WebJunction

My husband Lowell and I just completed an extended bicycle trip on our tandem, a good part of which was on the Underground Railroad Route from Mobile, AL, eventually to our home in Youngstown, OH. We actually began our journey in San Francisco in mid-February, 2008, riding south to San Diego and then across the southwest to Mobile, before turning north to Ohio. It was a wonderful trip of over 5,000 miles.

Along the entire way we stopped in public libraries, all of which were noted on our Adventure Cycling maps. Our primary reason was to use the Internet, to stay in touch with family and friends, or to check on weather, availability of campgrounds, or just to "read" the NYT and our local newspapers. We were never refused service, but always welcomed and assisted in many ways, including directions to campgrounds, the nearest coffee shop, or a grocery store. Each facility had its own system for visitors to log in, and all were most accommodating. Interestingly, along the Underground Railroad Route librarians would tell us that other cyclists had been in their libraries. Though we rarely saw those folks, thanks to the interest of librarians, we felt as if we were part of a stream of travelers on an historic journey.

We also noticed that many libraries now have a "Friends" bookshelf for free or inexpensive books. This became a useful source of paperbacks for us to take along with us, and several times we donated the books we'd completed.

We'd enjoy reading about the experience of other cyclists, or of librarians along bicycling routes.

Ellen Satre
Youngstown, OH

Ellen. This is fantastic. I'd like to echo Bethat's welcome.Thanks so much for sharing. I was actually wondering if people were going to keep using this topic this summer so I appreciate your great timing on your post ;-)!

And Betha, I'd like to hear more about your Sept. ProWalk ProBike presentation!

There will be a group of kids from the Bronx Lab School on the Ohio leg of the route next month. To find out about what they're doing, and to support their ride, you might check out their web site, http://www.blurr.us.