Congratulations to Mike for Finishing!

Friday, June 11
Miles Traveled: 65
Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
Average Speed: 11.8 mph
Maximum Speed: 33 mph

After Lunch as Mike headed to Collingwood, he made a wrong turn and ended up riding 8-10 miles down a gravel road. However, he did not seem to mind all that much because he said that Friday was one of the prettiest days, if not the prettiest, to ride. He really enjoyed riding in the country area where there are farms and beautiful scenery to see. As Mike was about 5 miles away from Collingwood he had another flat tire. This was his first flat that he had to change while out on the road. He fixed his flat problem and made it to Collingwood about 5:30 to 6 p.m. Later that night Mike met with his wife Susan and Brett Mitchell when they arrived.

Saturday, June 12
Miles Traveled: 48
Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet
Average Speed: 12.0 mph
Maximum Speed: 35 mph

On Saturday, Mike's last day, he rode with Brett Mitchell to the last destination on the Underground Railroad, Owen Sound, Canada. On the way, Mike experienced the longest hill of the whole trip with and elevation gain of about 800 feet. When he reached Owen Sound, Mike and Susan went to Harrison Park. This park is dedicated to the Underground Railroad since Owen Sound was the terminus for many slaves. Mike said that this park was very nice being only a few miles south of Lake Huron with hiking, camping, woods, a pond, and even a restaurant. In fact they ate at the Harrison Park Inn Family Restaurant that night. Afterwards, Mike went to Brett's house where he stayed for the night.



Mike Celebrates his accomplishment. Congratulations Mike!



Mike celebrates with Susan and Brett.

The next few nights, Mike and Susan went to Niagara Falls where Mike relaxed and healed from the long trip. They are heading home now and will be stopping in Cincinnati tonight at the same bed and breakfast he stayed in on the way up. Mike would like to thank Glenda Neff for putting him up again at the bed and breakfast. He should be arriving home tomorrow afternoon.



This is from Mike's hotel room at Niagara Falls.

Mike wants to thank everyone again for all the support he has received during his Bike Tour. It really meant a lot to him. He also says that he will write his own personal update to the blog in the next few weeks from the notes he took along the way.

So remember, visit biketour.lipscomb.edu and click on "Give Online" if you would like to donate to Mike’s Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund to benefit underprivileged students who would like a quality, Christian education at Lipscomb University.

More Sights Along the Way

It looks like Mike has made him some friends!





This was taken on Mechanicsville Rd.



Llamas in Ohio



From Owensboro, KY



Mike takes a day off to relax in the hot tub.

Mike's Almost Finished!

Thursday, June 10
Miles Traveled: 58
Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
Average Speed: 12.0 mph
Maximum Speed: 31 mph

On Thursday, Mike woke up and received breakfast from Vern Carter, and a flat tire. So Vern helped him fix his tire before Mike started out. Mike then road to Brampton where he stayed with Ross and Joice Redford. Ross is a biker who picked up on Mike's story from the Adventure Cycling Association. Ross contacted Mike some days back and told Mike to call him when he got to Brampton and he would give him a place to stay. Ross even got Mike a place to stay two days earlier with a friend of his.



Wall in Dundalk



Bike trail in Canada



Pretty flowers along the way

Today, Ross rode 20 miles with Mike. Along the way some more of the bolts on Mike's bike came off. They tend to come loose due to the rough roads he rides on sometimes. Ross decided to help him out by giving Mike a bolt from his water cage to help secure Mike's luggage rack. Mike plan's to make it to Collingwood tonight. His wife is driving up to meet him there tonight at about 10 p.m. Also, Brett Mitchell is riding up with Mike's wife and plans to ride with Mike tomorrow. Tomorrow Mike will ride to Owen Sound and finish his bike tour!



Ross helps Mike replace a bolt on his bike.

If you would like to donate to Mike's Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund at Lipscomb University, click here.

