Inaugural Tour put the East Coast Greenway on the map

On Sept. 12, 2004, eight intrepid cyclists departed from the Canadian border in Calais, Maine, embarking on a 55-day journey to Key West, Florida. With Passamaquoddy tribal members on hand in Calais to send off the cyclists, these trailblazers became the first to traverse the entire 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway, setting a precedent for what was possible along this ambitious route.

Two decades later, inspired by their legacy, 15 cyclists have completed the Greenway’s Maine-to-Florida journey in 2024, showcasing the continued appeal of this in-development route. To date, nearly 40% of the interim Greenway route is complete.

Prior to the Inaugural Tour, the Greenway was generally defined, but without a discrete “travel route” in many areas. The tour made it necessary to create an on-the-ground route and cue sheets (turn-by-turn directions). Then-Trail Coordinator Eric Weis recalled, “In some sections the travel route was finalized the day before the tour pedaled through, with cue sheets being faxed to the riders’ hotel.”

The Inaugural Tour not only compelled the East Coast Greenway Alliance to define a travel route, but the riders provided immediate feedback to help the Alliance make improvements and note any areas where trail conditions needed to be addressed. The current Greenway spine route corridor is almost identical to what was defined during the tour, but with many new Greenway segments added and adjustments to the interim on-road routing.

Six people rode the entire way, and they were joined by several others for sections of the tour. The riders hailed from throughout the Eastern Seaboard (and Arizona) and ranged in age from their 40s to their 70s. One rider is a wheelchair user who rides a custom-made tandem bicycle.  Passamaquoddy tribal members in Calais, Maine, send off cyclists in 2004 on the first tour of the entire East Coast Greenway.

Mac Sexton (then of Maine, now of Florida) led the group. Other through-riders were David Wood of Maine, Jack Kurrle of Arizona, Mike and Anne Kruimer of New Jersey and Myron Skott of Georgia. Hilge Hurford of New York joined the group a few days into the tour, cycling with them from Portland, Maine, to Key West. Other riders for large portions of the tour were Bill Logan of New York (Calais to New York City), and Carroll Weber of Florida (Washington, D.C. to Charleston). Ray Giglio of Maine rode Calais to Connecticut, and his wife, Jane, provided several food and drink breaks for the tour in Maine. Bill O’Neill of Connecticut, who was then on the Alliance’s Board of Trustees, rode from Charleston to Key West.

Many people throughout the Greenway corridor supported the group by assisting with navigation and logistics, hosting the riders in their homes and consulting on the route. Key ride supporters were Tony Barrett of Maine, who drove the support and gear (SAG) vehicle for much of the tour and assisted with logistics. Maggie Warren of Maine and Ray Giglio took turns driving the SAG vehicle from Charleston to Key West. Ethan Davis of Maine provided a great deal of logistical support, including finding hotels and homestay lodging for the group.

The Alliance’s first Executive Director, Karen Votava, noted that some of the benefits of the Inaugural Tour were a group of committed supporters and increased local awareness of the East Coast Greenway. The tour provided, “Confirmation to all those involved that the route could be ridden now. That spurred more promotion of use,” said Votava.   

The Inaugural Tour also generated significant financial support for the Alliance. The through-riders fundraised or donated $10,000 each, and the tour as a whole generated $75,000. As the tour riders raised awareness and generated excitement about this long-distance greenway project, membership in the Alliance also grew significantly.

The tour was a significant experience in the riders’ lives. “We have not missed a single day since the ride thinking or talking about it,” said Mike Kruimer. Mike and his wife, Anne, who was paralyzed in an earlier cycling accident, were remarkable in riding the entire route on their specially-designed (and heavy) tandem that Anne hand-pedals from a seat up front. Their fortitude was inspirational for all.

Tour leader Mac Sexton said the tour is still one of his most memorable experiences. Highlights for him included “seeing a bear and cubs up ahead on the trail through Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge on the first day …” and “Just the joy of being outdoors moving through the air and countryside.”

Myron Skott said that some of the best times on the tour were the homestays and sharing a meal after the day’s journey.  One of his favorite home stays was with Alliance Executive Director Karen Votava and her husband in Rhode Island.  Another memorable stay was with the parents of artist Charlotte Holmes Murray in Yemassee, South Carolina. Mac Sexton loved the artwork in their home so much that he purchased a painting off their wall and commissioned Ms. Murray to do a painting of the tour. The next day she and her son drove out to photograph the riders. From that she made a beautiful painting, which still hangs in Mac’s dining room, constantly reminding him of the Greenway tour.

Since the 2004 tour, Myron Skott and his wife Cathy have biked major portions of the East Coast Greenway four more times.  In 2014, they rode from Jacksonville, Florida, to New York City for the Cabot Community Tour.

We asked Myron what differences he found on the Greenway since that first ride. He said, “One thing that has changed is the ease at which one can navigate the Greenway.  In 2004, I recall incessant debates about which way to go at many junctions, and a handful of maps and cue sheets to be juggled.  Now, with the ECG (mapping tool) running on smartphones, and trusty Google Maps to back it up and locate needed services, ANYONE can navigate the route.  And just the fact that so much more of the Greenway is there is indeed noticeable, in every state.” Many of the riders became friends on the tour, as well as key Alliance volunteers, members and supporters. Sadly, Ray Giglio passed away in 2014. He was a friend of the East Coast Greenway and a devoted supporter of trails and greenways throughout his life.

We couldn’t advocate for a more complete East Coast Greenway, place more signage or create new maps and navigation tools without the inspirational support of pioneers like the folks on the Inaugural Tour. We thank them and the many people that made their ride possible! You literally put the East Coast Greenway on the map!

Thank you to Tony Barrett, Mike Kruimer, Mac Sexton, Myron Skott, Karen Votava, and Eric Weis for their contributions to this article.