Cycling the Underground Railroad--PART 2

HURRICANES AND RE-ROUTES 

It's almost here!

Friday I leave Prescott to fly to Louisville, Kentucky to start the second leg cycling this Underground Railroad adventure.

The original plan was to ride from Louisville (just north of Owensboro on the above map) to Owen Sound, Canada--the end of the route, via the Detroit Alternate (top map).  But then, the Canadians closed their border.  Then the U.S. closed their border.  And the Canadians opened their border.  And the U.S. opened up theirs!  (All systems go, right?)  Except, on Monday, the U.S. closed their border (again).  Ugh!

Technically, I might be able to get across, because my brother and faithful riding buddy Kent, lives in Ontario.  As I am a "blood relative," I am eligible for an exemption.  HOWEVER, there are a number of sticking points to this plan:

1. I would have to get a specific COVID test (PRC, the nasal swab one) within 72 hours of crossing into Canada.  (A bit difficult logistically when one is cycling 50 miles a day.)  Cost, $100.
2. There is little to no transportation for bicycles across the St. Claire River to Windsor, Ontario, Canada.  I would have to hire a private shuttle to the tune of $100 for 2 miles each way.
3. To get back into the U.S., I have to have ANOTHER COVID test (a different one) on the Canadian side for U.S. immigration.  $200 Canadian.
4. Kent is unable to ride with me as he is recovering from some medical procedures.  (MAJOR BUMMER!!)

All that being said, we thought it prudent to postpone the last segment--the Canadian one--to a later date.  So I will end this segment at the Detroit riverfront, looking over toward "Canaan"--Canada--as many of the fugitives from slavery did, getting their first glance of real freedom.

While in the Detroit area, I'll be able to spend a few days with my youngest daughter Amanda, her husband Kyle and four of my grandkids--Micah, Isaiah, Adina and Ephraim.  Amanda and the four children are also coming down to Cincinnati earlier in the trip, to go to the National Underground Railroad Museum with me.  Six of us in a hotel room--it should be quite a party!

But I've decided not to stop the journey in Detroit.  I'll ride the train, with my bike, to Lincoln, Illinois to see my other two daughters, Rachael and Laura, and their broods (all nine of them: Brooklyn, Claire, Keller, Charlotte, Reese, Jordan, Norah, Silas and Julia).  From there, I'll continue by train to Lee's Summit, Missouri, where I'll cycle to Salina, KS.  One hundred miles of that will be on the car-free and very scenic (so I'm told) Flint Hills Nature Trail, a "rail trail."  Laura and I rode from Lee's Summit to St. Louis on the Katy Trail several years ago.  Once I finish this segment, it will complete bike tours from Sonoma (north of San Francisco), CA to San Diego, CA to Chicago, IL.

The other interesting item about this proposed trip of over 1,000 miles is this week's landing of Hurricane Ida.  It followed almost the exact path of the first part of this Underground Railroad ride in March.  Ida has tracked just south of Louisville, and the forecast is showing clear to partly cloudy skies for next week, with highs in the mid-80s.  Not too bad for cycling.