Todays Distance: 101 miles
Cycling time: 6 hrs 42 mins
Average Speed: 15 mph
Today’s cumulative ascent: 4062 ft
Average Heart rate: 117 bpm
Distance so far: 3428 miles
Distance so far: 3428 miles
Ascent so far: 109,157 feet.
Centuries so far: 13
Punctures so far: 9
Centuries so far: 13
Punctures so far: 9
Today’s Profile:
Today’s Route:
Dedication: Today’s cycle was for the good-natured children in Providence who come in early, stay late and sometimes appear on Saturdays when they see that there is something to be done and for James S and Kenny.A good day’s cycling with one century and despite two flats and two thunderstorms.
PROVIDENCE [4] In the early years the school had no special name. Then in 2006 the staff reflected on the rationale of the school to decide on a name that would be meaningful. The school then (and still) had no constant source of funds but they always trusted that something would turn up and it did. ‘If God means the school to run, it will run’. Trust in Providence. And so it came to be.
As the early stages of today’s route was involved and an amount of construction and since a lot of us were going to the museum we tended to stick together for the first 7 miles. The morning looked promising and it should be another pleasant day; only a slight risk of rain.
After 7 miles a good number of us paid a visit to Pedaling History, a museum devoted to the story of the bicycle in America. There we had a guided tour following the development from the velocipede to pedal power, the penny-farthing (the Odrinary here in the US), systems of drive and suspension that in time were used in the automobile. Hundreds of bicycles were on show . he pointed out the impact that the bicycle had on travel, the demand for better roads, on fashion, on womens emancipation and on the car all in the final years of the 19th century. In all I spent an hour there and noted a book of cycle tours around Ireland that I have never seen at home.
The first thunderstorm appeared ahead of us at the 20 mile mark. We had no rain but I pulled into a gas station to let it move further to the north-east. No point in riding straight into it. Succeeded in being fast enough to capture a bolt of lightning.
After the first SAG, Cary from Trinidad (who joined us for the last section of the trip) cycled with me and we kept up a brisk pace to the second SAG. The only things that halted us was to view what has become a frequent type of roadkill in New York and some punctures.
Cary had one and I picked up one a little later. We’re getting fast at replacing tubes now. The hard shoulder on Route 20 today had a lot of tiny pieces of glass. A lot of flats reported with Larry (CO) picking up a total of five.
All along the way the usual agricultural pursuits as on previous days was evident. I liked the houses with their own vegetable gardens. I'm sure my own at home is thriving. If it is...great. if it's not .... ah, well.
Near the end of the route did the few extra miles to make it a century (the scheduled distance was 96 miles) and went down by Canandaigua Lake (pronounced CANON-DAY-GOO-A). There are about ten of these narrow lakes known as the Finger Lakes as they run south/north like the outstretched fingers of two hands. Canandaigua lake is 16 miles long and formed as the result of glacial activity and is very deep. On its shores are all the water-based activities. I passed by the end of the lake and just as I came to a large shopping mall the second thunderstorm broke. I was glad of the shelter in the porch of Lowe’s.
I finally arrived at the hotel at 4.30 still dry. Some of those who skipped the museum had got the brunt of the first storm and some of those coming in late got the second one. I was lucky.
Inspecting the rear tyre when I got the puncture I thought it was about time to replace it. Three and a half thousand miles was good service. It felt just like tissue paper in the centre and only the kelvar strip was keeping the tube protected. I had brought a spare Armadillo and it took no time to change. 
However, when I returned to the room after dinner the front wheel was flat. I did find a sharp stone embedded in the tyre and that has to be replaced before turning in tonight. Not much time to admire the view from my window.Enjoyed today’s cycle. The route wasn’t very scenic and there was plenty of climbing to keep one on his toes. Should see more of the Finger lakes tomorrow.
Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.
Still plenty of grapes growing on both sides of the road. Gary (CA) was throwing an expert eye on the crop and explaining the growing process. Tractors were out trimming the sides of the vines to allow the grapes to get the sunlight better. The vines were with us all day.
