Day 86: Manchester to Weedsport

August 25, 2021

Back on the Erie Canal

“These signs have been pretty good,” Patrick says after we left Lions. We are expecting to be routed onto Highway 31, but the Empire State Trail sign has us cross the road and onto a bike path.

Another day with excessive heat alerts. We are riding at first light, first on back road to County road 7 to Port Gibson to rejoin the Erie Canalway Trail/Empire State Trail. Patrick is still struggling with the heat; Rachel gets the ORS out of the first aid kit for Patrick to add to his water bottle. Throughout the day we follow signs sometimes with the Erie Canal Way, sometimes Bike Route 5, sometimes the Empire State Trail, and sometimes all three. There are more stretches where we are on Route 31. When we ride through Savannah the temp is 84 degrees.

We stop at a gas station at an intersection in Port Byron for a cold drink and ice cream about noon. When we reach Weedsport, first we go to a pharmacy to get more electrolyte replacement. Then back to the Rodeway Inn for check-in. We recover in AC for the afternoon.

The plan for tomorrow is now changed, again.

We’ve paid for a camping spot in Green Lake State Park, but the heat and humidity is not conducive to camping for us. Rachel has a friend from her Stephens College days that lives in Cazenovia, past Green Lake and south of Chittenango. She has graciously accepted our request to arrive Thursday rather than Friday and to take some rest days.

Best yet, “It’s hilly to get to Cazenovia,” Mimi says, “I’ll pick you up in Chittenango.”