Honestly ... it's not my fault.

Blame it on COVID. Blame it on unemployment. Blame it on mid-life crisis number 11 (12? I’ve lost count) ….

I ride my bike. A lot. Always have. Boston to New York, Fairbanks to Anchorage. Even in high school, time on my bike was time spent thinking, processing, forgetting, discovering, restoring. But in 2021 I started what’s become a habit, if not a proper tradition — one reeeally long bike trip each summer.

Having completed the northbound Empire State Trail from NYC to Montreal in 2021 and the westbound EST from NYC to Niagara Falls in 2022, I wanted new horizons, rougher terrain, broader expanses. Thus was born Shore to Seaway 2023 – my own route covering over 600 miles (626 to be exact) from Acadia National Park, on Maine’s Atlantic Coast, to Quebec City, Quebec, at the throat of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Two national parks, three counties, two provinces, 14 days (why rush?), and a long series of county roads, rails-to-trails, gravel paths, hotel beds, sofas, and campsites. Scheduled dates are September 6-19.

On past rides, I’ve taken photos & written social media posts. People seemed to like ‘em. (I won’t lie - I enjoyed the comments.) So this year, I’m upping my game a bit. A blog, a better camera, pre-ride updates, and two charitable organizations which I highly respect and to which I would be enormously grateful if you’d consider making a donation (every dollar is meaningful, and your participation is priceless).

World Bicycle Relief is a terrific non-profit that provides rugged, durable bicycles to schools, medical providers, and other organizations in developing nations for use by their students or staff. Just one bike can revolutionize the lives of an entire family, affording them their own means to get to work, school, or market in a safe, efficient, and reliable manner. National Multiple Sclerosis Society is a vital and long-respected resource in the MS community. Their efforts not only encourage a great deal of research and development for the care & treatment of people with MS but also heighten attention to the needs of caregivers as well.

(For the record, my ride is entirely self-funded; every dollar you donate will go directly and only towards these organizations. Contributions to both are tax-deductible, and both are incredibly worthy of your support. I’m also extremely grateful to Bicycle Coalition of Maine for material help in advance route-planning & insight.)

So consider this my invitation to follow along with the prep, packing, pedaling, pondering, and patronage. Links for donations (and subscribing to the STS 2023 newsletter) can be found HERE.

Thanks very much, and … hey, look at the time. I’ve gotta get back on my bike.

Take care,

Todd