The Adventure Continues

Since my last post, a lot has transpired on this adventure. The day after leaving Canada and receiving the news of my mother's rapid decline, my son called to report that she had passed, he and my wife at her side. That obviously changed the tenor and tone of the trip.

As fate would have it, I was just outside of my hometown in Central NY and where my Mom had lived most of her 82 years. With the support and help of friends and relatives we were able to plan and hold a celebration of life for Mom, in the place and with the people that she held most dear. We were able to get some closure for us and those folks after my mom’s long battle with dementia. Those that have experienced a loved one stricken by that hideous disease will identify with my last thought on these events. As hard as these last few weeks have been given the timing, Mom is in a better place.

As I began typing this post, I was on a shuttle ride from Albany NY to Buffalo NY, which is the western end of the Erie Canalway Trail. Just as riding the Mickelson was a primary objective of this trip, riding the 360 mile across Central NY State was also on the list. I am accompanied by a group of five classmates from Veterinary school that have come together, and another guest like myself for a group of 7 riders. We planned to start at Mile 0 for the 360 miles along the canal which we intend to ride over 6 days. Some of the group are planning on hotel stays for the entire trip, myself and my good friend, long time cycling mate and connection to the veterinarian group Craig. plan to camp some of the nights and are hoping for good weather! The leaves are starting to change and fall is in the air! As a native of a town along this corridor and prominent in the history of the canal, I know the weather can be a bit capricious any time of year, but this time of year particularly so.

The shuttle trip along the NYS Thruway for me is like a slide show of memories prompted by the exit signs of familiar city and town names of my youth and later years. I attended college just south of Buffalo and had made the drive along the thruway from Albany to Utica many times for visits to my parents later in life as we raised our family on the seacoast of New Hampshire.

That said, my excitement as this ride commences is high. The Barge Canal and its predecessor the Erie Canal were a big part of my childhood and early adulthood.

Construction on the first segment of the canal commenced in 1817, a bold engineering project for it's time but one that would be completed and play a key role in the development of NY State as economic engine of US. It was critical to commerce, transportation and the settlement of the entire corridor, and the modern version still transports a small amount of freight, however today it sees mostly pleasure boats and with the establishment of the Erie Canalway Trail, cyclists and even kayakers are coming to experience both the history and scenery that abounds along this route.

I knew that Craig was keen to get up to Niagara Falls as kind of a warmup on arrival in Buffalo, not wanting to miss any of the opportunities the area had in store. Our hotel was in downtown Buffalo but we were able to find a route that was mostly bike trails, including a section of the Erie Canalway that we would ride again the following day on the first day of our trip back to Albany. The path ran along the mighty Niagara River which of course is the water source for the Niagara Falls, both the renowned Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls.

As a native New Yorker, I had been to the Falls many times in my younger years, saw them from both the American and Canadian sides, including a winter visit when they were partially frozen. Although I was glad to accompany Craig in his first visit to the falls, I had a bit of a “been there, done that” attitude although I rarely turn down an opportunity to ride new routes with good friends.

I have to say that I am so glad I made this ride! As is so often the case, seeing this natural wonder from the saddle was a unique and awesome experience. What struck me the most was the route along the Niagara River and seeing firsthand how the power of the river builds from appearingly tranquil waters into the rapids that immediately proceed the Falls themselves. What a unique perspective! That's not to say that being up close to the Falls themselves (Bridal Veil in our case) and experiencing the rising mists and roar is not as impressive but one can get there, with throngs of other visitors at all times practically by car and other powered means. Riding or walking the Niagara though the several miles until it reaches that awesome crescendo, that left with my best experience by far. Most visitors that miss that aspect of the experience as.i had until this ride. On the ride back to Buffalo we were treated to a spectacular fall sunset over the Niagara which really made the extra 40 miles on top of the 360 that would start bright and early the following morning, worth every bit of the effort. We rewarded those efforts with a few craft beers together at Southern Tier and Pearl Street breweries downtown, recounting many other rides we have done in the past and toasting to new adventures including the one we embark upon in the morning.