Day 13 - Rochester to Lockport, NY

Total mileage for the day: 44
Total mileage to date: 663
A tough day today to say the least. I was extremely thankful for my amazing host, Rudy, who drove me through downtown Rochester and dropped me off on a bike path so I didn't have to bike through the city. Although, I could have wished for better weather when he dropped me off. The gloomy clouds, hints of rain, full on head winds and temperatures below 40 were discouraging. With the combination of the spirit breaking ever present headwind, gravel path (as opposed to concrete) and cold temperatures it took me a total of 7 hours to pedal at an agonizing 6 - 8mph the measly 44 miles. I was thankful for the lovely ladies at a random hair salon who gave me a water refill (Hi Maureen!). I knew my luck had to turn around and it did so when I uncharacteristically stopped for lunch (I had to do something for my spirits and to warm up). I found a quaint tea/lunch house and enjoyed my conversation with the owner and her husband. Before the bill came a man approached me and said, "I have covered your bill, good luck with riding across the country." Steve almost brought tears to my eyes for his random act of kindness. The day continued with mundane pedaling along the empty canal until I finally arrived to my destination. I arrived at Dave's (my couchsurfing host) house even though I never met him because he is vacationing in Florida - he just left his house unlocked for me. Kim, another local couchsurfer, picked me up and took me out for the evening. We went to Buffalo to meet up with some her friends - after a fun and long night of Mexican food, drinks and great conversation with Buffalo locals I made my way to bed for a great night rest.

Day 12 - Wolcott to Rochester, NY

Total mileage for the day: 2
Total mileage to date: 619
As I stumbled out of bed this morning I made a tough decision not to ride today. My knee has progressively worsened and I am concerned about its well being for the remainder 57 days on the bike. I strolled down main street of Wolcott, NY and stepped into a diner for a hearty breakfast. I encountered several men eating breakfast at the bar and experienced the saddest moment of my trip so far. The men bantered about politics, economics and such, but then they broached a topic that broke my heart. I will sum up the conversation with a quote from one of the gentleman, "I hate niggers!" One even said to me, "you wouldn't recognize us with our sheets on." Tears are rolling down my face as I type this remembering this conversation and how freely these men shared their disgust and disapporval for "niggers." I suppose getting to know America does include getting to know all walks of life - even those who struggle to love and accept those different from themselves. I met an older couple (they were not public racists though for the record) in the diner that were heading to Rochester and they offered me a ride. I arrived at 12:00 and had 5 hours to spend until my host came home for work. I used my cute charm to convince the bellhop at the Hyatt to hold my bike, bag and trailer so I could cruise the downtown free of worry from the theft of my bike and trailer. I entertained myself by strolling around downtown Rochester, loitering at the library, enjoying a lovely lunch at a Mediterranean restaurant and visiting the local bike shop. Perhaps my favorite moment of the day was meeting Jeremiah. He advocates (http://www.gaelateca.org/) the Irish culture which includes carrying a xenophilia spirit. He enlightened me on my favorite new word - Xenophile - a person who is attracted to foreign peoples, cultures, or customs. Imagine that in the morning I was surrounded by men who outwardly shared their hate towards people of color and then I meet this beautiful man on the bike trying to share his passion for loving foreign peoples, cultures and customs. I hope to cross more Xenophillias in the upcoming days then those who enjoying wearing sheets. I suppose I should be thankful traveling in these parts that I am white.
Onto less heavy topics, the weather should be good tomorrow as I head to Lockport, NY. Let's hope my knee holds up better tomorrow.

Day 11 - Pulaski to Wolcott, NY

Mileage of the day: 52
Total mileage to date: 617
Today was supposed to be my first day with two cycling friends (one of whom has a visual impairment) but the rain prediction deterred their travel. I took a lazy morning and rolled out around 10:00 for an uneventful cycling day with pretty darn good weather. I pulled into the town of Wolcott, NY and set myself up in the Wolcott Hotel which was generously donated by Rick and Ken who were planning to be here with me. Some folks (Ross, Kim, Don and Marj - picture to be posted soon) from the Wolcott Lion's Club picked me up and took me to a yummy seafood dinner on the bay next to Lake Ontario. After dinner Don and Marj had us over for homemade chocolate cake, ice cream and some quality entertainment from Don on the synthesizer.
I already miss the beautiful mountains as today I discovered the not so interesting parts of New York. Tomorrow will take me 65 miles to Rochester. I am off to ice the legs and get some deserved rest.
I would also like to comment that even with my poor sense of direction in the 617 miles I have only added a total of 7 miles by taking a wrong turn many days ago. I am very proud of myself.
An additional random comment - I went to a bike shop several days ago and the owner said in the 14 years of owning the bike shop I was the earliest rider heading west than she has seen before. I am not sure if that is something to write home about, but it does make me feel a little hardcore!!!!

