Update Update Update!

Just a note that this site, serenecourage.com, has been changed to my portfolio and that more personal (less professional) updates are now available on my new blog lpandi.wordpress.com!  And, as of this morning a new update is available!  Be sure to check it out and switch your subscription status so you don’t miss out!

Change is on the Wind

To my lovely readers, I must apologize.  I have been gone far too long and hope you have not lost faith in me!  The journey this summer was long and full of wonderful new friends and adventures that I hope to catch you up on before the end of the year.  I am also beginning a series on nutritional issues that have cropped into my life over the past few months that I’d like to write about.  In fact, there are so many projects twirling in my head that I hope you will bear with me and that you will enjoy them as much as I enjoy creating them.

The first new change is the development of this site.  I have moved all my postings over to The Little Prince and I and will be posting there from now on.  This site will now feature my more professional endeavors, so if you are interested in nutrition, healthy living, and the intersectionality of ethics than keep following me here!  I also have some fictional writing in the works that I will be posting here as well.  So many changes I hope you can keep track!

Let me know what you think of the new design and look for the next episode in our epic journey to post on Monday!

Memorial Holiday Weekend on the Trail

Sunday

After two nights in a hotel we were both ready to be back on the trail.  However, the clean laundry, opportunity to watch tv in bed, and hot showers was much needed and served to reignite our spirits.  Over the course of the two days we had also had more than our fill of exploring Utica by foot, though we really didn’t visit many places other than Tramontane and the library the entire time we were visiting since there really wasn’t much else TO see.

Back in Ft. Plain I had learned of an interactive historical village in Rome, NY that would allow Little Prince to experience life on the Erie Canal during its boom period of the late 1800s, early 1900s. It also looked as though it was right off the path and therefore would not add to our distance too much or delay us by adding travel time. Getting out of Utica, however, proved to be just as confusing and harrowing as getting into the city had been. We followed city streets for a while, turned around at least twice, but eventually found our way on to back to the path in Oriskany and were able to follow the stone dust path until we reached Rome.

Rome, NY was very similar to Utica in that the road we needed was a four lane road with a rather high maximum speed limit. However, there were short access roads that we were able to use in order to avoid intervals of traffic. And at one point I decided to brave the side walks as Little Prince had been causing trouble attached to me again. This proved difficult when we encountered a McDonalds undergoing a remodel that included the sidewalk. But, we persevered and made it through, around, and over all of the obstacles to bikes that come from developing a car-centric city.

Turning down state route 46/49 there was supposed to be a separate path, but I didn’t see it and was more interested in finding the Erie Canal Village. As we rode along we saw signs for the village and knew we were on the right track, in fact we didn’t even realize we had been looking at it until we came upon the entrance and discovered that it was closed on Sundays. (Well, at least we have a pattern developing!)

I had been counting on the village being open and getting something to eat either there or at a grocery store along the way, having been thwarted in the plan it was time to bring out the handy-dandy smart phone and google a grocery store! Thankfully, there was one on the way to lock 21 in New London where we planned to camp for the night. So, we continued along looking for the entrance to the dedicated path.

Finally, we found the entrance and continued along the trail for a while until our handy-dandy navigation told us to turn back onto route 46/49. I debated following this advice but as I wasn’t completely sure where the grocery store was I decided to follow the lady’s voice and headed back on to the main road. It was not too busy and we rode along with no problem until we came upon a junction of state routes where there was a gas station. Apparently THIS was the grocery store google was sending us to. Not sure what to expect we went in anyway as we were getting pretty hungry and found a number of items to make a rather healthy, vegan, lunch including dried fruit, trail mix, nuts, olives, and hamburger buns. Taking our loot outside we crossed the state route and followed circle st and rejoined the trail (I knew there was an easier way than following the state route!) in less than a quarter mile and took a much deserved break at the crossroad to enjoy our bounty and the warm spring day.

Eventually, a large group of riders that we had earlier seen headed to Rome passed us as we ate headed our way and suddenly I became anxious that the campsites at the lock would be full and leave us with only stealth camping as an option. So, as we rode along the trail I, therefore, kept an eye out for good spots to camp if necessary. It wasn’t long, possibly three miles, down the trail from where we had lunch that we camp upon lock 21 and that large group of bikers. There were also a large number of people fishing along the canal and a number of tents set up in a group that looked to be all a part of the same large group of people.