St. Catherines to Waterdown

Wednesday, June 10
Miles Traveled: 58
Elevation Gain: 2,900 feet
Average Speed: 12.0 mph
Maximum Speed: 33 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1904
Miles To Go: 136

On Wednesday, Mike left St. Catherines and headed out, but not alone. He was accompanied by Gerry Irvine, who gave him a place to stay the night before, and his friend Albert. Gerry is 71 and Albert is 73 and both have done lots of touring. Gerry plans to ride across Ohio in a few weeks. Albert during his 70th birthday rode from coast to coast across Canada. Mike said they are an inspiration to him to keep riding. Both of them rode with Mike for 31 miles to lunch. After lunch, Mike headed to Waterdown where he met up with Vern Carter who gave him a place to stay. Vern is the uncle of Judy Mitchell, a former head resident of Johnson.



Gerry Irvine Biking Along With Mike



Mike next to Lake Ontario



WWII Plane Monument

Please visit biketour.lipscomb.edu if you would like to donate to Mike’s Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund.

If you would like to read more about Mike Smith's Underground Railroad Bike tour visit here.

From Lake Erie to Niagra Falls!

Monday, June 8
Miles Traveled: 65
Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
Average Speed: 11.6 mph
Maximum Speed: 34 mph

Mike left Lake Erie State Park and headed to Buffalo. On the way he stopped in Hamburg and decided he wanted a hamburger for lunch. However, he could not find one so he settled for Chinese food. It rained the next 3 hours after lunch as he rode to Buffalo where he stayed that night. He was supposed to stay at a hostel, but due to the situation he ended up staying in a hotel.

Tuesday, June 9
Miles Traveled: 53
Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet
Average Speed: 11.4 mph
Maximum Speed: 34 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1846
Miles To Go: 194



Mike's getting closer to Niagara Falls. There's the first sighting of some mist.



A little closer...



He made it! Look how close he is!

Tuesday Mike crossed the border into Canada. Then he road about 20 miles to Niagara Falls. He stayed there about 30 to 45 minutes and they headed to St. Catherines where he met Gerry Irvine. Gerry Irvine is a 71 year old biker who learned about Mike through a friend of a friend and gave him a place to stay. Today, Wednesday, Gerry is riding with Mike to Watertown, Canada.



History Plaque from Niagara on the Lake
Click on the picture to enlarge it.

If you visit Mike's Facebook profile, then you can see his newest album of Lake Erie, the Canadian border, and Niagara Falls.

Also, Mike wanted to let everyone back at home know about how much he appreciates all the support you give him. He says that even though he is doing this trip himself, he feels like he is part of a large community because of all the comments on the blog and Facebook, and calls and texts that you give him. He does not feel alone because all of your support has been great motivation for him.

So remember, visit biketour.lipscomb.edu and click on "Give Online" if you would like to donate to Mike’s Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund to benefit underprivileged students who would like a quality, Christian education at Lipscomb University.

If you would like to read more about Mike Smith's Underground Railroad Bike tour visit here.

Over The Weekend: From Oberlin to Erie Lake State Park, New York

Friday, June 5
Miles Traveled: 62
Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet
Average Speed: 10.5 mph
Maximum Speed: 40 mph

Saturday, June 6
Miles Traveled: 85
Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
Average Speed: 11.8 mph
Maximum Speed: 34 mph

Sunday, June 7
Miles Traveled: 85
Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
Average Speed: 11.6 mph
Maximum Speed: 38 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1728
Miles To Go: 312

On Friday, Mike rode to Hudson where he stayed with Allen Pitney. On Saturday, Mike rode to Austinburg where he was scheduled to stop, but decided to continue to Ashtabula to see Lake Erie. While in Ashtabula, he visited the Hubbard house where he learned about the town and the house's significance along the Underground Railroad. Ashtabula claimed to be the terminus of the Underground Railroad. Many slaves would travel there and find shelter at the Hubbard House. From there, they would sneak down to the lake, board ships, and travel to Canada.



Click on the picture to enlarge it.



Mike really wanted to set up a tent overlooking Lake Erie. So, he found a man in his yard and Mike asked if he could stay in his yard for the night. The man said he did not mind, however he could not let him due to the local laws. But, the man told him where the nearest campground was. Make traveled to Camp Luther, between Ashtabula and Conneaut, where he was given a free cabin to sleep in for free. His cabin sat right next to Lake Erie.



On Sunday, Mike headed out and decided to stop at a Lutheran Church because they were having their service outside. He continued biking until he pulled into Lake Erie State Park where they let him have a free cabin as well.






On Sunday Mike rode in three states.



