Today we followed the Erie Canal as we rode east.
It's remarkable to think that thing was dug by hand in the early 1800s. It is one big ditch ... what a job. It was expanded 3 times. It had to have over 50 locks to raise the water level several hundred feet between Albany and Lake Erie so it's amazing engineering for the time. It's credited with populating Western New York and opening up commerce to the Great Lakes regions. There are several offshoots we have also seen along the way.
Now the canals are still full of water in some sections and dry in others. Roads have been built across them creating dams. Some towns are working to restore their sections for tourism, though apparently the canal-s use for commerce is up. The sections of the canals I've seen are narrow with dikes on either side with a foot or bicycle path on the top of the dike where the horses used to be led to pull the boats. Many are full of logs and plants and lily pads and the water does not look inviting for a swim ... black to green with lots of - umm shall we call it biodiversity - some that bites. Trees drape over the water and greenery and flowers line the sides.
Check out wikipedia or www.eriecanal.org for more info.
The further I rode east the wetter I got. I rode into and overtook a front that was dumping cool rain on Little Falls. Had I known that I would have ridden slower - the slower riders stayed dry for once - but I decided to go ahead and get in today so I could make sure to coordinate plans to meet a friend tomorrow, do laundry and other travel chores. Jim pointed out that it has rained 5 of the last 8 riding days ... I feel sorry for the folks up here who are getting such a cool wet summer.
And a note to New York drivers ... what they say about you - all the bad stuff - is TRUE. Slow down already! Quit pulling out in front of me - I'm traffic too and going faster than you think. And don't blow your horn with that nasty honk (as opposed to the hello I'm behind you toot)- I know I'm slower and your horn won't make me pedal at 50 mph. My life 3 seconds out of your day to slow down and be safe.
OK, thanks for bearing with me. Now I feel better with a good venting since I've been thinking it the last couple of days.
Tomorrow I'm very excited - our route goes within a short distance of my friend Zoe's and her families home in Schenectady, NY so they are meeting me on the route and then we're having dinner tomorrow night. Yeah!
We only have 4 ride days left on this trip ... that's just insane. Traumatic, even. I mean ... go back to work?!?
Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016!!
9 years ago
