Whoa! I rode next to the Erie Canal for 57 miles between Rochester and Lockport on a crushed stone path into a 15 mph headwind with gusts much higher. Dan S. had commented on the tunnel of trees yesterday, but there were no such trees today. What I thought would be a really great scenic ride wasn’t like that at all, it was mile after mile with the Canal on my left, the wind in my face, and the sun on my head. By the time I got to Lockport, I was mentally drained from the mind games I had to play to keep going. The hardest part was the pace — there was just no way to get any speed going on such a flat, slow surface, straight into the wind.
My Garmin was flashing warnings at me as I rode. I was getting Heat Advisory and Strong Wind Warning messages the whole day. But after I stopped for lunch at Scripts Cafe in Lockport, I also started getting Squall Warning, Tornado Warning, Thunderstorm Watch, and even a Marine Advisory. I could see the nasty sky to the North and I was right on the edge of it. I was actually hoping it would rain on me to cool me off, but it never did.
The Erie Canal continued after Lockport, but I had had enough; I decided it was time to take the main roads. Mike met me in Lockport and I dumped my Osprey backpack in the truck, reloaded my water bottles and hoped I had enough to finish the final 26 miles. The wind wasn’t any better, but the monotony of the Canal and Trailway were gone.
It was a fun start to the day! Mike rode with me for the 1st 25 miles before he had to turn around. It took us 2:15 to get to the this turn around point, where I snapped a picture of Mike. We were able to ride next to each other and chat nearly the whole time as there were just a few other bikers or runners. I was totally jealous when he got to go back with a tailwind, but it wasn’t all peaches and cream for him either — he still had the high heat, swirling winds, and his longest ride of the trip.
As I rode near the town of Medina, I glanced to my right and noticed a road heading directly into the canal. I had to stop and take a look. I figured it must be a dead-end, but no, it actually went under the Erie Canal. I had been wondering how deep the Canal was, and now I know it wasn’t very deep. This road appeared to be 30 feet below the path I was on, but I don’t know the exact numbers. Later on, I was shocked to see a creek flowing underneath the Canal. I have that on video so I hope to share that as well.
I love these signs!!! I stop and take a picture any time one shows up. I also noticed the nice trees and sat down for 15 minutes at a picnic table in the shade. That’s never wise to sit very long — especially when Mike and the truck are a phone call away :-). But I did get up and keep going.
This picture is the path as you approach Lockport. I saw some other mechanisms that looked like they could regulate water flow, but this was the only lock that I saw.
After 83 miles on the bike for me and 50 on the bike for Mike, we checked into our cabin at the KOA on Grand Island, got dinner at the BrickOven Pizzeria and Pub, and then went to Niagara Falls. This view is from the observation deck on the American side. The American Falls are on the left and the Canadian (Horseshoe Falls) is upper right. We stood on the deck for a long time with a nice cool breeze and great views. It was hard to leave.
I typically do a post after each ride, but with the 9 hours of riding and sight seeing, I got back to the cabin about 8pm and went to bed. I was whooped.
Good to see you are up and pedaling. I was getting worried about you. You are on the backstretch now.
Thanks for the text to check on me too! The last couple of days were a whirlwind!
You’re probably making good decisions Denny. Stick with it!
I’m pretty sure even God rested once a week. 🏄♂️
Thanks Dan! Day 20 became a rest day, so that was good. I went riding today and felt brand new 🙂 Well, maybe not BRAND new, but you know what I mean.
Sounds like a brutal day. Can totally relate to playing head game to keep focused and going. Happy Fathers Day!
Thanks Dave — Happy Father’s Day to you!!! Head games — right? Sometimes it’s all you can do to fight through the urge to give up.
Hang in there buddy. I’m enjoying the posts.
Thanks Frank! I left a little on the table for next time, but I had a blast. Glad you enjoyed the posts — I have a couple more to do.
Very cool story (sorry about the tough day). The Ohio and Erie Canal towpath passed just about 2 miles from the house I grew up in Barberton, Ohio. The river it traversed near us was the Tuscarawus. I wonder how many miles these types of towpaths were across all of the states to get to the Great Lakes and eventually the ocean.
That’s a great question and I don’t know the answer. I remember tidbits of some of this information from different history classes or articles, but it was really cool to spend a couple of weeks seeing some of it in person at bike riding pace. I’m fascinated by what the early Americans tackled to constantly forge a better life style.