Ride the Erie Wrap up

Well, we did it! We made it all the way from Albany to Buffalo along the Erie Canal, covering hundreds of miles in my power wheelchair with my two ride or die besties, Jimmy and Doctor B. Another Ian’s Ride is in the books, and this one was packed with adventure, history, wildlife, beer, and a whole lot of love.

Our journey actually began long before we reached the canal. We left SeaTac bright and early for JFK, carrying an enormous amount of gear and, most importantly, my power wheelchair. Flying with a wheelchair always comes with some anxiety, but we were incredibly fortunate to have some fantastic baggage handlers and people movers who took great care of me and my equipment. When my chair arrived at JFK undamaged, there was a huge sense of relief. The adventure could officially begin.

We started in the wild streets of New York City, dodging pedestrians, cyclists, and the occasional unexpected human maneuver. We squeezed in some classic NYC pizza and a pastrami sandwich, caught glimpses of the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, celebrated Mom’s birthday, and then headed west toward the canal.

What followed was a beautiful mashup of smooth crushed-stone paths, bone-rattling concrete culvert crossings, grassy stretches, rocky canyons, historic architecture, colorful murals, and enough wildlife, fungi and plant variety to keep Jimmy and I constantly in awe. We witnessed snakes attempting to eat frogs, spotted turtles, fish, muskrats, raptors, explored museums and visitor centers, and learned how each canal town carved out its own niche in the history of American commerce. Turns out, there’s a whole lot of fascinating science, ecology, and human ingenuity packed along this watery corridor!

And, of course, there were breweries. Lots of breweries. Some even opened their doors for us when they weren’t supposed to be open. That’s some hella bitchin’ hospitality.

But the real magic was the people. Towns welcomed us with police escorts, roadblocks, mayors, balloons, congratulatory signs, and enthusiastic cheers. News crews and reporters followed our journey, while trail advocates, policymakers, and community members joined us to experience the canal through my eyes. We connected with other influential wheelchair users, shared stories over beers, and had meaningful conversations about making outdoor spaces more accessible. Even small donations and meals offered by people with limited means reminded us just how generous and welcoming communities can be.

After thousands of miles of adventures together over the years, Jimmy, Doctor B, and I have developed a rhythm that feels almost automatic. Our bikes and my power wheelchair move together in a smooth, shared flow. We anticipate one another’s movements without thinking. Of course, that doesn’t mean everything goes smoothly. Between Doctor B leaving the valve of my leg bag open for miles, travel shenanigans, and the nightly challenge of unfamiliar beds and pillows, there was plenty of comedy to keep the trip amusing, endearing and memorable.

Behind the scenes, making this journey happen took an incredible amount of work. My caregiver Edwin was an absolute champion, managing my personal care with a gentle, caring spirit while keeping our whole crew grounded. And my mom, Teena, sacrificed sleep night after night to make sure Edwin and I got the rest we needed. Her calm determination kept us moving forward, even when things got stressful. We also celebrated both Mom’s and Dad’s birthdays along the way, with Dad providing invaluable help and his trademark upbeat attitude during the first half of the ride.

And then came the finish line in Tonawanda/Buffalo.

After all those miles, conversations, challenges, beers, laughs, and ridiculous moments, reaching the finish together was deeply emotional. We weren’t just completing another ride. We were demonstrating what’s possible when people with disabilities are included in outdoor adventures and when communities work together to make trails better for everyone.

We then had a day to soak it all in, get a little trail riding in and visit Niagara Falls before continuing on to Toronto and then visiting Motion Concepts. I’m grateful for the work they do to make adventures like this possible, and it was wonderful to try out the new TDX SP3 and share honest feedback about its design and functionality. Being welcomed as an end user whose experience and opinions genuinely matter was especially meaningful.

After Toronto came one final travel adventure. We made our way to the airport, where the team safely transferred me and my chair for the flight home to Seattle. Once again, the people handling my equipment took great care of us, and we made it home safely. Big thanks to Alaska Airlines.

The miles are behind us, but the friendships, memories, and impact will keep rolling forward.

I’m incredibly fortunate to have this team beside me. I’m also humbled by everyone who cheered, donated, bought us a meal or a beer, shared their stories, or helped us to create, in our own small way, a more accessible future.