Biking Dude Blog

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!

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.

I traveled about 35.9 miles today.

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!

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 49 miles today.

This is my bike ride today. Great path along the Erie canal all the way to Rochester

One of the old locks along the Erie canal

This is Matt and Daniel from firehouse brewery/distillery in Ovid NY. Really cool place that used to be a firehouse until the trucks started getting too big for it. Now they brew beer and make firehouse vodka in the old building. I stopped by yesterday around noon or one o'clock. Matt was kind enough to buy me a beer and give me a few snack bars before biking with me for a few miles on my way out of town. A very fun, spur of the moment kind of guy. Got an extra label from their vodka to put on my bike. Thanks guys!

Didn't get a chance to write much last night, so here are the updates from yesterday. This is Erica, we met at the brewery in Binghamton. She, being an adventurous soul, biked with me for ten or so miles yesterday as I was heading from Ithaca to Geneva. Great to meet you Erica!