This blog is about a 4,100 mile solo-self supported Music/Bike tour I completed starting Easter Sunday and ending July 17th, 2008. I performed over 24 concerts along 14 states plus 1 Province (Quebec). For other information about the journey check out my website: http://www.rachelvanslyke.com/ and look at the media sector. If you want to see the full tour you have to go back to the Archives - Feb

If I met you on the Tour and you have any photos or video, please shoot them over to rachel@rachelvanslyke.com, I would be very happy to have them

Last Show of the Tour

The Last show of the Tour, 110 days later, the end!

This was a little spot off of the Saratoga Bike Path, I started my warming up here the night before the last show.

Full Moon, getting peace at a near by cemetary and singing before the show

I have always admired this place, Cafe Lena, Just voted the best small venue in North America by the International Folk Alliance

the oldest continuously operating coffeehouse in the United States

This photos actually taken the morning after. It was such a strange morning. In 4,000 miles of road navagating, I can actually say I felt a bit lost. and i realized I didn't have any pics or footage of the last show, so I had to snap a quick shot of the stage at Lena's. A stage that many had played on. Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, and other great legands.

The after party

friends and family



and more friends!

Troy, NY

in the store frontage ahead is there is a coffee shop where fox news interviewed me. more on this to come...
Myself and Dave Michaels, of WEXT I went to their studios and did an interview and live performance.

I really like this little town, Troy. Some how when I was having coffee the news called the cafe to speak with me. They came down and did a clip. It's great to have positive news.

Close to Home

my mother's garden
the sunset remains the same
the 4th of july Northville Festival Show

Sacandaga River

this is the path that leads to the house I grew up in

Ah, the Northville fourth of July extravaganza. 6 separate cars of friends and family found me on the road before the show! A great time. and so, it was a celebration of freedom.

Montreal

Donna and I meet up, and she is a fabulous hostess - that I met in Vermont on the side of the road. I spent a relaxing time with her and her husband Alan. She was so thoughtful and real to me. In the morning she treated me to breakfast, and while I was in Montreal I hiked Mont Saint-Hilaire

the bridge i came in on
my friend performing magic in the streets of old montreal

I'm quite happy in a foreign place, and listening to a different language, one that I do not understand. I can depend on other senses for communication. There is more space.

Castle

No way, To break out of the cities sprawl!
How did I end up on rt 1? I called upon my friend Bill for direction. I was at a GAS station in Connecticut. He guided me through step by step, an outstanding journey leading though the marvels of the inner- state and into the safe back yard he grew up in. I wrote everything down carefully on the back of a scrap paper. Just as I was reading it back to him it flew out of my hands and up into the air above State Highway 1, which was full of traffic. I ran after it, trying to explain what the scenario was. I watched it go higher and higher and smiled in disbelief, and finally it slowly coasted down into the street where I stopped the "race" and safely picked it up. close one.


See that castle on the hill?
the ride over
the Gilletes Castle

Can you believe this? After 82 miles that day, I arrived here. I went up to the castle and was blown away! The ranger there was extremely kind to me. When I asked for his recommendation on a safe spot to set up my tent he gave me permission to stay here. He added, "you can even take the trail down if you'd like" I took the trail down the from the little mountain and thought back to his words describing the spot, "It's right at the end after the picnic tables and everything, there's a little clearing and flat ground right on the water."
I waded in the water and admired the views.

NYC

Biking through New York City

George Washington Bridge, a very monumental point in my journey. I grew up in Upstate New York, and arriving in NewYork was sort of like a realization that I had actually pedaled my bicycle from Florida to NewYork. It was overcast and drizzling as I came over the transition.
Carnegie Hall, where my grandmother had sang many years ago. what did it feel like for her to approach this very same building, knowing that she'd go inside and sing her heart out. I spent a little time here, blown away. Here is the stage where I performed - Kenny's Castaway in Greenwich village

This night seemed very powerful in my awareness. more on this later...

