Start: 8:04 AM

Finish: 2:45 PM  

Saddle Time: 5:06

Ascent: 585 feet

Descent:  600 feet

Miles: 64

Total Miles: 3,212

Highlight: Passed two state lines, Pennsylvania and New York.

Lowlight:  Riding for nearly 60 miles along the lake but barely catching a glimpse.

Cyclemeter:  Follow this link to see the data I’m collecting with the cyclemeter app. You can see gps information, speed, elevation, distance, cadence and heart rate. Better viewed on a computer where it’s easier to play around with the graphs.

Today and tomorrow are short rides, only about 60 miles each.  It just worked out that way with where I could find accommodations.  I could use some shorter days, I’m starting to feel run down again.  I feel fine riding but it takes a while for my legs to start working in the morning and I feel like I could use more sleep.

I started today a little later than normal and made a leisurely ride. I passed two state lines along the way, first Pennsylvania then about 50 miles later New York, states  10 and 11. One more state and I’ll be home.

I started today a little later than normal and made a leisurely ride. The morning was cool as it has been recently.  I soon passed the first of two state lines, Pennsylvania (state 10), around mile 7 then New York (state 11) about 50 miles later New York.  One more state and I’ll be home.

Looking over the route in the morning I expected to have some nice lake views but that didn’t pan out, the lake was hidden behind trees almost the entire way except for Erie, Pennsylvania.  I stopped for lunch in Erie, with a short day I figured a restaurant wouldn’t hurt.  I had a perch sandwich at a bar/cafe on the water, the fish was good so was the view.

The town has nice bike path along the water but most of todays ride was on roads with a fair amount of traffic and good shoulders. It never felt dangerous but riding in traffic is not peaceful like the country farm roads I’ve been riding the past couple weeks. Those days are over but I have the Erie Canal coming up.

I passed through the Lake Erie Wine Country with a number of vineyards and wineries along the way.  I hear it’s the largest wine region east of the rockies, I read it on the internet so it must be true. I’m drinking one of the local wines now, too sweet for my tastes but otherwise good.

I came across an interesting crop.  I kept passing fields with what looked like small shrubs, couldn’t figure out what they were growing.  I finally asked a local who said they are in fact shrubs.  The farmer alternates planting shrubs for nurseries and corn.  Interesting way to diversify.

I made it to my dumpy but expensive motel really early so I set out looking for ice cream or something sweet before checking in.  Entering a pie shop I was  required to wear a mask for the first time in about 6 weeks.  I’ve been riding through the midwest fantasy land like it’s 2019, eating in restaurants and going places where absolutely no one wears masks. My mask wearing was in vain, they don’t serve single slices only whole pies, not much I can do with a whole pie other than make myself sick. So I settled for Gatorade and an ice cream sandwich from 7-11.

Buffalo tomorrow then the Erie Canal. East of Buffalo over half my riding will be on canal or rail trail.  Really looking forward to getting away from traffic.