August 7 2011
Grail, Aug 08, 01:55

Delivered Lee to Albany Airport at about 10:30 AM and departed immediately for home. Decided to drive straight through and arrived home at 1:30 AM August 8. Weather overcast most of day, occasional showers. good to be home.

August 6 2011
Grail, Aug 06, 16:50

Took a tourist day. Saw Falls of Cohoes on Mohawk River. Very impressive. Then drove north to Saratoga battle field and made the tour. Well maintained and a good explation of the battle. Races in Saratoga Springs are on and makes it difficult to find accomodation. Will deliver Lee to airport then start home tomorrow. Are in Stay Inn in Cohoes 518-785-0000 rm 423.

August 5 2011
Grail, Aug 05, 20:30

Rode 65 miles to the end of the Mohawk River/Erie Canal at the Hudson River in Cohoes, NY. Are in the La Quinta Inn in Latham NY room 215 telephone number 518-640-2200. Weather cool in AM,low 80's in PM. Route about 7 miles on road, rest on stone dust or asphalt. While having lunch in Amsterdam, NY called Mary and found that she and Romona were also in town. Joined us for lunch. (Thank the lord for On-Star.) Took picture of a house that George Washington visited in 1775 in Schenectady. Total distance ridden is 373 miles. Plan to tour Saratoga battle field tomorrow after sleeping late.

August 4 2011
Grail, Aug 04, 21:09

Rode 35 miles to Palatine Bridge NY. Weather overcast and cool in AM, sunny and warm in PM. Toured Remington Arms museum in Llion, NY. Very interesting collection. Read history of Palatine Germans who setteled in this area. Are in Rodeway Inn (a dump) room 123 #518-673-3233. After arrival and clean up, drove with girls to Cooperstown to visit Baseball Hall of Fame and have dinner.

August 3 2011
Grail, Aug 03, 22:08

Road 48 miles to Utica, NY. Weather cool and clear in AM. Overcast and drizzle by noon, downpore last three hours of ride. Temp 70's all day. Visited ruins of Fort Bull, French and Indian War. British lost In Rome, NY visited Fort Stanwix. Route mostly off road, stone dust and some hard top. One section where horses had passed very rough, otherwise OK. Mosqitos very bad along path by old canal.

August 2 2011
Grail, Aug 03, 06:56

Rode 45 miles to Canastota, NY. Route stone dust until vicinity Camillus, then on road until through Syracuse. Outside city, back roads with very little vehicle traffic. In Syracuse, heavy traffic, but shoulders and bike lanes. A bike friendly city, for sure. Back on the trail, surface stone dust and sometimes narrow. Toured Chittenango Landing canal boat museum. Place where canal boats were repaired. Interesting. Quit early to have dinner with Fuess family, parents of Lee's friend and partner's wife, Karan Schroeder. Beautiful farm country. Rode to tope of nearby hill where wind turbines were placed. Big! Excellent dinner, good company. Spent evening in Microtel hotel in Verona.

August 1 2011
Grail, Aug 04, 21:20

Departed Newark 8:00 AM. Road 53 miles to Jordan, arrived 3:00 PM. Support team picked us up there, drove to Warners, NY. Are in Holiday Inn Express, room 122 315-701-500. Route mostly on road. Traffic on main roads heavy, but wide shoulders for bicyclist. Route led us to Seneca Falls, thru Montezume National Wildlife Refuge. Mostly farm land and woods, narrow roads but almost no traffic. Got directions from Amy, walking her German Shepard puppy. I took a picture of both. Talked to a group of Amish men and boys building a garage. Bought fruit at an Mennonite fruit stand. Lunch at a hotdog and ice cream stand. Temperature low 80's at start, 89-90 at end. Full sun most of the day.

July 31 2011
Grail, Jul 31, 19:36

Departed Rochester 9:00 AM. Road 38 miles to Newark NY. Are in Quality Inn 315-331-9500 rm 156. On ride thru Rochester hard to belive in a city. Path follows parks and woods, well maintained. Surface latter stone dust. Weather clear to part overcast temp mid 80's. Talked to Jeff, lock 30 operator. Explained several things about canel oiperations. Stopped in Newark early. Drove with Mary, Romana, and Lee back to PalmyraN origin of Mormans. Toured visitor center, climbed Cumorah Hill, toured Joseph Smith's boyhood home. Pizza for dinner.

July 30, 2011
Grail, Jul 30, 21:05

Departed Lockport 8:00 AM. Road 62.5 miles to Rochester, NY, arriving at about 6:00 PM. Weather clear all day, temperature low to mid 80's. Trail surface stone dust, good surface. Are in Quality Inn, Rochester 585-464-8800, room 184. Route all along the canal, good view, lovely homes, good farmland. In Knowlesville, met Mike, bridge operator. We asked him about how the bridges opened. He explained and showed us the mechanism,then let me rise the bridge under his supervision, of course. Mike is also a bicyclist, has ridden across the US on the southern route. Lunch in Albion, nice town. Good dinner in an Itialian Resturant nearby tonite.

July 29 2011
Grail, Jul 30, 21:01

Road 35 miles from Buffalo to Lockport NY. Weather over cast most of trip, clear late. Temperature comfortable. Are in Comfort Inn #716-434_4411 rm 284. Trail surface good, some on-road sections near Lockport. Stopped at Carousel Museum in North Tonawanda. Nice homes along water front.

July 28 2011
Grail, Jul 29, 06:15

Lee arrived at 1000 AM. Drove to Niagra Falls, Canadian side. Pictures, walked and enjoyed the view. Returned to Buffalo, dinner in a family owned Lebaneese restaurant. Excellent.

27 July 2011
Grail, Jul 28, 07:24

Drove to Buffalo NY. One accident on Interstate, but short delay for us. In Quality Inn Airport rm 105. #716-633-5500. Dinner in downtown Buffalo. Searched for start of the Canal Trail. Found it, map not very detailed, marking of trail obscure at start. Plan to meet Lee tomorrow, remain in Quality Inn, Visit the falls on 28th.

Departed home for New York July 26, 2011
Grail, Jul 27, 20:22

Left home at 9:00 AM. Drove to Mansfield, OH. In la Quinta Inn, room 206, #419-774-9066. Two delays because of accidents.

Daily log giving distance and events
Grail, Sep 15, 18:09