Return of the Jedi

September 13, 2024

It's been seven years. Seven years since I had one of the best cycling adventures I've ever ridden. Seven years since I've had Tim Hortons for breakfast. Seven years since I bought my GTI. And seven years since Episode VIII – The Last Jedi was released. And here I am, returning to the western-most starting point of the empire trail. (that's the "return of the Jedi" reference from the title. Do I consider myself a Jedi? I'm good with a bike, but a light saber? Not sure - I might just cut my finger off if I try and use it. But George Lucas wouldn't name the film "Return of Paul, the cycle tourist" so I'm stuck with "Return of the Jedi").

After a 2-day drive, dropping off the rental at Buffalo Airport and cycling to the hotel, a Thai dinner in a local restaurant and a great night's sleep, we are departing this Friday the 13th on our 10-day epic. We pass by what must be the largest city hall in the country, and then we are at the starting point in Canalside

Passing the starting point in Buffalo. Technically, it's probably the medallion on the docks but this is far more photogenic

We follow the detour sign telling us how to get around the construction - It's a Trap! And then we go round and round as the detour signs just keep circling us around. There must be some detour signs that were either never erected or they have fallen and/or are missing. I finally find a route on the roads to get us northward where we're again blocked with more detours.

I don't know if this is fully part of the trail, but as long as we were still trailblazing(trail-finding) we stopped at this monument

And you know, I had the whole trip mapped out in my GPS unit, but with the detours I had to go off-route. Thankfully, there's an app for that to help us find our way around the construction and back on the trail.

We make our way past the waterfront area and smell a sweet aroma in the air and wouldn't you know it, it's a General Mills plant roasting Cheerios - these are the sensory experiences that make traveling by bike such a great experience. Remember, a cycling tourist's strength flows from the adventure. Once down the bikepacking path, forever will it dominate your destiny.

Buffalo river trail. That is the bridge to Canada

When there's not a detour, the trail northward along the Niagara river is quite scenic. On our side, the US, on the other, Canada.

Two more detours later we finally make it to our lunch stop, Uncle G's Ice Cream (which also serves lunch). But not today. They closed the lunch options a week earlier as students have gone back to school and they cannot get help to be able to cook/serve lunch food. So we had ice cream for lunch (Peanut Butter Chip for Kath and Graham Canyon for me). Am I complaining? No. Heck, in the Mos Eisley Spaceport Cantina, they served blue milk, so this was essentially a lot better. Actually, it's unfair for me to make that statement as I have never had that blue milk.

In Tonawanda we make the turn from NE to E to head along the Erie Canal portion of the Empire Trail.

A local garden club took it upon themselves to decorate one of the trail road crossing. Well done, crew!

At the famous "flight of five" locks, of course we take pictures, but it's a serious of silly poses with the traveller statuary.

Here we goof around with the "travelers" along the canal.

I stopped counting detours after around the fifth or sixth one. Considering that "Return of the Jedi" is actually Episode 6, I'll just call this the sixth one. We underestimated the power of the detour - it was our destiny. This detour, though was upstate NY, and the roads were virtually empty as you can see below. Smooth asphalt, quiet country roads, no complaints from me.

Quiet afternoon riding the canal trail, detours, roads eventually spit us into Medina. I navigated us to the Medina Railroad Museum. They have a HUGE model railroad display you can spend hours looking at the intricate detail. I'll post one pic collage here but you can see more of it in the video.

If you like model train displays, make sure you plan a stop at the Medina Railroad museum

Since Medina was our stop for the night, we cruised from the museum to our hotel, the Hart House. Very cool building which recently installed an elevator which helps getting the bikes up to the third floor. The elevator does take about 60-90 seconds round trip so I decided to carry my bike up the two flights of stairs.

Hart House hotel in Medina. No complaints on this stay!

After showers we went out in search of something to eat. I wanted to eat at the Shirt Factory (shown in the picture above) which had cocktails and light fare, but Kath was more interested in something substantial. Eventually we found a pizzeria and went for that. They had a dine-in section, but it was all order-at-counter-self-serve-and-self-bus. Which was kind-of odd as there was a hostess podium as you enter the dining area. My guess is they fell into the same trap as Uncle G's ice cream where it's a small town and there's not a huge labor pool for low-wage labor, and those who do work those jobs have returned to school.

Heart

Comment

Link

Today's ride: 58 miles (93 km)
Total: 58 miles (93 km)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	6
Comment on this entry	Comment	0