Day 45 Henrietta (Rochester) NY to Liverpool (Syracuse) NY

We rode along part of the Erie canal.  Very pretty and scenic. the middle of the day was NY Bike route #5.  Mostly highway 31 which has a smooth wide shoulder.

Lock on the Erie Canal

House boat on Erie canal

There were only pleasure boats and sculls that we saw on the canal.  No commercial boats except 1 boat for tourist rides.
The ride id nearing the end.  We have 2 days in rural NY to ride.  1 hard day in VT and 1 hard day in NH then the last day of 48 miles to the ocean in VT.  It is hard to remember individual days.  We will have stayed in 46 cities in 50 days.  At 3,376 mi.  it is longer than going cross country by most routes.  I will have to review the pictures and blog to remember what we've done.  The ride has been more than I could have hoped for in so many ways.  The longest and most demanding days were not the ones that looked hardest on paper (most miles or most climbing).  The hardest days were headwinds and or hail.  45 mph side winds with traffic.  Narrow roads with drivers who didn't budge.
One aspect of the ride has been very interesting.  How demanding it has been to stay focused on the riding.  No daydreaming or worrying about "What if" while riding.  It has been focus on the road, the bike, riders around me, my body, Very much focused on the here and now.  No time to think about what's next.  This has been a common theme with other riders.  Perhaps on the flight home some of this will begin to sink in.
Time for bed.
Sam