Episode 404? Isn’t 404 a website error? Well part 2 of the Lake Ontario adventure corrects for the very serious 404 we had with the ebike. Still a mystery, but we’re recovering and adventuring by bike in amazing towns like Sodus Point and Oswego, exploring apple orchard memories and historic nuclear power plants in between.

Abandoning the E-Bike Dream (For Now)

The electric bike project is benched due to reliability issues

Reflections on bike trust, touring logistics, and rethinking the approach

New trip plan: use the RAV4 Prime to support bike day rides

Pre-Booked Lodging Dilemma

All lodging was pre-booked and non-refundable

How that shifted priorities to maximize the trip by driving to each spot

The “acoustic” bike becomes the tour hero

Day One Route & Destination

Base: North of Webster, NY

Original plan scrapped; new mission: mini bike adventures in each locale

Exploring route options en route to Oswego, NY

Riding Past a Nuclear Legacy

Passing the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant on Lake Road

A personal memory and historical reflection on the 1982 radioactive steam release

Commentary on U.S. nuclear energy anxiety vs. European acceptance

Beechwood State Park to Sodus Point Ride

Decides to ride directly from Sodus Point due to better parking and facilities

Observations of the ride: comfortable unloaded, with scenic lake views

Reflections on Sodus Point, tiki bars, and surprisingly modern homes

A Sentimental Apple Orchard Memory

Flashback to camping with dad in a lakeside orchard

Emotional moment recalling powdered milk, childhood camping trips, and family history

Reflection on development replacing orchards with McMansions

Lunch, Tiki Bars, and Town Vibes

Tiki bar surprise: Jack’s Good Time Tavern!

Bike parking logistics and electric vehicle charging frustrations

Exploring local businesses

Bonus Ride to Sodus Point Beach Park

Beautiful weather, sandy beach, and kite-filled skies

Soaking in the views with the acoustic bike and good mic in tow

Ferry Fiasco Averted

Critical discovery: the expected ferry from Oswego isn’t operating

Realization: the whole trip could’ve collapsed if not for the car-based pivot

Learning: Always confirm ferry schedules

Oswego River + Downtown Bike Loop

Late-day ride along Oswego’s waterfront and Cahill Pier

Thoughts on Oswego’s economic history, SUNY Oswego, and bike-friendly waterfront

Scenic photo ops with a sailboat and lighthouse

Infrastructure Observations

Comments on visible power plants, nuclear and traditional

Reflections on energy production, environment, and how the infrastructure shapes the town

Memory-Making in Motion

How a disappointing start turned into a meaningful, flexible, and scenic experience

New appreciation for blending car support with bike touring

Looking ahead: next stop, Canada – via car, not ferry

Miles biked 10

Nuclear power plants 2

Tiki bars in Sodus Point 2

Kite flying festivals attended 1

Misidentified rivers 1

Flats 0

Folks, if you've followed this pod for any length of time you know my bike adventures usually have a component that goes sideways. But has it ever happened before a single pedal stroke? Can the Lake Ontario adventure survive something like that?

• Packing anxiety: two batteries, 90+ mile days, and a lot of unknowns
• My ride strategy: charging on the go and treating watts like water
• Leaving from my parents’ home—why this ride had emotional weight
• First day jitters: range, elevation, and pannier paranoia
• The moment everything stopped working: my e-bike breakdown in real time
• How I pivoted the tour and found a way to ride anyway
• Preview of what’s next: Plan B

Miles Biked 0

Borked ebikes 1

Flats 0

After years of circling this ride (pun intended) it’s time to do a lap of the lake that I’ve lived near for a big chunk of my early life. Would it have been easier to pick a smaller lake? Sure. But Lake Ontario truly is a Great Lake in the sense it is surrounded by diverse and interesting places we’ll discover together.

The basics

About 540 miles

Two countries, two border crossings

Ferries galore

All roofed lodging

Rural stops and big cities

Driving ebike to WNY that is the beginning and end of the loop

The weather

Warm days and cool nights

Mixed bag for rain and dry

The gear

eBike - biggest ride yet!