Day 10 - Booneville to Pulaski, NY

Mileage of the day: 48
Total mileage to date: 565
My host Dan was kind enough to wake up at 5:45 with me and he even rode the first mile with me at 7:00am. I woke up early to beat the rain that was supposed to come down around noon time. I must be tight with mother nature because the rain held off until my arrival and I had my first day of MAJOR tail winds! It took me 4 hours to go the 48 miles - it was a sweet ride. As soon as I arrived the winds picked up in a major way and the rain started comin down. After enjoying a leisurely 3 hour lunch at the local diner my new 90 year old friend Bob apporached me as I was leaving the diner. I left the diner to head to the post office when I took a wrong turn. Bob was waiting at the top of the hill to help redirect me to the post office. After the post office I went next door to the library to hop on the internet and Bob is right there escorting me into the building. He asked if I had a place to stay and he offered up his house if I wanted. The incredibly social being that Bob is introduced me to all of the wonderful ladies working at the library. Within 30 minutes the ladies invited me to a community dinner and one of the ladies is even picking me up so I don't have to bike in the rain. I am staying at a hotel in town that has been donated by the Pulaski, NY Lions Club.  I went to the nutrition class which was serving a yummy vegetarian dinner and Esther took me back to my hotel afterwards.  A great day with some incredibly generous people! 

Day 9 - Long Lake to Boonville, NY

Mileage of the day: 74
Total mileage to date: 517
I woke with next to no motivation or enthusiasm for riding - I was not thrilled by the thought of riding in the rain. The thick fog and chill in the air did not heighten my excitement when I stepped outside. One hour into my ride the sun peered through the fog and it turned into the most gorgeous day! The 72 mile day I was dreading turned into 72 miles in the sun, no wind, birds chirping, frogs singing sweet songs and trails that followed flowing rivers. The riding was also large part downhill It was an uneventful day on the road and I arrived in the booming metropolis of Boonville greeted by my couch surfing host Dan. After meeting all of Dan's visiting friends and family members we strolled to town for some yummy Chinese and came home to some much deserved ice cream!
Random thought that may only be interesting to me: several times on my trip I have heard a very loud clanging noise from up above. I always thought it was a human but I never saw a human. I was thrilled today when I hear the clanking and quickly looked up to see a woodpecker pecking away at a metal box on a phone pole....mystery solved!
Scary thought of the day: I was chased down by a rottweiler today. All I have to say is I am so very thankful I was on a bicycle heading downhill avoiding what could have been some nasty teeth.

Day 8 - Ticonderoga to Long Lake, NY

Mileage for the day: 60
Total mileage to date: 443
I woke up nice and early in my lonely hotel room. I began riding with a smell in the air which reminded me of my home town - the romantic smell of the town's paper mill. The awful smell combined with the gloomy sky did not motivate me for the day. The first 40 miles were quite uneventful through the beautiful mountains of the Adirondacks. I was following a flowing river through the mountains, the sky poked through the clouds for a brief moment before the rain started. The last 2 1/2 hours of the ride were needless to say very cold and very wet. I rolled into the small town of Long Lake, NY like a drenched puppy searching for refuge. I spotted a small church and thought I would stop in to seek help. The lights were on and the door was unlocked but no one was inside. I helped myself in, changed into dry clothes and waited until someone walked to to ask if I could stay in the church over night as camping was not a great option. Chris, the pastor of the church, walked in and he quickly offered a place for me to sleep in his house next door with his family. I joined their family and their visiting parents for dinner, some Wii games and had my very own bedroom. Tomorrow's 72 miles in the rain does not excite me, but I must hop on the saddle and ride into the rain.

Day 7 - Middlebury, VT - Ticonderoga, NY

Mileage for the day: 25
Total mileage to date: 383
Today was supposed to be a break day with a short 20 mile ride, but it turned out a little different than planned. Today I went with my host Aviva to the college diner for a free breakfast, iced my knees, completed some boring emails and made some future bike plans. After I ate my last free meal at the Middlebury College I took off for NY with my friend. We rode about 10 miles and then he turned back for Middlebury and I continued towards NY. I was six miles away from the ferry to cross over Champlain Lake and learned the ferry is closed until May. This means I had a 25 mile reroute, except it was 3:00pm. I found a friend who gave me a boost then I hopped back on the bike just in time to ride across a gorgeous bridge which brought me to the great Empire State (NY). I arrived in Ticonderoga by 6:00pm and stayed in my first hotel and it was quite the dump.