Steve helped get Mike free lodging at Lake Erie State Park.

Today, Mike said that it keeps looking like it is going to ran. Rain is predicted for the next few days. However, he is ahead of schedule and does not have to ride as far on the rainy days. He also said that it is definitely colder up north and that he may have to buy some rain pants. Mike plans to stay in a hostel in Buffalo tonight.

Oberlin - A Town Full of African-American History

Thursday, June 4
Miles Traveled: 55
Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet
Average Speed: 11.3 mph
Maximum Speed: 35 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1,496
Miles To Go: 544

Mike rode on to Oberlin, the home of Oberlin College and a city that claims it is “the town that started the Civil War.” He stayed in the dorm of Oberlin College, which claims to be the first college to admit blacks and white together, according to Mike. The campus is beautiful, and includes the sculpture pictured here:



Here’s the description of the sculpture above from the “Passage to Freedom” Website:

The sculpture dramatically symbolizes the underground nature of the effort to resist slavery and help individuals on their way to freedom. The "underground" represents the secret work carried on by individuals and groups who risked their livelihoods and their very lives in protecting freedom.


The city of Oberlin has a long history of racial tolerance and equality, as described on this historic plaque that Mike got a good photo of:



The claim that Oberlin is the “town that started the Civil War,” comes from a famous court case that occurred in 1858, and achieved national attention at the time. Here is a description of that historic case from the “Ohio History central” Website:

The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue Case of 1858 showed how divided Ohio had become over the issue of slavery.

On September 13, 1858, a federal marshal in Oberlin, Ohio arrested a runaway slave named John Price. Under the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, the federal government was required to assist slaveholders in reclaiming their runaway slaves. As soon as Oberlin residents heard of the marshal's actions, a group of them… attempted to free Price. The mob stormed the hotel and found Price in the attic. The group immediately returned Price to Oberlin, where they hid him in the home of Oberlin College's president. A short time later, they took Price to freedom in Canada….

A federal grand jury indicted thirty-seven of the people who freed Price. Ohio authorities responded by arresting the federal marshal, his deputies, and other men involved in John Price's detention. Following negotiations between state and federal officials, the arresting officers were set free, as were thirty-five of those arrested under the federal charges. Only two of those indicted went to trial. Simeon Bushnell, a white man, and Charles Langston, an African-American man, were found guilty in federal court in April 1859. Bushnell received a sentence of sixty days in jail, while Langston's punishment was set at twenty days.

Bushnell and Langston filed a writ of habeas corpus with the Ohio Supreme Court. They claimed that the federal government did not have the authority to arrest or to try them because the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was unconstitutional. The Ohio Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the law by a three to two ruling. This ruling angered members of Ohio's abolitionist community.

Trip to Mifflin

Wednesday, June 3
Miles Traveled: 57
Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet
Average Speed: 11.3 mph
Maximum Speed: 35 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1,441
Miles To Go: 599

Mike says that Wednesday was the toughest day of the trip as far as weather goes with 48 degree temperatures. He tried to wait out the rain in a barn, but ended up riding about 25 miles in the rain, before arriving at Mifflin for the night.

From Delaware to Mifflin

Tuesday, June 2
Miles Traveled: 77
Average Speed: 11.3 mph
Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
Maximum Speed: 25 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1,384
Miles To Go: 656

Mike stopped in Delaware, Ohio, on Tuesday and stayed with some members of the local Church of Christ.



Mike has left the hills of Tennessee and the river valleys of Kentucky long behind. Ohio roads and flat indeed. He has spent the last 85 miles riding on wooded, scenic bike trails. But on Tuesday, those trails came to an end, and it was back to the regular roads with lots of cars.



Wednesday was a cold, rainy day again, and Mike was forced to take shelter in a barn along the route. Along his route on Wednesday, Mike passed by Lucas, Ohio, the site of Malabar Farm State Park. Here is some information on Malabar Farm, founded by a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and dedicated conservationist, from the park's Website:

In the rolling countryside of Richland County, Louis Bromfield, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and dedicated conservationist, created his dream -- Malabar Farm. Inspired by his love of the land, Bromfield restored the rich fertility of the farmlands and preserved the beauty of the woodlands. He built a 32-room country home, where his family, friends and neighbors could share the pleasure of life on the farm.... As a park, Malabar Farm is dedicated to perpetuating Bromfield's farming philosophies, preserving the Big House and its many artifacts, and providing a place where visitors can explore life on a farm and the beauty of nature.

