Boog's Blog

Some canals, some rolling hills, some well a lot of heat and many charming towns of upstate.

In a good B and B called Rosemont inn. In Utica. Has a site on the web.

Riding with Sam and Michael.
Good bikers.

Sam at start.jpg

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16 June a Saturday

Took a route suggested by Margert from the B and B which went through Port Gibson. Then onto the canal path to Newark and roads to Clyde. Rolling hills with some wind from NE. Then into wind to Fairhaven.

Wonderful place on the lake run by friends of Sam. H and Bonnie have just opened and renevated "Pleasant Beach" a six room inn and three meal restaurant.

Sam and Michael arrived in time for drinks. Good dinner of crab cakes, use if a good washer dryer and cadlled it a day. Sam did some socializing at the bar.

Sunday 17.
Still no service of course.

I am first up and dressed. Hammack time while waiting. Another perfect, at least to start.

my porch.jpg

pleasant beach inn.jpg

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June 15 a Friday.

An easy 50 plus miles. Never thought I would ever say that. Cool day, no wind, flat, excellent roads, good places to stop such as my red clam chowder lunch.

Road and path shaded for much of the morning.

3 muskrats and a bunny until I got to the farm QB found for me.

The canal, after Brockport, is often lined with loveley houses and, visible to me, their backyards. A large number were front facing.

Had company riding into Palmyra. Local rider too me up the hill to the farm. He was doing a 60 mile training ride.

The farm. Single mother, 58, taking care of teenage son and her mother.
She-
Is a retired tech manager , ex Kodak.
– makes quilts, available for sale.
-hooks rugs
-spins wool
-sailboat licensed captain and racer.
-has chickens. Fresh eggs for breakfast.
-hunts with bow or gun depending upon season. Venison was her dinner. Mine a picnic in her house.
-168 acres to tend though rents out most and raises hardwood with govt. Subsidy on some acres.
-raises sheep for food.
-raises llama, 68, to guard the sheep from predators.
-runs a B and B.

I got worn out just listening to what she gets done.

brockport.jpg

good road.jpg

perfect meal.jpg

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June 14
A very windy, head wind, ride from Lockport to Medina. Perfect stone dust trail right along the canal. Usual felt hammer riding plus wind. That said a very enjoyable ride.

Got to spend some time with Dennis father, struck out on need on wick from gasport as too early, and the three sisters pictured. Quilts and other memorabila as well as a short tour. Very interesting carvings by Dennis dad.

More good windy paths to Albion and the rolling hills to just outside Spencerport.

Medina.jpg

The 3 sisters.jpg

canal path middleoprt.jpg

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Wed 13 June
Maybe the best morning ride ever.

Down the Wellsbd canal via 7 locks on a perfect morning ride. Drawbridge and boat passing, are flickr.

Then onto Niagara on the Lake. Could easily have been the Silverado road. Vinyards and more and more of them on a country road. Not enough traffic for Napa. Charming town as advertised. Much better than Carmel.

Met sister for brunch, arrived early. Looked over the charming town.

Excellent morning with SusieSnd Steve. Was good to catch up a bit but nearly enough time. Several more hours would have been better but had to push on so as to get to Medina and then Sam.

Niagara river ride as good as the canal. Lewiston bridge crossing very confusing but got over to USA and the a hot slog to Lockport.

Beef on kimilwick and dinner with Dennis's family. Nice of them. Very nice.

Could not make it to Medina today – 60 miles was enough. Will continue tomorrow with more need on K. Gasport apparently has the best.

welland canal.jpg

Susie Steve.jpg

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June 12 evening

Ride to Brock college. 80 km or so ending with another ride up the Niagara escarpment.

Warm, sunny, rolling hills, a few missed turns. Except for getting bonked which was fixed by a retained western sandwich a good ride through mostly rural towns, read few services. Some usual roadkill.

Good dinner with Fred and Jan. Excellent company and support from both. A hearty thanks.

fred st catherines.jpg

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June 11.

From Toronto to mohawk college outside Hamilton.

Longer ride than planned as Fred navigated to the cancelled reservation rather than here. Maybe an extra 25 kms.

Perfect day with peak riding conditions. Much of the ride along lake Ontario. Good paths and pretty small towns.

Dinner picnic from no frills supermarket. Decent berries.

Duplex dorm room suites.

HiHi

mohawk dorm kitchen.jpg

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Saturday 9 June

Lovely day in a lovely city. Visit to the local market and then wandering on the islands with Fred. QB went off with Jan to the shopping district after we all had a good bistro lunch.

Pictures are from house inside and atrium near the old and new city hall and from an island walk.

fred Jan Toronto.jpg

feed center island.jpg

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Thursday June 7. Afternoon

Lunch with the Liverpudlians.
Two charming ones at that.

Scouse Stew, a local poormans dish: onions, carrots, maybe turnips for sweetness, oxo, shin bones or mutton and lots of potatoes added in the last hour or so.

As to gardening, the Yellow Book came highly recommended. Small gardens in villigages, open at various times to the public; funds go to charity.

Wildlife Count so far (note: seen by one or two Boogs): two (2) bears, one (1) red fox, one (1) deer (or maybe elk), ducks, cows, horses, heron (?).

Friday. No signal for a day or so.

Bright sunny am with rivers and lakes dominating the landscape.

A few hours west of Toronto. Empty space. Canada appeard after three days of crossing to be, well, almost empty. Toronto and a few cities and then trees and water. The Vietnamese would ask "where have the people gone?"

Looks like we will roll in about 100 minutes late.

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Thursday 7 June.

Wet and cool at 7 C this junction of three rivers the city means big muddy.

Zack our observation deck guide is hereby acknowledged for his cheerful commentaries from Vancouver to here.

There min walk from station is Forks market. Savory bread pudding and cin nuns obtained.

forks market.jpg

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