Brooks saddle pulled from Brompton for more comfort

Rewrapped my bar end extenders to improve comfort

Batteries and chargers = biggest weight

Riding very light otherwise… 2 days of riding clothes I’ll wash each night plus a set of "civilian" clothes and rain gear

Bringing more tools in to handle bigger ticket issues

Tightening down everything in advance

The highlights

Memorial trip for my dad

Checking off some boxes - new to me, international, cool places

Lakeside lodging in a few places

Multiple ferries, including intl crossing

Toronto island stay - true Lake Ontario vibes with killer views of TO

Niagara Falls (probably!)

Weird Tim tourism: Love Canal! Be ready for history talk of American pollution!

A different route to the Erie Canal towpath

The challenges

Distance - despite the ebike, we’re looking at some 90 mile days and that could be rough?

Time in saddle - haven’t had good long days in the saddle since February

ebike - can it handle this? Sure? Maybe?

rural spots tough for a bailout

unfamiliar places in Ontario until Toronto and even then… new to me by bike

What happens when you’ve only got one day in Los Angeles, a conference that demands your physical presence, and a red-eye flight back home? You grab a Metrobike and explore, of course! On this edition, it’s a whirlwind bike share adventure from the hilly streets of Westwood to the iconic Venice Beach boardwalk and a race for that flight home.

Intro:

•Location: Westwood, California

•Reason: Quick trip for an AI conference

•Game plan: Metrobike adventure from UCLA to Venice Beach and eventually towards LAX

The Plan:

•$5 Metrobike day pass – unlimited rides, 30-minute increments

•The challenge: avoid overage charges by dock hopping

•Route: UCLA → Santa Monica → Venice Beach → Marina Del Rey → Playa Vista

The Adventure:

•First leg: Downhill from UCLA, navigating LA traffic with Google Maps guidance

•Observations:

•Westwood’s hilly terrain

•Santa Monica’s tight bike dock situation

•Smooth greenways mixed with sketchy alley shortcuts

•A visit to the Bad News Bears park and some nostalgic nods

•Quick Trader Joe’s stop for hydration

Beach Time:

•Arrival in Venice Beach—Paddle Tennis, Muscle Beach, and all the usual suspects

•The surprising absence of a convenient bike dock near LAX

•Decision point: Walk or hop on the #3 bus?

•Marina Del Rey and the bougie vibes… plus the quest for fish tacos

The Wrap-Up:

•Arrival back at the Hyatt Regency by LAX

•Final thoughts: A grand adventure squeezed into a single LA day

•Reflections on the joy of exploring with a time crunch and a bike share pass

Miles Traveled: 15

Metrobike Docks: 5

Elevation Change: 400 feet

Cost of the Entire Ride: $5

Flats: Zero

Part 2 of 2. My three day weekend tour was about to be washed out by the remnants of yet another hurricane rolling through the area. And since the C&O isn’t exactly the best trail in a soaker, it was a good idea to reverse course and head back to my cabin. But would the tropical gusher wipe me out or would my “special” river crossing be impossible to traverse?

They say you only live once and some people shorten that up to YOLO, turn that into a verb and make questionable decisions. Sometimes that’s a pathway to adventure. And sometimes, it’s a convenient excuse to do things you aren’t supposed to. On my first day to complete a full ride of the C&O in 2020, I YOLO’d more than I typically YOLO.

I'd ridden an ok amount that year, but to be honest, as the year was winding down I realized there were two spots I always hit that I haven't been to yet. So I needed to play a little clean up and get wheels down on those two gems! In part 2, I revisit one of my favorite campsites… maybe one of my single favorite places I can get to from home, by bike!

I'd ridden an ok amount that year, but to be honest, as the year was winding down I realized there were two spots I always hit that I haven't been to yet. So I needed to play a little clean up and get wheels down on those two gems! In part 1, I tackle the big hill on the Cumberland side of the Great Allegheny Passage!