Erie canal trail

By day light I was on the road headed for Buffalo. I had got up real early and was packed and ready by 6:30. It was already very humid and I knew I would have very little shade on my route today.

I had my first flat this morning. I carry several tubes so it wasn’t a big deal. It even went flat at a perfect place right near a shady little park. I switched tubes and ill patch the punctured one tonight in camp. Patches don’t have a very high success rate for me. So I like to patch them and test them then use the patched one the next time I get a flat. Tone honest I can’t believe this is my first for the trip. You wouldn’t believe the nails and glass I run over all the time.

As I got closer to Buffalo I stopped to eat a snack and enjoy lake Erie for the last time.

Once inside the city limits traffic started getting heavy. I was still on rte 5 so I started looking for a better route. Then I found a pretty new bike trail right along the water. I decided to take it even though my GPS kept trying to route me off of it. As long as I kept the lake on my left then I had nothing to worry about. So I turned of navigation and stayed on the path. It ended in the water. There was 4 or 5 other cyclist sitting on benches in the shade so I joined them. Before I could make a fool of myself by complaining that the trail should of said dead end I saw a sign. Water taxi to Canalside. I then realized all the other cyclist were waiting on the ferry. Tickets were $1 dollar. Not bad but it was only about a hundred yards to the other side. The Captain started asking about my trip and then every one had a question. I felt like a celebrity! The Captain and First Mate were great at there jobs and made every one feel comfortable. All too soon the brief ride was over and it was back into the sun for me.

Somewhere along the way I resupplied at an Aldi’s. Within the first 30 feet of entering the store my arms were already full. I put everything back but still refused the urge to get a cart. If I can’t carry it all easily how will it fit on my bike? After putting everything back, I forced myself to walk through the whole store before picking anything up. I was hungry and everything looked delicious. Also for some reason I felt very festive. Im not sure if it was from the awesome tailwind or because it was my friend Robb’s birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBB. I ended up spending 27 dollars. A good portion of that was on stuff that was ready to eat. Sitting on the curb on the shady side of the building I ate a container of olives, a container of hummus with pita bread a container of 3 bean salad a bag of frozen broccoli also dipped in hummus a banana 2 yogurts and a little container of potato salad. I did get rice pasta sides and some granola bars for regular food too. Dinner was excellent and in case your wondering the brocoli was mostly thawed by the time I ate it.

I’m on the Erie Canal Trail now . Its a well maintained gravel trail that stretches across the state from Buffalo to Albany. Like the other trails its full of history and unique equipment and sights. Like this old swing bridge. I cant decide which would be harder to build a draw bridge or a swing bridge.