Canandaigua to Syracuse, NY

Because of the short distance (70 miles), today's ride didn't start until an hour later than usual.  It was warm and partly cloudy when we left, becoming hotter and humid as we got closer to Syracuse.  As long as I kept moving, it wasn't too bad but I really noticed the heat when I stopped.  We had a 10-15 mph wind out of the south which often helped and at other times was from the side.  Roads were, for the most part, in good condition with wide shoulders.  The first third of the ride was fairly flat, the middle third was a "roller coaster," and the final ride into Syracuse was rolling.  Although we did a fair amount of climbing, it was fairly easy.

Highlights of the day were:  Waterloo (home of Memorial Day); Seneca Falls (home of women's rights); and the Erie Canal.  There was an ice cream store at the SAG stop, so this was a two-milkshake day!  :)

4:30; 70 miles; 2,685' climb; 3,472 Calories.

Happy Father's Day.



Today's ride.


The wind was out of the south and we were going ENE, but it wasn't a head wind!

Seneca Falls is the home of women's rights.

Seneca Falls.

Barry.

Bob.

Lots of dairy farms.

Water falls.

Big Mike at the SAG.

Copperhead snake - yes, it's poisonous.

The Erie Canal!  How cool is that?

Part of today's road through the forest.

For Deborah.

Hamburg to Canandaigua, NY

Back in 2009, I rode to Canandaigua from Hamburg in a driving rain.  It was raining so hard, I don't remember much about the ride other than the rain.  This year, we were treated to warm sunshine and dry roads.  We spent most of the day on the shoulder of SR 20E.  There was a lot of traffic, but the shoulder is very wide and in good condition.  After the first SAG stop, the climbing began over long NY rollers through dairy country and small towns.  I was able to get my milkshake fix about a mile from the hotel.  It was a long day, riding just short of 100 miles.  We are getting much closer to Boston.

6:17; 95 miles; 4,141' climb, 4,376 Calories.

The three B's, Beth, Bob, and Barry were forced to wait until the regular 7:30 AM departure time instead of leaving early with the dawn patrol.  As a result, there were eight of us: Jack, Willie, Dan, me, Mike R, and the three B's.  Jack pulled the group along before he, Willie, and Beth had enough with the slow folk and burned down the road into the first SAG stop.

Rider's bags ready to put on the truck.

There are many striking houses along the route.

Today's road.

Big Mike.

Dan. 

Another picturesque barn. 

Dairy cows.

Erie, PA, to Hamburg, NY

Another state line; we crossed over into New York.  Leaving Erie on SR 5E, we rode with Lake Erie on our left and many vineyards on our right.  The road shoulders have deteriorated over the past eight years since I last passed this way but are very wide.  There was very little traffic on SR 5E but much heavier on SR 20E into Hamburg.  Skies were overcast when we left but became sunny as the ride continued.  A 10 mph tailwind helped make short shrift of the 80 mile distance as there was very little climbing today.

Darrell left the group yesterday, he was only scheduled to ride from Champaign to Erie.  Another '09er appeared out of the misty past, Chris L. joined the group for today's ride.  He said he had only ridden his bike four times in the last month, but I think he's putting us on.  A couple of Willie's work buddies came along for some fun on the road as well.  It's becoming a rolling circus.

4:28; 81 miles; 2,018' climb; 4,425 Calories.

A bunch of clowns.  Sheri, Jan, Howard, Tom, and Robin.

 More clowning around waiting for the 7:30 AM departure.

Howard, Jack, Tom, Willie, me, Chris L, Tom, Champ, Harry, and Chris B

Lighthouse on Lake Erie.

Jack.  Now that the other big dog has gone home, Jack was forced to ride with the old dog...me.

Today's road. 

Vineyards lining the road.

My girlfriend is still here albeit a little worse for wear.

Deborah, they are shipping this to the house for our front yard.

Indian nation.

No, I do not know how to pronounce it.

Erie, PA - Rest Day

Today was our final rest day before getting to Boston.  As usual, it was a question of what to do on a rest day.  When I got up this morning, I went down to the lobby for a cup of coffee before returning to my room to check email.  It had rained some time during the night and the streets were wet so I opted not to go for a bike ride.  Now what?  A nap, a nap sounds good.  Clean the bike, do laundry, take a nap?

Friends from California, Rod and Kay live near Erie and drove up to take me to lunch.  It was good to see them and catch up on gossip and stuff.

Tomorrow we ride to Hamburg, NY and the weather forecast looks good.  We've been very lucky on this trip.  The beach sand on the state line signs seems to be working well.

Our hotel is on the lake front.

Jack supervises Dan.  "You missed a spot." 

 

Niles, OH, to Erie, PA

Back in 2009, it was raining when we left the hotel in Niles and continued raining all the way to the hotel in Erie.  Al and I put our heads down that day and rode hard in the downpour.

This year it wasn't raining.  Partly cloudy skies and cooler temperatures made for a pleasant start to the ride to Erie.  We rode north to Conneaut before turning NE on SR5 towards Erie.  The wind was out of the NE at 10-15 mph so we had a head wind for the last 29 miles.  Even so, it wasn't bad as there were lots of trees long the road to break the wind.  At the beginning of the ride, I rode with the big dogs, Jack and Darrell, for a while before stopping to take pictures.

On the way into Conneaut, I spotted a bicyclist riding in the opposite direction wearing a Michigan jersey.  He turned around and came up behind me, asking if he could ride with me.  IT WAS AL FROM '09.  He had driven four hours to come and ride a little with us.  At first I was confused but then realized who it was as the last I heard he was still in Africa riding his bike.  He rode with me to the White Turkey Drive Inn where I refueled with a root beer float before continuing on my own into Erie.  We are staying in a very fancy Courtyard Marriott on the water front of Lake Erie; tomorrow is a rest day.

5:40; 90 miles; 1,343' climb; 4,266 Calories.

Lots of pictures to share from today's ride:

Today's road.


Howard (CR staff) waiting for the start.

Fewer old barns in this part of the world.

Cows taking a postprandial nap.

OK, someone explain to me why so many homes in the NE have huge lawns! 

With permssion.

Covered bridge.  Bring a tape measure. 

Amish country

How you know you're in Amish country

Big Al.  What a wonderful surprise.

The White Turkey Drive Inn. 

Rootbeer float. 

Tom, Al, Willie, Darrell, me, and Jack at the White Turkey. 

 CR staff plus one.  Sheri, Robin, Larry, Tom...and Barry.

 Your guess is as good as mine.