A New Hope

September 16, 2024

In the morning, a buzzer sounds. For a moment I go into panic mode and start towards the door as I think it's another fire alarm. Thankfully, it's just the dryer completing its task as we did laundry in the apartment.

When the dryer's buzzer sounded I thought it was another fire alarm. But no, just dry cycling clothes....

We venture into the downtown to grab some breakfast at Grounded. I find Kath and I both tend to choose a breakfast sandwich while on tour to keep us going through the morning and into lunch.

Coffee and a breakfast sandwich. I'll probably burn these calories before lunch....

We depart from Geneva riding along Seneca lake before taking a local path towards Waterloo and Seneca Falls

The morning's view alone departing Geneva is worth the excursion away from the Empire Trail for a night

On our way towards Seneca Falls we rode along a path paralleling the waterway (part of the canal system) and expected it to contain sculptures and other art-related artifacts. This is not the path you're looking for. Turns out we were distracted by Jedi mind tricks and that was on another path. What we did find was Sauders Store, a fantastic Amish grocery store with huge muffins and low prices. Great early-morning resupply stop.

We roll into Seneca Falls NY, the town on which Bedford Falls from the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" is based. The incident in which a man contemplated leaping off a bridge happened right here. We approach the museum but it's dark inside. I have a bad feeling about this. Yep. It's closed. Oh, well, that only gives me a chance to return again.

The museum was closed when we stopped by - that means back on the bike to the next destination!

After Seneca Falls the only route we had to return to the trail was along highway 20. This was a 55+ mph roadway with a lot of traffic. Completely wide-enough shoulder for bikes, but with lots of fast moving car & truck traffic it's just loud. If there's a bright center to today's ride, you're on the part that it's farthest from.

Late morning we're rolling into Port Byron and we take a break at the Erie Canal Park to get water and move some more electrons into Kath's eBike. They have a nice museum but no outlets to recharge. Kath is concerned that we will not find an outlet to recharge before our destination. I find her lack of faith disturbing. We roll through Port Byron, looking for electric outlets. Um, everything's OK. Situation Normal. When we get into Jordan I spot an electric outlet outside of the Jordan Elks Hall. Help us one electric outlet, you're our only hope. It's live and we sit for 60 minutes relaxing in the shade and taking on those electrons!

Though the re-constructed canal no longer flows through these towns, they still make use of the canal pathway, here, as a park.

Just completed with the bike recharge, we're passing by the Jordan canal park. Where once the original Erie Canal flowed, now it's a sea of flowers and wild garden.

Callback to the purchase of the Amish muffin from Sauders Store. It became our midday snack and lunch since we didn't make a lunch stop today

Traveling through the old part of the canal, this is the section no longer is use. Algae grows rampant on the water and it's quite stagnant, in high season probably is a huge breeding ground for mosquitoes. You'll never find more wretched hive of scum and mosquitoes. We must be cautious. The ride is remote as we make our way to Syracuse. We roll past the Camillus store and then I feel a great disturbance in the force, as if millions voices cried out in terror but it was only me spying the hill climb up and around the Camillus landfill.

Second time I've ridden this route, and the second time this has been closed. I'm beginning to sense a pattern.

I hit the hill and Kath powers up. I shift down and have an internal monologue to get me to the top. "You should not have come back. When you last rode I was but a mere thought along the route, but now I am the master hill on this route" "Only a master of slowing me down" I said. "Your powers are weak old man!" it barked. I retorted, "You can't win hill, if you make me walk I will become more powerful than you can possible imagine."

Hokey religions and ancient landfill hills are no match for a good low gear on your bike, kid....

Seven years ago, the route into Syracuse from the west was incomplete. But this time, we were able to ride through the New York State fairgrounds, a pedestrian bridge up and over interstate 690, and then along Lake Onondaga as we made our way into downtown. The climb up and over is intense but escape is not my plan - I must face it alone.

The trail routes through a subterranean downtown creek

Love the way this trail routes pedestrians and cyclists through something special in Syracuse

I asked the front desk associate at the hotel if they had any old stained rags we could use for cleaning and lubing our bike chains. She was very kind and sourced old towels and rags from housekeeping for us which enabled us to get the bikes into better performing order. Kudos to the team at Residence Inn Armory Square in Syracuse.

For dinner, we walked off to Dinosaur Barbecue. One would think the best Barbecue places are in the south but man, oh, MAN, this place was good. I ordered a platter containing pulled pork and brisket sandwiches. The BBQ is strong in this one... and it was sooooooo good. My life will forever be changed.

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Today's ride: 57 miles (92 km)
Total: 221 miles (356 km)

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