A Lake View
Day 2: Sunday, May 22nd
Sampson state park -> Rochester, NY
Miles: 63
Total miles: 101
Average speed: -
Weather: drizzly at first, sunny later, headwind
This morning I woke up and said goodbye to Becca. We had fun last night; we saw baby foxes and had a campfire and played the ukulele. It was a nice way to end the year together, and it was sad to see her go, but I was off!
As we were setting up camp last night I realized that is completely forgotten my sleeping pad and I was very upset because I didn't even remember seeing it at home; I must've lost it last time I used it, and not even noticed it. I was slightly devastated because it was such a wonderful inflatable air mattress that made it through the whole Appalachian Trail with me and was still going strong!
It was slightly drizzly but I had a lovely morning ride. I was able to go through a gate that was closed to cars (score!) and felt powerful. I was riding on a very quiet residential street with a lakeside view until I reached the top of Seneca Lake, where riding became decidedly less enjoyable. I didn't know how to get to Rochester and my phone kept re-routing me so I had to stop frequently to check. On top of this, it was painful to sit in my (new) saddle with an un-adjusted saddle sitting area, and the wind was slowing me down considerably.
I was becoming frustrated and unhappy and certain that this was a terrible idea, but there was nothing to be done anymore. I kept riding and allowed my doubts to overwhelm me. Eventually, I made it to the Erie Canal and turned west, out of the wind. This was when I began to feel much better. I had a "small" cup of ice cream from a place I recognized from my last tour (I couldn't finish).
My host for the night, Karen, rode out to meet me about 10 miles from her home. We rode and chatted about her tours and her husband Brian, who is currently leading a tour on Route 66. Karen and Brian rode across the country 12 years ago, without cell phones. Karen told me her mom was very concerned and requested a call daily-- but quickly grew out of this concern and wouldn't mind when Karen couldn't find a pay phone every few days.
We rode through some beautiful suburbs of Rochester, where the roads where clean and quiet and the houses were grand. We saw several "free libraries", which are like large bird houses with a glass pane on the front that you can open and take a book out or put a book in.
Finally, we arrived at Karen's house and I was so glad. So much for long days, I was totally kaput and could only think of sleeping as I called my mom and Karen and I ate a lovely dinner of everything-in-it salad and chicken mac n' cheese.
After dinner, we chatted and tried to call Karen's husband Brian to no avail. Contact is difficult (so they say) for travelers!
Tomorrow: a new day, a new sleeping pad, and a fake-it-till-you-make-it attitude. If you pretend to love bicycling enough, eventually you'll like it [anew]... Right?
Sampson state park -> Rochester, NY
Miles: 63
Total miles: 101
Average speed: -
Weather: drizzly at first, sunny later, headwind
This morning I woke up and said goodbye to Becca. We had fun last night; we saw baby foxes and had a campfire and played the ukulele. It was a nice way to end the year together, and it was sad to see her go, but I was off!
As we were setting up camp last night I realized that is completely forgotten my sleeping pad and I was very upset because I didn't even remember seeing it at home; I must've lost it last time I used it, and not even noticed it. I was slightly devastated because it was such a wonderful inflatable air mattress that made it through the whole Appalachian Trail with me and was still going strong!
It was slightly drizzly but I had a lovely morning ride. I was able to go through a gate that was closed to cars (score!) and felt powerful. I was riding on a very quiet residential street with a lakeside view until I reached the top of Seneca Lake, where riding became decidedly less enjoyable. I didn't know how to get to Rochester and my phone kept re-routing me so I had to stop frequently to check. On top of this, it was painful to sit in my (new) saddle with an un-adjusted saddle sitting area, and the wind was slowing me down considerably.
I was becoming frustrated and unhappy and certain that this was a terrible idea, but there was nothing to be done anymore. I kept riding and allowed my doubts to overwhelm me. Eventually, I made it to the Erie Canal and turned west, out of the wind. This was when I began to feel much better. I had a "small" cup of ice cream from a place I recognized from my last tour (I couldn't finish).
My host for the night, Karen, rode out to meet me about 10 miles from her home. We rode and chatted about her tours and her husband Brian, who is currently leading a tour on Route 66. Karen and Brian rode across the country 12 years ago, without cell phones. Karen told me her mom was very concerned and requested a call daily-- but quickly grew out of this concern and wouldn't mind when Karen couldn't find a pay phone every few days.
We rode through some beautiful suburbs of Rochester, where the roads where clean and quiet and the houses were grand. We saw several "free libraries", which are like large bird houses with a glass pane on the front that you can open and take a book out or put a book in.
Finally, we arrived at Karen's house and I was so glad. So much for long days, I was totally kaput and could only think of sleeping as I called my mom and Karen and I ate a lovely dinner of everything-in-it salad and chicken mac n' cheese.
After dinner, we chatted and tried to call Karen's husband Brian to no avail. Contact is difficult (so they say) for travelers!
Tomorrow: a new day, a new sleeping pad, and a fake-it-till-you-make-it attitude. If you pretend to love bicycling enough, eventually you'll like it [anew]... Right?
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