New York City was bizarre to me. This was somewhat of a realization, how far I'd gotten, and how I far I'd gotten. One man I was inspired by pushed a huge cart in the street, and on the side of a plywood scrap was spray painted "no mas"

my hosts Matt and Trevor were so kind. I met them through warmshowers.org. They had a beautiful home in Chelsea.

There are many sweet bike paths around the city. Some of them were part of the east coast greenway. The next day I got very lost going out of the city and ended up on an island. I get lost most of the time, I often asked for directions, and ultimately I just look down at my compass and head north : )

Philly

I can't believe I'm in the city, Philadelphia.

Here's the street my gig is on, I can't believe my eyes

Imagine Rolling into this, after Rolling off the Blue Ridge Parkway and through the hills of northern Pennsylvania.

where it all went down

Hey Sean

(one of the very talented musicians that performed at Lickedy Splits with me that night) The show was a blast, I met a lot of interesting people that night, and I enjoyed watching the other bands play.

no matter where I am, I find room for my tent OUTside, even in this inner city backyard.

Wow! it's a lot to be in the city after all those mountains. I feel my senses are heightened and my surroundings are so intense. Lovely to be here. Penn. was a fun state to come across. Lots and lots of rolling hills and Landscapes imprinted in my mind. textures created deep below the surface.
I really liked this city. But it was much different from the south, and I was taking it in. It felt abrupt. Yesterday I'm in the hills, today I spent over 3 hours at the Sprint store getting a phone repair. The women was astonished that I waited there for so long. She couldn't believe I was smiling. She couldn't believe I wasn't angry.

My father often flys through Philly and has a friend that works at the airport. In their many conversations he had mentioned to him that I'd be traveling through Philly as part of my Tour. Rob extended the offer to host me while I was there. Thanks to Rob and friends.

The morning I headed out for New York, I was having coffee and felt overwhelmed by a sensation of some kind of media happening. I texted a friend about the feeling. When I walked out of the shop I met Ronnie Polaneczky. She and began to chat. I walked with her a few blocks to her office at the Philadelphia Daily News:
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/multimedia/19889339.html

BCHQ

the concert at the BCHQ

check out the Durham Bike Coop

after the show, we had a bbq
see the gal with the stash? That's Lu, and she is working on a cure for cancer. and she plays a mean guitar and sings. Leslie, in the green, plays a kitchen sink! Leslie and Dave hosted me and really inspired me with their composting, I've started a composting pile in many towns now, thanks guys!

Dave made a stupendous breakfast extravaganza and is a percussionist singer
Bull City Head Quarters

After the show we went on a bike ride and got ice cream, this place had cheeseburger flavored, but I stuck with some chocolate double delight blend

Lake Jo

Camp spot, up high on a bank

check out this pair

me and the dagger

Stunning views

Kayaking on Lake Jocassee. She was calm and clear, visibility was at least 30 ft that day. As the storm picked up she got rugged and moody. What a fun adventure. The camp spot was so sweet, tucked way back in the woods., left no trace. I went with a friend, so we could get the kayaks high up off the shores. Beach fire at night, gorgeous sun set.

the begining of the carolina's south port

Welcome to Southport, SC

At the River View Inn, where I met a very special Inn Keeper and artist, Lisal. Thank you for the sponership and time spent in Meezie's room. It was an unforgettable stay. The Inn was an enchanted wonderland. Along with being a fabulous Inn Keeper, Lisal is a writer/poet that has truly inspired me. It is great for strangers to connect on such an interesting level, we exchanged dreams, her book, Dark Matter and my CD. What an excellent concept. The show is tomorrow night, house party, can't wait!

My friends home / location of the house concert the night before.

The concert went well, thanks to Ken with Circle Entertainment for getting it together.

after party jam session with extreme talent-

the gentleman playing the lyn is interested in doing a bike tour.