TODAY'S TALES: 

Well, we're starting our last week on the road.  Can't believe we've come this far so quickly.  Seems like a lifetime ago and then it seems like yesterday that we dipped our wheels in the Pacific and here we are bearing down on the Atlantic a mere 6 days from now.  But here we are all rested and raring to go on another leg of our journey.  I say everyone is rested, but from the looks on most people's faces, they could have used a day to recover from all the activity they did yesterday.  Most hit the ground running when they got into town and it probably took more out of them than they'd like to admit.  But it didn't take long for the blood to start flowing once the pedals started going around.  By the time they got on the road, I could hardly keep up with the front riders...and I was in the van.

If you've never been to Niagara Falls, you need to go. Even though it is touristy to the tenth, it is still a spectacular natural wonder.  It's a shame there is so much commercial building around the natural beauty the falls provide but that's the way it is.  It's hard to describe the power the water generates as it tumbles down the last few meters before going over the drop.  And the colors of the water--and the intensity of the rainbows the spray creates--are ever changing. The water color varies from deepest emerald to deep teal to pale blue-green laced with foam to every shade of blue, even navy.  I don't think I'd ever tire of watching the water. 

I think the riders enjoyed their day off in Niagara.  The location of our motel was a 10 on a scale of 10 and was within easy walking distance to the falls.  If there was anything negative about the motel, it was the fact that it was a high rise with only elevator access to the ground floors.  This made getting luggage and bikes to the rooms and getting everything back down for loading this morning a challenge. But it was worth it to be able to spend the two days conveniently located within sight of all the touristy things to do.  We had only to walk across the street to get to Niagara Reservation Park, Goat Island, the American and Horseshoe Falls, and the Wax Museum.  Even better, it was only a block from the best ice cream stand we've had since we left Astoria...priorities are important.

To those who have never been to New York, it is not all concrete like New York City as the common misconception holds it to be.  The first time I was through here, I was really surprised to find the terrain mostly forest or farmland, with lots of dairy farms, crop farms, and wineries.  I also think that New York has the best roads of any state we ride through for the most part.  Usually there is a nice shoulder to ride on even though we may be riding on a pretty busy roadway and we'll also ride on plenty of quiet back roads before we get through the state.  Just as the motto says...I heart NY.

It didn't take long for things to settle back down to normal after they got on the road.  We had the normal flats and mechanicals that always seem to plague us after a down day.  It did feel a little strange not seeing the folks that left yesterday and seeing one that we weren't used to seeing.  We even thought it strange when we didn't see a couple other riders too, but they were just off riding bonus miles after missing a turn about 10 miles from the motel, but we finally found them before we had to issue the APB for their recovery.

All in all it was another great day...all the remaining ducklings and 1 new one all in safely.  Tomorrow we head to Syracuse, or rather Liverpool, and will ride along the Erie Canal for a short bit.  I think the riders will enjoy the diversion off the highway.  I've always enjoyed riding the canal, but it presents a few navigational challenges...seems simple enough...just ride along the canal, but it never seems to work quite like that.  Anyway, join us tomorrow for another day in the saddle...we're closing in on our prize.  M

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