<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Puppy Ride Long Island]]></title><description><![CDATA[PuppyRideLongIsland]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2026 11:22:32 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Day 56 - The trip across the U.S. comes to an end]]></title><description><![CDATA[A day of reflection to be sure. The last 22 miles from Port Jefferson to Smith Point beach was on the docket and the ride and event did not disappoint! The weather was good and the mood was definitely celebratory. The three members of the cross country team met about 35 cyclists at the start of the ride - many of them Puppy Ride Long Island teammates. It was an emotional start for the three of us and for Kevin to be back among great friends after two months of being on the road! Due to the...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-56-the-trip-across-the-us-comes-to-an-end</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a7077c031cea8f6c248c684</guid><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:09:12 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 54 The ride to the ferry that brought us to Long Island]]></title><description><![CDATA[We started our day with our very accustomed 5am alarms. Today seemed a bit different - no usual jokes about getting up early - not much talking - no “maybe we should take the day off and postpone the ride until the team is better rested!” (As said by Victor every morning since day two, roughly quoting a famous Bill Murray line in Stripes from the 1980s) We got packed up and out on the trail fairly early, We rode about 14 miles on the remainder of a rail trail trail that we spent part of the...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-54-the-ride-to-the-ferry-that-brought-us-to-long-island</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a6dd17f22b8a74eb6f4b7ec</guid><pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 15:39:23 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 53 Rhinebeck to Holmes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Very familiar trails today heading south toward our endpoint at Bridgeport, CT where we ride a car ferry back to Long Island. 61 miles mostly on paved and some unpaved bike trails with pretty scenery and only a couple pop up rain showers. Delicious muffins and smoothies in New Paltz - maybe the best of the trip! And a really delicious warm olives, cucumber salads and personal pizzas for dinner in Poughkeepsie- turns out It was restaurant team Puppy went to last year during our upstate August...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-53-rhinebeck-to-holmes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a6c581c22b8a74eb6f48585</guid><pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 08:26:46 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 52 - The day it decided to rain - and I mean hard!]]></title><description><![CDATA[We had a 65 mile day scheduled from Albany to Rhinebeck, New York but Mother Nature stepped in and made a relatively easy day into a bit of an adventure. By the end of the day, the team had accomplished a little more than 40 miles of the route (the first 20 and the last 20 miles give or take!). So, let’s do a little explaining. We woke this morning knowing that the day would be extremely wet and that flooding was a real possibility but with little flexibility in our schedule in arriving back...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-52-the-day-it-decided-to-rain-and-i-mean-hard</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a6aa2f05329f38dcec85b53</guid><pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 01:24:15 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 51 - We made it to Albany - and we stayed dry-ish]]></title><description><![CDATA[The weather pattern in New York shifted today with a low pressure system, pushing through in the next couple of days. Today we saw an opportunity to push our miles early to stay out of the front moving from west to east. We were pretty successful in our 70 mile effort by getting a relatively early start in Fort Plain and by staying on the trail throughout the entire session. Kevin worked hard to bring us some egg sandwiches at about 25 mile mark. And some Jersey Mike’s subs at the 51 mile...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-51-we-made-it-to-albany-and-we-stayed-dry-ish</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a69335194da60ff381acd7d</guid><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 01:17:12 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 50 - Canastota to Fort Plain, NY]]></title><description><![CDATA[Working our way across New York along the Erie Canal. Tomorrow we end at the Hudson River in Albany and will leave the canal behind. Amazing feat of engineering and backbreaking labor - given that the construction took place from 1817 to 1825, No bulldozers and track excavators back then that’s for sure! And to finish 363 miles of the “big ditch” in eight years - outstanding. Today was another dry day with 83 miles completed. Temperatures creeped up into the high 80’s but with the shade from...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-50-canastota-to-fort-plain-ny</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a67f47d35380d3132ba9262</guid><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:42:21 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 49 - Clyde to Canastota along the canal]]></title><description><![CDATA[Inching closer by the day to the Bridgeport Feery that will carry us over to Long Island and our homes! Today was another 70 mile session with about 50/50 gravel and pavement and probably 70 percent or more bike trails. The weather was warm and humid but the rain held off and the tree cover kept the ride very pleasant. The day started in Clyde, New York where we met up with  a serious crazy bike guy Bob Barns (thanks John Clifford!). Bob is a former long islander who is back home in Clyde, NY...