Day 46 -- On a Hot Tin Roof

August 4, 2005

ROUTE: Syracuse to Little Falls, NY

DISTANCE:  89 miles

WINDS: Not a factor

WEATHER: SIZZLER!  99F; humid!

TERRAIN: Gently rolling

TOTAL CLIMBING: 1,950 feet

RIDE OVERVIEW: Load was at 6:15 this morning and breakfast at 6:30. Some of the more leisurely riders and a few of us heat wimps, skipped the breakfast part and got ourselves on the road by 6:30. The sun was up but obscured by haze and clouds, so the first 10 miles or so were somewhat comfortable. Then the haze lifted and the clouds dissolved. Roadside trees throwing shade became the lifesavers of the day. Without their shade, I'd probably be nought but a puddle beside the road at this point.

Our route consisted of 17 miles of urban streets until we cleared Syracuse.  There were many turns on today's route. From what I understand, several riders got bonus miles because they misinterpreted their route sheets. After the urban miles, though, it was a great route . . . lots of lonely country roads with a couple of small towns scattered along the way for pitstops. The road surfaces were excellent most of the day while out in the farmland, and when we got onto Rte 5, we had plenty of shoulder. The only other busy areas were around Clinton, Utica, and Herkimer on Rte 5, but that just broke up the day. 

We passed Onondaga Lake and passed just south of Oneida Lake, but did roll through the town of Oneida. Also, we paralleled the NY Thruway most of the day and also the Erie Canal and the Mohawk River, which contains locks and is part of the Erie Canal system.

I was riding Float with the Dairy Queens, and when we entered the little town of Liverpool 4 miles after leaving the motel, there was Big Mike and Karen sitting at a coffee shop. So we joined them for breakfast. The shop wanted $4 for a slice of quiche, so we decided to buy a whole broccoli-cheddar one and split it--much more reasonable at $13 a quiche. Mike ate a couple of pieces and declared that he was still a "real man." (For you pups who can barely remember the '90s, there was a book in the 70s called Real Men Don't Eat Quiche.)

After this stop, I picked up my pace. There were two detours which staff Mike and Karen were marking just before riders got to them. I trailed recumbent Dave for a bit and then trailed recumbent Jim to SS#1, which Barb had set up in Canastota right next to the old Erie Canal. We had to cross the canal to get to the SS but when we left, we crossed back over and had the canal on our right for awhile. Which reminds me . . . we crossed the NY Thruway at least 5 times today. In fact I think the bridges over them constituted most of our elevation gain today, though the cue sheet elevation view did show a couple of bumps which I truly cannot remember.

SS#2 was located in Canastota at a Subway. Mary and recumbent Jim and I, as well as several other riders, took advantage of this and had sandwiches and drinks. (My lemonade was served in a huge container, and I drank every drop of it.) While we were eating, recumbent Dave pulled up and pointed to our bikes, which were under the window. Stuart Little was out there trying to nab a bike. He climbed up on Purple Paul's bike and then jumped to the handlebar bag on mine, whiskers quivering. Dave said that Stuart was waiting by the front door when he arrived and then ran under the bicycles. Think Dave got a photo of Stuart hiding out under Purple Paul's chain. (Stuart Little was a mouse for those of you who do not remember this childhood book.)

As I was contemplating our destination today, I realized that ABB should probably rename this route. Tour de Falls would be much more appropriate.  So far we have stayed in Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Sioux Falls, Niagara Falls, and Little Falls, and we've visited Shoshone Falls and ridden through Seneca Falls. I'm sure there were others that I've missed.  I do remember that two of our SSs have been at waterfalls and one of our motel pools was fed by a waterfall.

Little Falls, settled long before the Revolutionary War by both Palatines and Yankees, was named from the falls of the Mohawk River at this place, and was formed from Fairfield, Herkimer and German Flats in Feb. 1829. A noted stage route from Rochester to Albany passed through Little Falls, and in 1861, while en route from Springfield IL to Washington to assume the presidency, Abraham Lincoln stopped in Little Falls and gave a few remarks to the gathering from his train coach.

