By Mark Hance
Day 45 brought us a smooth, picturesque 43.2-mile stretch as we made our way out of Ashtabula, Ohio, and officially crossed the state line into Pennsylvania! With around 1,100 feet of rolling elevation gain, the route treated us to balanced terrain, gentle lakeshore views, and plenty of unique roadside scenery.
Crossing state borders on a bicycle always feels like a milestone moment. Rolling past the “Welcome to Pennsylvania” sign, the team couldn’t help but take a moment to celebrate how far the pedals have brought us since setting out from Seaside, Oregon.
Quirky Stops & Historic Crossings
Ashtabula County is known for its incredible covered bridges, and our route took us right through one of these timeless wood-timber structures—a classic slice of rustic Americana hidden among the lush green trees.
Further down the road, we bumped into some truly unexpected local flair: a front lawn featuring a painted military tribute trailer, flying American flags, and a full-size metal flying saucer parked right in the grass! It’s these random, charming surprises that make riding across small-town America so unforgettable.
Cider, Apples, and Lake Erie Shores
No ride along the Lake Erie belt is complete without a local pitstop. We rolled up to Sweny’s Godfrey Run Market & Cider Mill, where the group paused for ice cream, frozen apple cider, snapped photos alongside their giant rooster statue, and soaked in the hospitality of rural Pennsylvania.
As entered Erie several of us rode down to the see the vast blue horizon of Lake Erie opened up before us. Rolling in with clear skies and calm waters made the final miles into town pure joy.
Evening Reflection & Mapping the Journey
We wrapped up our evening after a delicious meal and dessert provided by Luther Memorial Church, where Neil Mullikin delivered a terrific presentation to church members on the Fuller Center mission and our Bicycle Adventure experience. Sitting around the tables with a large map of the United States displayed at the front, seeing the line of pushpins stretching all the way from our start in Seaside, Oregon, to our final destination in Portland, Maine was a powerful reminder of what community, faith, and dedicated pedaling can accomplish.
Next stop: continuing east toward New York!
Thank you to everyone following along, supporting our mission with the Fuller Center, and keeping us in your prayers as we continue building hope, one mile at a time.
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