Left in a hectic dash this morning to bike the six miles along the Niagara River to get to the bridge that would take us back into the states. Yesterday, we had watched the stack-up of traffic inching across the border, so wanted an early start to wait in line.  Maybe it was the hour, maybe this particular bridge, but we got to the bridge with ease and were instructed to just follow the cars!Thankfully, the traffic was not heavy as we approached the six lane interstate bridge with cars and trucks.It was a bit hairy, strange but safe experience.  No welcome to states sign, but did catch the flag on the middle of the bridge.This side of the river we were back into the country and small townswith an occasional mansion thrown into the mix.It was a pretty, yet warm morning……Jerry had wanted summer and though it had taken until mid-August to feel it, summer was definitely here.

Can’t say we just bumped into him, but those of you from Virginia Beach may recognize this guy. Travis has been talking about joining us for this ride since before we left; he finally bit the bullet and met us.  Not sure if he picked this point because of the course today, but it was a great way to start off.  At 10:30 we biked through Lockport and dropped down along the Erie canal. Wind at our backs and a flat course along the canal made for a great day of riding; even the duckies enjoyed it.We saw large fields, pretty churches across the river and apple orchards just being harvestedand picked.Must be time for lunch. Found a great place right off the canal, but will not show you Jerry’s meatloaf sandwich with a side of mash potatoes, all smothered in gravy.

Our only paved portion of the towpath was so rough at points we had to walk our bikes.  It was a beautiful day being pushed along the canal by the nice tailwind and surprised to see very few peopleand only one boat.A bend in the river, the northern most point of the Erie Canal, and we were at our destination, filled with more churches in a one block radius than you would think possible. Biked through town as we were on the outskirts, all done for the day.

It was a warm and windy morning as we back-tracked our couple miles to the tow-path. With the wind behind us our only resistance was the cinder trail grabbing more of our tire than the normal pavement.  So we sat back, pedaling enough to progress, and enjoyed the wind-assisted ride, the water and the changing of leaves.Interrupted this guy in the middle of his graffiti, not sure if he wanted to join us or if he was chasing us away from his masterpiece.

On our approach into Rochester, the canal split and the tow paths multiplied.  We choose the one away from the water, through a beautiful park, up and down three different bridges and miraculously on the right course.  Stopped early for lunch, taking advantage of the pretty stop and several choices of restaurants.  It was a rather lazy afternoon along the river and even the duckies seemed to be taking a siesta.Met Roxy and Linda from Alaska doing our same route, only faster.

About 2:30 we headed north away from our wonderful path.  Off course (to get to the only motel available) and we are immediately into rolling hills.  That was not the concern….out of the canopy of trees, we saw how the storm forecasted for this evening was growing…..fast!  We were hoping we could pump out the 12 miles necessary, but only managed one.  It started with a drop, two, three then a torrential downpour.  In the middle of nowhere with nowhere to go but forward, we pedaled hard against the driving rain.  We emerged from the rain a half hour later, a bit cleaner from our dusty path and cooled off from the earlier heat.  Still dripping when we pulled up to our motel, but after 72 miles, we did not care we were ready to be done.

Yesterday’s rain had cleared the sky from any hint of humidity and the strong north wind made the 60° feel quite cool.  It was a picture perfect, chamber of commerce, football weather, fall day.  Our first four miles was along a busy highway,then we headed north into the country.  Luckily the tall tree lined street shielded us from the winds full blast.  A few miles down, a bend in the road and we were in a small town looking at Lake Ontario. Pultneyville is a historic, patriotic and charming town.After biking the two blocks through the town, we were in the middle of apple orchards. Trees were bursting with fruit, the bins on the stand-by for the harvest. It did not take long for us to start the rolling hills and they did not stop.  Met Larry from Rochester doing a week long ride through the countryside.

