Adventures of Tin Can Lulu

We decided to take the ferry from Yarbrough, Nova Scotia to Bar Harbor, Maine. This was a 3.5 hour ferry ride and the savings was less driving miles in the car. The ferry had many amenities and was huge. Food, coffee bars, gift shop, movies, bingo and lounge type seats! Oh and WiFi too! The ferry ride went by quickly. Going through customs was a non issue. And we were back in the USA.

The traffic out of Bar Harbor was a bit busy but we were able to spy an interesting lobster pound a few miles out of town. The lobster rolls we had for lunch were almost as good as the one Earle had during the Cabot Trail (Nova Scotia) tour.

West Point, New York was our next stop. To get there we traveled through the Hudson River Valley. Lots of hills in this area of New York. We toured the academy and base, and had a fantastic history lesson. So many military leaders graduated from West Point; Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower, U.S. Grant, George Custer, George Patton, John Pershing, Omar Bradley and Robert E. Lee. The 77 West Point graduates that received the Medal of Honor include: Lt General Jonathan Wainwright, and General Douglas MacArthur.

West Point is known as the United States Military Academy (USMA). It is a United States service academy that educates cadets for service as commissioned officers in the United States Army emphasizing the values of Duty, Honor and Country. The academy was founded in 1802, and it is the oldest of the five American service academies. The Army has occupied the site since establishing a fort there in 1780 during the American Revolutionary War, as it sits on strategic high ground overlooking the Hudson River 50 miles north of New York City.  The high ground and S turn in the river made it difficult for the British during the Revolutionary war.

We did a bus tour through the base that highlighted the famous sites at the academy and the history of the campus and fort. The visitors center highlighted the 47 months in the life of a cadet to becoming an officer in the army. 

Intercourse, Pennsylvania landed us in the heart of Amish country in Lancaster County. Intercourse is a town known for its quirky name, actually began as “Cross Keys” in 1754, named after a local tavern. The name changed to Intercourse in 1814. Intercourse is a place where locals, visitors, and Amish farmers meet and socialize. It offers a glimpse into the traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch with its cultural experiences, shops, homemade goods, and family-friendly events.

The Amish Kick Scooter is made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They are fitted with both front-handle brakes and rear-foot brakes and have a 1.75-inch ground clearance. The scooters/riders we saw were fast and quick on the hills!! 

We had beautiful weather for our stay as we explored the area. We did three fantastic bike rides taking us by TALL corn, soybeans, pumpkins, tobacco fields, gorgeous Amish farms, one room school houses and covered bridges. It was scenery overload! 

We had two favorite places for treats…Lapp Creamery for the most smoothest ice cream (thanks Eve and Roger for the tip), and Immergut Pretzels for soft pretzels (located downstairs from our Airbnb). Yummy!!

Our final destination was Cleveland, Ohio for a Caputo Family reunion with Laura’s family. The reunion was a food fest! Laura’s brother Sam and Cousin Joey did all the smoking and grilling. They both are experts and did not disappoint! The side dishes and deserts contributed were all delicious.

There was approximately 35 or so relatives hailing from Chicago, Philadelphia and of course the Cleveland area. Great time and glad we made the unplanned stop for the gathering! 

Our last bike ride of the trip was in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. We opted to do the trail north towards downtown Cleveland. It was a good decision on our part. Many of the secondary roads in the area were closed and under construction, but we had clear sailing on the trail. It was very pleasant and as our friend Roger told us, this is one of the smoothest chip stone trails in the country and is better than some paved trails. 

The unexpected can happen and it did. 350 miles from home and BANG a flat tire on I95 near Savannah, Georgia. Where’s the spare…between the front and middle seats in the van. That means you have to unload the van to get it out including the tandem. AAA changed the flat, we limped on secondary roads to a Honda dealer, bought a new tire and got back on the road three hours later! All part of the traveling experience.

Our most memorable and rewarding times on our trips has been making acquaintances. Whether it be in a line at Tim Hortons or Mary Browns (both Canadian), on a tour or exploring local areas. We enjoy the conversation, encounters and love the learning.

To wrap up this adventure; Earle drove 5100 miles, we walked/hiked 73 miles, cycled 535 miles and spent 43 nights in hotels/Airbnb’s; and had a fantastic time!