While still in Utica yesterday I had called the lock to see if we needed to reserve a camp site. It turns out that while the website says you can reserve the phone number listed goes straight to the lock captain who doesn’t do reservations and so he had no idea how crowded he was going to be this weekend. Lock 21 in New London is distinctive as a campground because there are tent platforms available. While we could have just pitched the tent, I had learned that the polite thing to do was to first check in with the captain. So, even though it meant enduring the crowd of bikers and a boat going through the lock I waited patiently and Little Prince simply endured. This turned to our advantage because the lock captain remembered that I had called and offered his bathroom to us (this isn’t usually done as the bathroom is in the captain’s office) as well as the chance to refill our waters. This lock had neither potable water or bathrooms, so it is definitely one of the less luxurious locks!

Slowly, the evening progressed and the fishers all went home leaving only us campers behind. Unfortunately our fellow campers were not the most considerate of neighbors, and while Little Prince was able to fall asleep with no problem (other than the ones he imagined) I was kept awake by the drama unfolding more than 600ft away.

Monday

Memorial Day at last! Today we planned on making it all the way to the Green Lakes State park just outside of Syracuse. But it was also a day to honor the men and women who serve, and have served, in the American Military. It was with these thoughts that I packed our camp site up and got us on the road just around 8:30 this morning. The captain was not the same as last night but he was nice enough to let us refill our water and use the bathroom before we set out.

Library and museum

Live in peace

Peace marker

Navy/Airforce Memorial

As we rode along, the path took us through the end of one town’s breakfast for veterans, over a few aqueducts, and then we passed a memorial decorated with flags. It was strange to witness and pass by these celebrations and yet not be a part of them. At the memorial we discussed some of the major military battles that have recently occurred and it made me wonder what our memorials to those that have died in combat while fighting “terror” will be. Will there even be a memorial?

Durhamville Agueduct from below

Durhamville Aqueduct from the side

Water flows away from the aqueduct

Grate allowing water to flow into waterway below

Durhamville

Crossing the aqueduct

Early in the afternoon we were getting close to the state park and started looking for the bridge which we needed to cross in order to reach it. We saw one wooden bridge and figured it couldn’t hurt to see if this was the one we needed so over we went. Seeing no signs I asked a man coming down a steep undeveloped trail (that I was REALLY hoping wasn’t the path we needed) if this was the path to the state park. As it turned out this was not the path we sought. However, serendipity was starting to play her hand in our journey because the gentleman I asked turned out to be Rob Benedict, a member of the Mohawk nation and a musician with a long and colorful resume! Rob directed us where we needed to go and even took time out to play us a couple songs. It is no wonder he has played for Pete Seeger and a number of other well known artists! The sound of the native flute is haunting and distinct, there is a certain magic when played that hints of times long gone.

Leaving Rob, Little Prince and I continued on our way to the state park and had no more trouble finding it. It also turned out that my hunch that most people would check out on Monday morning was correct and so we were able to get our choice of campsites. However, the price was a lot more than I had been expecting at $15! However, it was nice to have potable water, toilets, and the Green Lakes were amazing to see!

These are another geological marvel left over from the time of the glaciers when waterfalls pounded the earth, creating deep craters that are now filled with water of a clear quality and appear to be crystalline green, hence the name: Green Lakes.

Our first glimpse of Green Lake

My foot feeling happy to not be in a cycling shoe!

Green lake

Green lake looking blue not so green,

Little Prince looking out over the water.

Round lake

The path to Round Lake

A bench on Round Lake

Round lake quickly and severely drops in depth.

The other nice thing about the state park was that there were kids for Little Prince to play with and be entertained by while I made dinner for us. We turned in around 8, which turned out to be early for a campsite since we were visited by another camper. The other problem was that this park was full of car campers and RVs so even late at night people were driving around the grounds with their lights on, which kept waking me up. Though, the icing on the cake for the night was when someone shown a flashlight in face and reported that they had found Little Prince crying on the side of the road because he had gone to the bathroom without waking me and couldn’t find his way back in the dark! Clearly, there was going to be little sleep for me now!

