Day 44 -- I ♥ NY!

August 3, 2004

ROUTE: Niagara Falls to Rochester, NY    
DISTANCE:  79 miles + 5-mile detour         
WINDS: Winds?

WEATHER: Heavy rain at ride start, turning to sunny humid day with temps in the high 80s  TERRAIN: Rolling       
TOTAL CLIMBING: 1,830 feet

RIDE OVERVIEW: New York, New York, I ♥ NY! It's a Dutch dandy of a beautiful state, and also just so happens to be the state I grew up in.  But, it is in the eastern time zone, and Mike claims he really starts to drag the last week of this ride every year.  He doesn't know if it's just from all the time we've spent out there already or just the time zone.Whatever it is, it's hard for Mike and many others to get going after the Niagara day off.  Someone quipped at the SS that the worst part about this last week of the ride is that we don't get any more rest days. Ha!  Yesterday, we didn't have time to do any sightseeing, but we were able to get laundry, shopping, and a departure route-check done before the 14 new riders came in for orientation and bike assembly. Their bios are well underway, but we're missing a photo or two, so check "Meet the Riders" in a day or so and meet those who opted to join the ride for the eastern leg.

If you've never been to Niagara Falls, you need to go. Even though it is touristy to the tenth, it is still a spectacular natural wonder.  It's a shame there is so much commercial building around the natural beauty the falls provide.  It's hard to describe the power the water generates as it tumbles down the last few meters before going over the drop.  And the colors of the water--and the intensity of the rainbows the spray creates--are ever changing. The water color varies from deepest emerald to deep teal to pale blue-green laced with foam to every shade of blue, even navy.  I don't think I'd ever tire of watching the water.  The photo to the right is of the American Falls from Goat Island looking north toward Rainbow Bridge.

I think the riders enjoyed their day off in Niagara. Our motel was a 10 on a scale of 10 and was located within easy walking distance to the falls.  If there was anything negative about the motel, it was the fact that it was a highrise with only elevator access to the ground floors.  This made getting luggage and bikes to the rooms and getting everything back down for loading this morning a challenge. But it was worth it to be able to spend the two days conveniently located within sight of all the touristy things to do.  We had only to walk across the street to get to Niagara Reservation Park, Goat Island, the American and Horseshoe Falls, the Wax Museum, and the balloon ride.

The sky was black and menacing as we loaded at 6:15 for a 6:30 breakfast at Denny's down the street. During breakfast, both Mike and Barbara reported to me that the three new riders from Pennsylvania had left after load and without breakfast. Then I heard that several others were on the road already. So, I gobbled breakfast and set out in White to find the head of the line. Right about that time the rain she rained . . . buckets and buckets, with lightning but no appreciable thunder. Went out 8 miles, 12 miles, 16 miles and found only Russ & Ian taking shelter under a bridge. So retraced the route, looking more carefully in places riders could have tucked up during the downpour. Finally, at about mile 12, I found the Hammer & His Nails, and two of the new women, helping Bob repair a flat.(Such help consisted of a lot of standing around talking to each other while Bob worked on the flat).

It stopped raining about 8:30 a.m.  Actually, if it hadn't rained today, I don't think anyone would have noticed.  You could have cut the air with a knife all day, and I think it's going to be that way until we get to the beach. On the good side, the cloudy conditions keep the temperatures down somewhat, though it was one of those days where even breathing brings on a sweat. On the bad side, the dew points are the same as the temperatures...MUGGY, STICKY... and HOT!

NY cabbages on the way to market

To those who have never been to New York, it is not New York City as the common misconception holds it to be. The terrain is mostly forest or farmland, with lots of dairy farms and crop farms today growing corn, cabbages, and sod. I set up the SS at mile 40 or so at an intersection remarkable only for its rolling fields in all directions. One of the farms in the distance was a truck farm growing cabbages.  Flatbed semis laden with huge boxes of cabbages pulled through the intersection like clockwork (right).  One driver, called out and asked if we'd like any coleslaw to go with our snacks. Thank you Buffalo Barbara for the delicious banana bread for the SS.  I saved a piece for Lynn and one for Mike. Mark wants your recipe!

Just outside of Henrietta we came upon our usual construction and detour. Josh and I marked the road, and the riders were instructed to follow the detour.  Luckily this one was pretty straightforward.  We could see we had to take the published detour and it was an easy one, but it did add about 5 miles to the day . . . for some. Others opted to walk directly through the construction area. Then, when we got to our motel--which is off a 4-lane highway--the two lanes on the motel side of the road were under construction and workers were putting in a curb--which made it tricky for the cyclists and darned near impossible for Box and the vans to get to the motel. But, with some creative driving, i.e., slaloming around some orange cones and driving through a barricade, we managed to get the vehicles into the motel parking lot.  Even then, Barb had to be very careful because the entrance drive-thru was too low for Box.

Tomorrow we ride to Syracuse, and riders will be routed along the Erie Canal for most of the morning.  I am riding (yippee!) and I know I will have a super but nostalgic day.  Tune in tomorrow and see if we remain dry.

HEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:  
"I'd never heard (herd?) a mad cow before." [As Jim gave his feedlot bellow on reaching the SS]  "Yes, he ate a whole pound of bacon and followed it with a Lipator chaser." [Carrie Ann on Ted's breakfast]   
"Raindrops keep falling on my head."  
"Guess he was hungry for Teddyloin." [Ted on the dog who tried to take a piece out of his leg.]

DUH! OF THE DAY:  Goes to Carrie-Ann, who rode in White with me to the first SS. I was looking for the head of the line, and Carrie-Ann remarked: "They're either ahead of you or behind you."  Well, DUH!

PHOTOS OF THE DAY:

Where bicycles go to die...This collection of bicycles (and more,
plus some old lawnmowers just out of the frame to the left)
was just across the road from where Bob was fixing his flat.
In a real pinch he could have cannibalized some parts or
maybe even a makeshift tire.

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line...Some,
opted to walk the construction area rather than ride the detour

The cuzzes, Jesse and Adrian, relaxing in style in Niagara  before the soggy start
of the ride to Rochester. "Can we stay here?  Can we ride in the box?"

Mike and Karen crest a hill on the route from Niagara to Rochester.

You can always tell when Mike has dawdling time and
his camera... Lynn and Karen framed by Mike's right leg.

Jesse, Jay & Rebecca on their tandem, Gerard on his recumbent,
and Julie and Steve ride the route together. Julie is all that is left of Team E. 
Lynn was slowed by a flat and Liisa set back by two flats.