61.5 mi
4.18.17 st
14.2 avg
TTD-2979.40
Well, this was a most interesting day. Notice I didn’t say most fun. Interesting and trying.
1) It started out quite pleasantly with a 7:40 departure in semi-cool weather and light cloud cover.
1) It started out quite pleasantly with a 7:40 departure in semi-cool weather and light cloud cover.
We enjoyed the no-traffic ride up the Niagara Parkway, following the AC map and instructions. The map addendum sheet said to follow the westbound instructions in reverse, which was of absolutely no help because of the construction taking place in the customs area.We rode to the end of the parkway, made a left around a traffic circle and headed up the road. After about a mile, we realized this was not where we needed to be so turned around and stopped to ask the policeman that we had passed at the side of the road a quarter mile back. When he finished with the ticket he was giving, he made some calls for us, then he drove back down the road to the traffic circle to check things out for us. When he came back, he explained exactly what we needed to do. He was very helpful and friendly.
We rode back to the traffic circle and made a right through an opening in the chain link fence onto a temporary entrance to the customs area. It’s no wonder we missed it the first time we rode by. We would’ve missed it again this time if we hadn’t seen the sign directing "Bicyclists to US" to stop at the toll booth. We made our way through the parking, around the building – still following cyclist signs – and stopped. A gentleman came out and instructed us to go through the opening in the concrete barrier that said “Do not enter” and get in the customs lane for autos. Sheesh, the map directions weren’t even close to this.
When we went through the booth, she took our passports, scanned them, asked us how long we were in Canada and wished us a good day. Well, that part was easy.
2) Coming away from the toll booth, we were to take a right on the ramp which Gerry started to do. But I thought it was the ramp onto the freeway so we stopped to make sure. He was right and we rode down the ramp and around onto the correct road.
3) A couple miles on Upper Mountain Road, we were supposed to bear right at the Y, but we missed that one because the road wasn’t signed. Going on through, we ended up on hwy 104 heading northeast instead of east. At the first road going off to the right, we turned and made our way back to Upper Mountain Road. Between this wrong turn and the mess back at the customs area, we managed to add about six miles to the day. Our punishment was the hill climbing back up to Upper Mountain Road.
4) We rode without incident through Pekin into Lockport and followed the instructions for getting on the Erie Canalway Trail. The map said to turn left on Cottage, but the street sign said Cottage going one way and Church the other. We turned left like it said. Then it said to turn right onto Richmond; Richmond wasn’t signed. We managed to figure that out within a block and made our way back to the service road we were supposed to go down. Before we went down that, we saw a sign at the bottom that the Trail was closed. Instead of riding down, Gerry walked to the building at the bottom to find out what the trail status was. The man said that the trail was washed out for only a short way and explained how to get around it, and gave us a map of the trail.
We followed his instructions and got on the trail at the end of Upson Park and rode it for only a short distance before deciding to get off and ride hwy 31. The trail is not paved; it’s a packed smooth sand/gravel which is okay for fat tires but not our road tires and the weight we’re pulling. It's a shame because it would be about 90 miles of traffic-free riding.
Highwy 31 is also the New York Bike Route 5 which runs from Massachusetts to Niagara Falls. It has a nice 6-8’ shoulder and the traffic is courteous so far. We rolled along through Gasport and Middleport into Medina.
We went a couple blocks past our turn (intentionally this time!) in Medina to take a look at the canal and take a picture. While standing on the bridge, we saw a bicyclist coming up the Canalway Trail.
When he came close to us, I called out to him. He stopped and came up to the bridge with his map and we talked for 10 minutes. When we had stopped at the light at Cottage, he was standing on the corner and asked us if we were going on the trail. We said “yes” and he said he’d probably see us later, and now here he was. His name is Bob, he’s probably about 60, lives in Williamsburg, PA and is riding to Albany. This fall he’s going to fly to San Diego and ride the AC southern tier to Florida.
We had about 12 miles to go to Albion and the clouds were closing in on us. When we had stopped at a grocery store in Middleport, a lady said that we should be okay because all the severe thunderstorm warnings were for south of here. Even though they were getting closer and darker, they skirted us to the north.
We raced into Albion past the Dollinger motel and watched for Main street where the other Dollinger motel was located. We saw it just off to the right and pulled into the lot. When we got up to the office door, there was a sign that said to check in at the other motel – the one we had passed a half mile back. Gerry made a call to that office and also to the library. Then it started to rain, so we just waited it out under the protection of the overhang.
Fifteen minutes later we decided to head back to the other place before another cloudburst came. The roads were all wet so we ended up getting wet after all.