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-49-clyde-to-canastota-along-the-canal</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a66891635380d3132b64062</guid><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 22:38:57 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 48 - The Erie Canal from Brockport to Clyde]]></title><description><![CDATA[We’re moving east along the canal. Today is day two and after about 68 miles today, we’re approaching the half way point between Buffalo and Albany. Flat riding mostly with a high percentage of smooth crushed stone. Wonderful breakfast 27 miles in from our start with Steve and Maureen (Steve is my brother-in-law’s brother). We visited with them on Puppy Ride 2023 when we last rode the Erie and got to visit with Steve’s son in Seattle at our event there this year. Was great visiting with them!...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-48-the-erie-canal-from-brockport-to-clyde</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a65469710a4941c07284e78</guid><pubDate>Sat, 25 Jul 2026 23:59:48 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 47 - Buffalo to Brockport, New York]]></title><description><![CDATA[70 miles of flat bike trails. I’d say 30% paved and 70% crushed stone. Temperatures rose into the low 80s with full sun. East we go! Great breakfast in Kevin’s childhood town of Lockport with Rick and Kevin. Lots of joking about who provides the best SAG support! Clearly, they are both top notch all joking aside! Stopped for an ok lunch in Albion with 15 miles to go. Had a hell of a time finding accommodation for tonight and ultimately found an ok hotel. I guess today was ok, in general! Lots...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-47-buffalo-to-brockport-new-york</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a63f4b459dc3f2805c74789</guid><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:37:00 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 46 - making our way from Port Dover Ontario to Buffalo New York]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rode out the front door of our Airbnb this morning with a chill in the air. Temperatures in the mid 50s as the sun rose to a cloudless sky. Pretty flat terrain with views of Lake Erie as we hugged the coast on our way to the Peace Bridge which is the re-entry point to the US from Canada! Today’s ride was 82 miles long. Very low key day. Good eggs and bacon at Sunny Side Up in Dunnville, ON. Turns out Kevin spent summers up in Dunnville at his grandfather’s cabin many moons ago. Tonight we...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-46-making-our-way-from-port-dover-ontario-to-buffalo-new-york</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a62bb9e59dc3f2805c4227b</guid><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 01:34:47 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 45 - Our second day in Ontario - "easy" day]]></title><description><![CDATA[Today was supposed to be a relatively easy 71-mile ride from our BnB near Port Stanley to our BnB in Port Dover.  The climbing, the weather, the wind all seemed to suggest that today would be an easy cruise.  I think I've discussed this in earlier blogs, things don't always go to plan!  We decided that since today was going to be "easy" we would get an extra hour of sleep. We set the alarms for 6am instead of our usual 5am.  So at 7:45 we were on the bikes ready to have our "easy" day!  First...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-45-our-second-day-in-ontario-easy-day</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a61466b6ed1567a596e17fd</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 22:57:25 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 44 - First Day in Canada ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Coast-to-Coast journey continued today as we left Michigan, taking a small car ferry from Algonac, MI to Walpole Island in Onterio. Our 84-mile day was pretty uneventful. A brief rain shower with very little climbing and some decent cross and tail winds made today the fastest paced ride for the trip to date averaging somewhere north of 17 miles per hour.  Although the roads today were lacking in paved shoulders, we found the drivers we encountered to be super courteous, giving us lots of...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-44-first-day-in-canada</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5fe0055514a6e974a59308</guid><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:56:08 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 43 - Michigan is in the books!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Today's ride was 70 miles with very modest climbing.  It was a mix or roads and trails with perfect temperatures and clean air.  Not much happened to report on (that's a good thing!).  After 192 combined miles we completed in the last two previous days, 70 miles today seemed pretty civil!  Our ride started near Brown City - a very small country town and ended in Algonac, which is located along the St Clair River near the north end of Lake Saint Clair.  We rode right to a car ferry terminal...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-43-michigan-is-in-the-books</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5e8cd26adee9ecb16159df</guid><pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 21:20:59 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 42 - More of Michigan]]></title><description><![CDATA[Today, we reached 3,000 miles on our journey across the USA for the guide dog puppies at the Seeing Eye! We're now just two weeks away from returning to Long Island. It was a day filled with road and bridge closures (definitely some frustrating detours), but we enjoyed decent temperatures, favorable wind direction, good air quality, flat terrain, and our first 100-mile day. After covering 92 miles yesterday, we followed it up with 100 miles today. We didn't stop for meals, relying on Kevin's...