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I really enjoyed my ride along the Empire trail in 2017 (journaled in https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/eriecanal2017/). So much so that I wanted to return and ride it again. 

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This trip will be slightly different. Let's see what's different - I'm 7 years older; I'm retired; I'm taking a new bike; oh, and my wife Kathleen is joining me on this one. Last trip may have been a (Han) Solo effort, but this time it's a journey with Solo and Leia (OK - that Star Wars reference may have been a stretch). 

Planning this trip is different than my usual adventures. Let's take a look:

• Lunch. Paul - Clif bar, water, and power through; Kath - stop, enjoy the rest break, and take advantage of the relaxing nature of the journey
• Rest Stop. Paul - what's this? Kath - let's find a place to stop, recharge the bike if not fully, but enough to make it to the destination. Besides, this is a vacation
• Overnight. Paul - cool! Look at that spot of grass right over there where we could pitch the tent and...Kath - Not so fast! Let's fully recuperate spending each night in an inn where we can recharge my bike
• Dinner. Paul - see? It says her pour 8oz boiling water into this bag to reconstitute the backpacker beef stew; Kath - let's find a local place and have a real dinner, again, vacation.

I have to say I'm beginning to fall under her spell of the less endurance aspect of the trip and the relaxing nature of it. There are plenty of trips where I can attempt to make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs, but this won't be one of them. We will enjoy this, the ride, the scenery, and the food. Together. And that's the best part of a traveling companion.

I originally made this a Two-ligy on YouTube, and I'll post those links below. But now that it's winter, and I'm cooped inside (somewhat), I owe a journal to the bikepacking collective here on Cycleblaze.