Day 46 – Hamburg, NY to Canandaigua, NY, via US20, 16 Jul 2014

Map and Pics:  Click Here for Map and Pics.

Miles 3298 to 3393, 95 miles, 3850 feet of manageable climbs, max speed 39 mph, avg speed 15 mph, strong crosswind over left shoulder.

I am beginning to feel like a child’s lost puppy. I had 95 miles to ride today and I really didn’t plan to talk to people today. I can really tell my body is turning to rubber and hoping for a nap is the most delicious thought to the day. That was not to be. By the way, my roommate Bill turned a very fit 67 today!



Clouds over NY today



My good friend Jim often says that talking about fishing is always a good use of time, and he was proved right again today. Steve’s car was broken down on the side of the road when he flagged me over for help. He forgot his cell phone and needed to call his boss at the stone crushing quarry to bring him some gas. Nobody picked up the call from my cell phone so he left a message, and hung up frustrated. We started to talk and when I said I was riding to the Finger Lakes area he said he was going fishing there in three weeks. Fishing became the topic and I asked and he answered for ten minutes. My cell went off and I gave him the phone to hear his boss ask “Who are you and why are you calling me?” He was surprised it was Steve, and after a short conversation help for Steve was on the way. Fishing saved the day, and we didn’t even have to buy bait.



We like to warn people when we are passing them with saying a “Good Morning” or “I’m on your left,” Today, when about to pass a lady walking into town I sent out a “Good Morning” that wasn’t at first heard. The second greeting caused her to look back towards me and when she turned she almost lost her balance stepping off the pavement. I stopped immediately and told her it was not my intention to put her into the gravel. I got off my bike and started walking next to her, talking about who we were, where we were going, and where we are from. She was friendly and a bit shocked I delayed my ride. Her name is Debbie and like me, our kids are out of the house. Okay… I can no longer say I rode every inch of the trip across America, but that little stroll down the lane with Debbie was worth surrendering those bragging rights. Bikers are not out to put her or any other pedestrian in the ditch.

The train caught my eye, but what was on the other side of the street caught my attention. It was a postcard quality beautiful yard, flowers, laundry on the line, and wood stacked in a pile. I walked up the driveway and took a picture. Behind me I heard a car on the gravel and thought to myself this might not end well. It was the city sheriff, and it was his yard. When he approached I introduced myself and explained, “Sir, the train across the street got me to stop, but when I saw this yard, I just had to take a picture. Across the street is decoration, over here is how I want to remember New York.” He looked at me in disbelief at first, and then started to wonder about my claim. He then said, “Son, you have just made my day.” His name is Lynn, and he had just come back from working out at the gym. He told me how it pleased his wife to have a yard like theirs.

Bloomfields Green Dot Ladies Club

At Shark’s Ice Cream Parlor I met Bill and his family. He is up from NC visiting his sister. They were all very interested in my bike trip. We talked other things too, and he gave me a wonderful handmade gift to take along with me. While we were leaving, four well dress ladies entered the shoppe and something immediately caught my eye – each had a round green sticker on their outfits. I interrupted their looking at flavors and asked, “Ladies, I just got to know. Are you all members of the ‘Green Dot Ladies Club’?” They busted out in laughter, as well as the rest of us there in the store as the ladies each quickly removed their ‘rummage sale’ stickers from the clothes. No, the dot sticker was given them as proof of admission to a garden show they had just been too. They got their ice cream and allowed me to take their picture. They are now forever branded as the “Bloomfield Green Dot Ladies Club”.

There were others today, like Matt who explained the mystery of the numbers on the Corn Field signs. He also said DeKalb is pronounced with the “L” (unlike in MO) because his regional manager says it is that way. No further explanation needed. The gem of the day belongs to my wife and daughter. The rain soaked me this morning and my feet were very cold and wet. Jane, from AbB, suggested I dig through my luggage in the van in hopes to find dry socks. In the bottom of the bag were three pair my family brought me when they visited me in Indianapolis. Having warm dry socks on a cold wet day is priceless.

Bottom Line: What does somebody supposed to think when so many things happen to them in one day? I’m just a guy on a bike. Do I really look like a lost puppy that needs to be scooped up and talked to?