According to the farm Website, Bromfield's farm was an early pioneer in sustainable farming, which has certainly come into vogue today. Today Malabar Farm has animals, wagon rides for visitors, camping sites, a produce market, mercantile, fishing holes and sustainable farming in action.

Mike continued on past Lucas, to Mifflin, Ohio, and is staying the night in a cabin on Charles Mill Lake.

Turtle heads in Xenia

Monday, June 1
Miles Traveled: 69
Average Speed: 11.6 mph
Elevation Gain: 800 feet
Maximum Speed: 23 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1,307
Miles to Go: 733

On Monday, Mike rode on his first designated bike trail without vehicle traffic. It was nice and wooded but lacking in civilization.



Mike did happen upon a fellow named Dirk Morgan who rents canoes and sells hot dogs. Morgan showed Mike a photo of a 200 pound rock he found in his yard that looks like a turtle head. Mike just had to have a photo! He was pretty proud o the rock, Mike said. He had even hired a geologist to come out and confirm that the rock had been carved by ancient Indians to look more like a turtle.



Mike rode to Xenia on Monday and stayed with members of the Xenia Church of Christ. As he travels farther north, Mike said he is getting more and more excited about the natural scenery coming his way soon: Lake Erie, Niagara Falls and the land of Canada.

A Day of Rest in Milford

Mike took the entire day off on Sunday. It was a day of luxury for Mike, as Glenda Neff, daughter of Deane Tennant, who hosted Mike in Falmouth, Ky., put Mike up in a Milford bed and breakfast, where he spent some time hanging out in the hot tub, soaking his tired muscles.



He attended services at Withamsville Church of Christ and had the opportunity to speak to the congregation about his bike ride and the goal behind it. Before he left, the church had taken a collection to benefit diversity scholarships at Lipscomb University.



Lipscomb is making a strong effort to make a college education more accessible to student population that have traditionally been underserved. The university has established programs to provide additional scholarships to community college grads, discounts for military veterans and scholarships for Hispanic students. Mike Smith’s Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund is just one of the many ways Lipscomb is trying to bring Christian education to more students. So far, through Mike’s efforts and commitment to his ride, Lipscomb has raised $6,411 to benefit diversity scholarships.

If you would like to make a donation to the Underground Railroad Diversity Scholarship Fund, go to biketour.lipscomb.edu and click on “Give Online.”

Freedom Center in Cincinnati

Saturday, May 30
Miles Traveled: 50
Average Speed: 11.6 mph
Elevation Gain: 2,600
Maximum Speed: 37 mph
Cumulative Miles: 1,238
Miles To Go: 802

So much for a break in the rain! On his way to Milford, Ohio, outside of Cincinnati, Mike ran into more rain, and hail and tornado sirens. But he spent most of it under cover. Also on the way, he went through Georgetown, a town that Mike had visited before some years ago on a mission trip with Tusculum Church of Christ in Nashville.

Once he reached Milford, Mike headed out to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, one of the most exciting stops on the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route. Here is a description of the center from Ohio’s “Passage to Freedom” Website:

The Freedom Center’s mission is to “reveal stories about freedom’s heroes, from the era of the Underground Railroad to contemporary times, challenging and inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom today.” The Freedom center is made up of three buildings which symbolize the cornerstones of freedom- courage, cooperation, and perseverance. The exhibits trace slavery in America, exploring over 100 people who are champions of freedom, the Civil War, and the struggle that continues today for freedom across the globe.

Mike and Glenda Neff, his hostess for Sunday night, stand in front of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.





These pictures are from the Freedom Center's website.

If you would like to know more, watch this youtube video about the Freedom Center and its exhibits.

At Milford, he stayed Saturday night with Doug Orcutt, a cyclist who rode from Portland, Oregon, to Washington D.C. in 2005 with his son, who was 14 at the time. The men sat around sharing cross country biking stories.



If you would like to donate to Mike's Underground Railroad Bike Tour Diversity Scholarship Fund at Lipscomb University, click here.