Riding The Erie Canal

Albion, NY to Macedon, NY
57 miles
499 feet ascent
479 feet descent
2,192 calories

I have to admit it, I'm getting spoiled.  Getting dropped off by one SAG (support and gear/guidance) team, Mom & Dad, in the morning, and then picked up by another one at the end of the day, Aunt Doreen, is making me feel like one of those coddled Tour de France riders.

 Getting Ready In Albion, NY

Mom & Dad

Resting for two days does wonders for the body, and I should do more of it.  Today's miles just clicked off easily.  I'm sure the flat terrain helped too.  Nearly all of the ride was on the Erie Canalway trail, except for a short section on a county road between two small towns.

Although the canal is not used anymore for commercial transport, it is still popular for pleasure cruising and still has many operational locks, lift bridges, and plain old bridges.

Erie Canal Pleasure Cruise

Erie Canal Lock 32 Near Rochester

Spencerport Bridge

While parts of the Canal were built up with rocks and soils, some sections were constructed simply by carving out rock.  I can only imagine how much dynamite was used to build sections like this.

Rochester Section of Erie Canal

The warm September weather on a weekend meant lots of hikers, bikers, and jokers, but it didn't keep away the "locals" who also call the Canal home.

Erie Canal Wildlife

Home cooked meals four nights in a row is a luxury I will miss tomorrow when I will have to fend for myself, but I look forward to coming back here in about a week and half after completing this odyssey to catch up with more family and friends.

Me, Cousin Beth & daughter Avery, Uncle Tom, Lady & Aunt Doreen (photographer)