Changing Winds in Utica, NY

Breaking Camp

At lock 17 we learned that the lock captains work single shifts, meaning the locks close down for the night at 6 PM and reopen the next morning at 8.  My goal was to be ready to get back on the trail around 8 that morning, and while we were ready Little Prince was ADAMANT about not leaving until a boat had gone through the lock.  Fortunately for him there was a boat docked on the eastern side that had also camped out for the night  but must have arrived after we had turned in since I didn’t remember it from our exploration of the area.

It was getting close to 8:15 and with no movement of the lock Little Prince decided to go find out what the hold up was.  Up we climbed the metal steps to the control tower and chatted with the captain, apparently the boat’s captain had not put in a call so, Little Prince’s prodding was probably a benefit to them as well!

Now, if you think filling a bath tub takes a long time, imagine filling this lock!  The captain was incredibly friendly and answered all our questions such as: how many boats can fit in the lock at once (as many as they can squeeze in which has been 37 smaller boats or 10 larger yachts) where does the water to fill the lock come from (tunnels under the water are manually opened by the captain), and many more.  All of this took close to 20 minutes and as the boat was going westward, Little Prince and I descended the stair case and made for the trail.

On to Utica!

The day was gray and rain was threatening (again), my goal was to get us to Utica for lunch and then on to lock 20 or 21 for a night or two where we could wait out the Memorial Weekend crowds before pressing on.  However, per usual on a gray morning Little Prince’s feet were dragging and he was using every stall tactic he knew.  Plus, it didn’t help that I had some how reattached his handlebar incorrectly so that more tension was on his brakes, making it difficult to pedal forward.  Finally, we reached the end of the bike path where I had said he had to get to before he was hooked back onto the follow-me.

For the first time since starting along the Erie Canal we were no longer given the option of a separate bike path and were forced to go along NY Bike route 5 which follows NY state routes and some back roads.  This particular stretch of Bike route 5 followed NY state 5s and had a decent sized shoulder, however the availability of amenities for bikers are limited.  While on the path Little Prince could just go behind a bush for his bathroom breaks, along the State route bushes were few and far between so when the inevitable “I have to pee,” came I pulled into a used appliance store in East Schuyler and asked the proprietor if LP could use their restroom.

Thankfully they were accommodating and completely baffled as to WHY Little Prince and I were biking from Boston.  It was the second time I received the question, “wouldn’t it be easier…”  Sure, it would be easier but this completely misses the point of this particular endeavor and suggests a weakness in American culture: we are more focused on our destinations than the journeys we take to reach them.

While I was thinking upon this Little Prince and I set off again as rain began to fall hard and cold.

We made it to West Schuyler before the rain became too much to bear and I was able to find an overhang under which we could seek some semblance of shelter and wait for it to ease.  It was there that I rechecked the map to find we were only 4.8 miles from the restaurant in Utica I had selected, so close but still so very very far!  With the cold still upon us but the rain easing we set off again.  And while the weather was cold, both our tempers were hot and frustration was setting in as the way remained flat but became steadily busier the closer we came to reaching Utica.

The final approach to Utica in sight and it was with mixed feelings that we entered the final stretch to the restaurant, because Utica we found is NOT a bike friendly place!

Utica

A bunny that LP HAD to have back in Troy, posing with the Liberty Bell plaque

Utica streets: bad for bikes 😦

The main street was a four lane highway, no bike lane, and the speed limit was too high for me to ride as I do in Boston.  Therefore, my only choice was to unhook Little Prince and ride the sidewalks which were thankfully wide and lacking in a large amount of pedestrian traffic.  We made our way to the vegan restaurant I had found on HappyCow only to find it no longer in existence.  So, we headed for our second choice: Tramontane Cafe.

Eclectic decor

This place is just like visiting someone’s home!

Lunch in an armchair? We are home!

Vegan friendly and a great atmosphere Tramontane was the perfect refuge from the cold that had set in after the rain.  Little Prince and I settled into their couches and spent a few hours plotting our next move.  The rain had drained both our energies and all we both really wanted was to curl up on one of the Cafe’s couches and go to sleep (or at least that was what I wanted).  Instead, we made the trek three blocks to the Utica Public Library.

