with stem and triangle bag, just enough storage for local rides.

From a touring bike to early 80's mountain bike to step through bicycles to folding bike to hard tail mountain bike, even an old revived Peugeot with 27" tires has contributed much to this 40 year old journey on two wheels.

This is only a brief synopsis, of course. The nuances of each bike seem to take on a life of their own as I adapt each one to fill a certain role. That's where the real magic happens. Outfit a bike with rack and fenders for office commuting. Use one voluminous pannier for easy toting inside, filled with lunch, clothing, purse, and alternate footwear. Or, get creative to equip a folding bike for long distance rides: how to carry a significant volume with limited space to fit a tiny frame? It's these type of challenges and creativity involved that have fueled my interest in cycling for many years. 

My greatest love is bicycle touring. But it's not only about the miles these days, it's about the mission. Where can I go to maximize the experience of discovery? What brewery do I want to visit? What campground would be interesting to stay at? Where can I go via Amtrak to boost the distance traveled? What museum have I always wanted to visit? And Atlantic beaches - don't get me started! 

What has been the greatest impact that has affected your love of cycling? 

2021 Pedaling Vacation in Greenport, NY

Despite initially feeling ambivalent about planning a 2021 vacation, once I made camping reservations, all the other steps fell in place, including my husband tagging along for a new experience.

That first day was an amazing adventure in itself, further heightened by the scenic Amtrak's Vermonter route and spacious seat (my husband would catch up a couple days later) within view of the vertical bike rack. My Rivendell Clem-entine exceeded Amtrak's stated maximum by 3", but it didn't pose any problems - I'm thankful employees hefted and removed my baby on both ends of the journey, 6 hours later rolling the bike onto the Hartford, CT platform. The only mishap occurred when I started rolling, stopping to inspect a rattling noise. The rear fender had pulled away from the bolt, scraping the wheel, but once I put it back, friction kept it in place. It held up for the entire 10 days, fortunately, because to re-secure it with a washer meant also removing the kickstand for Allen wrench access to the bolt head - a future project for sure!

Once on two wheels again, a heavy shower began and I ducked under an amazingly huge Gingko tree which acted as an umbrella for the ten minute deluge that eventually stopped, then navigated 20 miles of hilly terrain (thank you cue sheet), arrived at a prescribed spot (with my son's last minute texting help with route finding) at dusk where he then shuttled me and my loaded bike the last two miles (and 700 ft. elevation gain!) to his place. Phew.

On Sunday my son, his girlfriend, and her sister (who kindly put me up for two nights) went hiking on adjacent state forest trails - a spot where they also mountain bike. Later, we all went riding on the Farmington River Trail to Canton and back. Eventually two of us climbed the steep route back to their house - I made it unladen this time around - fortified with a drink and a brownie, initially to save an extra car shuttle, but it was also a worthwhile challenge. I'm glad I made the effort to visit our son on his home turf. He has lots of outdoor opportunities nearby!

My husband arrived on Monday then we drove to his brother's home close to Long Island Sound, leaving the car behind for the next week. Not only was this vacation about ocean views and beaches, but it was also a chance to visit family en route. As we set off to pedal the 10 miles to New London's ferry dock, we promised to spend more time  with his family upon returning. The direct route was hectic but the ferry ride was relaxing. After 1.5 hours, we disembarked at Orient Point where the 10 miles to Greenport was an easy ride, watching shore birds, the salty air reminding me how much I missed being near the ocean. Later, we set up our homes away from home (two small tents for comfort and organization - a first for us) for the next week at Greenport's municipal campground. When I initially planned the vacation, I imagined traveling by myself with freedom to possibly bike tour homeward - Amtrak one-way - but this thought also carried forward as a pair. With two full weeks off, being self-contained meant I had the liberty to follow through with solo adventures if I felt like it.

Lots of space to organize gear. I washed a couple items daily, letting them dry inside the tent on top of a yoga mat if rain threatened (I had hopes of continuing my daily yoga practice, but early darkness and getting plenty of daily exercise meant yoga practice fell by the wayside.)

My Cosmic Quilt set up - comfortable, loose fitting insulation on top, with a sleeping bag liner, cinched over a mummy-shaped air mattress, acted like a sheet. It's my new solution for more sleeping freedom.

After five years without an ocean fix, daily rides included hanging out at at least one beach, barefoot in the water, collecting shells. Late September weather was a perfect 60-75F day highs, with lows in the 50-65F range. 

