The Underground Railroad Cycling route runs 2,028 miles from Mobile, Alabama, to Ontario, Canada. The path it follows is based partly on the old Negro spiritual “Follow the Drinking Gourd.” The “Drinking Gourd” is a colloquial name for the “Big Dipper,” the constellation that points to Polaris, the North Star. Many slaves followed that star north to freedom.
The Adventure Cycling Association chose to honor the bravery of that period of history by developing this bicycle tour. The route passes through Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. The ride is divided into five sections based on the Adventure Cycling Association mapping system. The ride is scheduled to last 37 days, and I plan to average 62.5 miles a day with 4 rest days built in to the schedule.
Ginny Sullivan, new routes coordinator for the Adventure Cycling Association, said: “This route is rich in history. Bikers on the route actually mimic the journey of those seeking freedom. The terrain is challenging at times, and many of the towns are small and haven’t changed much through the years. Riders travel past family homes and businesses. A family dog might run after you for a minute. People watch to see where you are going. After you cross the Ohio River, the journey changes quite a bit. It’s exciting to see the route used to highlight the need for minority scholarships.”
You can learn even more about the history of the route I will be riding at my Website, biketour.lipscomb.edu, where I have posted a video called “Biking Through Black History.”
If you are interested in giving, click here, or call Lipscomb University at 966-5720.
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