Catching Up

Hi again! Here’s an update for the last two days. I made my way out of Utica and to East Syracuse the first day. I was very happy that everything on my bike appears to be back in 100% working order after my pit stop, but it has yet to regain my full trust. Several hundred more miles should do that.

And then today, I traveled through Syracuse and to Junius, where I’m staying at a campground (which is more of an RV park, but in any case, here I am).

Utica to Syracuse

I traveled through Utica, which i had gotten a good feel for during my bus rides the day prior while getting my bike repaired. Soon after I was on the Philip Rayhill Memorial Trail. I’m sad to say I don’t know who that is. But his trail was very nice, so he must have been a good man. Is that how that works?

screenshot First snack break of the day on the trail, featuring a watershed.

Then it was back on country roads much like the ones I was on just after entering New York, only even more farmland and a bit less residential.

screenshot This is the kind of view I’m used to having on both sides.

Near the end of the day I stopped to eat a bunch of chicken wings and pizza, then rolled through Cicero Swamp, where a deer jumped out onto the road about 30 get in from of me, to get spoiled and bounce back into the woods. The road also featured a bunch of smooshed frogs :’( Frogger IRL…

screenshot Cicero Swamp. I would have stopped to take more pictures, but the shoulder was very narrow, and as nice as it was, I decided I didn’t want to tip over into it.

Soon enough I made it to America’s Best Value Inn in East Syracuse (it may actually have been the best value, as due to a failure of their credit card system, I’m not entirely sure I paid, even though I pointed it out to them… I’ll check later.)

To the “Campground”

Leaving Syracuse was sort of painful, as it was probably around rush hour and Syracuse isn’t really all that nice from an infrastructure standpoint from what I can tell. Regardless, I was happy to pass both a cheap grocery store and a shipping center to send some things home, replacing my bulky camera with the equivalent weight in 100% more edible cargo. Then I was out of Syracuse, and back on the one lane highways with wide shoulders. Legs are starting to get pretty sore at this point, as is my ahem saddle. I see another rest day not far in my future.

screenshot I found the windows XP desktop background image.

I am still ignoring much of the suggested directions coming from my cyber companion, Google Maps, as it is adamant on routing me towards the Erie Canal trail, which I know to avoid by now for fear of its stoney dusty wrath. No matter, I charted my own way using roads I’ve already identified as being as close to bike friendly as possible. The last miles I was admittedly constantly checking my miles, counting down the last couple. It’s a habit I’m trying to avoid; getting antsy during the last stretch and pushing it too hard.

I bought a large sub and some snacks at what I learned upon entering was an Amish Owned grocery store, and my bill came out to $6.66. Heh. Then I was at my destination, Junius Ponds Cabins and Campgrounds. It’s an odd place. But very niceley maintained. Shame it’s not the “real” camping I was looking for, which I imagine I’ll get soon enough.

screenshot Quaint. My campsite, featuring my shadow. My tent has power via my solar panel.

Well that’s it for now. Another family owned campground tomorrow, and then to Orchard Park the next day, where I meet up with the routes offered by my paper maps! Cya.