Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Erie Canalway Trail - Buffalo to Rochester

Erie Canalway Trip
For Erin's bday weekend we decided to head out of town and ride somewhere new. We drove to Buffalo on Friday afternoon and spent the night in an AirBnB. The next morning we grabbed some coffee downtown then headed out along the Riverwalk Trail(in crazy wind!) meeting up with the Erie Canalway Trail. We rode the trail all the way to Rochester with some craft beer stops along the way - over 100 miles. We had Erin's bday dinner than were fast asleep in out AirBnB. The next morning we explored Rochester a bit before working our way back to Buffalo - 108 mile day! We explored Buffalo a bit the next morning before taking a scenic route on our drive back to Akron. I definitely want to return to ride more of this trail that goes all the way to Albany.


Erie Canalway Trip
As with all traveling this summer we only go to places with plenty of space and almost exclusively outdoor patios.
Erie Canalway Trip
It drizzled for a tiny second which was fine because it cleared everybody else off.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Fantastic beer & food at Thin Man Brewing
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
getting artsy
Erie Canalway Trip
Donuts and coffee the next morning.
Erie Canalway Trip
Buffalo had a reputation as a fairly depressed rust belt city - but like many cities like this the downtown has really come back.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
The waves and wind were crazy.
Erie Canalway Trip
Bdy Girl
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
for the gram
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
First stop for a flat - Erin had many until we finally replaces her tire.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
There was a lunch spot we wanted to stop at so we were ordering ahead.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
The lunch spot was going to be closing at 2 and we had some distance to cover - with the massive tailwind we put the hammer down and headed to town.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
We made it with a few minutes to spare and were rewarded.
Erie Canalway Trip
There was a meadery next to our lunch spot so we decided to rest a bit longer after a massive two hour effort on the bikes.
Erie Canalway Trip
Hot doggin' it
Erie Canalway Trip
It looked like it was going to storm all day but it never did - which made us some of the only people out on the trail.
Erie Canalway Trip
I'm not a huge fan of the colors I get from my 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens so I spend significant time in Photoshop color grading these images.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
This is what the majority of the trail is like - cinder trail with bridges into the towns about every ten miles.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Erin's bday dinner in Rochester.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
The High Falls downtown Rochester the next morning.
Erie Canalway Trip
The tall building on the right is the Kodak Building.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
A little rest later n the afternoon.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
My trusty Trek- approaching 4500 miles on this bike.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
We were already pretty tired with a long way to go - so we were just stretching and taking a breather.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
There was more traffic on the canal on Sunday with the weather being perfect.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Another breather in Lockport - plus I wanted to check out the historic lock system. The city exists for much of the same reason as Akron - people spending time and shopping while waiting for the boats to go through the locks.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
The locks were originally a double five step lock system and were considered a wonder when built in the 1820's - tourists came to see them. When the Erie Canal was completely overhauled(and in some places abandoned) in the 1910's the locks were replaced with this double step lock.
Erie Canalway Trip
This was also the only real elevation change on the part of the trail we rode.
Erie Canalway Trip
I believe I was too tired to pull out my camera the rest of the evening and we got into town fairly late - this is coffee/breakfast the next morning.
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
This was part of an awesome mural were we had a snack before rolling out - beer, monsters & Buffalo.
Erie Canalway Trip
Naval Park
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
Erie Canalway Trip
 
Here is a video I made of the ride with my GoPro Hero 8 Black.

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