Cycling the Underground Railroad

The Walls Historic Site.  It seems to have been abandoned/neglected for some time, bit definitely has historic significance.  They would ring the Freedom Bell when new arrivals appeared. This old rail car used to be a museum, but is now closed and in disrepair. The Buxton settlement (also known as the Elgin settlement) thrived in the mid 19th century. The Buxton National Historic Site is in South Buxton.  It was closed when we arrived.  This school opened in 1851 to serve the Black residents of the Elgin Settlement, and operated for 100 years!   The Shelley Brothers adventure again! Starting out from Windsor,  Ontario with temps in the lower 40s F. The Tower of Freedom in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.  The now-free ex-slave raising his hands in praise and awe for reaching Canadian soil. New arrivals looking inland toward their new home.

Along some of our route this morning we saw these signs.  I never saw any Underground Railroad signposts (except once on the Little Miami Trailnear Milford, OH) in the 2,000 miles I cycled on it in the United States! Our morning  "adventure." The detour took us on several miles of gravel roads, which we managed to navigate successfully.  Harvest season in Ontario! The highlight of our day.  An excellent exhibit, including a short video, interpretive displays, outstanding guided tour and restored 19th century buildings. The Dawn settlement (now the town of Dresden, Ontario) was founded by Josiah Henson for the purpose of educating and training those who escaped slavery in the U.S.  Ontario had outlawed slavery in 1793. Josiah Henson was the inspiration for Uncle Tom in Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin (which was the most read book besides the Bible in the 1800s). Canada has recognized Henson as a significant person in its history.  "Uncle Tom...

KINCARDINE TO OWEN SOUND, ONTARIO   Nephew Bryan and Mark bundled up for the last leg of the Underground Railroad Route. Museum in Grey County, Owen Sound, Ontario. Part of the bicycle exhibit at the Museum. 1880's tricycle, with rack and pinion steering. Black History Cairn at Harrison Park in Owne Sound, designed by a descendant of an escaped slave who settled here. The Cairn, exquisite in its simplicity, extradordinary in its symbolism. Brother Kent, the author Mark, and newphew Brian at the end of the route.

 For anyone who is interested, I've consolidated all the posts of the trip from Louisville to Detroit into a single document.  You can access it with this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XqGs3Igqyqk15qekoCVHECAT6K5NVd19/view?usp=sharing

  DAY 21: ROMULUS TO DETROIT, MI Gateway to Freedom Sculpture on the banks of the St. Claire River, looking across to Canada.  This morning the rain was gone, the sun was shining, and although the temperature was 57F on departure, it quickly warmed to 70. A strong wind was blowing, but most of the time it was favorable.   A beautiful day for riding the last U.S. section of this Underground Railroad route.  The goal of many of the freedom seekers was to get to Canada.  The British Empire had outlawed slavery in 1834, and fiercely protected anyone who entered their country.  Canada was "The Promised Land." As I neared the end of this part of the journey, I enjoyed pedaling on the Detroit Riverwalk.   From this vantage point, one can see both countries separated by the mile  wide plus St. Claire River. Heading north along the St. Claire River, Windsor, Ontario, Canada is on the right and Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. is on the left. More than a...

  DAY 20:  BRITTON TO ROMULUS, MI I discovered this mural on the building where I found the marker for Elijah McCoy and the statue of Harriet Tubman in Ypsilanti.  It would have been easy to miss,  as there was a parking lot between the historical plaques and this art.   But the colors drew my eyes to it. The painting seems to depict the migration of blacks, both slave (notice the broken chains) and free (the well-dressed people at the bottom right). In some ways, it's a picture of the Underground Railroad. It was 50 degrees, windy and rainy when I pulled out of Kyle and Amanda's driveway--and it remained that way throughout the duration of the ride.  I had brought warmer cycling clothes and rain gear with me, but this--the second to the last day of the United States part of this adventure--was the first time I used all of them.  I've been blessed with nice weather for the last 3 weeks.           The Huron River, east...