Cycling

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.

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.

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.

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.

I woke to a beautiful sunrise on the Erie Canal. 

Today started like many others have this past 6.5 months. I’m riding to my next sleep spot and this is where today becomes a treasure. Unknown to me, Ken and Joe of Team Eliminator had been planning a surprise.

They drove to Rochester and rode the Canal to meet me on route to Pittsford. This is the highlight of this tour, I can’t imagine what could top this! These two friends rode with me to Pittsford. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

We ended the day at Jay Saylor’s home where I will stay an extra day with Nancy. The Saylors gave us a tour of Fairport that enclosed a whiskey tasting at the Ironsmoke Distillery.

Today I left as the sun lit the day. I will need to get through Buffalo to pick up the Erie Canal Trail.

Riding into Buffalo and then getting onto the local bike routes to get into the city to connect with the Erie Canal Trail was a clusterfuck of road construction. Multiply detours, some marked and some not, took all my concentration.

Once I found and began the Erie Trail I relaxed and left the city behind. I rode into Lockport and visited the Lock and met some cyclists that eagerly listened to my story.

A tour guide at the Lock offered a few suggestions as to where I might set up my tent for the night. I found a very nice quiet spot along the canal to end my 82 mile day.

My sleep last night was restless after trying to find a decent motel 70 miles away. All the parks are now closed in NY. All I could find was two sketchy motels.

I decided to stop in Dunkirk at the Clarion with fewer miles hoping to get a good night’s sleep.

I now have two long days, an 80-ish day to Lockport followed by a 75-ish mile day to Pittsford.

It rained last night and into the morning with wind and cold. The start wasn’t early and it wasn’t warm yet. It was never warm today but I did have wind at my back.

I’m making my way to the Erie Canal Trail through Buffalo, NY. All the State Parks are closed. The motel choices really suck. $500 a night for a decent room and $120 a night for a flea ridden rat infested dump. No Warmshower either. I hope when I get away from the city and get to Lockport  things will change for the better.

My Warmshowers host, Peter, hopped on his bike and guided me to my route so I wouldn’t have to backtrack.

On the bike trail to Cleveland.

Riding through the wealth of Bratenahl.

A mild start in the 50° and soon warmed to finish the day. I am now at Geneva on the Lake.

Another short day to Peter’s home, a Warmshowers host, for the night.

I stopped for a nice breakfast in Vermillion. Busy city riding for a while.

I now have a full day’s ride to Geneva on the Lake.