Again I started at my own pace but joined in with two different groups for periods of the day. Two more from Trinidad have joined us for this last section to Portsmouth. From the SAG till the end I pushed on at a good strong pace.
Punctures were a feature of the day again but, thankfully, I escaped. Actually, my front wheel was almost flat at loading time but it got a full 100 lbs pressure and was operational for the day. Perhaps the valve was just taking a Rest Day like myself and released a little pressure. John (LA) who joined us in Indianapolis had three flats before the SAG. I’ve heard of two others also, one had a nail through the tyre, the tube and the steel rim. If there’s any good place to have to replace a tube, it must be beside a field of grapes.
Although we cycled for the day along the southern edge of Lake Erie it wasn’t always in view. It was a field or two away or just appearing through the trees occasionally. To look at , it was like looking out from the east coast of Ireland. Nothing to be seen but the flat horizon. It is 50 miles wide just like Ireland to Wales. Today it was perfectly calm but in winter it freezes over when day temperatures scarcely exceed –15C. The fact that it is relatively shallow (average of 62 feet) contributes to this. In winter when the cold north winds blow over the warm waters it results in lake-effect snow in Buffalo and the south shore. In winter 2007/2008 this area had 3 metres of snow.
At twenty miles we came to the stateline with New York. Another state and very few left. All groups stopped for the compulsory photo and I was with a group of 6 at that stage. New York state is almost double the size of Ireland in size and is the largest producer of cabbage in the USA. These things are important to know. All except the greater New York City metropolitan area is referred to as Upstate and our route will be across the upper end of that roughly following the course of the Erie Canal.
Along the road I saw so many premises offering duty-free cigarettes and gas. Gas at $3.99. I went into a gas station/truck stop to look for post-cards but the whole shop apart from the check-out was just cigarettes from floor to ceiling in cartons. And we were not exactly on the Canadian border. Afterwards I found out that this was an Indian reservation and duties are not charged there on the mentioned commodities. . That’s the place to stock up. For the last week I am finding it impossible to find postcards. In the early weeks every convenience store and gas station had a good selection. Tried in stores around the motel this evening with no luck (‘Maybe, you could try Niagara Falls’ it was suggested in one.) I asked at reception and no luck either. But just a while ago I found some pushed under my door from the motel reception. Nice.
After today’s cycle I noticed some play in the rear hub and was worried. At Mech Time (today from 5 till 6 when Gerard the mechanic is available for repairs etc) he whipped off the cassette and exposed the bearings in a flash. Sufficient grease all right but bearings are not seated perfectly. Also the evidence of quite an amount of moisture. More grease applied, reassembled and it’s sound as a rock just now. Wouldn’t want anything to go wrong with RW PACAT at this stage (or at any stage)
At Route rap this evening just before details of tomorrow’s route we had the presentation of prizes for July 4th decorations. 1st to Richard Walsh for an exquisite ensemble and he wore it all day. And I received my Faded Glory Tee-shirt. And don’t I look good in it!
The hotel has no guest laundry so it was off down 5 blocks with the lot and all was sparkling again within the hour. I’m improving in these household chores…never too late to learn. The laundrette was beside Molly Brannigan’s irish pub and I went down there last night for the one drink I treat myself to on Rest Day. The owner is a Waterford man and the walls were decorated by the feats of recent years and of 1959, Ballygunner’s Munster title as well as Master McGrath and old local papers. Wasn’t I proud to see the victorious Wexford team of 1996 on the wall in full colour? A publican with good taste!
The bike, RW PACAT, badly needed a wash after the last few days and I replaced the chain. The old one was showing a bit of wear and would cause a more serious problem for the crankset and the cassette if left much longer. Am very pleased with this bike and hopefully there’ll be no problems between here and the end. End? I don’t like even contemplating the idea. I’ll miss the cycle and the group. There is an amazing positive dynamic among the 40 of us. One for all and all for one.
