Manhattan.

We biked today from Ridgewood New Jersey to the George Washington Bridge,

across, and then down the West Side of Manhattan (Riverside Park) all the way to Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan. Mike and I had both been there before, but it was the first time we had done it by bike - so there was really no biking in Manhattan on streets, and Riverside Park is beautiful with views across the Hudson the whole way. I had terrible shin splints in my left leg on the way back to Ridgewood, and frankly, I'm glad that we have made it and that I don't have days still to go! It was another 107 km today, for a total of 1129 for me, and 1200 for Mike. But, I remember it well from teaching - you would work and work until a holiday - and then get sick because you were suddenly free and had the time to be sick. I think that is a bit the same. We travelled everyday for 9 days, and then took a well-deserved break yesterday - today, getting on the bike, just didn't feel as good. I guess my body had decided that I had arrived!!! My sister is working at a camp in the Poconos for the summer, and suggested that we bike up there - I don't know if I could do it ... but of course I know I could if it were part of the trip - even long hills don't seem all that daunting anymore. The weather in NYC today was beautiful (maybe a little warm) and it is supposed to be beautiful all week. Mike and I will go in (BY TRAIN) for a couple of days, and Patrice is expected this weekend to pick us up and drive us back to Toronto.

So we have now done everything that we expected to do. It has been an amazing trip - and of course, I will be full of stories when I get back (so that you will all have to ask me to shut up). Mike is thinking of where we should go next. I'm thinking of sleeping .....

Thanks for reading!
Paul

Day 9 - Success! Ridgewood New Jersey

Hi all - thanks for the support that a number of you offered via email and phone. It was greatly appreciated. After 100km today and some TORRENTIAL rains, we arrived at my sister's house in Ridgewood. We still have to bike into NYC, but we don't have to do that tomorrow, we can do it later in the week - waiting for good weather. But that is easy meat - we won't have to carry the packs or anything else. I will update the blog with pics of Mike and I in Central Park, and on the Staten Island Ferry when we get there.

Stats: 1022 km in 9 days (for me) ... Mike: 1100 km in 10 days
Average speed 22.7km/hr (the hills were really difficult for the last couple of days)

Next update during the week! Thanks again! Paul

Day 8 Poughkeepsie NY

143 km from Albany. It was a long day. We got a late start - Mike could not true his wheels because his tire developed a fault (a bulge). He thought it was fixed, but 150m on the road and the wobble was back. We had to return to the bike store where we bought the brakes yesterday. They only opened at 10 am so we had time for a capuccino and the weather was perfect so we sat outside. We met an Irish expat biker named John who gave us great advice about getting over the Hudson and joining the 9J highway. We took his advice and accidentally found the 9 bike route we were looking for. So, if we had not got stuck in Albany we would have had bike problems in the middle of nowhere and we would have missed the route. The 9 was hilly and the wind was against us so we were a bit slower than usual. But the views over the Hudson were beautiful with the Catskills in the distance. The towns along the route were really nice and we normally miss them. We had lunch in the town Hudson, and then had trouble finding a hotel in Rhinebeck so we ended up in Poughkeepsie. Now dinner at the Coyote Grill. The pics are both taken on the bridge over the Hudson. Tomorrow: Ridgewood???
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Day 7 Albany (RAIN)

We were planning to follow bike route 5 to bike route 9 south and make it to Coxsackie (we even booked a hotel there, clearly tempting fate). We missed the 5 and followed the very beautiful Erie canal path. This would have felt better if it had not been raining (sewer backups and flooding). It also turned out to be quite a bit further and so we did 90 km but only made it to Albany. More ironically, we had to travel 7 km BACK on the 5 which we stumbled across. We had to get across Albany to get to the hotel. Everything is ok. I got short tempered but Mike was as always in a good mood. Neither of us had an accident. The bikes are in good shape (Mike is truing a wheel and had to replace his break pads. I think he is happy in a hotel room tinkering... My mood is better but likely we will not reach Ridgewood until Monday.
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Day 6 Amsterdam NY

Beautiful weather and we did 143 km along the canal (on the road). We have now done 688 km in 6 days. The views today were beautiful but to get there we had 2 huge hills with climbs (in granny gear as Mike says) of more than a mile (but of course there were downs to enjoy). Tomorrow we will pass Albany and begin heading south along the Hudson. We passed the thruway probably at least 6 times. So our route was a little longer than the thruway again. Tomorrow it is supposed to rain, but today was summer with peaches and cherries - it doesn't get any better. The second pic is garlic drying at the farm.
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Day 5 Verona NY

