Biking Dude Blog

I traveled about 49 miles today.

This is Mark, from Lock 32 brewing in Pittsford. I stopped by yesterday on my way into Rochester, and he was kind enough to pour me a beer on the house (thanks Mark!). We talked a lot about my trip and brewing. They had a wit beer that was particularly tasty. I also met Richard, who works at a nearby bike shop, and is planning a southern cross country trip for later this summer. Good luck Richard! I took a rest day today in Rochester, which was very nice. I stayed with Eric, Rachel, and Abby, a very nice family that I met through the Olin college network. They've done several bike tours themselves, and were very gracious to let me stay with them for two nights. Tomorrow I will be heading to Lockport, and to Niagara falls the next day. I've come so far in a week, but this trip is only just beginning.

I traveled about 72.4 miles today.
Long ride along the Erie canal today from Rochester to Lockport. Mostly gravel trail, but very flat. Still made good time, but my bike got dusty, so I cleaned it off this evening and adjusted the brakes a little.
I really can't say enough nice things about Eric, Rachel, and Abby (who I stayed with in Rochester). They were so kind to let me stay with them, and I really hope to keep in touch with them in the future. Good luck on the D.C./Pittsburgh!
Tonight I'm staying in Lockport with Nancy. Though she doesn't bike, Nancy opens up her home to many, many cyclists in the warm showers network who are on their way to Niagara Falls. She gave me a little tour of the intricate lock system along the Erie canal (the town is called Lockport for a reason), which was absolutely fascinating. The picture is me standing in front of a working recreation of an original wooden lock gate. Each door of the gate is made of white oak and weighs 5 tons. The railing in the right of the picture is the original railing, and there are deep grooves worn in it and in some of the stone blocks from barge ropes being passed over and pulled on.
Niagara falls tomorrow!

I traveled about 35.9 miles today.

Yesterday was absolutely great. Got up early and booked it over to the Niagara river from Lockport (about 20-25 miles). My first stop was the little park overlooking the 'whirlpool' just downriver of the falls. I got there a little before all the tour buses started arriving, so I spent some time there just taking it in. Next, biked upriver to the American side hiking trails and walked those trails down to the river. After I was done exploring the American side, I crossed the rainbow bridge without incident. Luckily, there was not much traffic at 11am on a Thursday. Dropped some stuff off with Les and Peggy (more on them later), then headed back downriver to do some Canadian side hiking (very fun, very good trails), then back up to finally see the falls. I did take a few pictures of the falls, but I spent a lot of time just looking at them and soaking it in (literally, at one point near the horseshoe falls). I'll put one in this post, but pictures come nowhere close to capturing the primal power and beauty of these waterfalls, it's something that had to be experienced and remembered. And it's not just the falls, the entire river and the surrounding parks are great. Back to biking, will post more later.

Les and Peg are friends with Ed, who I stayed with in Delhi NY. They were really great to stay with, and gave me lots of advice about where to hike and bike in the area. They make their own wind and sausage, so I got to try some when we were hanging out in the evening after I had visited the falls. Very good stuff. I had so much fun staying with these wonderful folks, even though we did stay up way too late talking and listening to the falls. Thanks so much Les and Peg!

I traveled about 70 miles today.
Biked from Niagara falls to Dunnville today. It was a really nice ride along the Niagara river and lake Erie, though the wind was a bit strong. Staying with Julia and Nancy tonight, sisters week live near the door of land Erie. Another great warm showers host, I talked with Julia at length about brewing beer.

I traveled about 71 miles today.
Great ride today. Started going along lake Erie to port dover, then took some rail trails through simcoe and Delhi to Tillsonburg. Great variety and quality of scenery. There was Goff over they lake this morning so you could tell where the water ended and the sky began. Lots of wildflowers in bloom along the trails. I met Remi this morning. He was cycling along the same route as me to meet some friends at long point to go camping. We chatted on the side of the road for a while, very friendly guy. Hi Remi, if you're reading this (and sorry for misspelling your name). I also stopped at a brewery in Ni between simcoe and Delhi. They had some really great Belgian beers. I met Brian, Joe, and Simon there, and talked about my trip and the agriculture of the region. Hi guys, hope all is well. I stayed with Itzik tonight. His house is full with kids home from college, so I'm camping out in his yard. Very cool guy, made a great dinner (first time I've ever liked eating zucchini). He maintains tools for a machine shop, so we talked a lot about engineering and machining. Big day tomorrow, going ask the way to Chatham, about 90 miles depending on my route.

I traveled about 110.8 miles today.
Finally broke into the triple digits, and not just by a little. For my Canadian friend reading this, that's about 175 km. But I made it, all the way from Tillsonburg to Chatham. I woke up at first light and was on the road by 6:40 this morning. I battled dirt roads, head wind, and incomplete maps before finally arriving at home base with Simon and his family in Chatham around 4:15. I had salt crystals stuck on the sides of my head from the wind drying out my sweat all day. Special thanks to Emma and Rick (I think, sorry, it's been a long day) who offered me water when I was stopped in front of their house checking directions, and then offered me some local knowledge to improve my route. I'll be back in the states tomorrow, crossing via ferry at Marine City before heading to Capac. Au Revoir Canada, it has been a wonderful little visit.

I traveled about 72 miles today.
If I had a ferry, I'd go out on the river. And if I had a bicycle, I'd ride it on my ferry. Any Lyle Lovett fans out there? Took the blue water ferry across the st Catharine river today, bringing me back to the USA ruby in the middle of memorial day. In fact, as I was riding up to the ferry in Sombra, some one in marine city slot off an actual canon. That sure made me jump! Met up with Joe and his family (Joe is the brother of the dad of a guy I was in boy scouts with) in St Catharines for lunch before moving onwards to my stop in capac. My host, Lorrie, is absolutely wonderful, and showed me around her little farm (she has a peacock!). Tired tonight, but doing well. I've been scrambling a bit to find places to stay across Michigan, but I think I have things under control now, at least for the next few days.