Yesterday we settled into the campsite. Today, I rode my bike and saw some sights outside the campground. I also got to meet and visit with people also riding.
Categories
7/14/23 Arcadia
Category: Touring
Categories
7/13/23 Arcadia
After a few wonderful days with my sister and brother-in-law we packed up and headed to Maine. We set up camp and began getting ready for the next nine day riding and exploring the area.
We are settled in so we brought the dogs on a hike to the ocean.
Back at the camp we ate a light meal and sat in the screen tent to fade into the night.
Categories
Danville, VT
Today is the beginning of another tour. We load the camper and car with our gear and head north to Danville, Vermont to spend a few days with my sister and brother-in-law. It is pouring rain as we pack. This, so far, has been the summer and the forecast looks like we will endure the same for at least another week. My sister Debby and Lyn will join us at our next stop in Arcadia.
Categories
Birthday Tour
Over the winter I brought my bike back to to new condition replacing worn components. I have also been busy moving gear around to make the panniers more efficient. Today I took a test ride, the weather bringing perfect. The strong wind allowed testing into headwind, tailwind, and crosswind. The bike handles well and the weight load is stable. Next week I will be on a five day tour with my friend CK.
Categories
Home, the end…?
We wake up and open the camper to walk outside. It is cold as we walk to the house. Eric is cooking breakfast, egg and French toast. We visit and relax after the morning meal.
I get myself and the bike ready to roll out the last 26 miles of our 8,159 mile 7 month tour.
Riding out the last mile was a double edged sword. I left for this tour with Nancy in a snow storm. We stopped at the Cummington Creamery for lunch and their oatmeal raisin cookies on March 26. Almost 7 months later the tour is over and I stop at the Creamery for an oatmeal raisin cookie.
As I eat the cookie I reflect. I really do not want the tour to end. Rationally, I know it’s time. The weather is turning towards winter. I can now settle in and enjoy the achievement. At 70 I left Delaware with my dear friend CK to bicycle down the coast to the Chesapeake Bay. From Yorktown, VA I rode the TransAm bicycle route across the country to Astoria, OR. Nancy and I then spent five days in Washington Park in Anacortes,WA. before cycling east on the Northern Tier Route to Buffalo, NY. I then rode the Erie Canal Trail to Waterford,NY. I crossed the Hudson River to ride familiar country roads to Massachusetts and back home in Ashfield.
Categories
Dalton, MA.
I let it warm up a bit before riding.
I have 73 miles to get home late in the day and finish the tour. Or, I have 47 miles to Dalton, visit with friends and finish a day later.
Stopped in Dalton for the night. Tomorrow will be a short ride home.
Categories
Waterford, NY.
A cold damp and raw start in the fog. Two hours later I could take off the heavy jacket and gloves.
I began riding on the Old Erie Canal Towpath within miles from town. Today I head toward Schenectady where my friends Ray and Deb lived before moving to Texas. I rode many miles with Ray in the area back in the early 2000.
The Old Erie Canal-way is rich with history. Lock 23
The Erie Canal Trail through Schenectady.
I arrived at the Visitor Center next to Lock E2 where the Mohawk River joins the Hudson River. Tonight the rain is coming and lasting through tomorrow. I will spend tomorrow here enjoying the town waiting for the rain to pass.
Categories
Fort Plain, NY.
Today the high was 48° with wind. Two large cities are on today’s route, Rome and Utica. I got through Rome without problems.
In Utica I lost the marking for the Erie Canalways Trail. I got onto Route 5s. I have been following this route closely most of the day so after leaving the city limits I began looking for my route. Within five miles I began seeing my route on the gps screen and I could now get back on route.
Nancy is camping at the campground at Lock 15 in Fort Plain.
Categories
Rome, NY.
No rain today but it felt cold. Syracuse was slow going through with zig zag crossing for the Erie Trail bikeway so 2 crossings at every intersection.
Today is a 75 mile day to Lock 21 where Nancy is camping. The weather is changing, and cold weather is on the way.
Categories
Montezuma, NY.
Heavy cold rain and riding in a very muddy Erie Canal Trail.
Half way through today I came across a cyclist coming my way. We talked a bit and discovered that we met in Kansas when I was westbound and he was eastbound. Today we met on the Erie Canal Trail. I am eastbound and he is westbound. I wonder what are these odds?
The Erie Canal Trail on this section is a mix of maintain gravel around the towns and single track in the remote areas. The distance to Rivers Crossing Campground is 54 miles. Nancy and I are now meeting up every night.
