Lake Erie Day 10 - 5/31/2025

LET Riding Day 10 - Port Stanley to Turkey Point - staying at a motel, 59 miles

Burrrrr!  Strong crosswinds out of the north and temps in the 40s gave a windchill of 35f.  Today we even wore our down jackets while riding.  The terrain is still mostly flat but we had 6 or 7 steep hills to climb, starting with a 12% grade just a 100 yards from our hotel room.  Whew - what a way to start the day!  The route took us closer to the lake today with some nice views south.

The forested areas continue to be all deciduous trees.  We expected by now to see more evergreens.  The provincial park plaques state that this area is the northern terminus of the Carolinian Deciduous Forest. 

Mark against the cold

Lake Erie Day Off - 5/30/2025

Enjoying our day off in Port Stanley.  Quaint little resort town on the Ontario side.  A “working” port there are a number of fishing boats moored here.  The fishing boats leave at 4am.  We watched the boats returning around 1 pm with buckets of fish.  They fish mainly for Perch.  

Port Stanley Harbor from the harbor bridge   Rescue boat on the right.  Fishing boats in the distance on the left.

West side Port Stanley Pier protecting the harbor, with Lighthouse at the end of the pier in the distance.

Lake Erie Day 9 - 5/29/2025

 LET Day 9 - Rondeau Provincial Park to Port Stanley - staying at Inn at the Harbor, 53 miles

Since Leamington the landscape has been almost perfectly flat.  Today the flat terrain gave way to gently rolling hills.  There were miles of newly planted corn fields along with apple orchards.  The weather was in our favor today.   While still cool and cloudy we had a tail wind most of the day.  

We woke up in our tent this morning to a loud chorus of bird song.   The bird song app identified about a dozen different birds.  Here are just a few. 

One of the beautiful lake views

Lake Erie Day 8 - 5/28/2025

LET Day 8 - Wheatley, ON Provincial Park to Rondeau Provincial Park - camping, 53 miles

One of the coldest and wettest days of riding ever.   Steady 40 mph headwind through light rain and fog.  Windchill at 40.  But these provincial park campgrounds are really nice - hot showers and laundry right across from our tent site!  We used the laundry to dry everything.  And the Tim Hortons lunch stop at 39 miles made it all possible!

Iconic Tim Hortons & Hobart mixer poster

Lake Erie Day 7 - 5/27/2025

LET Day 7 - Pelee Island, Ontario East Park Campground to the Pelee Island Ferry to Leamington, ON then to Wheatley, ON Provincial Park - camping, 19 miles

Another nice sunny day in the 50s, but strong wind out of the east.  After breaking camp we rode 5 miles to catch the early 8 am ferry.  The ferry to Leamington was much larger, and they took on two very large gain trucks before leaving.   The ferry ride took about 90 minutes.  Now we are on the Ontario mainland side of Erie.  The provincial campground is very nice with laundry and showers.  

First stop in Leamington, after the ferry on a cold day?  Starbucks!

Entrance to Wheatley Provincial Campground

First sign at the campground 

Route from the ferry drop-off at Leamington to the campground

Route from the 

Lake Erie Day 6 - 5/26/2025

 LET Day 6 - Camp Sandusky to the Pelee Island Ferry to Pelee Island East Park Campground - camping at East Park, 12 miles

The temps today were pleasant in the high 50s with no wind and sunny.  With the ferry not departing until 4:30 pm, we took our time packing up camp and left for the lake front around 11:30 am.  Today was pretty much an off day with two short rides and a scenic ferry ride to the island.   We are in Canada!

Mural in Sandusky

Cedar Point Park rollercoaster

Route to campground on Pelee Island

Lake Erie Day 5 - 5/25/2025

 LET Day 5 - Fostoria to Sandusky - stay at Camp Sandusky, 55 miles

The weather today was more enjoyable with temps from 50s to 60s and sunny starting after lunch.  Today was the first day we took off our jackets during the ride!   The route took us mainly Northeast so the prevailing winds from the west / northwest actually helped us.   Another day on smooth back country roads.  

Warm and comfy in our tent

Lake Erie Day 4 - 5/24/2025

LET Day 4 - Kenton to Fostoria  - stay at hotel, 47 miles

Weather today was in the mid-40s in the morning, up to the low 60s in the afternoon, and sunny most of the day.  But the winds continued with solid 18 mph head wind all day as we traveled to the north.   We were on county backroads all day.  Hats off to Ohio Counties - all the roads were smooth and well maintained.  

Perfect Northern Ohio country roads

Lake Erie Day 3 - 5/23/2025

 LET Day 3 - Urbana to Kenton - stay at hotel, 46 miles

Weather today was in the mid-40s for the first half and then the low 50s.  Very high winds today; 25+ mph much of the day.   Rode on a bike trail from Urbana to Bellefontaine for the first 17 miles, which was mostly tree lined, providing a good wind break.  The rest of the way was on beautiful, quiet country roads with rolling hills.  

Every day so far the trails have been lined with lots of Dame Rocket flowers.  

A one mile long set of side load cars were parked on the railroad tracks next to the trail. 

Lake Erie Day 2 - 5/22/2025

LET Day 2 - Yellow Springs to Urbana - stay at Scioto Inn, 26 miles

We woke up to lots of rain so we hung out until the storm passed.  We left mid-morning with a quick breakfast stop in town.  Today’s route was all on paved bike trails first the Little Miami and then the Simon-Kenton.  Great to ride on paved trails with all the rain!   Cold for biking at 47f with the wind.  Cloudy but we made between the serious rain storms. 

Beautiful mural in downtown Springfield!

Lake Erie Day 1 - 5/21/2025

 LET Day 1 - Dayton, OH to Yellow Springs,OH - stay at Jailhouse AirBnB, 38 miles

Touring on the Tandem again!

Today’s route was mostly on paved bike trails from Dayton to Xenia on the Stillwater and Creekside trails and then to Yellow Springs on the Little Miami trail.  Cool temps around 60f,  cloudy and windy.  Lots of wildlife on the Mad River including birds and many turtles.