After SS#2, we had about 30 miles to Little Falls. I ran out of water and stopped at a small autobody shop in Schuyler, NY, where the owner gave me a cold bottle of water out of his little refrig. Schuyler is my maiden name and is pronounced "Sky·ler."  It's a pretty famous Dutch name in this area of New York State, which was settled by the Dutch.  Both Peter and Philip Schuyler were generals in the Revolutionary War (I think I'm descended from Peter), eight of the first mayors of Albany were Schuylers, Schuyler Mansion is still open to the public, and one of the Schuyler women married Alexander Hamilton.  I'm feeding you all this genealogy to get to Mike.  The other day he was teasing me about the white terry cloth I tuck into my right glove and use to mop my brow. He told me that I must be descended from the aristocrats who used to tuck a frilly snuff hankie in their sleeves. Well now, that just may be, mayn't it?

After getting the water from the autobody shop in Schuyler, I pushed on, intent on getting in before it got hot. Fat chance. The bank in Herkimer read 99F when I rolled through at 1 am. I got to the motel at 1:30 and I think the last riders got in around 3:30. It was a challenging day for us heat wienies. I am riding Float again tomorrow (as a special favor since we ride through Schenectady, the town where I did most of my growing up) but we're expecting storms and a cold front to blow in tonight, so maybe tomorrow will be less like a furnace.  I'll keep my fingers crossed. 

The motel had a nice cheese and wine reception for the riders before dinner this evening. It was a good opportunity for some of the new riders to mingle with some of the x-country ones. Then, after dinner (a chicken/roast beef buffet) and before Rap, Mike made three presentations: Presentation #1, a compass/thermometer/whistle thingee went to recumbent Jim (Park) who got lost twice today and got in over 95 miles; Presentation #2, a mosquito trap (a tiny leg-hold trap) went to Cliff who scares up mosquitoes each time he goes into the tall grass and weeds for ah . . .  er . . . well, you know; and Presentation #3, Road Kill Bingo, went to Team Life is Good to keep them mentally occupied on the road.

There's actually a good story re recumbent Jim's getting lost. The second time he lost himself, he began climbing. The road kept going up and up. Jim finally reached the top and a T-intersection. A couple were sitting on their porch in a nearby house, so Jim asked them for directions. They replied, "Well wherever you go, it's got to be down because you have just reached the highest point in the county." Geesh don't you hate when that happens?

That's all Folks! Time to turn in. Tune in and see what transpires tomorrow.  Susan

HEARD ON THE ROAD:

•  "I just had a piece of quiche and I'm still a real man."  
• Carol: "I'd never join an all woman's tour such as those put on by Luna. Can you imagine all the gossip and backbiting?"  
• "This isn't Tour de France, it's Tour DeTour" [we had several detours today] 
• "Your legs look like they've been cooked on a spit."
  "Well, they have been turning but faster than a spit I hope."

DUH! OF THE DAY: [Actually this happened yesterday.] Duane gave his camera to Fred so that Fred could take a photo of Duane and the smiley face water tower. Fred held the camera out and snapped off the shot . . . but it was of his own smiley face. He was holding the camera backward. DUH!]

PHOTOS OF THE DAY:

Don and Tim--both of these affable men ride with several different
groups as the spirit moves. . .

Bob, Gary, and Purple Paul. Dig Bob's hands . . .looks like he's wearing white gloves

The Dairy Queens at SS#1

New riders Brett and Jennifer Buffington, Dave L., Bill D., and Opie. This group arrived in Little Falls just as I did and almost got to see me take a nosedive . . . but, my loyal fans, I recovered with much charm and grace . . .and didn't hit the pavement.

Team Life is Good: Pete, Linda, Greg, Joe (Hook-in-Bull), Jim C., and Earring John

Hammers Duane, Fred, and Murray

Fritz cavalierly ignores the Grizzly Crossing sign, despite the recent claw marks. Maybe he thinks that sitting between the yellow posts prevents attacks.

"Matt the Ripper" says, "No pitchas, no pitchas," to the Press while on his way to the courthouse with his lawyer, John