Days 40 and 41

Days 40 - Bradford, PA to Corning, NY

• Miles: 101 mi

• Elevation Gain: 5,546 ft

• States: 12 (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York)

It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that yesterday was Day 40. Our route carried us from Bradford, PA into New York State (number 12 on the list!), crossing the border at mile 25 with a quick stop for the obligatory photo. In total, the day came to 101 miles and 5,546 feet of climbing, with a mix of rolling hills and a couple of longer ascents that challenged but didn’t overwhelm us.

The morning began foggy but soon cleared into a gorgeous day, and you could feel the excitement building as everyone looked forward to reaching Corning — our next rest day. For me, the best part was rolling in and seeing Steve waiting for me 💕. That evening, we had dinner with John O’Connor, a former colleague of both mine and Steve’s, and his wife Kelly, who kindly drove two hours to meet us. It was wonderful to reconnect, swap stories, and share some laughs — those unexpected reunions on a trip like this add so much richness and remind me how small the world can feel, even when you’re biking across a continent. After dinner, Steve and I strolled down Corning’s beautiful Market Street — the perfect way to close out a long, full day.

Day 41 – Rest Day in Corning
Rest day #4! That means only six more days of riding and just under 600 miles to go (though plenty of climbing still awaits us).

Steve and I kicked off the morning with a wonderful breakfast at Ella’s Acres, then he took on laundry duty while I indulged in a massage (thank you, Steve 🙌). We wandered over to the Corning Glass Museum, where the highlight was the largest glass pumpkin in the world — weighing 70 pounds and measuring 97 inches in circumference. Contain your excitement, I know 🎃😂.

The afternoon was spent soaking up the charm of Corning on a picture-perfect fall day. Tonight, we gathered with the Trek Travel crew for dinner, sharing laughs and anticipation before tomorrow’s departure into the final leg of this adventure.

I feel so grateful — for Steve being here, for friends old and new, and for this once-in-a-lifetime journey that somehow is going by way too fast.💕.