Wow!!! Mike's daily odometer stopped (due to rain) at 142km, we did 152 in total - that's almost 100 miles. I have now done 545 km in 5 days. Today was on bike route 5 all day along highway 31 so we could go a little faster. Wide shoulder and safe. We will pick up the canal path near Utica again. These routes are much longer than the thruway which we keep crossing and so we think our total distance might be 1200km so not quite half way. The picture is of a prefab diner (with terrible coffee) where we ate breakfast. Mike looked up their history online. We did pass the suburbs of Syracuse, and the Great North Mall, but no hotels at the right distance. Rain started about 1pm, but only got heavy below Oneida lake at 3:30. No hotels between Bridgeport and Verona - a distance of more than 40 km. Is there a theme here??? I am a little tired, but Mike remains strong. The GPS has been great to find hotels along the way.
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Day 4 Newark NY, (wrong Newark)

Another 115 km today. Mike is a machine, but I still feel good. The last 15 each day are tough. Today was totally on the tow path of the Erie canal - no cars, no problems, lovely scenery and wonderful little towns. We were a little worried about biking through Rochester, but it was all paved bike path and we didn't have to enter the town at all. A lot like the Don trail in Toronto. We knew we should be able to get to NYC on trails, but I am surprised it is working! We ran into Harvey, the author of our bike book along the Erie canal which he offered to sign. Turned out it was the wrong book or he was just the wrong guy. He flagged us down. I think he was just desperate for company since everything he told us about the trail was wrong. We are probably lucky not to be using his book. Lunch at the Jewish Community Centre of Rochester, it was on the trail. Had to convince Mike not to buy a souvenir t-shirt of the cafe at the JCC which is apparently the best place in Rochester to eat. Tuna (Mike) Chicken salad (me). We are doing great! Now off to swim n the hotel pool.
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Day 3 Albion NY

It was 117 km today from NIagara on the Lake to Albion. We had good weather the whole way. We wanted to cross at Lewiston but could not figure out how. Instead we biked down to the rainbow bridge and crossed as if we were a car and waited in line. Nobody found this strange. The bike route in NY is perfect - wide shoulders and easy. We also followed the tow path of the Erie canal for about 30km. It is crushed gravel bit easy to do. With the wind behind us we were often going very fast. To go into the wind would be hellish, but this was great. the Erie canal is strangely empty - no boats and no bikes, but the trail is in great shape its whole length and the towns like Lockport are attractive. I'm tired but not sore or discouraged.
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Forgot to mention

I was too tired for a swim last night, but Mike got to meet the Glen Livet Girls in the hot tub at the Best Western! They were working at the scotch tent at the Canadian Open. Apparently very busy due to the weather.
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Day 2 Niagara-on-the-Lake

Today was completely perfect. No mechanical trouble, great weather (mix of sun and cloud - no rain) and much of the trail was by the waterside with amazing views of what looked like storms again today over toronto. I have done about 160km in the 2 days. Mike has done somewhat more starting at home. It is a long way to go to be only 50km from home across the lake. Our average speed is about 23km/h, the packs do not slow us down at all.
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Day 1 at the hotel

So I have safely made it to the far side of Burlington. The rain was unbelieveable and lightning, but the drive went well. Are bikes safe in lightning. Thanks very much to Denver and Sen who sat through the tire trouble. It turns out that if the tire is under inflated it breaks easily especially with the added weight. New inner tubes and proper inflation might have been enough, but I bought new kevlar tires along with new inner tubes and broke the bank. After that no problem. The kevlar tires are strong apparently. So first day done and all is well. I feel good and clothes are in the dryer. The raincoats on the paniers worked well.
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First day

I am currently stuck in oakville with my seconde flat tire. I do not think that my wheels are strong enough for the added weight. I have called a taxi to take me to a bike store. I am hoping that they can make a suggestion. Fortunately a couple of friends joined me for this part of the trip and can wait with me - and the rain has held off.
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Welcome to my Trip

I will update this blog with pictures and stories of my trip to New York City by bicycle. I'm leaving on July 25th, and I'm hoping that somehow the weather becomes completely different in the next 10 days! Thanks for checking out the trip - I will try to remember to do daily updates.