Day Four on the Journey Along the Erie Canal – #JourneytoWork

By Priscilla Maddock – Day 4 of the Journey: Fairport to Clyde – 35 miles.

Another glorious day – blue skies and sunshine and low humidity! Our lunch stop was in Newark and lunch was provided by the Wayne County ARC – a delicious box lunch – a very kind thing for them to do. We experienced a bit of everything on the trail today – some smooth pavement and beautiful views of the canal, some thick stone dust through the woods, some hills, and a few miles along Route 31. This is such a great group of people to ride with: a true team effort where people take care of each other and provide assistance as needed, each sharing strengths to provide a seamless coordinated whole – for a successful ride.

We stopped in Lyons to visit the Trail of Hope. Mark DeCracker designed and built a trail through multiple garden creations for people of all abilities to enjoy. His initial inspiration came after a friend’s daughter was critically injured in a car accident, confining her to a wheelchair. His vision continues to evolve as he meets and touches people’s lives and hears their stories. The Trail of Hope is now one of the missions for “A Week of Hope”. Through church youth groups and other organizations, individuals can sign up for “A Week of Hope” – an opportunity to do mission work. At the Trail of Hope, they learn about gardening and working in the earth, and they can add their own unique touches to the gardens. It is a very, very special place, offering peace, comfort, and hope to all who visit. As the archway at the end of the Trail states, “There is always hope.”