Beaches varied. Some were pristine, sink your toes sandy; others were approached by stairs, with the beach composed of small ocean polished stones, often with boulders on guard like sentinels.

A heavy soaking rain storm was in the forecast, which arrived a day early. All indoor accommodation is expensive on Long Island so we opted for a night's stay in an RV - another first! Better than a motel for the same price, and self-contained - my husband's brilliant idea - so we quickly battened down

the tent hatches, pedaled quickly just before dark to a nearby private campground and enjoyed the luxury of the Treasure Ship, with our bikes safely stored beneath an awning. Afterwards, we were pleased that our tents and gear survived the downpour, with only minor puddles in the tent corners.

All bike touring vacations will have mechanical weirdness. After the initial fender problem, my front rack came loose, presumably from the ferry's vibration, but was easily fixed. On the other hand, my husband's rear tire developed a lump, which quickly grew worse. It was an older tire which needed replacement, so we discovered a bike shop a 15 mile ride west of Greenport. It ended up being fortuitous because we pedaled through the heart of the North Fork's vineyard region. Vines were heavy with grapes. After my husband swapped tires outside the shop, we returned to Greenport by a different, quieter route, looping behind the vineyards and vegetable farms, and eventually along the northern coast.

Greenport Harbor is also a fishing village...

So many unusual and wealthy vehicles used the ferries.

...And has frequent ferry service to Shelter Island. We spent a couple days pedaling around Shelter Island and took an additional ferry once to North Haven Island, continuing further by bridge to historic Sag Harbor. We visited the Whaling Museum, the only indoor touristy thing (for obviously reasons), but in the end it was a worthwhile visit. We also discovered a long distance walk/hiking access trail, which was fun for to ride for a short distance, though it's better suited to mountain bikes! 

I had high hopes to visit Montauk Point, but the distance/time from Greenport made it unfeasible as a day trip. The rainy forecast further upended the idea. Traveling with a companion has it pluses and minuses. I was thrilled to be with my husband, of course, but he is more frugal. Had I been alone, I would've sprung for a couple hotel nights closer to Montauk just to meet my goal. Also, we mostly shopped/cooked to save money. The last day I treated myself to take out fresh fish & chips plus we had a snack at an outdoor café - the extent of  restaurant-type meals. I also longed to visit a vineyard or two and enjoy the area's special vintages.

The boat in the foreground is normal size.

Greenport is a destination for yachts! There are large piers, open to the public, so it was an amazing sight to see them up close.

A lavender farm in East Marion.

We spent six nights in Greenport, leaving a day early because we'd run out of bicycle exploration ideas within a 30 mile radius.

Guard dog kept me company.

Parting Thoughts

Riding a bike to explore the Greenport region in the off season was an excellent mode of transport. We explored back roads and there was always room for us on the ferries. 

It's possible to camp to keep cost down with an occasional indoor splurge if necessary for comfort.

September, despite early nights, was a perfect time of year to avoid the tourist rush, especially mid week. Weekends were a bit busier and we shared the roadways with bicycle groups. Beaches were never crowded; often we were one of two couples enjoying the sand. 

Averaging 30 daily miles allowed enough time for exploration.

Other than a cartoony map provided at the campground to get around, information centers were closed or non-existent. We love printed maps, but needed to relay on phones for navigation. In the future, I would pre-print maps to have on hand because it seems counterintuitive to enjoy the outdoors and have digital devices as a necessity.

Next time I'll leave the yoga mat behind.

Since I loved the flattish terrain and coastal environment, I've investigated another Long Island adventure. With ferry service from the same New London port, it's possible to visit Block Island and end up in Montauk Point - a future adventure!

East Bay Bike Path.

On a side note, Connecticut is full of rail trails. We stayed with my husband's brother for two nights after navigating a safer and scenic route to his place. With a day to explore another region, we initially considered the Airline Trail, but it would require figuring out which segment was manageable for a day ride. Instead, we opted for an excursion on the Hall of Fame, East Bay Bike Path in Providence, Rhode Island. With it's bayside views, abundant marine wildlife, and wooded corridors, ending in coastal town of Bristol, it was an absolute pleasure!

We drove home the next day, planning to complete another scenic bike overnight during the rest of my time off, but weather thwarted plans. However, it happened the following weekend. Stay tuned for a future write up.