EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was submitted by Jake Yaeger about his and his sister’s Canalway Challenge bike ride.
It started late, thanks to Hurricane Debby, whose presence was felt across the state, especially in her home county of St. Lawrence. But the storm couldn’t dampen the excitement.
And waiting was not the plan.
Jake and Rae Yaeger knew something about waiting, about how life can press pause and hold you in place until you’re not sure if you’re moving forward or just carrying on. So they did what they could. They ran – 20 miles – because that’s what you do when you’re ready to move but you can’t. And then they ran.
Jake and Rae, siblings from different corners of New York, had planned their ride from Buffalo to Green Island, the Canalway Challenge, a trip that would span 360 miles and take place over the course of a week.
Leaving the storm behind them, they set out from Buffalo on Sunday, driving through the stillness of early morning, the trail stretching out before them like a promise. They hadn’t booked their accommodations in advance, choosing instead to enjoy the freedom of the open road and see where the day would take them. That first day, they drove 65 miles to Albion, where they were again caught by rain and had to make an early stop. It was the kind of rain that makes you wonder if the world is trying to tell you something, and then laugh because it doesn’t matter. You’re already out here, already moving, and there’s nothing stopping the road from spreading out before you.
But this trip didn’t demand perfection, just endurance. The next day was longer, 102 miles from Albion to Weedsport, with a stop in Pittsford to visit family, where family ties in nearby Rochester were strong and are the kind of ties you can lean on, if only for a moment. The miles were a mix of effort and ease, the kind of trip that tests your endurance but rewards you with small victories – like the familiar faces they met in Pittsford or the simple satisfaction of moving forward.
As they drove, the landscape constantly changed, reminding them of the state’s diversity.
Rae was impressed by the culture of gravel biking and how it took her back to the carefree days of her childhood when it was all about exploring, feeling the ground beneath you and pushing your limits. It reminded her of the simple joys of childhood – hopping along the trail through small, once bustling towns and delighting in the sheer physical strength and capability of the human body. The trail felt like a return to those roots, where simplicity and joy went hand in hand. She also saw something in herself – something strong, something capable. The kind of thing you forget until it’s the only thing you have left to hold on to.
For Jake, it wasn’t the grueling ordeal he’d expected; instead, it was a liberating experience, a chance to reconnect with the basics of the good life. It wasn’t the kind of thing that left you broken or exhausted. It was something simpler, something easier. An adventure, yes, but not one that weighed you down. Quite the opposite. It was the kind of thing that reminded you how to live, how to move through the world without having to carry everything with you. The road wasn’t just a challenge; it was an opportunity to tune out the noise of life and focus on the pure act of moving forward. Their father’s words echoed in their heads: “Just do it.”
By the time they reached Little Falls, another 110 miles in, they had found their rhythm and the trail had become an old friend. The small town’s boutique hotel, the Canal Side Inn, was a welcome sight, a brief respite before the final climb to Green Island, an 81-mile stretch that concluded their journey.
Throughout the ride, their mother’s silent support was ever-present, as mothers are – quiet, present, and always out of sight until needed. She knew when they needed water, when they needed bananas, when they needed a break, without them ever having to ask. And Chuck the dog was there, a “silent” witness to it all, his steady presence a comfort in the moments when words didn’t fit. It was the kind of support that allowed Jake and Rae to focus on the road ahead, knowing that their essentials were always taken care of.
As siblings, Jake and Rae reached a new level of understanding during those miles. They didn’t have to talk much; they just knew, moving in sync and reading each other’s signals, just as they had done their entire lives. This trip wasn’t just about the miles—they were exploring a shared experience and creating memories that would last a lifetime. It made them partners in a way that only comes when you drop everything else and just drive.
Ultimately, the Canalway Challenge was more than just a bike ride. It was a chance to reconnect with the things that matter – family, nature and the simple joy of the journey itself. It was a reminder that sometimes the best adventures are the ones that don’t ask too much of you, but just keep you moving, keep having fun and keep it simple.