An hour later, as we are flying down a hill after a long climb, this crazy lady in a van starts waving her arms at us.  We hesitantly braked on our much cherished fly down only to be surprised by Sheryl (in the middle, flanked by Hanna and Sue), a friend from the Brac.  Turns out we were only a couple miles away from where she and Gary lived; little did we know how brutal those couple miles of hills were.  It was a great two hour stop, and lunch (THANK YOU, you two), but we still had a lot of miles to cover. Gary, SO sorry we did not get a pic of you and Sheryl together. The minute we left, at 1:30, the hills started rolling and did not quit. The drops were great, but the climbs brutal.  We would have given up the drops to flatten out the climbs.  But the day was gorgeous; the temperatures had remained cool, the wind continued to blow in our face and apple orchards were everywhere.  It was taking everything we had to climb the hills, so had little energy/opportunity to take pictures; but Google was there to catch us!!The rolling hills were non-stop and steep.We were so exhausted by the time we rolled into our destination, we only managed a picture of the Oswego River; a branch of the Erie Canal that flows into Lake Ontario.  Finally checked into our hotel at 5:30; took us almost six and a half hours to go 61 miles and we were toast!

Seven o’clock was the earliest we had left in the last week or two, but we had a long day ahead and needed an early start.  This far west in the time zone, the sun was directly in our eyes (and the cars beside us) making it very difficult to see.  Just as well, since our first half an hour was a continuation of the brutal hills we faced yesterday afternoon.  Thankfully, the road turned, we gained a shoulder and the hills mellowed slightly.

Once we were able to see, we were able to enjoy the countrysideas well as the cool morning. The dew from the low 50’s temperatures hung heavy on the grass like frost.  Gone were the orchards from yesterday; the farmland, creeks and ponds remained.  Saw an abundance of fowl today,(yes, that is a white turkey)
including a Lions Club BBQthat we were a half an hour early for, as we biked through a town. It was another gorgeous day not without it’s interesting sights

and signs.Despite the tough hills that came one after another, we were thoroughly enjoying the ride.

We stopped along a lake for an early lunchthen continued out into the sunshine and hills.  We were starting to see the Adirondack at the top of each climb, beautiful creeks at the bottom of each drop, a few homes and pretty fields in between.  We had called this hotel, but they never answered the phone, luckily we did have a reservation at a real hotel.  A couple of hours rest after being on the seat for seven and a half hours, then dinner and strawberry/rhubarb pie.

St Thomas, Ontario to Boonville, New York

442 Miles

A cool 54° beautiful Sunday morning as we pedaled off at nine this morning. We enjoyed the first half mile of flat land through town before we started to climb.  We were still struggling through the extreme (14%) grades, but enjoying the cool morning and beautiful scenery, finally getting a chance to photograph the creeks and river, that made the climbing worth it.  The Moose River must have some high, raging waters to plant this tree on top of this rock. We were just discussing wine, when we passed a bottle tree (sorry, M.E. missed the photo) and this apropos flag.The first half the ride today we climbed and dropped step, yet slightly shorter, hills.  A turn in the course and the next ten miles we were on a busy highway. Though the noise was deafening after the peaceful countryside, we did enjoy relaxed grades and a tailwind, previously hidden in the colorful woods; and this road led us to town and lunch.  Our turn after lunch had us climbing the hillside filled with vacation homes (very realistic lawn ornaments, eh?)and lakefront cottages.These foothills rolled us past the Fulton Chain Lakesand deep forest treating us to cool shade and not a lot of steep grades

People getting the last few days in before school starts and booking everything around is really dictating our (shorter) distances through the Adirondack.  So at 40 miles we stopped at this nice motel, just walking distance from a 50 beers on tap restaurant.

Clouds hung low from the overnight showers, giving an entirely different cast to the stellar sixty degree morning. We had a five second drop from our motel, then the climbing of the Adirondack began. Up and down the hills, as we rode by numerous lakes

and cabins.with mountains looming in the background.Nestled in the trees, we only occasionally would feel the strong wind and enjoy the push.  We didn’t realize how moderate the hills were in the first 20 miles until we hit mile 21…..a straight up 14% grade climb. We only had a couple serious climbs, but a definite up and down all day, and lakes upon lakes. The clouds never did clear, but the overcast kept the day cool.

The only motel choices we had were at 35 and 70 miles.  But we’d reached the 35 mile point before lunch, stopped to eat and decided to go on.  There was a possible, yet questionable, place to stay at mile 50.  When we stopped for water and inquired about the last 25 miles, we decided we had best tackle it tomorrow.  Turns out lodging was a nice little cabin, full kitchen and nice view of the Hudson River.