We’re in Weedsport

Weedsport, because all the good names were taken.

No update after Day 3 because our B&B had never heard of the internet. We paid dearly for this only bunk in Fairport, a prosperous town along the canal. All we wanted was a place to crash and that’s all we got for $130, our most expensive lodging so far.

Kent’s a good navigator; he checks the guide book to see where we’ll be at the end of each day then calls ahead. Last night there was only one choice. The night before we were at the Erie Canal Schoolhouse in Albion, right along the canal. As the name implies, it’s a converted school done up quite nicely. It was a good deal with nice people caring for our needs. “There’s a film crew coming in tomorrow; want to see upstairs?”

Apparently Albion is competing for 2nd place after the North Pole as Santa’s headquarters. Lou and his wife were bursting with pride as they showed off all the Santa stuff, toys, old photos, model trains, and everything to bring out the little kid in us.

We pedaled about 20 miles before I broke a spoke. What a fortuitous outcome — only 1 mile from the Brockport Bike Outfitters where my wheel was repaired and Kent got a new tube. While we waited we took in the sights, a coffee shop and bookstore.

Lots of murals along our route and little graffiti.

Day 4 was more pedaling, 58 miles, but this day we were in a routine, actually stopping for lunch at noon. Lyon on a Sunday only had 2 choices, so we had already eaten before we spotted the BBQ fund-raiser at the gas station on the way out of town.

From here the road looped well aways from the canal and we enjoyed the countryside sights. We also learned how we had taken for granted the canal’s flat terrain because this route was a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. As I was running low on water I stopped at a farmhouse where I could hear a lawnmower in action. I got refilled with delicious, cool well water while we chatted about how hot it gets here in July and August. The high temp yesterday barely tickled 65, ideal for our ride.

It’s Monday morning and today may be our last day of sunshine. Temps will be warm, but rain seems inevitable in the days ahead. We’ll reach Syracuse before lunch where Kent is looking forward to another small repair; we’re a two-man economic impact team for the local bike shops along the trail.