My wife and I have been road cyclists for many years — and I’ve always said we’ve had some of the best cycling and empty roads, challenging hills, long flats and decent weather. But as I aged, looking over my shoulder and also listening for traffic became more difficult. Plus, the thought of being annihilated by a texting motorist or being run off the road onto soft shoulders became a very real concern — so someone suggested we try the Erie Canal Trail heading west from the Sports Hall of Fame.
What a difference! Quiet, no trucks or cars, friendly people, birds, turtles, an occasional walker and mothers with strollers; and sometimes on the canal, a larger “Looper” boat passing by or a smaller kayak gliding along. At the locks, we would see people laden down with bike bags (or panniers). We chatted with a nice couple that were fixing their macaroni and cheese dinner at Lock 21 one day.
He was from the United Kingdom and his sister was from New Zealand. I’m about to be 74, and I’m not going to call them elderly, but I’d guess we were the same age. They had flown to the United States with their bicycles, specifically to ride from Buffalo to New York City and camp along the way.
They had done other trails around the world and had heard about the Erie. On another ride, we ran into a couple from the Netherlands, and they were looking for a motel in Utica. They came to ride from Toronto to New York! Two days ago, I spoke with a lost group of 10 riders who were from.