This portion of the trip was always going to be a question mark - what kind of biking will there be? Will it be fun? Will I be looking too much ahead to more obviously notable places like Toronto and Niagara Falls? Wolfe Island once again answers the call!

🚲 Ride Overview

•Starting the day from Wolf Island, Ontario

•A late start, but with a scenic route west to Sandy Point

•Focus on a relaxed e-bike ride due to a tight ferry schedule

🌞 Weather & Ride Conditions

•Sunny and pleasantly warm, a bit hotter than ideal

•Wind off the lake keeping things cooler

•Reflections on how the late May weather still feels like early spring in Ontario

ðŸ› ï¸ Gear & Tech Check

•E-bike powered up and performing well

•Toolkit left behind—risky move noted

•Ongoing commentary on wide tires, limestone trails, and pedal assist levels

•Big win: no brake issues from frequent wheel removal

📠Destinations & Detours

•Attempt to visit Big Sandy Bay—blocked by entry fee and bike restrictions

•Scenic return loop around the island

•Stop in Bath, Ontario for a legendary lakeside poutine at Fry 33

🧭 Navigation Notes

•Avoiding Highway 401 in favor of more bike-friendly, scenic backroads

•Provincial Route 33 (aka Loyalist Parkway) praised for good shoulders and low traffic

•Transition from island terrain to mainland cottage country

ðŸ›³ï¸ Ferry Fun

•Quick ferry crossings as part of the day’s travel

•Love letter to ferries: bike, vehicle, passenger—doesn’t matter, all good

•Plans to use ferries again in future trips (Seattle foreshadowing)

ðŸ Accommodations

•Overnight stay in Colborne, Ontario

•Modest Airbnb geared toward truckers, with diner and Tim Hortons nearby

🧠Reflections & Takeaways

•E-bike confidence fully restored (it was just a magnet issue!)

•Ride offered a mix of natural beauty, tech success, and route experimentation

•Anticipation builds for upcoming Toronto exploration at the “speed of bike”

Miles biked 15

Poutine stops 1

Number of stars for the poutine stop 44

Ferries ferried 2

Flats 0

So the ebike is a brick in the back of my Rav4, but it still works like a normal bike, so let’s keep going! But a sudden realization may provide the solution to unlock all the battery goodness, just as another stunning discovery makes me realize, this trip’s Plan B was all meant to be.

Hotel pack-up & quick diagnosis

• • Morning in Oswego, NY.
  • Realizes the motor cut-off is just a loose brake-lever magnet. Simple electrical/duct-tape fix brings the e-bike back to life.

Route planning & launch

• • Scraps the closed Cape Vincent ferry idea
  • decides to drive the east shore of Lake Ontario, scouting state parks and quieter wildlife areas instead of sticking to busy parks.

Lake-side stops

• • Quick visit to Black Pond Wildlife Management Area (too restricted for bikes).
  • Heads north to Westcott Beach State Park for a short beach walk, photos, and a quick battery test run.

Drive to Canada

• • Long detour to the Thousand Islands bridge (the only open crossing) because the south-end Wolf Island ferry is closed.
  • Smooth Canadian customs stop; grabs ice cream and activates a Canadian eSIM for data.

Kingston → Wolf Island ferry

• • Misses the boat by two cars; 80-minute wait becomes a snack-and-people-watch session.
  • Free ferry ride over; hotel is literally a block from the dock.

Marysville check-in

• • Rustic ground-floor room, lake view, no A/C needed. Drops bags, scopes dinner options (hotel café).

Evening e-bike shake-down

• • 14-mile out-and-back along Route 95 to the shuttered U.S. ferry dock on the south tip.
  • Cruises at ~20 mph, marvels at wind turbines, farmland scenery, and micro-climates.
  • Confirms minimal battery draw and re-affirms “twice the speed, half the effort” mantra.

Wrap-up reflections

• • Happy the brake glitch happened early—it forced a car assist and avoided being stranded.
  • Wolf Island deemed a stellar, low-traffic cycling spot; sets intentions for next day’s ride and keeps an eye on looming Toronto weather.

Miles biked 15

Closed ferry terminals visited 2

Open ferry terminals visited 2

Missed ferries 1

Denomination of Canadian currency that may or may not smell like maple syrup unless the bartender was trolling me 50

Flats 0

Episode 404? Isn’t 404 a website error? Well part 2 of the Lake Ontario adventure corrects for the very serious 404 we had with the ebike. Still a mystery, but we’re recovering and adventuring by bike in amazing towns like Sodus Point and Oswego, exploring apple orchard memories and historic nuclear power plants in between.

Abandoning the E-Bike Dream (For Now)

The electric bike project is benched due to reliability issues

Reflections on bike trust, touring logistics, and rethinking the approach

New trip plan: use the RAV4 Prime to support bike day rides

Pre-Booked Lodging Dilemma

All lodging was pre-booked and non-refundable

How that shifted priorities to maximize the trip by driving to each spot

The “acoustic” bike becomes the tour hero

Day One Route & Destination

Base: North of Webster, NY

Original plan scrapped; new mission: mini bike adventures in each locale

Exploring route options en route to Oswego, NY

Riding Past a Nuclear Legacy

Passing the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant on Lake Road

A personal memory and historical reflection on the 1982 radioactive steam release

Commentary on U.S. nuclear energy anxiety vs. European acceptance

Beechwood State Park to Sodus Point Ride

Decides to ride directly from Sodus Point due to better parking and facilities

Observations of the ride: comfortable unloaded, with scenic lake views

Reflections on Sodus Point, tiki bars, and surprisingly modern homes

A Sentimental Apple Orchard Memory

Flashback to camping with dad in a lakeside orchard

Emotional moment recalling powdered milk, childhood camping trips, and family history

Reflection on development replacing orchards with McMansions

Lunch, Tiki Bars, and Town Vibes

Tiki bar surprise: Jack’s Good Time Tavern!

Bike parking logistics and electric vehicle charging frustrations

Exploring local businesses

Bonus Ride to Sodus Point Beach Park

Beautiful weather, sandy beach, and kite-filled skies

Soaking in the views with the acoustic bike and good mic in tow

Ferry Fiasco Averted

Critical discovery: the expected ferry from Oswego isn’t operating

Realization: the whole trip could’ve collapsed if not for the car-based pivot

Learning: Always confirm ferry schedules

Oswego River + Downtown Bike Loop

Late-day ride along Oswego’s waterfront and Cahill Pier

Thoughts on Oswego’s economic history, SUNY Oswego, and bike-friendly waterfront

Scenic photo ops with a sailboat and lighthouse

Infrastructure Observations

Comments on visible power plants, nuclear and traditional

Reflections on energy production, environment, and how the infrastructure shapes the town

Memory-Making in Motion

How a disappointing start turned into a meaningful, flexible, and scenic experience

New appreciation for blending car support with bike touring

Looking ahead: next stop, Canada – via car, not ferry

Miles biked 10

Nuclear power plants 2

Tiki bars in Sodus Point 2

Kite flying festivals attended 1

Misidentified rivers 1

Flats 0