DAILY DOINGS:  Sorry for the short page today but I don't have much to report today.  I rode at the back with Karen all morning and afternoon and really didn't see too much all day.  Nothing seen, nothing reported...even Clarence was quiet today.  But we did have a great day of riding after a minor scare from the weather.  We were forecast to have scattered thunderstorms all morning, but by the time we pulled out, they had mostly already blown to our east.  Our streets were a tad damp on departure, but they dried up by the time we got out in the country.  Although we didn't get any rain today, it was on the muggy side when the riders would stop.  As long as we kept moving, it wasn't too bad, but stillness allowed the heat to just well up around us.

Our route today started out with 12 miles of navigating through Syracuse with all it's construction and moderately busy streets, but after mile 12 we were in the quiet New York country side until mile 52.  After that, we basically rode 5 east (and bike route 5) all the way to Little Falls.  In this area the terrain changes from flat to rolling farmland for the first 50 or so to small plots along the Mohawk River Valley with mountains on either side of the river.  These mountains were carpeted with greenery from the over abundance of moisture they've had lately...especially last night.  Our first SAG was right on a portion of the Erie Canal in Canastota and we followed the canal for quite some time afterwards.  Karen and I even went off route for a short portion just to ride along the water (below left).

Our final miles included several small towns like Utica and Herkimer with vibrant thoroughfares to break the monotony of the back roads.  In former times, these towns served an important role when the Erie Canal was in its heyday.  Herkimer was where the process for making paper out of wood pulp was perfected.

We only have 4 more days of riding before we dip our wheels in the Atlantic.  Can't believe we're this far along already.  Seems just like yesterday we left San Francisco...or tried to leave San Francisco.  Everyone was scrambling to get one more laundry time to maybe be able to get the rest of the way without having to find another one.  There's a small laundry right across the street from the motel and by 3:00 it was full of bicyclists...do they have enough soap in this town?

Also in our motel is a theatre...with two good movies showing at 7:00.  I think a couple of the riders will go relax and take in a flick, but 9:00 may be after many of their bedtimes.  I've always liked this motel for all it's conveniences, but mostly because they really treat us well.  Tonight, like every other time we've ever stayed here, the motel put on a wine and cheese reception about an hour before dinner...now that's what I call hospitality.

Tomorrow is our last "easy" day.  I told everyone at rap to take it easy tomorrow so they'd be ready for the last two big climbing days...do you think there will be some climbing on those last two days.  I'd say yes...they'll see.

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