Thanks

Thanks to everybody who helped me be successful on this trip:

•  To my best friend in the world (and also my wife), Marcia, thanks for being you and always taking good care of me.
• To Tricia at World Gym, thanks for pushing me in spinning and getting me flexible in yoga. Without those classes I would never have tried this. I was one out-of-shape retiree in January 2012.
• To my daughter, Katie, who encouraged me to do this blog
• To my daughter Anna, who shared her encouragement from afar.
• To Sal Page, who put up with me and got me back home again
• To everybody who commented on my posts, as inane as they sometimes seemed to me.
• To the ride organizers, the SAGs, and all the volunteers, I salute you.
• To the people I met, I hope our paths will cross again someday.

Post-Ride Decompression

It's great to be home, but at the same time, I'm kind of sad. 

I've read that soldiers feel glad to be home, but can actually miss the exhilaration of being on a mission. I guess I was on a mission, too.

I just realized that after a couple days, I found my rhythm and and embraced the structure of early up, pack it up, eat and ride, grab your bags, set it up, get a shower and eat... sleep!

Then do it all over again.

The sights were great. The organization of the ride was terrific. I met some good people. 

I hope I get to see some of them again.

I learned about a world of bike rides that I never knew existed.

I liked it. 

I think I'll do this again.

Tom

Pedal Easy - A Song for the Canal

Pedal Easy
by Tom Nemmer (with apologies)

To the tune of "Take it Easy" 

by the Eagles 

Well, I've been cruisin' down the trail

Over rocks and broken shale

I got one tube in my bag

If I get a major puncture

At this upcoming juncture

I'm gonna have to call the SAG

Chorus:

Pedal easy, Pedal easy

Don't let the riders on your left, drive you crazy

You will lose if you go fast

So many sights you will have past

So clip 'em in and just relax

And pedal easy

Well I been pedaling all day

Eatin' dust and dirty clay

I've got a cool shower on my mind

It's the hottest that I've felt

I think I'm gonna melt

A puddle's all they're gonna find

Chorus:

Pedal easy, Pedal easy

Don't let the tandems on your left, drive you crazy

You will lose if you go fast

So many sights you will have past

So clip 'em in and just relax

And pedal easy

Well I've been riding down the trail, 

got no news and no mail, 

I've got Albany in my sight

Headed in to Scotia,

I kinda' got a notion,

I'm really gonna sleep tonight

Chorus:

Pedal easy, Pedal easy

Though recumbents on your left, drive you crazy

You will lose if you go fast

So many sights you will have past

So clip 'em in and just relax

And pedal easy

Canal Week in Pictures

Sunday, July 8, 2012. Sal and Tom ready to hit the road.

Approximately 100 tents were set up daily by the Comfy Camper crew. These tents were rented by folks who chose "glamping" (glamor camping - lol). They could also rent daily dry towels, chairs, and have a morning cup of coffee ready when they awoke.

Lockport, NY, passing under the widest bridge in the world - 290 feet. Above is a street and parking space.

Culvert Road

Here is an example of a boat being lifted by a lock. The total lift on this lock is 16 feet.

Above are two pictures showing the restored and re-watered aqueduct at Camillus on the expanded canal. This short stretch of water is a fine example of how a wooden trough was placed into a stonework frame to carry the canal over a local waterway

Sal greets the morning of the ride from Rome to Canajoharie. Will Friday the 13th bring him good or bad luck?

Leaving Rome, a large bridge offered this vantage point for a great shot of Lock 17

I've seen this control dam many times as I drove down the Thruway. Today, I got to stand next to it. these dams are primarily at lock locations and control river/canal flow so that proper flow is maintained in the adjacent lock.

Cohoes Falls, also called The Great Falls of the Mohawk, were regarded as the second most beautiful cataract in New York State after Niagara. Thirteen thousand years ago, this point drained the entire Great Lakes region. Most of the water is now diverted for power generation; some is diverted for the Cohoes water supply. During the summer, the falls are virtually dry, revealing shale rock formations that have their own distinctive beauty.

The Green over the Red Signal Light

The Irish played a major role in building the canal. Many of them settled in the Tipperary Hill area of Syracuse. This signal at Tompkins St. and Milton Ave. is reputed to be the only signal light in the world with the green on the top. 

Once, it was replaced for safety reasons. Local lads kept breaking the light with stones until the city relented and returned the green -over-red light. Even now, a bar near the corner is called "Stone Throwers Cafe".

Oh, the Places We've Been!

View Cycling the Erie Canal 2012 - The Route in a larger map
This map shows the intermediate locations where we camped as we biked across the state.
Click on a balloon for more info.

Get 'em up Move 'em out!

When we arrived in Albany we were faced with a luggage pile that was not the orderly stacks we were used to. The truck drivers played a little mischief and jumbled things a bit!