A different ride

 Every trip feels different, and trips change as people leave or join.  This year several people rode for just the first two weeks, and since we headed west from Albany, we have had only nine people, including leaders Ken and Nancy.  For the most part, we have tended to stay together when we are riding.  We are a jolly group, but we stop less, and I miss lots of good photo opportunities.  If I’m in the front of the group, I don’t want to stop, because everyone behind me stops, and if I’m in the back and stop too much, the rest of the group waits, sometimes a bit impatiently, or I miss a rest stop, as they are ready to continue when I catch up.  

Today we rode 55 miles to Newark, New York.  When I rode along the Erie Canal in 2013, most of the ride from Brockport was on highways, but this year, major new stretches of the Canalway Trail have been opened, so we were along the water most of the way.

Lin, in orange, is one of the slower riders.  Here she is, though, on her 62nd wedding anniversary, leading us down the trail!

On our canal boat ride in Lockport, I learned that the canal is drained every winter to protect the locks.  These floodgates are lowered to control the speed of the drainage.  

We watched New York State fire personnel starting their training in water rescue.  It was a hot day, and the “victims” awaiting rescue looked like they were having a fine time floating in the water. 

If other riders slow down, the leader can stop and take photos of us cruising down the trail.