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-42-more-of-michigan</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5d58c3a93b53fe88969ff4</guid><pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:02:00 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Days 39, 40, and 41 ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Here's an update on the activities of the Puppy Ride Coast to Coast Team over the past three days. Starting from Wednesday, Day 38, we arrived in Milwaukee late in the afternoon and noticed the weather worsening due to forest fires in Canada and the US. By bedtime on Wednesday, it was hot and smoky. On Thursday (Day 39), the team took the pre-planned drive from Milwaukee to Muskegon instead of spending $700 on the ferry across Lake Michigan. Day 39 was intended as a rest day to reposition the...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/days-39-40-and-41</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5bfe84830cbda37bbfb1fb</guid><pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 01:09:05 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 38 - We finished Wisconsin and it was a great place to bike!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Today's ride took us from my sister and brother-in-law's house (rode out the door to the route) to Milwaukee where we rode to the door of our Airbnb. It's kind of a nice way to start and finish instead of finishing and starting in the middle of nowhere and having to rack the bikes on the truck and ride 20, 30 or 60 miles to a place to stay. and then rack the bikes in the morning and return to the middle of nowhere to ride again!  This nowhere thing has been most of the trip in all honestly. ...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-38-we-finished-wisconsin-and-it-was-a-great-place-to-bike</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a57fcdc8a059921e603cbcb</guid><pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 22:27:57 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 37 - Our ride to the Wisconsin State capital of Madison]]></title><description><![CDATA[We started our 75-mile day in La Valle, Wisconsin and enjoyed the first 8 miles on the rail trail we were on yesterday. Relatively cool temperatures and shade from the trees along the path gave us a good start to the day. This was almost immediately replaced by hot pavement, lots of full sun and rising temperatures, like a slap in the face, we knew this would be a hot one! Today topped out at 95 degrees with not much of any breeze. Lots of hills and valleys added up to 3,000 feet of climbing...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-37-our-ride-to-the-wisconsin-state-capital-of-madison</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a56f23e72c8fd628da15001</guid><pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 03:08:56 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 36 - First of three rides crossing Wisconsin from West to East]]></title><description><![CDATA[Today was really hot but we were mostly in tree covered trails from La Crosse to La Valle, Wisconsin. A full day without highway shoulders! It was awesome. Wisconsin definitely has the best trails on our trip so far. The 71 mile ride was all unpaved and very smooth and rideable. There were three tunnels on our ride as well. The trail was a late 1800s railroad. The tunnels were long (one was 3/4 miles long) and downright chilly with temperatures I’m sure that were at least 20 degrees cooler!...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-36-first-of-three-rides-crossing-wisconsin-from-west-to-east</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5570c09db5b5119dd77482</guid><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:31:24 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 35 - The day we left Minnesota and the Mississippi for the Wisconsin farmlands]]></title><description><![CDATA[We rode a little bit on the Minnesota side of the Mississippi river early this morning before crossing the river and heading further south along the Mississippi on the Wisconsin side. The first part of the ride was on highways with good shoulders, and the second part of the ride in Wisconsin was a trail called the Great River State Trail. The Great River Trail was well shaded and its surface was excellent for riding. Other than a detour to get around a bridge that was closed on the trail, it...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-35-the-day-we-left-minnesota-and-the-mississippi-for-the-wisconsin-farmlands</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a53fea920055f7c3b98f270</guid><pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 21:11:25 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Day 34 - Minneapolis suburbs to Lake City, Minnesota]]></title><description><![CDATA[After our rest day yesterday it was back on the bikes for a two day ride down the Mississippi. Today was all on the Minnesota side and tomorrow will be almost entirely on the Wisconsin side. Tomorrow we say good bye to another state and enter Wisconsin which we hope to knock out by Wednesday evening. 76 or so miles today - kind of our typical distance now that the climbing isn’t so intense.  Combination of some urban trails, some secondary roads, some rail to trail. a little bit of dirt and...]]></description><link>https://www.puppyridelongisland.org/post/day-34-minneapolis-suburbs-to-lake-city-minnesota</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a52cefaa3aaa79a8c22b564</guid><pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 23:33:23 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>James Freiss</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>