Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 3

Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 3

Author: Tim Mooney July 3, 2025 Duration: 57:04

So the ebike is a brick in the back of my Rav4, but it still works like a normal bike, so let's keep going! But a sudden realization may provide the solution to unlock all the battery goodness, just as another stunning discovery makes me realize, this trip's Plan B was all meant to be.

Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 3

Hotel pack-up & quick diagnosis

    • Morning in Oswego, NY.
    • Realizes the motor cut-off is just a loose brake-lever magnet. Simple electrical/duct-tape fix brings the e-bike back to life.

Route planning & launch

    • Scraps the closed Cape Vincent ferry idea
    • decides to drive the east shore of Lake Ontario, scouting state parks and quieter wildlife areas instead of sticking to busy parks.

Lake-side stops

    • Quick visit to Black Pond Wildlife Management Area (too restricted for bikes).
    • Heads north to Westcott Beach State Park for a short beach walk, photos, and a quick battery test run.

Drive to Canada

    • Long detour to the Thousand Islands bridge (the only open crossing) because the south-end Wolf Island ferry is closed.
    • Smooth Canadian customs stop; grabs ice cream and activates a Canadian eSIM for data.

Kingston → Wolf Island ferry

    • Misses the boat by two cars; 80-minute wait becomes a snack-and-people-watch session.
    • Free ferry ride over; hotel is literally a block from the dock.

Marysville check-in

    • Rustic ground-floor room, lake view, no A/C needed. Drops bags, scopes dinner options (hotel café).

Evening e-bike shake-down

    • 14-mile out-and-back along Route 95 to the shuttered U.S. ferry dock on the south tip.
    • Cruises at ~20 mph, marvels at wind turbines, farmland scenery, and micro-climates.
    • Confirms minimal battery draw and re-affirms "twice the speed, half the effort" mantra.


Wrap-up reflections

    • Happy the brake glitch happened early—it forced a car assist and avoided being stranded.
    • Wolf Island deemed a stellar, low-traffic cycling spot; sets intentions for next day's ride and keeps an eye on looming Toronto weather.

Statistics

Miles biked 15

Closed ferry terminals visited 2

Open ferry terminals visited 2

Missed ferries 1

Denomination of Canadian currency that may or may not smell like maple syrup unless the bartender was trolling me 50

Flats 0


There’s a particular kind of freedom that comes from traveling by bicycle, where the journey itself becomes the destination. The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures, hosted by Tim Mooney, delves into that experience through a mix of personal stories, practical advice, and wide-ranging conversations. Rather than just a how-to guide, this podcast feels like sitting down with a knowledgeable friend after a long day on the road. You’ll hear firsthand accounts from fellow bike tourists, each with their own unique tales from the pavement and gravel, alongside Tim’s own reflections and experiments in bicycle touring. The discussions naturally cover the logistical tips and tricks that make trips smoother, but they also explore the cultural and educational aspects of moving through the world at a human pace. It’s about more than gear and routes; it’s about the connections made and the perspectives gained when you embrace a slower, more engaged form of travel. This audio companion to Pedalshift.net aims to demystify bicycle adventure, making it feel accessible and deeply rewarding. By sharing these stories and ideas, the hope is to inspire your own two-wheeled explorations, proving that a bicycle can indeed shrink the world in the most wonderful way. Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded take on seeing the world from the saddle.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Podcast Episodes
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 6 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:19
A leisurely morning at South Beach State Park sets the stage for what should be the triumphant finale, but James's bike has one last surprise in store. Sometimes a cursed bike adventure is the best kind. But with tire sp…
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:24
A well-rested morning in Lincoln City spawns what seems like a reasonable plan to salvage the cursed tour, but James's borrowed bike has other ideas entirely. But with tubleless tire disasters forcing yet another major p…
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:51
The morning starts strong at Cape Lookout with perfect James and Tim weather, but what begins as a confident push toward Beverly Beach slowly unravels into mechanical mayhem and decision-making paralysis. But with the or…
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:03
Mysterious James and I emerge from our three-night Cannon Beach odyssey to accidentally unlock our cycling superpowers, turning a modest Tillamook target into a shocking 52-mile triumph. It's the usual stuff: ice cream a…
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:14
Day two and three of the Oregon Coast tour evolve into an epic quest for an elusive bicycle part. Is this a mere repair mission or a saga worthy of Greek mythology with adaptive problem-solving, multiple contingency plan…
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:28
Day one of an Oregon coast adventure - what could possibly go wrong? As Mysterious James and I began our journey from Astoria after navigating July 4th rental car details, we encounter (because of course) the first of ma…
Mysterious Oregon Coast 2025 Preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:14
We are so back.... on the Oregon Coast with the Mysterious James for another round of two-wheeled mayhem. Ten days, 360 miles, zero expectations, and maximum potential for randomness. The Safari's ready, MJ is in, and we…
Best of Pedalshift 321: East Coast Greenway [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:00
Despite living on the east coast, we spend a whole heck of a lot of attention on bicycle adventures on the west coast, right? Well, it's time we changed that! On this episode, we chat with Regina Yan about the East Coast…
Lake Ontario 2025 Takeaways [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:57
Six days, two countries, multiple ferries, and one very stubborn e-bike brake magnet later, the Lake Ontario circumnavigation attempt has wrapped up in ways both expected and completely unforeseen. What started as an amb…
Lake Ontario 2025 - Part 7 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:12
What was supposed to be a triumphant border crossing and final push from Niagara Falls back to the starting point became something entirely different when family health concerns required an immediate pivot. But sometimes…