While every library is going to have different policies this was the first library I have EVER visited where there are signs informing patrons that 1. bikes are not allowed inside, and 2. the police will be called if a child under 10 is left unsupervised.  Not that I am in the habit of leaving Little Prince unsupervised but the floor plan of the library made it very difficult for either of us to accomplish what we wanted to do while there.  In the end we were able to work it out, but there was a great deal of whining and bargaining to get to that solution.

By the time the library closed both of us were rather exhausted and not looking forward to the weather forecast for the next day which called for more rain and thunderstorms.  So I caved, and got us a room at the Best Western for the next two nights since it was unlikely that we would be able to find a camp site once the weekend set in.

Changing Plans

I’ve decided that the best amenities in a hotel are microwaves, especially when in a limited vegan-option area.  That night, as is our usual routine I called my mom to check and we discussed our plans to get to California and the expected dates of arrival.  With the end of May approaching and us not even halfway through New York I am beginning to fear we won’t make it to Salt Lake City or any of my other points of alternate transportation to California.  Talking with my mom I was able to get a better sense of when she is expecting to reach California and her plans to see my brother and an old friend in Oregon before heading south.

Being a bit type A, I needed that information and have started to rethink our route.  As much as I’d like to make it through South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse my thought is that the Northern Tier route may be a better choice as it is already well planned out by the Adventure Cycling Organization and so there would be much less research and leg work on my part.  Plus, it would mean meeting up with my mom in Oregon, much sooner than California.  Clearly, there are options but I think the first thing I need to do is get us a flight home from the west coast, because that is one thing I know for SURE we won’t be able bike back from and still make my first class in September!

Something different today

A number of years ago I was driving home from service at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Va listening to NPR and the show that morning was talking about Father’s Day. According to that show the first person to campaign for a specific holiday honoring a father was Sonora Smart Dodd, who had been raised by a widower, in 1910. It wouldn’t be until 1972 that Father’s Day became a national holiday thanks to President Richard Nixon, this link is not that story but it does expand and verify what I remember of that particular broadcast.

Now, 7 years later, my life has changed a lot. I no longer drive to church, in fact I no longer own a car! I no longer have to worry about Little
Prince sticking to his nap schedule, though I still worry about him getting enough sleep! And yet, some things are the same: Little Prince and I are still a wonder team of two. And it works for us. But that does not mean there are not men in our lives fulfilling that role in some way and it is them that we both wish to honor today. Some of you come and go too quickly but are long remembered. And some of you are around for the long haul, showing the many different sides of masculinity, how to care and respect others, and indulging your inner child which Little Prince is and EXPERT at drawing out! Raising a child truly takes an entire community and as a single parent I depend on that community to provide friendship, lessons, and comfort and for your willingness to be a part of our little community, I thank you.

Traveling across Ontario this past week I noticed an abundance of churches and one church had a billboard out front that said,

Any man can be a Father, it takes someone special to be a Dad.

My immediate thought was, “Absolutely.” Mothers, we have nine months in which we are literally attached to our children, we then have another 6+ months with which we bond as breastfeed and care for our new baby. But men have a harder time, and to get over that hump takes patience and willingness to support the mother in every possible way, which can sometimes be frustrating or feel as though the contribution is minimal or unnoticed. I am honored that I have been witness to one man going through this and that my own Father made it through that time five times! Parenting is not an easy job and we often feel as though we are utter failures so I certainly respect those that choose to never parent another human. But, just because someone does not share your genes does not disqualify you as a parent. In fact, in my opinion, parenting without a blood relation says more about a person than anything else. It shows tenacity, patience, compassion, and caring at levels that should never be admonished but rather admired and respected.

So, today, on Father’s Day, I leave you with this:

Father, brother, uncle, cousin, friend.
You have many roles and titles.
Cis or trans it matters not.
Who you love we neither care.
What matters is that you love.
Your being here is what we care for,
It is what we look forward to and,
what your absence is always sorely missed.

Father, brother, uncle, cousin, friend.
Many roles,
always loved.