canastota, new york

Interesting. And it all happened right here in the small town of Clyde, New York.

 Day 52! 83.87 miles pedaled from Newark, New York to Canastota, New York. All of our riding was along the Erie Canalway Trail except for a few detours and a maze going through Syracuse. When we looked at the route on Strava, we were surprised at how direct our route was through this rather large New York city. We did good!

Our first stop was in Clyde. We stopped to fix a flat and, of course, it was raining. While in Clyde, I saw the train wreck sign (above) which caught my attention because of my love for trains. There seems to be a lot of train activity along the route we have taken all across America. I guess it's no different back home. I hear several trains sounding their horns on tracks near our home in Statham, Georgia. In Clyde, we were on a street that looked somewhat like a ghost town. Maybe it was because we were there pretty early in the morning but I tend to think we were in an unused part of the town. On the corner stood an old building which interested me. I would like to have a permit or license to explore old buildings like this, especially the attic areas. Who knows what I'd find! You do have to admit, it's a building looking like it's full of stories and, maybe, mystery. Down the street, to the left, we could see can entire street of empty-looking storefronts. Probably once a busy street and now every store looks empty and lifeless. I need some stories here!

When we arrived in Camillus, New York, the center of the Erie Canalway Trail, we found the Erie Canal Park Steam Engine Exhibit. We soon met Jim, who knew all about the steam engine on display. He told us how it ran, how it was used and why, where a steam engine was located in a large building, and how it pumped water to floors high in a tall building while, at the same time, generating electrical power for the building as well. After giving us the steam engine tour and information, Jim started and ran the very large steam engine. The huge wheel that seems to be a flywheel is eleven feet in diameter and weighs in at seven and a half tons. Nevertheless, Jim started turning the huge wheel and soon the steam engine was running. The surprise, to me, was that the engine was making no noise. I suppose silence for a steam engine located in the basement of a large department store or tall apartment building would have been a must. It was well worth the time to make this stop today. Thank you, Jim.

Well . . . we now have a total of 3,193.91 miles pedaled through almost eleven states. That's a lot of pedaling but it's been worth it. Some days are tougher than others. Some days are longer than others, but the finish will make the days worthwhile. We have sixty miles to pedal tomorrow and eighty miles on Friday. We have approximately 520 miles to go. In two days then, we will be down to around 380 miles and we'll be dipping our front tires in the Atlantic Ocean at Rockport, Maine. 

Saturday is our last rest day and it's much needed for rest and recovery as well as some reorganization of bags, bikes, and paraphernalia in the vehicles for the ride home. I think we'll be doing a day or two of sightseeing in Maine and then heading down the road. Thus far it's been an amazing journey and full of surprises and adventure. We've enjoyed God's incredible handiwork.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2 

Day after day they pour forth speech;

    night after night they reveal knowledge.

3 

They have no speech, they use no words;

    no sound is heard from them.

4 

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,

    their words to the ends of the world.

God is good!

America . . . I love you.