We rode back to the traffic circle and made a right through an opening in the chain link fence onto a temporary entrance to the customs area. It’s no wonder we missed it the first time we rode by. We would’ve missed it again this time if we hadn’t seen the sign directing "Bicyclists to US" to stop at the toll booth. We made our way through the parking, around the building – still following cyclist signs – and stopped. A gentleman came out and instructed us to go through the opening in the concrete barrier that said “Do not enter” and get in the customs lane for autos. Sheesh, the map directions weren’t even close to this.
When we went through the booth, she took our passports, scanned them, asked us how long we were in Canada and wished us a good day. Well, that part was easy.2) Coming away from the toll booth, we were to take a right on the ramp which Gerry started to do. But I thought it was the ramp onto the freeway so we stopped to make sure. He was right and we rode down the ramp and around onto the correct road.
3) A couple miles on Upper Mountain Road, we were supposed to bear right at the Y, but we missed that one because the road wasn’t signed. Going on through, we ended up on hwy 104 heading northeast instead of east. At the first road going off to the right, we turned and made our way back to Upper Mountain Road. Between this wrong turn and the mess back at the customs area, we managed to add about six miles to the day. Our punishment was the hill climbing back up to Upper Mountain Road.
4) We rode without incident through Pekin into Lockport and followed the instructions for getting on the Erie Canalway Trail. The map said to turn left on Cottage, but the street sign said Cottage going one way and Church the other. We turned left like it said. Then it said to turn right onto Richmond; Richmond wasn’t signed. We managed to figure that out within a block and made our way back to the service road we were supposed to go down. Before we went down that, we saw a sign at the bottom that the Trail was closed. Instead of riding down, Gerry walked to the building at the bottom to find out what the trail status was. The man said that the trail was washed out for only a short way and explained how to get around it, and gave us a map of the trail.
We followed his instructions and got on the trail at the end of Upson Park and rode it for only a short distance before deciding to get off and ride hwy 31. The trail is not paved; it’s a packed smooth sand/gravel which is okay for fat tires but not our road tires and the weight we’re pulling. It's a shame because it would be about 90 miles of traffic-free riding.Highwy 31 is also the New York Bike Route 5 which runs from Massachusetts to Niagara Falls. It has a nice 6-8’ shoulder and the traffic is courteous so far. We rolled along through Gasport and Middleport into Medina.We went a couple blocks past our turn (intentionally this time!) in Medina to take a look at the canal and take a picture. While standing on the bridge, we saw a bicyclist coming up the Canalway Trail.
When he came close to us, I called out to him. He stopped and came up to the bridge with his map and we talked for 10 minutes. When we had stopped at the light at Cottage, he was standing on the corner and asked us if we were going on the trail. We said “yes” and he said he’d probably see us later, and now here he was. His name is Bob, he’s probably about 60, lives in Williamsburg, PA and is riding to Albany. This fall he’s going to fly to San Diego and ride the AC southern tier to Florida.We had about 12 miles to go to Albion and the clouds were closing in on us. When we had stopped at a grocery store in Middleport, a lady said that we should be okay because all the severe thunderstorm warnings were for south of here. Even though they were getting closer and darker, they skirted us to the north.
We raced into Albion past the Dollinger motel and watched for Main street where the other Dollinger motel was located. We saw it just off to the right and pulled into the lot. When we got up to the office door, there was a sign that said to check in at the other motel – the one we had passed a half mile back. Gerry made a call to that office and also to the library. Then it started to rain, so we just waited it out under the protection of the overhang.
Fifteen minutes later we decided to head back to the other place before another cloudburst came. The roads were all wet so we ended up getting wet after all.
We struggled a couple times during the day, but when we made it to Albion safely and without getting rained on, we considered that answered prayer and were thankful for God’s graciousness. We were also thankful for the coolness of the day; we haven't ridden in a day this cool since.....North Dakota..?
Pushing on in His strength,
After a shower (which makes a new person of me every day), we walked the mile back to the library for blogging. It's in an old building with beautiful interior wood and is very quaint. I love it. 
And the ladies here are about the nicest and friendliest we've met! One of them contacted the local newspaper and within a few minutes Gerry was doing a phone interview with Nicole. It still blows me away that anyone besides us would find this that interesting ;o). If you want to read it, she said to go to http://www.journal-register.com/ . I'm not sure when it will publish.
And the ladies here are about the nicest and friendliest we've met! One of them contacted the local newspaper and within a few minutes Gerry was doing a phone interview with Nicole. It still blows me away that anyone besides us would find this that interesting ;o). If you want to read it, she said to go to http://www.journal-register.com/ . I'm not sure when it will publish.We walked past some interesting churches on the way to the library.
Pushing on in His strength,Gerry and Pat
1 comment:
Way to go guys! Enjoy the last miles. I am sure you are ready for this to be over, but savor it. Enjoy the journey and what He has for you.
Niagara is beautiful. I am glad you still got to see it.
I hope your next leg is enjoyable.
Love, Nancy
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