Buffalo to Cleveland

Moving Slow

May 21, 2025

Part of a sculpture at the front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum: Huge block letters reading "ROCK" in bright red. My fully loaded red bicycle is leaning up against the sculpture.

The ride from Buffalo, New York to Cleveland, Ohio took longer than expected. After riding 60 miles the first day—and then overdoing my stretching exercises— I woke up with back spasms. I nursed my way back to health by limiting my rides to 20 miles a day until my back came back. I’m fine now, but I’m forcing myself to take it easy here in Cleveland for a few days, doing gentle exercises, running some errands, resting.

OK, that’s the lowlights of the trip so far. Here are some of the highlights:

Brick building with a simple but dramatic sign that reads, "Emergency Pizza Entrance." — I saw this sign near Buffalo early in the morning, and from now on, I’ll always think of the need for pizza as a kind of emergency.

The Ukrainian flag has become a symbol of courage, and I loved seeing it displayed here.

beach sand and rocks in the foreground, with Lake Erie stretching out into the horizon — My first good glimpse of Lake Erie, even though it was always nearby, lurking behind the McMansions.

A mural on a brick building. The image of large hands supporting a tree reaching up to the sky, and a girl with pigtails standing in the near background. — A mural in the town of Dunkirk

A historical marker about the War of 1812 — specifically, the September 10, 1813 naval battle where Admiral Oliver “Hazard” Perry captured British ships trying to invade from the north. — I wish I knew more about the War of 1812.

My red bike leaning against the wall of a motel room. — Plain looking “no-name” hotels like this one are often cleaner and more comfortable than the big name motels.

America on a bike

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