Day 50 - Canastota to Fort Plain, NY

Working our way across New York along the Erie Canal. Tomorrow we end at the Hudson River in Albany and will leave the canal behind. Amazing feat of engineering and backbreaking labor - given that the construction took place from 1817 to 1825, No bulldozers and track excavators back then that’s for sure! And to finish 363 miles of the “big ditch” in eight years - outstanding.

Today was another dry day with 83 miles completed. Temperatures creeped up into the high 80’s but with the shade from trees, it really wasn’t a bad day. We found a good breakfast spot in Rome, NY and then stayed on the trail eating from the back of the truck for the rest of the day with the exception of a convenience store stop in Little Falls.

After 50 days with five more days to go, we have learned a lot about how to execute a supported ride. We are often tired but we’ve worked hard to stay healthy, rested, hydrated and fed. It’s an equal or even bigger challenge to do all of this as a team. I think a solo ride is in many ways easier because you only answer to yourself. In two months we’ve definitely had our ups and downs as a team. I don’t think any group no matter the dynamic can be this close together for this long without challenges and compromises. But we’ve kept it together and have looked out for each other’s safety when we’ve been in the saddle. I have a lot of faith in this team from that standpoint.

Starting tomorrow, we begin to see some increase in total ascent as we approach the Appellations. We also enter a period of 2 or 3 days of unsettled weather with the chance for significant rainfall. We’ll take it easy and keep moving forward. We know how to manage even when it’s not very pleasant!