Up Up and Away!!

A week ago, we arrived in the Empire State of New York via the last ferry across Lake Champlain arriving in the beautiful small town of Ticonderoga. After a generous nights stay in a church there, dry out of the rain, we steadily climbed our way uphill into the majestic Adirondack Mountains. There to greet us were endless rivers, lakes and truly generous people.

Some of those kind people among our way are the interns at Camp Santanoni -Caroline, Angela, and Mary - who provided a place for us to set up our tents on the gorgeous property of the historic Vanderbilts' summer home estate. The friendly Humby family in Long Lake opened their home to us without hesitation; it was so wonderful to sit down and share a family style meal with them. Kimberly, an amazing woman who has done solo bike touring, provided space in her yard for us and two other cyclists, Paulette and Claudia, and made for us a wonderful bon fire to enjoy well into the evening. And as if that was all not enough, we were offered a rare and remarkable opportunity to an early morning scenic airplane ride by Pilot Mike over the Adirondack mountains and lakes in Old Forge!

Now we have successfully crossed the Adirondack State park and are officially out of the mountains for the first time in almost two weeks. We pulled off our first long distance day of 85 miles bringing us to the coastal waters of Lake Ontario. Tom Meier, a good friend of Carmen's (yes she has more) came and celebrated our long day, treating us to a campsite and a much deserved and possibly overdue shower.

Our bodies a little tired but our spirits high we continued along the coastline towards the historic town of Fairport on the Erie Canal, on the outskirts of Rochester. Feeling a little soggy following a downpour we tackled the steel bridges over the canal and much to our surprise water, steel bridges and bicycle tires DO NOT, we repeat DO NOT make a good or safe combination! Carmen, the most conservative member of the group lost the battle between bike and bridge meeting the steel grate with surprise. Having survived the fall with nothing more than some minor bruising and a little shock, she meet up with the rest of the group just in time to meet Kathryn Zimmerman, a trail angel whom fell from the sky with offerings of a place to stay, warm showers, a healthy dinner, and laundry! Topping it all off with a stunning sunset over the town and canal (and Carmen's wipeout bridge in the far distance).

Not wanting to leave the kind home and town of Kathryn's, we enjoyed an unplanned leisurely morning with great conversation and 3 scoops of ice cream for lunch! Kathryn convinced by our ice cream eating abilities instantly decided to drop her weekly plans and join us on our westward ride towards Buffalo and the Lake Erie shoreline. Within minutes her bike was loaded and we were on our way enjoying an evening bike bike ride through the countryside and farmlands of upstate New York.

Rolling into town Geneseo, we again experience the kindness of community, with an offer a safe place to camp in the backyard of Ben, a stellar gent' and fellow cycle enthusiast, with a dinner of pizza and more provided to us by his cyclist friends Renee and Tony. Perfect riding conditions forecasted for the upcoming days we plan for more longer days taking us in to the states of Pennsylvania and Ohio, maybe even Cleveland for the 4th of July!