St. Lawrence freshman bikes 400 miles to campus

CANTON — While most college students hope to arrive at school in style, one St. Lawrence University freshman showed up on campus with particular flair this August.

Mitchell A. Joseph, a first-year student from Old Greenwich, Conn., rode his bike more than 400 miles from his hometown to Canton to kick off the academic year last month. Mr. Joseph was accompanied on the trip by his older sister, 23-year-old Danielle Joseph.

“It was just for fun — no reason, really,” Mr. Joseph said. “My sister and I had gone on a bike tour last year on the Pacific coast, and I think this was just another reason to ride our bikes.”

The 400-mile trip took about six days. Because bicycles are not allowed on major highways, he and his sister traveled on back roads, heading north from Connecticut to Albany, then west along the Adirondacks toward Utica and finally north on Route 11 to Canton.

The Joseph siblings stayed with family and friends during the first leg of the trip and at bed and breakfasts during the second half. Although Mr. Joseph said the beginning of the trip was somewhat challenging, he and his sister encountered no major obstacles.

“The first day was a little bit difficult because we weren’t in shape at all, but after that everything went really well. All the days were sunny, and there was only one day that we had rain — otherwise everything was great,” he said. Although Mr. Joseph and his sister carried food, clothing and other supplies in small bags on the backs of their bikes, the majority of his possessions were brought to campus by his parents, who drove to Canton separately. Along the way, Mr. Joseph came across other bicyclists who were St. Lawrence alumni — and when he arrived on campus Aug. 16, he did a final victory lap before heading off on a preorientation trip in the Adirondacks.

“It was a great decision,” he said. “I don’t regret it at all.”