Minnesota Mike's Ride Across America

Day 22, Friday, Sept. 26th, Niagara Falls, NY to Spencerville, NY. 80 miles, Total miles 1,304

D was awake at 3:30am to catch a flight back to Minneapolis. Was such a nice break to explore the falls and city by walking around and even walked across the Peace bridge to Canada to ride the Ferris wheel and have a nice steak dinner. I still have not been in a vehicle for over 3 weeks and won’t until I finish my bike ride.

Left Niagara Falls, NY by 8:30am. Rode a couple miles through a sketchy neighborhood full of dilapidated homes. Riding up to an intersection and and two guys come towards me from the sidewalk, “Hey Bro!” I pedaled faster and blew through the red light. Not sure if they were friendly or not, but was not going to find out! I didn’t look back, welcome to NY.

Nice ride and the wind is at my back! What! From the west, I like it! Twenty miles in and I am now along an unpaved walking/biking path alongside the Erie Canal. I get to ride this trail for the next 80-90 miles. Nobody seems to be on it so this is going to be quiet and peaceful.

Called the Hampton Inn in Brockport, quoted a $400 room. What! Looks like I will just keep pedaling and sleep in my tent next to the trail, somewhere.

Day 23, Saturday, Sept 27th, Spencerport, NY to Walcott. 76 miles, Total miles 1,380

Rode about 40 miles on crushed limestone, sandy trail, a few miles were paved but had upheaved sections that shot me up and down. Was fun following the canal and with it being the weekend, lots of folks walking their dogs, jogging and walking the trail, especially as I got closer to towns.

I rode a couple miles with another rider that was doing 70 miles along with a friend that was somewhere behind him, he was from Montreal and had taken a train to get to their starting point.

While riding through one of the small towns, I passed by a hitchhiker holding a cardboard sign with the name of the next town 5 miles up the road. I nodded and said hello. I rode into the town along Lake Ontario and stopped at a nice large park with lots of picnic areas. I got my snacks and journal out to start recapping the day and I hear “Hey, you passed me on your bike.” The gentleman sat down and we talked for the next thirty minutes. I heard Denver’s whole life story. Interesting guy, he hitchhikes around and is from the area and use to live in Maine and worked as a cook. I told him, I wish I could stay and chat more but I need to ride some miles. As I departed on my bike he yells, “Say hi to Maine for me!” “I will, my friend”.

Made it to Wolcott, after tackling a lot of rolling hills with long ascents. After tenting last night, I need a shower. Only motel in town is on Main Street above a bar but three stories up. Price is right, for what you get $62. It will have to do and no wi-fi. Tough to carry bike upstairs and most uneven floors ever. Walked across street and got a takeout pizza. Owner, supposedly relocated from New York City, pizza was good. I splurged for a large, going to have leftovers for next couple days.

Day 24, Sunday, Sept 28th, Wolcott, NY to Pulaski, NY 56 miles, Total miles 1,436

Before I left town, I went to the car wash and washed the grime and dirt off my bike from riding the Erie Canal trail the past couple days.

Lots of rolling hills, but fortunate to have a stretch of nice weather for the next week. Left motel before the start of the Vikings football game from Ireland this morning will record it and watch on my iPad tonight. Stopped a couple towns up the road and checked in on score, not looking good.

I road into Pulaski, NY by mid afternoon. As I rode through town and crossed the river, I see a ton of fishermen casting into the river. The salmon are running. I talk with a local and there is a hatchery just upstream and for a couple weeks the salmon are running. It was fun to watch a couple get hooked.