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.